Trance ability

[Bayonet_Chris]

I'm starting a new game this Saturday and I got the following email from one of my players..

Chris, as a favor can you make a house rule to get rid of that stupid "elves don't sleep" BS that the writers _still_ insist on having in there. What a crock. Alert even when resting---that shouldn't count as resting!

I haven't really thought about it much, but what is the general consensus about this ability? If I'm not mistaken, it was a bit of fluff in 3E and is now a mechanic in 4th.

 

[Mort_Q]

Elves do sleep.

Eladrin and Warforged do not.

I'm not sure why a player would want to make it easier for their party to be ambushed if they need to rest in an inhospitable spot.

It's your game, do what you want.

 

[underfoot007]

I suggest you play your first 4E game session with the "rules as written" before you start making hose rules for the game. If you do not like the Eladrin "trace" do not play an Eladrin. hope you have a good game.

Jon Mac

 

[Xorn]

I think that's got to be the only complaint I've ever seen about Trance. And elves don't trance, eladrin do.

But wow, I've never seen someone complain about it. That's like someone handing you $50 for nothing and complaining that it was five $10 bills.

 

[Tale]

I wouldn't argue for house rules for it, but it's a mechanic I have difficulty understanding. A single character's race can change a particular arrangement of the entire group. The need for resting in shifts hinges on whether or not you have an Eladrin, Drow, or Warforged in the group.

I don't think there's a comparable effect from any feature of any other race.

But wow, I've never seen someone complain about it. That's like someone handing you $50 for nothing and complaining that it was five $10 bills.

For me, it's more like someone going around handing $5 to people on the criteria that either they or the person standing next to them's name starts with the letter R. And only on Wednesdays.

WHY?!

 

[Terwox]

If the player himself is playing an Eladrin, and he's playing the only Eladrin, that's cool, strip his power for this game. You could even give him a neat little benefit, like a dreaming power, or something similar. Nothing wrong with not wanting a benefit because it doesn't fit your idea of your character.

If he's not playing an Eladrin, and someone else is, tell him to hush.

I'm confused though, I always thought trance was really cool, and I houseruled it in 3E to be a bit more powerful than it was.

 

[Xorn]

I wouldn't argue for house rules for it, but it's a mechanic I have difficulty understanding. A single character's race can change a particular arrangement of the entire group. The need for resting in shifts hinges on whether or not you have an Eladrin, Drow, or Warforged in the group.

I don't think there's a comparable effect from any feature of any other race.



For me, it's more like someone going around handing $5 to people on the criteria that either they or the person standing next to them's name starts with the letter R. And only on Wednesdays.

WHY?!

Hmmm. Interesting analogy, admitted. But I think this is closer to telling the guy with the money that your name is Rick when it's really Donald, then complaining that he handed you $5.

Okay, I'm reaching.

Several races offer benefits to the group as a whole. I mean having an elf around boosts perception. An eladrin means your extended rest doesn't have to set a watch. A halfelf boosts your diplomacy. Hmm... maybe it's just an elf thing.

 

[Tellerve]

I've always sorta been annoyed at Trace, and I think it is a great power that people lots of time don't put enough weight to when comparing races. However, I think that's because a lot of people don't have things sneaking up on them while they are sleeping.

I didn't know Drow got the benefit as well, figures...f'n drow. What happened to the their light blindness stuff? And while I'm at it, why the heck do Ettercap not even have low-light vision?

Ok, sorry, ranting...

Tellerve

 

[Tony Vargas]

Eladrin are dexterous, pointy-eared fairies. They are not 'elves' only because elves are a distinct race. The PH writeup even admits they're often called high/grey elves - that's about what they'd've been in any previous edition. Similarly, 4e elves are prettymuch wood elves.

I think your player should get over it, though. Sure, I've been sick of elves (and ninjas) since the 80s, but I'm not going to insist on rule changes, I'll just decline to play them.

 

[Bayonet_Chris]

I've run plenty of 4E games, so it's not as if I'm not familiar enough with the RAW, but it just seemed to be an odd request. I was just curious as to what "the community at large" thought about it.

Thanks
-C