War Elves [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

War Elves [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
wonderboy06
06-24-07, 04:28 PM Im Trying to figure out how to make a new sub race of elves, called War Elves. I was just wondering what the "experts" thought on the subject. Because me DM tasked me with making up this new race and I need a bit of help.

In a previous campagin my group organized an elf uprising. We took over a large area of forest and united the scattered elf tribes. The new elf fifedom "deported" any loggers they found, and confiscated and human caravan passing through the forest. Eventualy the city-state that was taking the biggest hit from the elves decided to send an army of merc, militia, and town gaurds t put an end to the elves claim. The elves defeated the humans, spairing any survivors. After finding out tat the humans killed the envoy they sent to diccuss surrender, the elves declaired that they would not rest untill hey pushed all humans out of the Chondlewood (2nd largest forest in FR) and restored Chondath (One of the great elven kingdoms that were destroyed by humans several thousan years ago). Enter the Lesser Deity that the elves worshiped, He entered their stronghold after their victory (this is where they swore the oath) Then the deity changed them into War Elves.

But the question is what is a War Elf? What sort of culture would they have? What wouls they look like? How would other elves look at them? And what sort of racial bonuses whould they get?
Kobold Paladin
06-24-07, 04:59 PM Well first of all they can't be -2 Con, thats for sure. At -2 Con regular elves are lucky to make it threw there nearly 20 years as a helpless infant that with being an infant penalty of -3 to their con they should all die from childhood sickness (even with magic one person that can cast contagion could kill dozens before they could be stopped, and slow reproduction leads to extinction), or their pet cats killing them when they are already in their 120's......elves are stupid, take them out of any setting they are in unless your ready to make them a more powerful race....
Rerecros
06-24-07, 05:02 PM Well the elves of Valenar in the Eberron Campain setting are a militant culture of elves, though they use the same stats as regular elves (though I think they use scimitars rather than long swords)

If your looking for a beefier subrace, then base it on LoTR elves, they are basically outsiders with bonuses to str, dex and intelligence.
dknight100
06-24-07, 06:05 PM Also, i'd personally avoid making a 'war' race. Though in a race with extremely long lifespans i could see them breeding a younger race to fight, which could be interesting. But a race of war elves? it strikes me more as something a race does than a race is.
Thomar_of_Uointer
06-24-07, 06:38 PM Well first of all they can't be -2 Con, thats for sure. At -2 Con regular elves are lucky to make it threw there nearly 20 years as a helpless infant that with being an infant penalty of -3 to their con they should all die from childhood sickness (even with magic one person that can cast contagion could kill dozens before they could be stopped, and slow reproduction leads to extinction), or their pet cats killing them when they are already in their 120's......elves are stupid, take them out of any setting they are in unless your ready to make them a more powerful race....

Keep in mind, elves live in small communities. They don't have anything near the potential for plagues that other races can get.

I think wider weapon proficiencies, or proficiencies with everything would be the best option. The ability to pick up a weapon you've never even heard of and wield it like an expert sounds like the sort of thing combat-focused elves would do. If you're going to give them level adjustment, you could also give them a Strength bonus and maybe even natural armor.
Dragonprime
06-24-07, 07:32 PM If you don't want LA shift that +2 Dex, -2 Con into +2 Str, -2 Wis. If you don't mind LA, throw in a +2 to Dex in there. Give them more weapon proficiencies, change the favored class to fighter or barbarian, add some racial traits that would help them in combat, and take away the old elf racial traits that don't seem to fit the theme of a "War Elf." What you do with my advice depends on whether or not you want LA, and if you want La, how much?
Kobold Paladin
06-24-07, 08:26 PM Keep in mind, elves live in small communities. They don't have anything near the potential for plagues that other races can get.

