D&D 5E (2014) Why Dont The Creators Add Snow Elves In D&D?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Hm. So, we have original D&D. Then we get the BECMI game, which adds... um, nothing new.

Then we get 1e, which adds, in terms of new races.... half elves, half-orcs, and gnomes.

Unearthed Arcana had a ton of new races.

 

[Warbringer]

I've snow idea.

But I think it's a conspiracy to ensure 5e is a failure; it's a complete snow job!

 

[MG.0]

Then we get 1e, which adds, in terms of new races.... half elves, half-orcs, and gnomes.

Then we get 2e, which adds... nothing. In fact, say goodbye to half-orcs.

To be more specific 1st edition PHB says player character elves are considered high-elves. But the DMG gives age statistics for these elf subraces for NPC's:
aquatic,
drow,
gray,
high,
wood

1st edition Unearthed Arcana opened further elf subraces up to player characters:
dark(drow)
gray,
high,
valley,
wild,
wood


2nd edition PHB mentions all five types of elves mentioned in the 1st edition DMG,but once again restricts player characters to high-elves (unless the others are allowed by the DM).

Now in 5th we have high, wood, and dark.

 

[MG.0]

Recommended new elf races:

aquatic,
gray,
valley,
wild,
snow,
tolkien,
house,
earth,
air,
fire,
water,
semi-aquatic,
desert,
mud,
christmas,
undead,
good,
bad,
ugly

 

[JeffB]

They get cool animal companions..

On a serious note: 1/2 elves showed up in supplement 1

 

[Wik]

Unearthed Arcana had a ton of new races.

Sure. But it wasn't a core book. Lots of new books added new races. But UA wasn't "core" in the same way that the PHB is.

***

Ditto for 2e. While it mentioned the existence for the subraces of elf, there were no actual stats until later products.

 

[exile]

I want to play a half-Christmas, half-house elf.

 

[ko6ux]

I've snow idea.

But I think it's a conspiracy to ensure 5e is a failure; it's a complete snow job!

Icy what you did there!

 

[Kobold Stew]

Snow elves already exist: they are called Wood elves.

 

[Greg K]

Hm. So, we have original D&D. Then we get the BECMI game, which adds... um, nothing new.

Then we get 1e, which adds, in terms of new races.... half elves, half-orcs, and gnomes.

Is this supposed to be a timeline? If so, it is incorrect and you left off the first two editions of Basic D&D.

OD&D
Holmes Basic (1977)
AD&D Player's Handbook (1978)
Moldvay Basic (of B/X line 1981)
Mentzer Basic (of BECMI line 1983)