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Herkles
Seeker
82 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Mar 2009 : 00:14:46
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hello,
Once again I am looking for elven lore, this time on tatics related to military and war. I am not looking for much on the drow, mainly the surface elves, sun elves, wood, moon, and wild. Is there any difference between the subraces?
Also what about ranks and a military hierarchy? I know Evermeet has a navy, an air force, and a land army, but for the most part do they have a strict hierarchy, or are they a little bit less strict? also is their an elven name for the various military forces of evermeet and the ranks they may have? I know there was stuff about military ranks in Power of fearun, but don't recall much about evermeet and the elves.
Thank you for any help you may be able to offer me.
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2009 : 02:41:16
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Cormanthyr and Fall of Myth Drannor have an awful lot about this, including army divisions, ranks, and rank tattoos. Sure it's just one realm, but much of it can be extrapolated to other nations.
The third thing you'd want to read is the novel, Evermeet. It traces the history of elves from the start to the present, and has snippets of a lot of wars. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2009 : 02:53:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Herkles
hello,
Once again I am looking for elven lore, this time on tatics related to military and war. I am not looking for much on the drow, mainly the surface elves, sun elves, wood, moon, and wild. Is there any difference between the subraces?
Also what about ranks and a military hierarchy? I know Evermeet has a navy, an air force, and a land army, but for the most part do they have a strict hierarchy, or are they a little bit less strict? also is their an elven name for the various military forces of evermeet and the ranks they may have? I know there was stuff about military ranks in Power of fearun, but don't recall much about evermeet and the elves.
Thank you for any help you may be able to offer me.
Several novels have some information as well. RotAW and The last Mythal trilogies are two. Another would be the novel Evermeet. |
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Herkles
Seeker
82 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2009 : 02:55:54
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| I have the last mythral series, though it been a while since I read it. What book is the RotAW? don't believe I heard of that abbreviation. |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2009 : 03:01:29
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I think it means "Return of the Archwizards".  I could be wrong. 
BRIMSTONE |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2009 : 03:26:04
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It's usually abbreviated RotA, and I have to disagree. It may have elves in it, but it's one of, or maybe THE, worst-written series in Realms history. Stay away at all costs. Between the game supplements Cormanthyr and Fall of Myth Drannor and the novels Evermeet and Last Mythal, you'll have a good feel for how elves wage war.
Oh, another thing to check is Grand History of the Realms. It has some info about the elves vs Sembia/Chondath that could help too. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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IronAngel
Seeker
65 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2009 : 09:37:10
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As for differences between subraces and regions, you'd obviously have to check sources for those regions and races specifically.
The definite game books are The Elves of Evermeet, Cormanthyr, the Fall of Myth Drannor, probably Races of Faerūn, and The Grand History of the Realms. The former two detail elven military forces in their respective kingdoms to a good amount of detail.
When using novels as a source, you have to keep in mind that individual authors have their own ideas, especially when writing about previously undocumented elven communities. I like to think it adds richness and diversity to the world, and allows for many kinds of interpretations. That said, you can find descriptions of elven warfare in about 30% of the Realms novels. Cormyr: A Novel has a brief snippet about how the elves raided a human camp with wolves, for example. I recommend the book because it's great, but I guess that little elven bit is good enough an excuse to pick it up. ;)
Salvatore's In Sylvan Shadows details the war efforts of the elves of Shilmista. Cunningham's Silver Shadows tells a bit about the wild elves (I think; could've been wood elves, though they're really just green elves of 2e) in the Wealdath and how they fight humans. Realms of the Elves, the "anthology", has several short stories about elves and, uh, fighting. That's the books that immediately come to mind, excluding the ones already mentioned. There's so much variety and material that it would be insane to start answering your questions directly. |
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Aerik DeVallo
Seeker
USA
87 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2009 : 00:02:38
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| From what I gathered from reading the Last Mythal and what little lore that I know about Cormanthyrian elves, leadership was granted to elven hero's of note, whoever they may have been. Being that is that if they elected to go off on a quest for vengence or so and so, they took up their blades and spells and most of the youth and admirers followed after them, creating small task forces. But with enough of them joining, it grew in to an army. Leadership of the Army was granted to the hero's who commanded the most respect. This is just from my point of view, though. |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2009 : 00:07:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Herkles
I have the last mythral series, though it been a while since I read it. What book is the RotAW? don't believe I heard of that abbreviation.
