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Thread: dms on elves
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11-14-1997, 01:01 PM #1RTomasz184@aol.coGuest
dms on elves
how many dms out there are tired of people playing elves all the time just to
have power character with lots of benefits and no hinderances (level
limitations at 15 is not a big limitation) me and a couple of dms i know are
thinking of running elveless campaigns since were so tired of them you would
think they breed quicker then kobolds they way they make up the majority of
most parties
rob
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11-14-1997, 07:47 PM #2TriztGuest
dms on elves
On 14-Nov-97, RTomasz184@aol.com (RTomasz184@aol.com) wrote about Re:
[BIRTHRIGHT] - dms on elves:
- ->how many dms out there are tired of people playing elves all the time just
to
- ->have power character with lots of benefits and no hinderances (level
- ->limitations at 15 is not a big limitation) me and a couple of dms i know are
- ->thinking of running elveless campaigns since were so tired of them you would
- ->think they breed quicker then kobolds they way they make up the majority of
- ->most parties
This isn't the first time this subject appears here, and I haven't still got
any suggestions how to get my players to play anything else than humans??
Since I started to DM (6 years ago) my players haven't used more than 9
demihumans (For FR: 2 Dwarevs, 1 Half-Elf, 2 Elves, 1 Drow; For BR: 1 Dwarf, 1
Halfling, 1 Elf) and I can't remember how many humans they have had during
thise years.
//Trizt of Ward^RITE
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11-14-1997, 08:32 PM #3James RuhlandGuest
dms on elves
>
> how many dms out there are tired of people playing elves all the time
just to
> have power character with lots of benefits and no hinderances (level
> limitations at 15 is not a big limitation)...
>
yah; this discussion was ongoing when I joined the list a mo. or so ago,
the general agreement was that players who's sole goal is to play elves
should have their horizon's broadened. Folks even came up with DM Fiat ways
of preventing this (I.E. forcing players to roll to see if they could play
the race of their choice). IMO, best way is to convince 'em of the flaws of
just playing the same thing over again; especially in Cerilia, make sure
they are **not welcomed** with open arms in human lands; lots of fist
fights, brawls (make sure they can't win 'em all), the authorities always
blame them for instigating it, even if other folks did it; make 'em pay
more for everything--rooms, weapons, food, etc., I.E. negate their charisma
negotiating bonuses when dealing with humans (the racisim factor). In
general, make 'em see that Goblins might be more welcome in human lands
than Elves are. Also, have some human, or dwarven, or whatever NPCs that
absolutely rock. Let 'em see that not just elves kick ass. Then, perhaps,
as their horizons broaden, you can even wean 'em away from powergaming.
IMO, though, forcing folks to play characters they don't want to will just
encourage them to find a DM who will.
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11-14-1997, 10:51 PM #4Robert HarperGuest
dms on elves
At 08:01 AM 11/14/97 -0500, you wrote:
>how many dms out there are tired of people playing elves all the time just to
>have power character with lots of benefits and no hinderances (level
>limitations at 15 is not a big limitation) me and a couple of dms i know are
>thinking of running elveless campaigns since were so tired of them you would
>think they breed quicker then kobolds they way they make up the majority of
>most parties
>rob
Whether in Birthright or conventional AD&D the 'elven' factor seems to crop
up. I think it is dealt with simply by keeping the campaign context in mind.
Also, remember that it is a game for players to adopt personas they find
interesting. If they want to play tragic members of a doomed, misunderstood
and unpopular race they should be able to do so - and the DM should ensure
they have the 'full experience' (including being hunted to use their blood
in longevity potions etc.). There is nothing wrong with a party of all
elves, as long as they are playing elves in the full sense and not just the
stats. It can be quite fun roleplaying members of a tragic race.
In Cerillia one of the most serious drawbacks is the added lack of clerical
magic. And I do not think PC or NPC priests would use miracles,
particularly potent ones (Restoration, Regeneration etc) on elves. In the
longer term this would be quite nasty - think of all the monster-caused
illnesses that only clerical magic cures - the poisons - the curses! The
simple fact is, PC's without access to clerical magic are not viable in
anything approaching a standard AD&D campaign - not unless they do alot of
running away.
This is one of the prime reasons Cerillia's elves have waned while humans
waxed and should be reflected in the ongoing campaign.
One piece of advice, do not allow the use of optional rules (including many
from TSR sources) that are written by faeriephiles and seem to presume that
elves come from the planet Krypton. As above, the fact is that in most
settings it is assumed that elves as a race are weaker than humans as a race
and declining. Never allow additions to the game that would alter this state.
__________________________________________________ _________________
| |
| We ask ourselves if there is a God, how can this happen? |
| Better to ask, if there is a God, must it be sane? |
| |
| Lucien LaCroix |
|_________________________________________________ __________________|
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11-14-1997, 11:38 PM #5abeard@zebra.net (Adam BGuest
dms on elves
RTomasz184@aol.com wrote:
>
> how many dms out there are tired of people playing elves all the time just to
> have power character with lots of benefits and no hinderances (level
> limitations at 15 is not a big limitation) me and a couple of dms i know are
> thinking of running elveless campaigns since were so tired of them you would
> think they breed quicker then kobolds they way they make up the majority of
> most parties
> rob
In a standard AD&D realm I would agree with you. But I have found that
my players tend to play mostly human in Birthright. Remember that eleves
and humans in cerilia don't exactly get along like the best of friends.
And humans are definately the predominant race on cerilia. I know there
are some that get along but for the most part they don't like each
other.
