Candlekeep Forum
Candlekeep Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Active Polls | Members | Private Messages | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Forgotten Realms Journals
 General Forgotten Realms Chat
 Where have all the wood Elves gone
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

Giant Snake
Seeker

80 Posts

Posted - 08 Nov 2023 :  17:29:02  Show Profile Send Giant Snake a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
Are these rare for anyone else to have in their party? I feel like being a Wood Elf gives you a lot more freedom to be your own character without necessarily being a renegade. I think they’re a lot of fun. A good story with the hidden elf village as opposed to a hidden kingdom lends itself well to some more relatable wood elves. What do you think about them for your next character?

Lord Karsus
Great Reader

USA
3743 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2023 :  00:17:03  Show Profile Send Lord Karsus a Private Message  Reply with Quote
-Only game I played in the Forgotten Realms dealt with Tethyran loggers destroying Wood Elven territory. I generally prefer playing "high magic" Elves, but nothing wrong with woodsy Elves.

(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know)

Elves of Faerûn
Vol I- The Elves of Faerûn
Vol. III- Spells of the Elves
Vol. VI- Mechanical Compendium
Go to Top of Page

Giant Snake
Seeker

80 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2023 :  06:07:59  Show Profile Send Giant Snake a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I think they’re capable of being heroic and ideal but they are also relatable because they’re a little more expressive. If I’m not mistaken, they’re not only deep in the forests but sometimes they live near settlements of Men too. It is sort of hard to imagine the more refined elves getting black out drunk every night (for all those who got started with Tolkien before moving on to FR).
Go to Top of Page

Zeromaru X
Great Reader

Colombia
2481 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2023 :  06:41:30  Show Profile Send Zeromaru X a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I haven't played one, but that's because I'm cursed to be an eternal DM. My brother, on the other hand, played a wood elf ranger once. He had a concept in mind (he wanted to play a Legolas-esque character).

Instead of seeking change, you prefer a void, merciless abyss of a world...
Go to Top of Page

Giant Snake
Seeker

80 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2023 :  16:11:15  Show Profile Send Giant Snake a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I don’t know if you guys have used 5etools but it is so great for helping you balance the game. I have always been the kind to have character first, game second. So if you make a non-optimized character it doesn’t matter, because the tools site balances your encounters around what you have. You’re then challenging the players within the context of the encounter instead of what’s on the paper.

What I would like to see is the party sets out from the wood elf kingdom or village and the cities of Men are then presented in a new light. If doing a one-shot it could be something as simple as slaying a monster that has moved in to the woods.
Go to Top of Page

Irennan
Great Reader

Italy
3807 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2023 :  17:23:41  Show Profile Send Irennan a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Zeromaru X

I haven't played one, but that's because I'm cursed to be an eternal DM.



Same. If I ever got the chance to play (which is unlikely, since no one in my group seems to be even remotely interested in DM-ing), I'd make a witchy, woodsy elf kind of character. Well, I'd actually prefer to play as a dryad of sorts, but a wood elf would be close enough if dryads were off the table.

Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things.

Edited by - Irennan on 09 Nov 2023 17:34:09
Go to Top of Page

TBeholder
Great Reader

2430 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2023 :  17:23:59  Show Profile Send TBeholder a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Giant Snake

Where have all the wood Elves gone

In the woods.
quote:
I feel like being a Wood Elf gives you a lot more freedom to be your own character without necessarily being a renegade.

I suspect Wood Elves suffer the same problems as the original joke class and some other specialists. Such characters sound like a fine concept, but either they belong in the specific campaign (in a group with more than 1 ranger or druid, etc), or it risks to turn into a lose/lose/lose deal.
In the woods they are supposed to be too good, the character gets to run circles around everyone else.
Elsewhere, fish out of water. Which is apt to cause attention-grabbing even if not intended at all. If that's played up, the result will resemble that old /tg/ horror story about a player who first insisted on bringing druid character into city campaign, and then tried to walk around butt-nekkid. Elves are already widely disliked for being the most common choice for Speshul Snowflakes.
And if not played as mostly-savage, this will be a purely decorative attribute, which is both boring and looks like a failed attempt at attention-seeking.
quote:
Originally posted by Zeromaru X

I haven't played one, but that's because I'm cursed to be an eternal DM. My brother, on the other hand, played a wood elf ranger once. He had a concept in mind (he wanted to play a Legolas-esque character).

Also, this. In small and/or sane circles it may be amusing, but...
Drizzt clones get more infamy, sure, but every time a LOTR movie was released, the great and terrible Legolas clone factory spun up. The terrible stories are still told about the World of Warcraft expansion with blond elves, immediately followed by Legolas and Sephiroth clone infestation.

People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch
Go to Top of Page

Giant Snake
Seeker

80 Posts

Posted - 09 Nov 2023 :  17:53:38  Show Profile Send Giant Snake a Private Message  Reply with Quote
There is no class to save a character from an unimaginative or edgy player. In that case it is even more of a good thing to have a derivative character who follows the archetype. Archetypes aren’t a bad thing. A good player can do well with the most plain backstory.
Go to Top of Page

sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist

USA
11841 Posts

Posted - 11 Nov 2023 :  15:07:58  Show Profile Send sleyvas a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Where have all the wood elves gone?

