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What's in an elf?
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<blockquote data-quote="TwinBahamut" data-source="post: 5805479" data-attributes="member: 32536"><p>Let's see here...</p><p></p><p>Elves are humans with pointy ears.</p><p></p><p>Dwarves are short humans.</p><p></p><p>Halflings are <em>shorter</em> humans.</p><p></p><p><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>Okay, more seriously, this is a really tough question.</p><p></p><p>Elves show up a lot in various forms, but they are almost more defined by the way an author tries to spin them into something new, rather than some core set of concepts. Some of the few things that are consistent tend to be the most annoying aspects, like absurdly long life and holier-than-thou attitudes... I suppose the most core element of elves as a whole is that they live somewhat isolated from human society and they have really ancient culture.</p><p></p><p>Dwarves are a bit easier. They're gruff, they like beer, they're good at digging in the ground, they're hairy, they're short and stocky, and they're as tough as nails. It's hard to make a bad dwarf, though it can be equally hard to really elaborate upon them and break away from some of their stereotypes.</p><p></p><p>Halflings really suffer from pretty much never escaping the shadow of Tolkien's hobbits. They're very short, agile, and tend to be better at sneaking around than fighting. It is really, really hard to give them an interesting new spin without creating something potentially aggravating (like Kender).</p><p></p><p>Gnomes are in the weird spot where they tend to have a very clear concept in myth and fantasy that has never been reflected in D&D. They're elemental creatures of the earth, fey spirits that obsess over gold and are of the same kind as the undines of water, salamanders of fire, and sylphs of wind. I guess their image as short, crazy tinkerers and mad magicians shows up a lot too, but I've never liked that as much.</p><p></p><p>Orcs are pretty easy. They are either brutal, savage warriors of great strength or proud, tribal warriors of great strength. They used to be associated with evil and darkness, but that version has declined in prominence recently.</p><p></p><p>Generally speaking, it is races other than these that interest me. Most of what they do in a setting is done well enough with cultures of humans. Races that are less human-like interest me a lot more. Giants, fairies/pixies, centaurs, human-like races with prominent animalistic features and abilities, intelligent magical animals, dryads, nereids, merfolk, dragons, or even angels and devils.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TwinBahamut, post: 5805479, member: 32536"] Let's see here... Elves are humans with pointy ears. Dwarves are short humans. Halflings are [i]shorter[/i] humans. :) Okay, more seriously, this is a really tough question. Elves show up a lot in various forms, but they are almost more defined by the way an author tries to spin them into something new, rather than some core set of concepts. Some of the few things that are consistent tend to be the most annoying aspects, like absurdly long life and holier-than-thou attitudes... I suppose the most core element of elves as a whole is that they live somewhat isolated from human society and they have really ancient culture. Dwarves are a bit easier. They're gruff, they like beer, they're good at digging in the ground, they're hairy, they're short and stocky, and they're as tough as nails. It's hard to make a bad dwarf, though it can be equally hard to really elaborate upon them and break away from some of their stereotypes. Halflings really suffer from pretty much never escaping the shadow of Tolkien's hobbits. They're very short, agile, and tend to be better at sneaking around than fighting. It is really, really hard to give them an interesting new spin without creating something potentially aggravating (like Kender). Gnomes are in the weird spot where they tend to have a very clear concept in myth and fantasy that has never been reflected in D&D. They're elemental creatures of the earth, fey spirits that obsess over gold and are of the same kind as the undines of water, salamanders of fire, and sylphs of wind. I guess their image as short, crazy tinkerers and mad magicians shows up a lot too, but I've never liked that as much. Orcs are pretty easy. They are either brutal, savage warriors of great strength or proud, tribal warriors of great strength. They used to be associated with evil and darkness, but that version has declined in prominence recently. Generally speaking, it is races other than these that interest me. Most of what they do in a setting is done well enough with cultures of humans. Races that are less human-like interest me a lot more. Giants, fairies/pixies, centaurs, human-like races with prominent animalistic features and abilities, intelligent magical animals, dryads, nereids, merfolk, dragons, or even angels and devils. [/QUOTE]
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