What is an elf's maximum age? [Archive] - Wizards Community

What is an elf's maximum age? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
celestialkin
06-07-07, 02:04 AM While reading the elf entry in the PHB Table 6-5: Aging Effects (pg. 109) I noticed it lists elves as reaching venerable age at 350 years, yet on pg. 15 under the Elves Physical Description: it states that elves can live over 700 years, which I believe is also mentioned in the MM and Races of the Wild. In addition, right above Table 6-5: Aging Effects it states most creatures die long before reaching their race's venerable age, so it implies that elves usually live even less than 350 years. Was this a typo? If it was a typo where can I find the correct chart?

Oh, and does anyone know how the aging effects would affect an elf character who has become an undead/deathless? One of my current characters is a 1563 year old Grey Elf Skeleton deathless who retained his soul and intelligence score (my DM houseruled a +3 LA).
Rerecros
06-07-07, 02:12 AM Well most creatures do die before they become venerable.
Disease, accidents, MURDER, what have you.
SilentOne
06-07-07, 02:15 AM Most die before reching vulnerable because of disease, war, rampaging demons, etc., not because they just die of pre-old age.

As for the maximum age, they reach vulnerable at 350, as you said. Then, they live for another 4d% years, as indicated in the Description chapter of the PHB (and in the SRD), so the max age then is 350 + max roll on all of the d100s, so 350+400 = 750 years, which is, in fact, over 700 years.
Doleth
06-07-07, 02:21 AM When the phb say that most people die before reaching the end of their natural life, it referes to the fact that many people get killed by dragon, orc, housecat, demons, necromencer with undead army, adventuring party, disease, injury with no way to afford magical healing, plot device, exposure to cold, and any other leading cause of death in the world of DnD. So, if an elf doesn't suffer from any of this, he'll die from old age anytime between 354 and 750 years old. That's barring any attempt to further his lifespan in any way, naturaly.

For your other question, I don't know about the deathless, but most undead are not affected by the passage of time, save for being more and more detached from the life they once had. So, if you're somewhat low-level, the fact that your elf is over a thousand years old only means he was too lazy to do stuff until the begining of the game.:D

Edit : got ninja-ed
Kevin Andrew Murphy
06-07-07, 02:26 AM I think you're seeing another example of the poor editing between the PHB, DMG & MM. If you look back to 1st ed. elves lived about 700 years. Someone decided to bump that down by half so there wouldn't be the "wearing diapers until 35" jokes there used to be but failed to notify the designers of the other two books.

As with all such discrepancies, decide with your DM which of the two rulings you want to run with and which you want to rule as error and go from there.

Personally, I like elves to be older and conside the 350 year old ones to be the half elves.
Doleth
06-07-07, 02:49 AM I think you're seeing another example of the poor editing between the PHB, DMG & MM. If you look back to 1st ed. elves lived about 700 years. Someone decided to bump that down by half so there wouldn't be the "wearing diapers until 35" jokes there used to be but failed to notify the designers of the other two books.

As with all such discrepancies, decide with your DM which of the two rulings you want to run with and which you want to rule as error and go from there.

Personally, I like elves to be older and conside the 350 year old ones to be the half elves.

Not to offense you or anything, but you are quite mistaken in that post. First, the only core rulebook to give some sort of number for the life span of the elf is the player handbook, the monster manual only say "Their long life span make the Elf...." and I don't remember anything about it in the DMG, could be wrong about that one.

Also, saying "and can live to be more than 700 years old" and that the maximum age of the elf is 350+4d% amount to the same, so there is absolutly no error. Anyway, I think the maximum age entry is more a guideline as to around when can an average member of the relevant race can die of old age.
celestialkin
06-07-07, 03:03 AM Sorry for the misunderstanding. I should have payed closer attention to the 4d% part. I completely forgot that d% = d100. Thanks for clearing this up guy. :blush:

However, I find it a bit odd that you could go over 350 years not knowing when you're finally gonna drop dead of old age, even though their bodies don't deteriorate over the years.
Kevin Andrew Murphy
06-07-07, 03:20 AM Not to offense you or anything, but you are quite mistaken in that post. First, the only core rulebook to give some sort of number for the life span of the elf is the player handbook, the monster manual only say "Their long life span make the Elf...." and I don't remember anything about it in the DMG, could be wrong about that one.

Also, saying "and can live to be more than 700 years old" and that the maximum age of the elf is 350+4d% amount to the same, so there is absolutly no error. Anyway, I think the maximum age entry is more a guideline as to around when can an average member of the relevant race can die of old age.

Ah. Well, was just taking what was reported as given. I just checked my 1st ed DMG, however, and found that I was correct on the elves max age being nerfed. Page 13, DMG 1st ed, lists Venerable elves as living from 1000-2000 years max depending on their sub race.
MushroomSpore
06-07-07, 05:21 AM However, I find it a bit odd that you could go over 350 years not knowing when you're finally gonna drop dead of old age, even though their bodies don't deteriorate over the years.