Well, they usually "go" behind a tree that has big broad leaves... but leaves that are suitable for wiping... though some have been successfully house trained.

Alavairthae, may your skill prevail

Phillip aka Sleyvas
Go to Top of Page

Azar
Master of Realmslore

1309 Posts

Posted - 01 Dec 2023 :  09:15:18  Show Profile Send Azar a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I was contemplating creating a Wood Elf priestess of Lady Goldheart. Hm...wasn't Aribeth part Wood Elf?

Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.

Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think.
Go to Top of Page

Dalor Darden
Great Reader

USA
4211 Posts

Posted - 01 Dec 2023 :  22:54:58  Show Profile Send Dalor Darden a Private Message  Reply with Quote
When I think of Wood Elves I think of the elf Crow from the old movie Hawk the Slayer.

The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me!
Go to Top of Page

Azar
Master of Realmslore

1309 Posts

Posted - 02 Dec 2023 :  03:28:46  Show Profile Send Azar a Private Message  Reply with Quote
They are probably the second most approachable Elf offshoot, right after Moon Elves. If I had to rank The Children of Corellon in terms of their affability towards the N-Tel-Quess, it would go something like the following ->

  • Moon Elves (canonically, they are noted as being the most likely to mingle with Humans).

  • Wood Elves (they are not as proud as Sun Elves, but they prefer the seclusion of ancient forests).

  • Sun Elves (they openly believe in their superiority, yet they are still basically good and often encountered in the lands that Moon Elves frequent).

  • Aquatic Elves (more because of their environment than actual attitude).

  • Avariel (they are highly reclusive in general).

  • Drow (keep away, lest you become a slave, sacrifice or target practice).


Sun Elves and Aquatic Elves can easily be swapped.

Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.

Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think.
Go to Top of Page

TBeholder
Great Reader

2430 Posts

Posted - 06 Dec 2023 :  01:26:43  Show Profile Send TBeholder a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Azar

If I had to rank The Children of Corellon in terms of their affability towards the N-Tel-Quess, it would go something like the following ->

  • Moon Elves (canonically, they are noted as being the most likely to mingle with Humans).

  • Wood Elves (they are not as proud as Sun Elves, but they prefer the seclusion of ancient forests).

  • Sun Elves (they openly believe in their superiority, yet they are still basically good and often encountered in the lands that Moon Elves frequent).

  • Aquatic Elves (more because of their environment than actual attitude).

  • Avariel (they are highly reclusive in general).

  • Drow (keep away, lest you become a slave, sacrifice or target practice).


Sun Elves and Aquatic Elves can easily be swapped.

Depends on where. And exactly with whom.
With the gnomes? Maybe.
With the humans, the Wood Elves most often interact via projectile weapons. They don't initiate contact, and when it's initiated by the other side, it's on their territory and immediately provokes territorial behaviour. There are odd groups of humans who get along with them much better than the average. But typically the relations are non-existent or poor.
Avariel? They avoid even other elves, as a rule. They may be more "approachable" for the aaracokra or giant eagles, but that's about it.
Drow? Most won't respect anyone outside either way, of course. And remain opportunistic backstabbers. but they trade with anyone, including creatures who would eat them just as eagerly. Now, there are not many humans willing to take the risks involved, and even less of anyone else (except other Underdark dwellers) put together, but it's another problem.

People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch
Go to Top of Page

Azar
Master of Realmslore

1309 Posts

Posted - 06 Dec 2023 :  10:29:21  Show Profile Send Azar a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder

With the humans, the Wood Elves most often interact via projectile weapons. They don't initiate contact, and when it's initiated by the other side, it's on their territory and immediately provokes territorial behaviour. There are odd groups of humans who get along with them much better than the average. But typically the relations are non-existent or poor.


I may be off the mark here, but official sources gave me the impression that they're not big on xenophobic attitudes or flaunting superiority compared to certain cousins of theirs. Plus, they tend to get along with Humans (the respectful kind, anyhow) about as well as their lunar kin.

quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder

Drow ... they trade with anyone, including creatures who would eat them just as eagerly.


That is a willingness contingent on the ability of the other party to defend itself; they will "negotiate" (stacking the deck in the process) if naked opposition is too costly a price, but they will happily seize by force in the event predicted losses are minimal to nonexistent.

Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.

Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think.
Go to Top of Page

Giant Snake
Seeker

80 Posts

Posted - 09 Dec 2023 :  00:43:12  Show Profile Send Giant Snake a Private Message  Reply with Quote
They seem quite brave to me for the most part.
Go to Top of Page

Azar
Master of Realmslore

1309 Posts

Posted - 09 Dec 2023 :  13:19:27  Show Profile Send Azar a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Giant Snake

They seem quite brave to me for the most part.



I wonder if there is a preponderance of Wood Elves in Deepingdale: tied to nature, but knowing little of wider politics.

Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.

Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think.
Go to Top of Page

Giant Snake
Seeker

80 Posts

Posted - 11 Dec 2023 :  11:29:16  Show Profile Send Giant Snake a Private Message  Reply with Quote
If there is a consistent point about them it’s their contempt for the outside world’s disputes. Unless maybe there is some bigger woodland realm type situation somewhere.
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Candlekeep Forum © 1999-2024 Candlekeep.com Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000