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Dhomal
Senior Scribe
USA
565 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Jun 2006 : 02:27:39
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Hello-
I have a player who will be starting in my game soom. They want to play a 1/2elf who is half Drow and half human. OK - no biggie there. However - the question comes up now - would a 1/2elf of one leven sub-race look similar to another 1/2 elf of the same subrace - if the human parents were of vastly differing human sub-races?
Basically - if the player were to choose a human sub-race/region where the humans were more sallow-skinned, or even black-skinned - would a 1/2 elf (drow) be able to pass as human, or at the least 1/2 elven - but with a stronger mix of the human side for looks?
I know I've read somewhere taht a full elf of 2 varying elven sub-races tends to look not like a mix, but more take after one side or the other - thereby 'being' that race. (works for game-simplicity too.) Just was not aware offhand on anything that mentioned this on the 1/2elven front.
And, as a related asside - I seem to recall the humans of the Vilhoon being described as having jet-black skin. Am I mistaken - or am I recalling correctly?
Many thanks!
Dhomal
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I am collecting the D&D Minis. I would be more than willing to trade with people. You can send me a PM here with your email listed - and I can send you my minis list. Thanks!
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Lariana of the Wood
Acolyte
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2006 : 02:51:07
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I follow the rule that there are certain physical traits carry over from each parent or at least the most prominent ones. Such things as slightly pointed ears from the elves and a heavier build from humans. So even if the human parent was from a northern region with lighter skin it would affect whether or not their children, whether half-elven or not. I would most likely follow that rule for even a full elf with two different sub-races.
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2006 : 03:00:40
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| Why not just use the half-drow info in Races of Faerun or the other sourcebooks and then give him/her some human appearance depending on his/her human ancestors? |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Dhomal
Senior Scribe
USA
565 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 06:09:07
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Hello-
I did some additional research on this, and came up with the following:
1/2 Drow (RoF p62):
"...dusky skin, silver/white hair, broad range of eye colors..."
This seems like it does not take the human parentage into account, which may be the intent.
Also,
1/2 Elves (common) (RoF p 59):
"...blend human & elven features influenced by subrace of elven parent and ethnicity of human parent..." But - then it goes on to describe each of the 'common' 1/2 Elves based solely on the elven sub-race.
So - I guess I'm curious if people would just use the common 1/2 Elven descriptions - or would you fold in some aspects of the human parent.
Thanks!
Dhomal |
I am collecting the D&D Minis. I would be more than willing to trade with people. You can send me a PM here with your email listed - and I can send you my minis list. Thanks!
Successfully traded with Xysma! |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 17:15:51
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| I use the half-elf and half-drow characteristics and, as I said above, add a sprinkling of the human blood to them, if I think it's needed, depending on how far back that human blood is and who the half-elves/drow parents are. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2006 : 00:52:29
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Also, this is my opinion, but there should be some freedom with what characters look like, the nature of genetics being what it is.  I wouldn't worry about skin, hair, and eye color that much. It's not like those are the most important things about a character. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Dhomal
Senior Scribe
USA
565 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2006 : 03:53:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Also, this is my opinion, but there should be some freedom with what characters look like, the nature of genetics being what it is. I wouldn't worry about skin, hair, and eye color that much. It's not like those are the most important things about a character.
Hello-
Agreed! I was mainly curious what others would do and such - and if they would think it 'cheating' to have a 1/2Elf of Drow lineage (with a human) not be clearly discernable because of the human parentage being darker skinned also.
Does anyone know a good source for information on local human ethnicities' looks? I noticed that a number of them are picture in RoF, and I though there were more pictured - but its probably a different product.
Thanks again!
Dhomal |
I am collecting the D&D Minis. I would be more than willing to trade with people. You can send me a PM here with your email listed - and I can send you my minis list. Thanks!
Successfully traded with Xysma! |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2006 : 04:29:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Dhomal
Hello-
Agreed! I was mainly curious what others would do and such - and if they would think it 'cheating' to have a 1/2Elf of Drow lineage (with a human) not be clearly discernable because of the human parentage being darker skinned also.
Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong with that. It's not like I've never seen unusual character types in the FR novels.
quote:
Does anyone know a good source for information on local human ethnicities' looks? I noticed that a number of them are picture in RoF, and I though there were more pictured - but its probably a different product.
Actually, I think RoF would be the best source to use, there. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Sian
Senior Scribe
Denmark
596 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2006 : 08:05:48
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| the Regions core books (eg. shining south, city of splendors etc.) |
what happened to the queen? she's much more hysterical than usual
She's a women, it happens once a month |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2006 : 10:59:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Dhomal
Does anyone know a good source for information on local human ethnicities' looks? I noticed that a number of them are picture in RoF, and I though there were more pictured - but its probably a different product.
As Rinonalyrna said, Races of Faerun is the more appropriate source.
Ed's mentioned a couple of bits as well in his replies from time to time.
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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stormcrow1618
Acolyte
12 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 00:34:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Dhomal
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Also, this is my opinion, but there should be some freedom with what characters look like, the nature of genetics being what it is. I wouldn't worry about skin, hair, and eye color that much. It's not like those are the most important things about a character.
Hello-
Agreed! I was mainly curious what others would do and such - and if they would think it 'cheating' to have a 1/2Elf of Drow lineage (with a human) not be clearly discernable because of the human parentage being darker skinned also.
Does anyone know a good source for information on local human ethnicities' looks? I noticed that a number of them are picture in RoF, and I though there were more pictured - but its probably a different product.
Thanks again!
Dhomal
I would suggest that (for example) a half sun elf whose human parent is dark-skinned could possibly be mistaken for a half-drow, but a half-drow whose human parent is light skinned would still probably be recognized as a half-drow. Dark skin being a dominant genotypical feature, and all. |
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Half-elven racial features Q