What do you mean they "don't deteriorate"? They take aging penalties to their physical stats just like everyone else. Yes, gasp, even pretty elves get old. :P

If you wanted to really figure out what an elf at 360 looks like compared to an elf at 700, just do some percentages and compare it to various points on the human aging chart. It's just like how a human at 15 "looks as old" as an elf at...whatever their starting age is, I don't have my PHB here. So a human at max age (110?) is roughly comparable to an elf at 750, so that elf is going to look REALLY OLD.

Now, the ways in which this manifests may vary by species. For instance, going by some of the writing in Planescape: Torment, old githzerai/yanki tend to look like their skin is stretched too tight over their bones, instead of getting wrinkles like humans do. If you like a little Tolkien flavor in your elves, maybe elves just seem to "fade out" as they age, and then their spirits go over the sea or whatever.

I don't pay much attention to elves. :P

Ah. Well, was just taking what was reported as given. I just checked my 1st ed DMG, however, and found that I was correct on the elves max age being nerfed. Page 13, DMG 1st ed, lists Venerable elves as living from 1000-2000 years max depending on their sub race.

They did pretty much the same thing to githzerai/yanki from 2E Planescape to 3E. Personally, I and my games/campaigns still use the old aging charts for giths, it's just more flavorful somehow.
Explosive_Zombie
06-07-07, 05:35 AM Just a comparison I find funny. The Elan in the XPH reach venerable at 1000 years and live for another 10D%... talk about elves getting gyped.
lantan_gnome
06-07-07, 05:45 AM actauly elans dont have a max age it was in the erreta nifty eh :D

makes u wonder though what happends to an elan stuck in a pit trap, since they can go without food and water too.
celestialkin
06-07-07, 05:45 AM What do you mean they "don't deteriorate"? They take aging penalties to their physical stats just like everyone else. Yes, gasp, even pretty elves get old. :P

If you wanted to really figure out what an elf at 360 looks like compared to an elf at 700, just do some percentages and compare it to various points on the human aging chart. It's just like how a human at 15 "looks as old" as an elf at...whatever their starting age is, I don't have my PHB here. So a human at max age (110?) is roughly comparable to an elf at 750, so that elf is going to look REALLY OLD.

Now, the ways in which this manifests may vary by species. For instance, going by some of the writing in Planescape: Torment, old githzerai/yanki tend to look like their skin is stretched too tight over their bones, instead of getting wrinkles like humans do. If you like a little Tolkien flavor in your elves, maybe elves just seem to "fade out" as they age, and then their spirits go over the sea or whatever.

I don't pay much attention to elves. :P

They did pretty much the same thing to githzerai/yanki from 2E Planescape to 3E. Personally, I and my games/campaigns still use the old aging charts for giths, it's just more flavorful somehow.

Actually, according to Races of the Wild Elves physically stop aging once they reach adulthood. From what I remember, for them getting old is more of a mental and emotion thing, even though they don't grow gray and frail. Supposedly even other elves have a hard time telling an elf in his prime from an elf in his older years at first glance.

And I think there was a whole part about them "evolving into a beings of light", or something like that. I think they even start glowing or something later on. Then again I probably need to reread that section before I keep talking...
Kalarus
06-07-07, 08:00 AM actauly elans dont have a max age it was in the erreta nifty eh :D

makes u wonder though what happends to an elan stuck in a pit trap, since they can go without food and water too.

Very nifty. Now to find a group that plays for 1000 in-game years... most groups I know don't even keep track of age for their characters because they never see the next age category before death/retirement anyway. Unless you start 1 year behind, then the DM might remember to occasionally age players if you ask about it :P

As for Elans who fall down pit traps, they obviously die of boredom ;)
Orenmir
06-07-07, 11:29 AM One thing that slightly annoyed me about D&D was the rules' treatment of Elves' aging and dying. If we were to truly look at LotR (which is the original true essence of the game) treatment of Elves -- they are immune to disease and old-age. They only die from physical trauma (same type of trauma that would kill a human). But, they also decide to move on to the Gray Havens at some point in their life (be it age 700 or 5000 or whenever they feel like it). In our D&D setting, you could just decide never to go!

In conclusion, I think it's best to roleplay Elves' age and aging-affects. Playing an 10,000 year-old Elf could be interesting and fun.
The Ubbergeek
06-07-07, 12:36 PM Dsioclaimer - the D&D is NOT the Tolkienesque one, and thankfully so.

D&D is it's own thing, with it' sown flavor.
Orenmir
06-07-07, 02:45 PM Dsioclaimer - the D&D is NOT the Tolkienesque one, and thankfully so.

D&D is it's own thing, with it' sown flavor.