Thats all well and good, but until every DM takes that into account and WotC forces it on them I wont be happy. My biggest problem in life is I cant be happy if other people are happy with something I'm not happy about.
AMGriffin
06-24-07, 11:55 PM Couldn't you just use wild/wood elf stats and call it a warrior race?
wonderboy06
06-25-07, 09:21 PM People people, cant we all just get along.....:bump:
Shedeo
06-25-07, 10:06 PM I have a similar race in my old DnD setting, called Battle Elves. However, with a race like what you're dealing with, I would suggest the following:

War Elves
+2 Strength, +2 Dexterity
-2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma

Medium: As medium creatures, war elves have no special bonuses or penalties based on size.

Immunity to magical sleep effects. Unlike normal elves, war elves do not possess the bonus against enchantment spells and effects.

Low Light Vision: War Elves can see twice as far as a human in situations of low light.

Weapon Proficiency: War Elves automatically receive training in the Longsword and the Longbow (as well as the composite version.) War Elves do not bother to train with lighter weapons, like normal elves do.

Martial Weapon Proficiency: Any war elf that gains proficiency with martial weapons also gains proficiency with the Bastard Sword.

+2 racial bonus on all spot, listen, and search checks. Any war elf that passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.

Automatic Languages: Common and Elven. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan.

Favored Class: Fighter. A war elf's Fighter level does not count when calculating multiclass penalties.

That's how I would do it. The Battle Elf of my setting has these same traits, except they take -2 Constitution instead of Wisdom.
Count Nerindil Van Seraph
06-25-07, 10:10 PM Blade Elves (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=853427), a race of my own design, might suit your needs. I certainly like them.;)
Lawlicron
06-26-07, 01:00 AM I know this is a little off topic, but aren't elves supposed to be slow to adapt?

We should all just call it a day and say elves are the most adaptable race in the world. They seem to immediately spawn different kinds of themselves to suite a new environment.

But you could just give wood/wild elves different flavor and keep their stats.
Shedeo
06-26-07, 03:42 AM Well, normally yes. But this is divine intervention we're talking about, so I'd say that this is an exception.
Kursk
06-26-07, 02:15 PM Just make them the opposite of the Peace Elves. :P

