Forest Elf [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Forest Elf [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dyne
02-27-07, 02:56 AM Removed.
Evil DM Mk3
02-27-07, 03:22 AM This has likely been discussed many times over before, but I didn't see it in the last 5 pages, and search isn't working, so I'll start my own thread on it.

To begin with, I never liked the Wood Elf subrace. I've always thought they should be somehow more in-tune with the natural world, sortof of druidic in a way. Instead, they seem more like the troubled child of an Elf and Orc mating (if ever there were such a thing).

So, I set out to create my own subrace, dubbed Forest Elves to distinguish from Wood Elves. I tried to make them excel at classes such as Druid and Ranger, while still keeping their Elfiness (instead of the "Elf smash!" mentality of Wood Elves). Anyway, here it is, let me know what you think:Whilst I agree this is a valid point of view there is another here. -2 int could simply mean that their society puts little store by written studies and aims for a simpler, more natural existance.

You see is is all in the spin.

Forest Elf
Personality: Forest Elves are much more aloof than the other Elven subraces. They do not usually like to deal with members of other races, and they usually meet newcomers with apprehension.More aloof than regular elves? Isn't that like being more wet than water?! :D

Forest Elf Racial Traits
—+2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma. Forest Elves are as graceful and frail as the other Elven subraces. They are also more in-tune with their surroundings, though they can be aloof and antisocial.
—Medium Size
—Base Land Speed 30 ft.
—Immunity to sleep spells and effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects.
—Low-light vision.
—Weapon Proficiency: Forest Elves are automatically proficient with the longsword, rapier, longbow, composite longbow, shortbow, and composite shortbow.
—+2 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks. Forest Elves do not have a special ability to detect secret doors, as other Elves do.
—+1 racial bonus on Perform checks.
—+2 racial bonus on Survival checks in forests.
—+2 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks in forests.
—Automatic Languages: Common, Elven. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc, Sylvan.
—Favored Class: Druid.

Changes from Regular Elves
The statistical differences between Forest Elves and regular High Elves are summed up below:
—+2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma.
—Lose the +2 racial bonus on Search checks.
—Lose the automatic check to detect secret doors when within 5 ft.
—+1 Perform (to counteract the -2 Charisma; Elves are naturally artistic and such, and I didn't want to take away from this; besides, I doubt it'll have much mechanical impact anyway).
—+2 Survival checks in forests.
—+2 Hide and Move Silently checks in forest.
—Bonus Languages: Added Halfling.
—Favored Class: Changed to Druid.
You have indeed created a turnbo ranger (less so druid). Beware of those who will say OMG +2 WIS +0LA ONG DA BROKE! Or similar. I personaly don't feel there is anything wrong with them as a race, although yet another elf is scarcely apealing, I have them stacked three deep in their capitol to take acount of all the differant races as it is! :D
zook1shoe666
02-27-07, 10:38 AM looks pretty good to me.
Dyne
02-27-07, 10:49 PM Whilst I agree this is a valid point of view there is another here. -2 int could simply mean that their society puts little store by written studies and aims for a simpler, more natural existance.

You see is is all in the spin.

Yes, but I'm more bothered by the Strength bonus. It seems horribly out of place for Elves to be strong and stupid. It seems contrary to their nature, since Elves are creative pacifists that place much emphasis on learning many different skills in order to be self-sufficient.
AZNsupermarket
02-28-07, 12:02 AM Fairly balanced, yet powerful in certain situations...
BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :clap:
AZNsupermarket
02-28-07, 12:09 AM Fairly balanced, yet powerful in certain situations...
BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :clap:

I feel I should give a greater explanation. Normally I would be in the bonus to wisdom and LA +0 = broken crowd, but this is a really well though out race. Monster Manual Forest elves kind of suck, but this really seems good on a number of levels. A penalty to con makes the CoDzilla ask itself whether this is really the most optimal race available. The penalty to cha would also be a slight annoyance to a clerics turn undead. The bonus to wisdom balances out its other shortcomings and is unique, which gives players a reason to play forest elves. I always felt Forest Elves should be good druids, so this works out well flavor-wise. Well Done. ;)
Naderion
02-28-07, 09:53 AM I use a more simpler modification of wood elves in my campaign:

