tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post9095289309577481772..comments2024-03-26T15:35:56.004-04:00Comments on Delta's D&D Hotspot: The Elven ThemeDeltahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-63553089239178782442020-11-03T00:43:09.319-05:002020-11-03T00:43:09.319-05:00That's a pretty good take, thanks for that! On...That's a pretty good take, thanks for that! One thing I noticed later on that stick in my mind now is how in Anderson's "Three Hearts and Three Lions", start of Ch. 7, when the sinister land of Faerie is entered, the elves are described as, "All of them seemed to be warriors and sorcerers..." which I assume is where to original trope came from. I suppose in Chainmail terms one is saying, "they've got everything". Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-36461779713023071052020-11-02T20:38:28.311-05:002020-11-02T20:38:28.311-05:00A bit late here, but I'm seeing fighters/wizar...A bit late here, but I'm seeing fighters/wizards glued as something like "elven culture". An elf can grow learning the ways of the elves (a fighting/spellcasting mix) or grow in the streets of human cities, never being accepted and allowed to train as fighters or wizards (implying a xenophobe humancentric medieval world).Kaiquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13268348558006325529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-49297342272393275402010-10-12T03:11:21.433-04:002010-10-12T03:11:21.433-04:00@UWS guy: For what it's worth, I read the Chai...@UWS guy: For what it's worth, I read the Chainmail text as saying that elves are "really" invisible (same term & mechanic as for Sprites, Pixies, and Wizards), and the "hide in woods" trope as a later down-shifting of that idea (compare to Halflings' "blend into the background"). They also all have magical swords.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-9960135562941644612010-10-12T01:54:31.519-04:002010-10-12T01:54:31.519-04:00If you look at chainmail, elves are not listed as ...If you look at chainmail, elves are not listed as being particularly spellcasters. Yes, they remain invisibile until they attack, but that following the, "hide in the forrest" meme. Most notibaly they do a lot of damage to goblins, orcs, and ogres, but the assumption there is physical damage from a legolas type character aka mirkwood elves.<br /><br />The only mention of fighter/wizards is in gygax's use of the word, "combination characters" for use as heroes, with the warning that such characters can become overpowered, specifically citing Elric of Melnibone as the prototypical "combination character".<br /><br />The fighter/magic-user could very well be Elric (pasty, thin, physically weak) as an "elf" type character. So too, the Drow elves have a very Elric quality to them and were soon invented not long after D&D started rolling.UWS guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01277557128674527225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-9837203320640802142010-10-08T14:41:56.704-04:002010-10-08T14:41:56.704-04:00I thought the same thing.. Wizard = throwaway clas...I thought the same thing.. Wizard = throwaway class.<br /><br />http://unknownhole.blogspot.comMajor Asselinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08304167404836161678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-68132168276985189772010-10-05T00:49:23.341-04:002010-10-05T00:49:23.341-04:00If you want a more Folkloric Elf Illusionist/Thief...If you want a more Folkloric Elf Illusionist/Thief seems a pretty good fit.<br /><br />Glamor and Trickery for later Elf ideas .<br /><br />More Tuatha De Danu types fit better as Fighter or Berserker (Warp Spasm anyone?) Wizards5stonegameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10694550968360550229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-58393887076011285202010-10-04T10:59:46.773-04:002010-10-04T10:59:46.773-04:00I'd say: Elves are a Thief-Ranger-Magic combo,...I'd say: Elves are a Thief-Ranger-Magic combo, where the magic is more druid like.Ola Berghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990106045496525578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-405345494575594562010-10-04T09:52:36.656-04:002010-10-04T09:52:36.656-04:00Yes, to me elves are magical creatures. They'r...Yes, to me elves are magical creatures. They're not wizards like human magic-users, but they can put on their pointy hat when they choose.<br /><br />@Nagora: I'd say the folkloric elves are sometimes tricksters, but I'm not sure that's the same thing as a D&D thief.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096724870715714696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-17970769902942892582010-10-04T09:38:41.941-04:002010-10-04T09:38:41.941-04:00I'm in the "naturally magical" camp....I'm in the "naturally magical" camp. Elves can hardly <b>not</b> cast spells.<br /><br />@Joshua: their association with thievery is very strong in folklore.Nagorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04934827653905274555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-89176233116581033602010-10-04T09:03:55.677-04:002010-10-04T09:03:55.677-04:00My impression was always that they were supernatur...My impression was always that they were supernaturally gifted and that Wizard was an inherent (freebie) class. Not that I ever liked it or played that way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-4136871318097821762010-10-04T08:09:34.318-04:002010-10-04T08:09:34.318-04:00I don't really see any need to generalize. I&...I don't really see any need to generalize. I'd either play it as written, or make Elves stick to Fighter/Wizard. Thematically Thief seems wrong to me for Elves, even more than Cleric, at least for Elves that have been brought up in Elven culture.Joshua Macyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10838733328132877699noreply@blogger.com