Return of the Arch Wizards trilogy yes. Many have negative reactions to this one, but you asked where to find lore on elven tactics, not my opinion of the trilogy 
This trilogy is set in and around Evereska. It deals with the return of Shade Enclave and war with the Pherimm (sp?). Many folks disagree with the portrayal of the chosen within these pages (but that is an argument for other threads held within these hallowed halls). IMHO though, it was not bad and spot lighted Evereska, where it really had not been detailed previously. |
Edited by - scererar on 22 Mar 2009 00:13:40 |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2009 : 12:33:51
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Elven military tactics share a some common traits. All make heavy use of archery and highly mobile troops. The different subraces add their own views on warfare through unique use of their greatest assets.
Sun elves employ long range war magic to devastating effect. Several circles of battle mages are set to destroy enemy armies before the melee starts. Sun elves have the largest contingent of dragon riders, so these are deployed in the more dire wars. The cavalery of sunelves is the heaviest armored unit in any elven army.
Moon elves employ the strengths of each indiviual silver elf soldier and rely on magic trickery and Illusions to defeat their foes. The numerous ground units are supported by bladesong and bardic music. The moon elves are also adept at using illusionists and diviners to get tactical advantage during war. The fearlessness with which the eagle riders harras the enemy gives the moon elven army a vicious mobile bite.
Green elves employ the land and its spirits as their weapons. Through using animal and ranger scouts they choose the most tactical grounds to start the fight in. Large druidic circles employ their persuasive powers to the spirits (treants and fey) and animals (packs of wolves and bears) in the woods and have them furiously harrass the foe throughout the battle. |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Iliyan
Acolyte
Croatia
42 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2009 : 12:43:25
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| I was always under the heavy impression that wild elves wage guerrilla wars most. Like short devastating blitz attacks on small groups of soldiers. Never a frontal assault or a direct confrontation. |
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Saegis
Acolyte
Canada
23 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2009 : 02:56:12
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Obviously the best sources of information for your question have been answered. The two books I would recommend is the Realms of the Elves, which is an anthology within the Last Mythal series. It's great because it's a collection of short stories, so it's very easy to rip through a few stories at a time while looking through it for information.
The other one I'd suggest is one I haven't seen yet posted is Elminster in Myth Drannor. You may or may not be able to find it as a single book but the first three Elminster novels (Making of a Mage, Elminster in Myth Drannor, and The Temptation of Elminster) can be found in a nice hardcover titled The Annotated Elminster, Collector's Edition.
Within the book Elminster in Myth Drannor (especially in the earlier chapters) there is some description by Mr. Greenwood of city guards as well as military patrols and units as well as some aerial units (pegasi or gryphon I can't remember which). It's definitely worth the read.
As for some in game information I'd highly recommend investigating the Scout standard base class. It's a mix between ranger and rogue, works well with elves and has a military background. |
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Knight of the Gate
Senior Scribe
USA
624 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2009 : 04:58:42
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The thing I always think of in re: Elf tactics, isn't Realmsian at all. In the Silmarillion, Tolkien describes how the Laiquendi (green elves, and very analagous to Faerunian Wood Elves) were (like all the other elfkin) prone to open and forthright warfare, until they took in a human Ranger, who eventually rose to command their forces. Under his command, they took up archery seriously for the first time, wore dwarf-made masks in battle and slew their enemies from ambush using poisoned arrows. This worked so well that they never engaged in open warfare again.
Again, I know it ain't FR, but if Tolkien isn't source material, I don't know what is. |
How can life be so bountiful, providing such sublime rewards for mediocrity? -Umberto Ecco |
Edited by - Knight of the Gate on 28 Mar 2009 04:59:13 |
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Herkles
Seeker
82 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2009 : 12:39:53
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Thank you all for your help, this is indeed helpful. Some of the books though I would have to go out and get it seems. I have not read realms of the elves yet, not sure how good it is though. I might take a look at some of Tolkien's stuff, ideas could always be gotten from there.
One of my friends showed me his stuff about wharhammer, I know they have elves in there, high, wood, and dark. Now I am wondering would be using Warhammer as an aid to help figure out how elves would fight be good or is warhammer stuff not that good for the realms? |
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Knight of the Gate
Senior Scribe
USA
624 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2009 : 16:24:48
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| Warhammer includes alot of aspects of elven culture which aren't at all similar to Elves in the Realms. Also, the prevalance of psionics in Warhammer is much higher than in D+D. |
How can life be so bountiful, providing such sublime rewards for mediocrity? -Umberto Ecco |
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Elven tactics
