Elf flavors in Greyhawk - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Elf flavors in Greyhawk

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Sep 10, 2003 17:14:37 Hiya Hawkers,

Do you apply all the different stat modifiers to the high, sylvan, grey, and wild elves in your campaign, or are these subraces just like different cultures with maybe different favored classes? Do you let your players pick from all of them, or just some?

It seems to me that some of these subraces are unbalanced, and that they just let elf players choose whatever stat modifiers are best for their class.

Hengwrt Ellesmere
#2
zombiegleemax
Sep 10, 2003 20:03:31 In was going to post a thread similar to this.

First to answer you:

I dont have a problem letting players selected whatever subrace they wanted. I dont see any of them being too unbalanced at all. As far as allowing them to choose the best stats - well IMC they can do that anyway - I let them place the rolled stats however they wanted them.

I have always had a bit of a problem with Gray Elves. I still dont really understand the concept, and in my campaigns I have tended to just say they are high elves but I allow the int bonus instead of the dex bonus. The gray elf concept is one I dont get. Wild elves - fine. Wood elves - yep. High elves - of course. I also like the avariel (winged elves) and even the snow elves.

So what is the major difference between high and gray elves in greyhawk. And dont tell me what the books say because I dont understand them. Elves that live in mountain citadels?? Sounds like dwarf country to me. My haughty and arrogant than high elves, more aloof?? My high elves are already arrogant enough.

For favoured classes:

Wild: Barbarian, tending toward CN
Wood: Ranger, tending CG
High: Wizard, tending CG
Avarial: Cleric, tending CG
Snow: dont know, haven't read the article

I dont use valley elves as a sub race at all. I make them a CN form of high elf.
#3
zombiegleemax
Sep 11, 2003 3:32:09 I've always thought the original designers must have been influenced by J.R.R. Tolkiens "Silmarillion". For those unfamiliar with it, one group of elves lived with elven gods, one group learned from them, but was unwilling to go live with them, and another group was scared to even meet with them. Several thousand years later, the three elven races were quite different, as would be expected.

I don't have a problem with the Gray or Wild elves, but I've never seen much cultural difference between High/Sylvian/Wood elves. In fact, aren't Wood and Sylvian the same thing?
#4
zombiegleemax
Sep 11, 2003 7:17:02 Between High/Sylvan/Wood elves?

High Elves in my campaign are more cultured, they live in cities in the forests with great spires and open air buildings blended with nature. Magic is a big part of there culture, as are the arts, music etc.

Wood elves live in tree houses and villages in the trees. They are less cultured and less wordly, but perhaps a little more in touch with nature. They have a lot less wizards, but more rangers and druids.

Yes Sylvan elves are wood elves.
#5
zombiegleemax
Sep 11, 2003 12:08:11 Yes, I apply all the stat modifiers, and let my PC's choose between all the races and subraces. It's only fair!

One of my PC's has a Wild Elf cohort.
#6
zombiegleemax
Sep 11, 2003 13:29:21 I have always seen High elves as a race of elves that are the most common type. they are forest dwellers but more civilised that thier wild or wood cousins.

Grey elves are a very different breed. they are the ancienst among the elves. they have taken thier live for the earth in a different direction. If Wild elves are the elves in Faerie stories (and they aren't really) than the Gray elves are the Arthurian version of the faerie races.

High elves are funloving and chaotic. Gray elves are more pragmatic and patient. The have given up physical pleasures for mental ones.
Think of them as a mix of elf and Dwarf with the feel of a monastic lifestyle (although thety obviously have sex.)
#7
Greyson
Sep 12, 2003 12:34:35 Hey, the Valley Elves would feel neglected if we left them out of this conversation, lol. A player when I first started D&D always insisted at every game, Greyhawk setting or not, on being a Valley Elf, as described in the Greyhawk Adventures hardcover. But I digress...

:D
#8
zombiegleemax
Sep 12, 2003 13:10:49
Originally posted by Greyson
Hey, the Valley Elves feel would neglected if we left them out of this conversation, lol.