The Str-Bonus and Con-Penalty negate each other and so the Int-penalty is no longer needed, too. That makes racial modifiers of +2 Dex and -2 Cha. Wood Elves are more hardier than other elves, but like dwarves, they are a bit more rough with outsiders and are neither talktive nor do they want to leave a good impression.
The weapon-profiencies are longbow, shortbow, longsword and scimitar (I'm thinking of single-edged swords, not those Ali-Baba-Things). Rapiers are too fragile for the tast of wood elves and also more complicated to manufacure than other blades.
AZNsupermarket
02-28-07, 04:33 PM I use a more simpler modification of wood elves in my campaign:

The Str-Bonus and Con-Penalty negate each other and so the Int-penalty is no longer needed, too. That makes racial modifiers of +2 Dex and -2 Cha. Wood Elves are more hardier than other elves, but like dwarves, they are a bit more rough with outsiders and are neither talktive nor do they want to leave a good impression.
The weapon-profiencies are longbow, shortbow, longsword and scimitar (I'm thinking of single-edged swords, not those Ali-Baba-Things). Rapiers are too fragile for the tast of wood elves and also more complicated to manufacure than other blades.

Too bad wotc didn't make an elven subrace Identical to the one you just described ;)

Snow Elf: +2 Dex -2 Cha, medium, 30 ft., wizard, humanoid (elf), frostburn pg.34

okay, okay, different favored class, flavor, and rapier prof - instead of scimitar, but still... There is an elven subrace for every situation
Naderion
02-28-07, 04:39 PM But a snow-elf is something distinctly different in cultural background and appearance than a wood-elf.

Seems to be rare, but I create my stuff with thinking of the story and background first without complete ignorance of any numbers and then start to try to adjust the stats so they reflect the background-facts.
Evil DM Mk3
02-28-07, 04:53 PM *sigh*

Somtimes I feel elves should read "any number of equal +s and -s including either +2Dex or -2Con, 4 weapon proficienies and..."