Adam
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11-15-1997, 01:09 AM #6Christopher KiraGuest
dms on elves
>At 08:01 AM 11/14/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>how many dms out there are tired of people playing elves all the time just
to
>>have power character with lots of benefits and no hinderances (level
>>limitations at 15 is not a big limitation) me and a couple of dms i know
are
>>thinking of running elveless campaigns since were so tired of them you
would
>>think they breed quicker then kobolds they way they make up the majority
of
>>most parties
>>rob
On a related note: half-elves. The rulebook is a little fuzzy on how much
they are accepted and such. I have a group of humans and half-elves....
which helps the half-elves fit in better... but what are some suggestions
for this in BR. How much would half-elves be accepted?
CK
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11-15-1997, 01:49 PM #7RTomasz184@aol.coGuest
dms on elves
according to the novels 1/2 elves are accepted by elves but suffer from
bigotry by the humans
rob
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11-15-1997, 01:58 PM #8Craig GreesonGuest
dms on elves
Greetings,
I think Robert Harper has hit the nail on the head here. Several players in
my campaign and I prefer demi-humans to humans because they are "fantastic". I
don't mean fantastic in the sense that they are fantastically powerful, I mean
fantastic as in Fantasy Role Playing. It's fairly easy to relate to how a Vos
barbarian or an Anuirean cavalier will act. A creature of stone (dwarves), of
faerie dust (elves), or of a formerly faerie world gone terribly wrong (halflings)
is more challenging and, IMHO, more fun to role play. If power gaming is a
problem for the DM, by all means eliminate some or all of the special abilities of
demi-humans. Or, another alternative is to let your players (if they're scions)
know you will give human PCs greater bloodlines and more blood powers to offset
the racial abilities of the other races (this is what I've done). With respect to
elves, I know the reason I like them is because they are a magical race with lots
of wizards. To me, magic is what makes fantasy role playing great.
On the topic of elves in particular, I think BR has watered them down a bit.
They are immortal and don't require traditional sleep, which is cool to know but
typically of limited use to a Power Gamer. They are immune to normal disease, but
how many human PCs ever died from malaria? They see well in starlight and
moonlight, which is again neat to know but not a game breaker. The Pass Without
Trace and rapid travel in any terrain powers are of significant use in some
campaigns, but probably never used in others (not to mention the party must be all
elves for this to make much difference). Thus, their major Power Gamer advantages
are Charm/Sleep resistance and surprising opponents. Good abilities, but not
overpowering.
IMO, halflings are a just as good or better choice for PowerGamers in a BR
campaign with modest levels. Try a halfling fighter/thief who has awesome
thieving skills and a good AC with his +2 dexterity, a bonus to hit with thrown
weapons, resistance to poison and magic, a bonus to surprising opponents, the
unlimited ability to detect evil/undead/necromancy, and the ability to Dimension
Door/Shadow Walk. Have your character become a guilder. Once you have acquired
more gold than the US used to have in Ft. Knox, branch out into law holdings
someplace with a weak or poor ruler. You'll be rich and raking in tons of regency
from your guilds, trade routes, and law holdings.
One final thought. If a DM has a particular campaign direction in mind, I
agree with the previous poster who said you should work with your players during
PC creation to design a character they will enjoy that also fits in well with your
campaign. Hopefully your players are mature enough to be a bit flexible.
Thanks for letting me throw in my 2+ GB
Robert Harper wrote:
> Whether in Birthright or conventional AD&D the 'elven' factor seems to crop
> up. I think it is dealt with simply by keeping the campaign context in mind.
> Also, remember that it is a game for players to adopt personas they find
> interesting. If they want to play tragic members of a doomed, misunderstood
> and unpopular race they should be able to do so - and the DM should ensure
> they have the 'full experience' (including being hunted to use their blood
> in longevity potions etc.). There is nothing wrong with a party of all
> elves, as long as they are playing elves in the full sense and not just the
> stats. It can be quite fun roleplaying members of a tragic race.
>
> One piece of advice, do not allow the use of optional rules (including many
> from TSR sources) that are written by faeriephiles and seem to presume that
> elves come from the planet Krypton. As above, the fact is that in most
> settings it is assumed that elves as a race are weaker than humans as a race
> and declining. Never allow additions to the game that would alter this state.
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11-15-1997, 05:36 PM #9hobbychest@pcsia.coGuest
dms on elves
BI>On a related note: half-elves. The rulebook is a little fuzzy on how much
BI>they are accepted and such. I have a group of humans and half-elves....
BI>which helps the half-elves fit in better... but what are some suggestions
BI>for this in BR. How much would half-elves be accepted?
I don't remember where I read it, but I believe half-elves are treated
as elves. Both humans and elves treat them this way.
Robert Thomson
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11-17-1997, 11:47 AM #10FRANKEN*RCGuest
dms on elves
> how many dms out there are tired of people playing elves all the time just to
> have power character with lots of benefits and no hinderances (level
> limitations at 15 is not a big limitation) me and a couple of dms i know are
> thinking of running elveless campaigns since were so tired of them you would
> think they breed quicker then kobolds they way they make up the majority of
> most parties
> rob
those players seem to forget that in BR they can't move around
very freely.
Most people at least distrust elves, are afraid of them or just
plainly hate them. Most people know the stories of The Manslayer and
those stories reflect upon all elves. Outside the eleven nations they
can't expect much help from anybody. (translate into there is NObody
(except elves) who wants to train them to gain levels. :) )
Ronald
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