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<blockquote data-quote="Edena_of_Neith" data-source="post: 3546024" data-attributes="member: 2020">Ok, then, here's the problem:&nbsp; The powers granted to elves (in the sblock) makes the natural world a paradise for them.&nbsp; Add in a cooperative and a benevolent society, and a ton of low level magic to do all the mundane work, and you have a people who live in ease and pleasure.&nbsp; In other words, a people who do not live in reality.&nbsp; A people who cannot live in reality.&nbsp; If elves were the only sentient race in the world, and the world itself was kindly and benevolent, these powers and their society would work out.&nbsp; However, surrounding the elves is a Hyborian-like setting, and the world is most certainly not innately friendly.&nbsp; This produces an inevitable chain of events that sees the elves exterminated.&nbsp; Tolkien saw it, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman saw it, and other authors have seen it.&nbsp; Most game settings assume this tragic path.&nbsp; - Humanity (and races far more competitive yet) try to take the elven lands for themselves.&nbsp; - The elves fight for their land, but find humanity (and the others) are far better at fighting.&nbsp; - The elves lose the war.&nbsp; - The remnant of the elves find another home, and try to emulate the warcraft of humanity (and the others.)&nbsp; - The elves invariably find that 'playing human' does not work.&nbsp; Their mindset is against them, their physical nature is against them, and humanity has had a lot more time to learn the art of war.&nbsp; - The new sanctuary of the elves is overrun.&nbsp; The survivors flee to yet another sanctuary, and try even harder to play human.&nbsp; - This cycle continues until the elves are obliterated, or so well hid nobody can find them.&nbsp; The only exception occurs when humanity (or other races, or even divine powers) protect the elves.&nbsp; But this merely prolongs the inevitable.&nbsp; It does not reverse it.&nbsp; So how does this affect the PC directly?&nbsp; Well ...</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Edena_of_Neith, post: 3546024, member: 2020"] Ok, then, here's the problem: The powers granted to elves (in the sblock) makes the natural world a paradise for them. Add in a cooperative and a benevolent society, and a ton of low level magic to do all the mundane work, and you have a people who live in ease and pleasure. In other words, a people who do not live in reality. A people who cannot live in reality. If elves were the only sentient race in the world, and the world itself was kindly and benevolent, these powers and their society would work out. However, surrounding the elves is a Hyborian-like setting, and the world is most certainly not innately friendly. This produces an inevitable chain of events that sees the elves exterminated. Tolkien saw it, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman saw it, and other authors have seen it. Most game settings assume this tragic path. - Humanity (and races far more competitive yet) try to take the elven lands for themselves. - The elves fight for their land, but find humanity (and the others) are far better at fighting. - The elves lose the war. - The remnant of the elves find another home, and try to emulate the warcraft of humanity (and the others.) - The elves invariably find that 'playing human' does not work. Their mindset is against them, their physical nature is against them, and humanity has had a lot more time to learn the art of war. - The new sanctuary of the elves is overrun. The survivors flee to yet another sanctuary, and try even harder to play human. - This cycle continues until the elves are obliterated, or so well hid nobody can find them. The only exception occurs when humanity (or other races, or even divine powers) protect the elves. But this merely prolongs the inevitable. It does not reverse it. So how does this affect the PC directly? Well ... [/QUOTE]

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