Origins of the "New" Races

[Mallus]

Except as a core race for PCs. For monsters, it's fine. But then, I don't expect many to understand the distinction.

Many people understand that it's not an important distinction to them.

 

[pawsplay]

For me, the teleport-thingy represents the human fear of faeries - that they can simply appear out of nowhere, and take what they want. THAT is what creeped people out in times past: You´d never know when one would appaear, and your stoutest walls and strongest doors were useless against them.
It´s entirely appropriate.

Plus, they might kidnap you only to return you the next day, only for you to discover it's been ten years for your family and neighbors. Maybe the Eladrin need that ability. Plus the ability to spin straw into gold.

 

[Imaro]

Eh, I don't really get the teleport = "mythological" or even "folkloric" basis. I think Fey are much more associated with trickery, chicanery and illusions than teleporting ... but that's just my opinion.

 

[rounser]

Many people understand that it's not an important distinction to them.

I know, and as I said I don't expect you and your 4E cohorts to "get it", but I'd rather the D&D name and what passes for the core implied setting these days not be dragged down into this mess. If the designers can't see a problem or a distinction, then how can your average gamer? But then, this has been going on for a while with WOTC's take on D&D (see Eberron and it's wacko PC races).

 

[Fifth Element]

I know, and as I said I don't expect you and your 4E cohorts to "get it", but I'd rather the D&D name and what passes for the core implied setting these days not be dragged down into this mess. If the designers can't see a problem or a distinction, then how can your average gamer? But then, this has been going on for a while (see Eberron and it's wacko PC races).

If the designers and the majority of gamers don't consider it to be a problem, maybe it's not really a problem. Here, I use problem to mean something that most users of the game consider to be a problem, not something that I personally don't like about the game.

 

[Fifth Element]

Plus, they might kidnap you only to return you the next day, only for you to discover it's been ten years for your family and neighbors. Maybe the Eladrin need that ability. Plus the ability to spin straw into gold.

Those both seem rather overpowered for racial abilities available at 1st level, don't you think?

Or perhaps you're being facetious. It's so hard to tell sometimes.

 

[Fifth Element]

Eh, I don't really get the teleport = "mythological" or even "folkloric" basis. I think Fey are much more associated with trickery, chicanery and illusions than teleporting ... but that's just my opinion.

Sure, I can see that. Though I'd suggest a very short-range teleport works nicely under the heading of trickery and chicanery.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Eh, I don't really get the teleport = "mythological" or even "folkloric" basis. I think Fey are much more associated with trickery, chicanery and illusions than teleporting ... but that's just my opinion.

I would say the teleportation is less a direct translation of Fey abilities and more to generate that feel while still having a good mechanical effect. Fey folk are quite well known in mythology to be able to travel at will to wherever their home is; be it in another mythical land, inside a hollowed out tree, etc. As such I think the WoTC Developers figured well, this is essentially teleportation so what if it went both ways, thus Fey Step.

I would actually be willing to create more different kinds of Eladrin in a game that focuses on Fey to have Gnomes be refluffed to be also Eladrin so you have other types of Fey with the more illusionary powers. Perhaps Doppelganger as well (shape change be just a illusion).

 

[rounser]

If the designers and the majority of gamers don't consider it to be a problem, maybe it's not really a problem.

Or maybe it's simply that the majority of gamers would follow the D&D brand under a bus. For now. And just because five million people believe in a bad idea doesn't mean it's still not a bad idea.

Besides, anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that 4E is splitting the market and there's no indicator that "the majority of gamers" are following it to the place it's going.

 

[Fifth Element]

Or maybe the majority of gamers would follow the D&D brand under a bus.

Ad hominem attacks are awe...

Darnit, I wish I hadn't used that one so early. It keeps coming up.

So basically you're saying the "4E cohort" is a bunch of sheep, while you are wise and can see its true nature? That seems to be what you're saying. Correct me if I'm wrong.