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
wonderboy06 06-24-07, 04:28 PM	Im Trying to figure out how to make a new sub race of elves, called War Elves. I was just wondering what the "experts" thought on the subject. Because me DM tasked me with making up this new race and I need a bit of help. In a previous campagin my group organized an elf uprising. We took over a large area of forest and united the scattered elf tribes. The new elf fifedom "deported" any loggers they found, and confiscated and human caravan passing through the forest. Eventualy the city-state that was taking the biggest hit from the elves decided to send an army of merc, militia, and town gaurds t put an end to the elves claim. The elves defeated the humans, spairing any survivors. After finding out tat the humans killed the envoy they sent to diccuss surrender, the elves declaired that they would not rest untill hey pushed all humans out of the Chondlewood (2nd largest forest in FR) and restored Chondath (One of the great elven kingdoms that were destroyed by humans several thousan years ago). Enter the Lesser Deity that the elves worshiped, He entered their stronghold after their victory (this is where they swore the oath) Then the deity changed them into War Elves. But the question is what is a War Elf? What sort of culture would they have? What wouls they look like? How would other elves look at them? And what sort of racial bonuses whould they get?
Kobold Paladin 06-24-07, 04:59 PM	Well first of all they can't be -2 Con, thats for sure. At -2 Con regular elves are lucky to make it threw there nearly 20 years as a helpless infant that with being an infant penalty of -3 to their con they should all die from childhood sickness (even with magic one person that can cast contagion could kill dozens before they could be stopped, and slow reproduction leads to extinction), or their pet cats killing them when they are already in their 120's......elves are stupid, take them out of any setting they are in unless your ready to make them a more powerful race....
Rerecros 06-24-07, 05:02 PM	Well the elves of Valenar in the Eberron Campain setting are a militant culture of elves, though they use the same stats as regular elves (though I think they use scimitars rather than long swords) If your looking for a beefier subrace, then base it on LoTR elves, they are basically outsiders with bonuses to str, dex and intelligence.
dknight100 06-24-07, 06:05 PM	Also, i'd personally avoid making a 'war' race. Though in a race with extremely long lifespans i could see them breeding a younger race to fight, which could be interesting. But a race of war elves? it strikes me more as something a race does than a race is.
Thomar_of_Uointer 06-24-07, 06:38 PM	Well first of all they can't be -2 Con, thats for sure. At -2 Con regular elves are lucky to make it threw there nearly 20 years as a helpless infant that with being an infant penalty of -3 to their con they should all die from childhood sickness (even with magic one person that can cast contagion could kill dozens before they could be stopped, and slow reproduction leads to extinction), or their pet cats killing them when they are already in their 120's......elves are stupid, take them out of any setting they are in unless your ready to make them a more powerful race.... Keep in mind, elves live in small communities. They don't have anything near the potential for plagues that other races can get. I think wider weapon proficiencies, or proficiencies with everything would be the best option. The ability to pick up a weapon you've never even heard of and wield it like an expert sounds like the sort of thing combat-focused elves would do. If you're going to give them level adjustment, you could also give them a Strength bonus and maybe even natural armor.
Dragonprime 06-24-07, 07:32 PM	If you don't want LA shift that +2 Dex, -2 Con into +2 Str, -2 Wis. If you don't mind LA, throw in a +2 to Dex in there. Give them more weapon proficiencies, change the favored class to fighter or barbarian, add some racial traits that would help them in combat, and take away the old elf racial traits that don't seem to fit the theme of a "War Elf." What you do with my advice depends on whether or not you want LA, and if you want La, how much?
Kobold Paladin 06-24-07, 08:26 PM	Keep in mind, elves live in small communities. They don't have anything near the potential for plagues that other races can get. Thats all well and good, but until every DM takes that into account and WotC forces it on them I wont be happy. My biggest problem in life is I cant be happy if other people are happy with something I'm not happy about.
AMGriffin 06-24-07, 11:55 PM	Couldn't you just use wild/wood elf stats and call it a warrior race?
wonderboy06 06-25-07, 09:21 PM	People people, cant we all just get along.....:bump:
Shedeo 06-25-07, 10:06 PM	I have a similar race in my old DnD setting, called Battle Elves. However, with a race like what you're dealing with, I would suggest the following: War Elves +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity -2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma Medium: As medium creatures, war elves have no special bonuses or penalties based on size. Immunity to magical sleep effects. Unlike normal elves, war elves do not possess the bonus against enchantment spells and effects. Low Light Vision: War Elves can see twice as far as a human in situations of low light. Weapon Proficiency: War Elves automatically receive training in the Longsword and the Longbow (as well as the composite version.) War Elves do not bother to train with lighter weapons, like normal elves do. Martial Weapon Proficiency: Any war elf that gains proficiency with martial weapons also gains proficiency with the Bastard Sword. +2 racial bonus on all spot, listen, and search checks. Any war elf that passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it. Automatic Languages: Common and Elven. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan. Favored Class: Fighter. A war elf's Fighter level does not count when calculating multiclass penalties. That's how I would do it. The Battle Elf of my setting has these same traits, except they take -2 Constitution instead of Wisdom.
Count Nerindil Van Seraph 06-25-07, 10:10 PM	Blade Elves (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=853427), a race of my own design, might suit your needs. I certainly like them.;)
Lawlicron 06-26-07, 01:00 AM	I know this is a little off topic, but aren't elves supposed to be slow to adapt? We should all just call it a day and say elves are the most adaptable race in the world. They seem to immediately spawn different kinds of themselves to suite a new environment. But you could just give wood/wild elves different flavor and keep their stats.
Shedeo 06-26-07, 03:42 AM	Well, normally yes. But this is divine intervention we're talking about, so I'd say that this is an exception.
Kursk 06-26-07, 02:15 PM	Just make them the opposite of the Peace Elves. :P