You can download some previous edition material on shadow elves at the Previous Edition Downloads page.
A straight conversion of them to 3e might be +2 intelligence, +2 dexterity, -2 charisma, -2 constitution, darkvision 90 feet, otherwise the same as elves. ECL +0.
A straight conversion of them to 3e might be +2 intelligence, +2 dexterity, -2 charisma, -2 constitution, darkvision 90 feet, otherwise the same as elves. ECL +0.
I'd give them an additional bonus to Listen and remove the bonus to Spot, myself (due to their underground adaptations- the text says they have almost radar-like ears, and it seems more necessary to have good hearing underground than vision).
There have been a couple of conversions and things done about them (as well as just general information) for the Vaults of Pandius. Specifically, there are some entries in the Elf section and some information in the Shadow Elf Territories section.
For a general overview to them, though, the shadow elves are physically as Rip Van Wormer described (and not dark skinned, though for some reason they were in the Tower of Doom video game). They are essentially a group of surface elves that hid underground due to an ecological disaster (the radiation of which also caused some genetic deformities in some of them), and they remained there, convinced the upper world was destroyed. They became pale skinned and adapted to the dark, but lived in a fashion similar to the surface elves (they grow large fungal forests, and have adapted spells and things to manipulate rocks/stone/lava in a manner similar to the way surface elves affect plants and things). They abandoned the old gods of the elves (more to the point, they *felt* the old gods had abandoned them), and found a new one, Rafiel, who guides them to this day.
When they rediscovered the surface world, they coveted their ancestral lands in the realms of the surface elves, but for various reasons they couldn't reclaim or return to them (notably, their population was too large for the forests to sustain them and the current surface elves; they were adapted to the dark and sunlight hurt them; etc.) The surface elves were forced to reject their desires to return, and now the two groups are at odds- at least certain elements of them are. Most of the shadow elves are content with their current home, although stories are told of the surface elves as boogeymen.
There are a lot more complexities than that, but that's the gist of what's going on with them.
Somewhere I read that Shadow elves and Drow are not the same thing. Is this true? Also does anyone have a 3E version of Shadow Elves that one could use in a campaign? Thanks!
Note that the Shadow Elves, in addition to being physically quite different from the Drow (as the other posters pointed out), are also culturally very different. Where the Drow are definitely CE, the Shadow Elves are more on the Lawful side (I'd say LN). Also, there's no female dominance, and S.E. clans are not that different from surface elven clans.
The Shadow Elven culture is thoroughly discussed in the S.E. gazetteer (see the links in the previous posts).
They also dont particular like what they see as their traitorous brethren
Sorry - had to say it. ;)
One more difference comes to my mind: whereas the drow are an unbelievably boring clishee, the Shadowelves are truly interesting.
Very true, GAZ13 is one of the few gaming books I sat down and read like a novel.
Very true, GAZ13 is one of the few gaming books I sat down and read like a novel.
Yes, GAZ13 was very immersive - even though I've never played a Shadow Elf, it certainly wasn't wasted money.
Well I had to add something, didn't I? Most of it's been said, but I would say Shadow Elves make perfectly playable PCs in a campaign, whereas drow really don't except in certain limited cases. And you can work out why I say this from the comments above.
Good point! The idea of a misunderstood race that everyone thinks its evil is so much more interesting than an evil race. Not that I mind having evil races IMC, but the Shadowelves...well just gotta love em!
Håvard
I would say Shadow Elves make perfectly playable PCs in a campaign, whereas drow really don't except in certain limited cases.
I have to agree, though of course the players and the DM need to be creative about fitting everything together.
One of the last campaigns I did, about 10 years ago with two of my cousins, included shadow elf twins and a Rakasta. It worked out quite well, we didn't have any problems due to the presence of the shadow elves. On the contrary, their uniqueness, arrogance and often controversial nature were great for generating adventures.