:D

"Like look! An Orc!"

"Gag me with a spoon Babsiel." ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2003 17:14:37	Hiya Hawkers, Do you apply all the different stat modifiers to the high, sylvan, grey, and wild elves in your campaign, or are these subraces just like different cultures with maybe different favored classes? Do you let your players pick from all of them, or just some? It seems to me that some of these subraces are unbalanced, and that they just let elf players choose whatever stat modifiers are best for their class. Hengwrt Ellesmere
#2 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2003 20:03:31	In was going to post a thread similar to this. First to answer you: I dont have a problem letting players selected whatever subrace they wanted. I dont see any of them being too unbalanced at all. As far as allowing them to choose the best stats - well IMC they can do that anyway - I let them place the rolled stats however they wanted them. I have always had a bit of a problem with Gray Elves. I still dont really understand the concept, and in my campaigns I have tended to just say they are high elves but I allow the int bonus instead of the dex bonus. The gray elf concept is one I dont get. Wild elves - fine. Wood elves - yep. High elves - of course. I also like the avariel (winged elves) and even the snow elves. So what is the major difference between high and gray elves in greyhawk. And dont tell me what the books say because I dont understand them. Elves that live in mountain citadels?? Sounds like dwarf country to me. My haughty and arrogant than high elves, more aloof?? My high elves are already arrogant enough. For favoured classes: Wild: Barbarian, tending toward CN Wood: Ranger, tending CG High: Wizard, tending CG Avarial: Cleric, tending CG Snow: dont know, haven't read the article I dont use valley elves as a sub race at all. I make them a CN form of high elf.
#3 zombiegleemax Sep 11, 2003 3:32:09	I've always thought the original designers must have been influenced by J.R.R. Tolkiens "Silmarillion". For those unfamiliar with it, one group of elves lived with elven gods, one group learned from them, but was unwilling to go live with them, and another group was scared to even meet with them. Several thousand years later, the three elven races were quite different, as would be expected. I don't have a problem with the Gray or Wild elves, but I've never seen much cultural difference between High/Sylvian/Wood elves. In fact, aren't Wood and Sylvian the same thing?
#4 zombiegleemax Sep 11, 2003 7:17:02	Between High/Sylvan/Wood elves? High Elves in my campaign are more cultured, they live in cities in the forests with great spires and open air buildings blended with nature. Magic is a big part of there culture, as are the arts, music etc. Wood elves live in tree houses and villages in the trees. They are less cultured and less wordly, but perhaps a little more in touch with nature. They have a lot less wizards, but more rangers and druids. Yes Sylvan elves are wood elves.
#5 zombiegleemax Sep 11, 2003 12:08:11	Yes, I apply all the stat modifiers, and let my PC's choose between all the races and subraces. It's only fair! One of my PC's has a Wild Elf cohort.
#6 zombiegleemax Sep 11, 2003 13:29:21	I have always seen High elves as a race of elves that are the most common type. they are forest dwellers but more civilised that thier wild or wood cousins. Grey elves are a very different breed. they are the ancienst among the elves. they have taken thier live for the earth in a different direction. If Wild elves are the elves in Faerie stories (and they aren't really) than the Gray elves are the Arthurian version of the faerie races. High elves are funloving and chaotic. Gray elves are more pragmatic and patient. The have given up physical pleasures for mental ones. Think of them as a mix of elf and Dwarf with the feel of a monastic lifestyle (although thety obviously have sex.)
#7 Greyson Sep 12, 2003 12:34:35	Hey, the Valley Elves would feel neglected if we left them out of this conversation, lol. A player when I first started D&D always insisted at every game, Greyhawk setting or not, on being a Valley Elf, as described in the Greyhawk Adventures hardcover. But I digress... :D
#8 zombiegleemax Sep 12, 2003 13:10:49	Originally posted by Greyson Hey, the Valley Elves feel would neglected if we left them out of this conversation, lol. :D "Like look! An Orc!" "Gag me with a spoon Babsiel." ;)