Post/Author/DateTime

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Nani? 12-31-04, 10:37 PM

I'm adjusting Half elfs in my campiagn. I am trying to reason out my changes in ways that seem "realistic". From a mechanical standpoint, I'm basically playing with various skill based adjustments. Here is my logic-- 1) +2/+2 on gather information/diplomacy is not always logical. The +2/+2 in these skills are logical for some half elf background but not all. Some examples of half elves who don't fit this experince are elven raised ones who are treated like children even after they've grown up or ones raised by humans who has suffered social isolation because of thier alieness or racial tensions, one raised by parents who do not to have the skills to relate with thier children (more likely as an un-human creature)? Again, here some half elves would have this because of "extra" years learning human culture and the grace of elven blood being attractive, without the "haughtiness" of elves. But all? Again, I find it unlikely. 2) Humans as a race are adaptable as group. Are they the the most innovative? I would argue no. Human culture can be pretty suspicous of new ideas and unfriendly to outsiders especially as established interests protect thier turf. Yes, there are human societies which are innovative in a rennaisance sense of the world. But there are also human societies that change very little over centuries. What innovative humans, like the Franklins, Einstiens, Da Vinci's; religous innovators like Moses or Buddha, artists like John Lennon or Van Gogh have in common is a sense of not quite belonging, of finding thier own way to deal with reality that may not match established patterns. 3) I would argue that a half elf has to by some degree or another have to be innovative to find thier way in the world. Half elves, by thier nature, have a harder time or cannot match established patterns. Unlike a half orc, they are not to pigionholed. They are also more likely then most to have unusual backgrounds such as being dropped off at Wizard's Tower or a Druid's Grove, or abandoned and then adopted by something not human or elf. In all these situations they have to figure out individual ways to do things and probably become more comfortable in doing so then either a typical human or an elf (unless they dispair and suicide/go insane etc). They ultimatley have to answer a question that others are much more likely to take for granted;How/wear/ do I fit into this world? With that reasoning, a half elves would apply skills in unusual ways, use insightful skill options that simply wouldn't occur to any elf or human to one degree or another. This could be simple uses of sense motive and diplomacy to "fit in". But could be connecting with nature, doing avant guard art, and a hundred other things etc. Under these circumstances, half elves are most likely to be found in "instinctual" classes like sorcerers, spirit shamans or druids (rather then a doctrine bound cleric), or travel as a bard or rogue, living on the edge of civilization as Rangers where they can do things "thier way". They can be found in more disciplined classes, particularly wizards, but even here they tend do things a little differently, because they can't quitedo things the standard way, whether that way is human or elven something else entirely. How does that sound. All the Best, Nani?