Mark A Vandermeulen wrote:

> On Wed, 6 May 1998, Pieter A de Jong wrote:
>
> > Yes, I can see this happening. The real question that is actually being
> > argued is whether or not the elves can field magically superior forces, and
> > if so by what margin? I personally feel that the elves are indeed magically
> > superior, by virtue of their spellcasters a) being true wizards and b) being
> > immortal (much more practice time). I also feel that the elves will field
> > as many spellcasters as the humans can as a lot more of their population has
> > the attributes to wield magic and recieves the neccesary levels of initial
> > education (eg. literacy, etc.)
>
> I agree. I think that elves will almost always have the magical edge on
> their opponents. Their main drawback is that their regular units are very
> espensive, and therefore somewhat rare, and can therefore be easily mobbed
> by lesser troops on a battlefield.

To me the human victories over the elves comes down to a simple matter of
population pressures. As in "You disapprove? Well, too bad. We're in this for
the species, boys and girls. It's simple numbers. They have more. And every day I
have to make decisions that may send hundreds of people like you to their
graves." OK, fairly non-sequiter quote, but I couldn't resist....

Even if the elves have better battle magic, the humans have the numbers to spread
the front lines out over a broad area that the elves wouldn't be able to cover.
Even magical elves can't be everywhere at once, especially if they have to lug a
cart load of spell components along with them. Spreading out the front lines
(which is really what a colonization process is all about) would neutralize the
occasional elven wizard. That's why elves exist in fairly small kingdoms.
They've had to concentrate in order to defend themselves.

- -Gary