What happened to elves?

[Zaruthustran]

(LotR movie is very liberal when it comes to the books, in the books besides Longlegs there were no other elves in that battle.)

Yeah, I know. At first I didn't like the change, especially since Elrond was made into some kind of elf general that gets to order about Lothlorien archers. But the death scene of haldir was very dramatic.

-z

 

[Spatula]

I have a strong opinion on this.

I DO NOT like the way in which they've taken the High Elven race.
The Noldor of Rivendell, as portrayed in Tolkien's The Hobbit, should be THE standard for the High Elves in D&D.

Well, if you're playing a LOTR game, sure. I don't see why generic D&D should be shackled to Tolkien's version of elf-kind, though.

Zaruthustran - The "aloofness" of D&D elves predates 3E by quite a bit.

 

[Ranger REG]

In 3E and the LotR movies elves are portrayed as stern, serious, and haughty. I think 3E even uses the word "aloof". Worse, the wretched 3E artist gave them the same skull as those grey Roswell aliens.

Don't ask me. Ask Lockwood and the 3e artists, or their fans who like goth and spikes.

What happened to elves? Do you like this new direction? Or do you hope 3.5 returns elves to their life-loving, capricious roots?

-z, who'd like to remind everyone that even though elves have pointy ears, they are *not* Vulcans.

All I can tell you is that this is no longer the D&D of old. It's darker, more brooding. So depressing, no fun at all. Sometimes I have to take a step back and wonder if I'm playing D&D or Vampire.

 

[Black Omega]

As far as I've ever been able to tell the essence of DnD is you go places, kill people and take their stuff. I've never really thought of it as happy and fun loving.

 

[Ranger REG]

We don't kill people, we kill monsters ... with a cheery attitude.

 

[Drakron]

Are you saying that go places, kill people and take their stuff is not fun?

 

[rounser]

kill people and take their stuff is not fun?

That should read, "slaying things and stealing treasure is not fun?"

Sure sold a lot of copies of Diablo.

 

[Drakron]

Nay ...

Diablows had way too much mouse clicking, made my poor finger to start hurting for all that clicking ...

NwN was a better game on that but I never understand why it was not called "Barrel Raider" since most of the loot was found inside barrels ...

 

[Felix]

Originally posted by Angcuru
The Drow WERE originally Tolkien's by the way. Read the Silamarillion, he mentions a sect of elves that broke off from the rest, the Moriquendi, 'Dark Elves'. HA!

The Moriquendi are the elves that never got to see the light of the two trees of Valinor. This includes the race of elves living in Mirkwood under Thuranduil. Legolas, being Thuranduil's son, is a "Dark Elf". Ha HA!

That being said, the elves are merry and bright and fancy free when they have time for it. During the first age before Melkor destroyed the trees, the elves did little else but frollic. In middle earth during the end of the third age, elves had little time or cause for celebration; they were busy fighting the "long defeat" as Galadriel put it. Somber times indeed.

Why are elves aloof in 3e Dnd? Because the DM makes them aloof perhaps? It is easy enough to change that in your game.

 

[Black Omega]

That should read, "slaying things and stealing treasure is not fun?"

Sure sold a lot of copies of Diablo.

There is, of course, a vast difference between something being 'fun', and something being 'happy and fun loving'.