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dyne 02-27-07, 02:56 AM	Removed.
Evil DM Mk3 02-27-07, 03:22 AM	This has likely been discussed many times over before, but I didn't see it in the last 5 pages, and search isn't working, so I'll start my own thread on it. To begin with, I never liked the Wood Elf subrace. I've always thought they should be somehow more in-tune with the natural world, sortof of druidic in a way. Instead, they seem more like the troubled child of an Elf and Orc mating (if ever there were such a thing). So, I set out to create my own subrace, dubbed Forest Elves to distinguish from Wood Elves. I tried to make them excel at classes such as Druid and Ranger, while still keeping their Elfiness (instead of the "Elf smash!" mentality of Wood Elves). Anyway, here it is, let me know what you think:Whilst I agree this is a valid point of view there is another here. -2 int could simply mean that their society puts little store by written studies and aims for a simpler, more natural existance. You see is is all in the spin. Forest Elf Personality: Forest Elves are much more aloof than the other Elven subraces. They do not usually like to deal with members of other races, and they usually meet newcomers with apprehension.More aloof than regular elves? Isn't that like being more wet than water?! :D Forest Elf Racial Traits —+2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma. Forest Elves are as graceful and frail as the other Elven subraces. They are also more in-tune with their surroundings, though they can be aloof and antisocial. —Medium Size —Base Land Speed 30 ft. —Immunity to sleep spells and effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects. —Low-light vision. —Weapon Proficiency: Forest Elves are automatically proficient with the longsword, rapier, longbow, composite longbow, shortbow, and composite shortbow. —+2 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks. Forest Elves do not have a special ability to detect secret doors, as other Elves do. —+1 racial bonus on Perform checks. —+2 racial bonus on Survival checks in forests. —+2 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks in forests. —Automatic Languages: Common, Elven. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc, Sylvan. —Favored Class: Druid. Changes from Regular Elves The statistical differences between Forest Elves and regular High Elves are summed up below: —+2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma. —Lose the +2 racial bonus on Search checks. —Lose the automatic check to detect secret doors when within 5 ft. —+1 Perform (to counteract the -2 Charisma; Elves are naturally artistic and such, and I didn't want to take away from this; besides, I doubt it'll have much mechanical impact anyway). —+2 Survival checks in forests. —+2 Hide and Move Silently checks in forest. —Bonus Languages: Added Halfling. —Favored Class: Changed to Druid. You have indeed created a turnbo ranger (less so druid). Beware of those who will say OMG +2 WIS +0LA ONG DA BROKE! Or similar. I personaly don't feel there is anything wrong with them as a race, although yet another elf is scarcely apealing, I have them stacked three deep in their capitol to take acount of all the differant races as it is! :D
zook1shoe666 02-27-07, 10:38 AM	looks pretty good to me.
Dyne 02-27-07, 10:49 PM	Whilst I agree this is a valid point of view there is another here. -2 int could simply mean that their society puts little store by written studies and aims for a simpler, more natural existance. You see is is all in the spin. Yes, but I'm more bothered by the Strength bonus. It seems horribly out of place for Elves to be strong and stupid. It seems contrary to their nature, since Elves are creative pacifists that place much emphasis on learning many different skills in order to be self-sufficient.
AZNsupermarket 02-28-07, 12:02 AM	Fairly balanced, yet powerful in certain situations... BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :clap:
AZNsupermarket 02-28-07, 12:09 AM	Fairly balanced, yet powerful in certain situations... BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :clap: I feel I should give a greater explanation. Normally I would be in the bonus to wisdom and LA +0 = broken crowd, but this is a really well though out race. Monster Manual Forest elves kind of suck, but this really seems good on a number of levels. A penalty to con makes the CoDzilla ask itself whether this is really the most optimal race available. The penalty to cha would also be a slight annoyance to a clerics turn undead. The bonus to wisdom balances out its other shortcomings and is unique, which gives players a reason to play forest elves. I always felt Forest Elves should be good druids, so this works out well flavor-wise. Well Done. ;)
Naderion 02-28-07, 09:53 AM	I use a more simpler modification of wood elves in my campaign: The Str-Bonus and Con-Penalty negate each other and so the Int-penalty is no longer needed, too. That makes racial modifiers of +2 Dex and -2 Cha. Wood Elves are more hardier than other elves, but like dwarves, they are a bit more rough with outsiders and are neither talktive nor do they want to leave a good impression. The weapon-profiencies are longbow, shortbow, longsword and scimitar (I'm thinking of single-edged swords, not those Ali-Baba-Things). Rapiers are too fragile for the tast of wood elves and also more complicated to manufacure than other blades.
AZNsupermarket 02-28-07, 04:33 PM	I use a more simpler modification of wood elves in my campaign: The Str-Bonus and Con-Penalty negate each other and so the Int-penalty is no longer needed, too. That makes racial modifiers of +2 Dex and -2 Cha. Wood Elves are more hardier than other elves, but like dwarves, they are a bit more rough with outsiders and are neither talktive nor do they want to leave a good impression. The weapon-profiencies are longbow, shortbow, longsword and scimitar (I'm thinking of single-edged swords, not those Ali-Baba-Things). Rapiers are too fragile for the tast of wood elves and also more complicated to manufacure than other blades. Too bad wotc didn't make an elven subrace Identical to the one you just described ;) Snow Elf: +2 Dex -2 Cha, medium, 30 ft., wizard, humanoid (elf), frostburn pg.34 okay, okay, different favored class, flavor, and rapier prof - instead of scimitar, but still... There is an elven subrace for every situation
Naderion 02-28-07, 04:39 PM	But a snow-elf is something distinctly different in cultural background and appearance than a wood-elf. Seems to be rare, but I create my stuff with thinking of the story and background first without complete ignorance of any numbers and then start to try to adjust the stats so they reflect the background-facts.
Evil DM Mk3 02-28-07, 04:53 PM	sigh Somtimes I feel elves should read "any number of equal +s and -s including either +2Dex or -2Con, 4 weapon proficienies and..."