I will agree that it has evolved into something larger than the LotR scope; but, we all know it's roots are there. When it come races, envirnoment, and any other aspects that were so clearly and vastly detailed in the book - I like to keep those original. Afterall, that's what the original developers of the game wanted -- am I wrong?
Salla
06-07-07, 04:13 PM for them getting old is more of a mental and emotion thing, even though they don't grow gray and frail.

Those negatives to STR, DEX, and CON sure look like frailty to me. :)
Yadot
06-07-07, 04:19 PM You may not be wrong about Gygax, et al, when they turned Chainmail into a roleplaying game, but all things change and DnD has obtained its own flavor - a flavor that still has some roots in Tolkien - but never-the-less its own. Plus, largely because Tolkien was, in the minds of the general public, the first main fantasy author his works have become over used cliches and even tropes.
MushroomSpore
06-07-07, 05:46 PM Actually, according to Races of the Wild Elves physically stop aging once they reach adulthood. From what I remember, for them getting old is more of a mental and emotion thing, even though they don't grow gray and frail. Supposedly even other elves have a hard time telling an elf in his prime from an elf in his older years at first glance.

And I think there was a whole part about them "evolving into a beings of light", or something like that. I think they even start glowing or something later on. Then again I probably need to reread that section before I keep talking...

This is the fruitiest thing I've ever read, thanks for reminding me why I don't like elves. :heehee I just can't handle the fact that nooooo, elves have to stay young and pretty forever! They turn into magical glowing fairies instead of getting old and dying like the rest of us puny mortals! Oh well, that's what comes of death-fearing, youth-worshipping humans who want to get their wish fulfillment kicks this way.

Your game your rules, but man. Until elves are changed to Fey instead of Humanoids, any of my players who come to me with things like this are getting smacked around with a sack of d20s. :P
Sabni
06-07-07, 05:54 PM I see that no one here is factoring in if the elf in question is a smoker or a non-smoker.

If we calculate the percentage of total lifespan that smoking is reputed to cut off the average person's life (10 years or 7.5%), and that the estimated worldwide percentage of the population that are smokers is roughly 32.7%, then we can deduce that the actual maximum age for an elf is going to be somewhat more in the 725 year range.

These figures, of course, are just ballpark estimates, and do not include second hand smoke, other cancers from refined sugars, diabetes stemming from refined sugars, or elf on elf crimes due to high stress from nicotine withdrawl.
Explosive_Zombie
06-08-07, 12:45 AM I see that no one here is factoring in if the elf in question is a smoker or a non-smoker.

If we calculate the percentage of total lifespan that smoking is reputed to cut off the average person's life (10 years or 7.5%), and that the estimated worldwide percentage of the population that are smokers is roughly 32.7%, then we can deduce that the actual maximum age for an elf is going to be somewhat more in the 725 year range.

These figures, of course, are just ballpark estimates, and do not include second hand smoke, other cancers from refined sugars, diabetes stemming from refined sugars, or elf on elf crimes due to high stress from nicotine withdrawl.

:clap: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
key
06-15-07, 04:51 AM What is an elf's maximum age?
For a sun elf, 1020 years.
key
06-15-07, 01:47 PM What is an elf's maximum age?

Specifically, what is the maximum age of a grey elf?

I see at least 3 options:

A) Since the MM does not list anything different, go with the standard 750 years.

B) 925 years, per the 2nd edition Book of Elves. There, high elves have a max of 750, while grey have 925.

C) Since the sun elf of 3.5 is essentially the grey elf of 2nd edition, go with the sun elf max of 1020.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Scipio
06-15-07, 11:24 PM Specifically, what is the maximum age of a grey elf?

I see at least 3 options:

A) Since the MM does not list anything different, go with the standard 750 years.

B) 925 years, per the 2nd edition Book of Elves. There, high elves have a max of 750, while grey have 925.

C) Since the sun elf of 3.5 is essentially the grey elf of 2nd edition, go with the sun elf max of 1020.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

The answer is B. IIRC, if 2nd edition sources have not been officially retconned in 3e or 3.5e then they're still considered to be canon.
Salla
06-15-07, 11:33 PM The answer is B. IIRC, if 2nd edition sources have not been officially retconned in 3e or 3.5e then they're still considered to be canon.

Says who?

No mention in the MM is made that elven subraces have different maximum ages that I can recall, so they're still elves and still go off the age chart in the PHB.
key
06-16-07, 10:58 PM For what it's worth, I asked CustServ and they said:

"The Grey elf uses the High Elves age, so they use the maximum age outlined on page 109 of the Player's Handbook."

So the switch from 2nd edition to v3.5 has affected the 5 major subraces' maximum age as follows:
High (no change)
Drow (increased)
Aquatic (increased)
Sylvan (increased)
Grey (decreased)

The grey are the only ones who got screwed. Thanks 3.5! My next character will now have to be a sun elf...unless anyone knows of an elf subrace who has a higher maximum age? (using 3.5 rules of course)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
celestialkin 06-07-07, 02:04 AM	While reading the elf entry in the PHB Table 6-5: Aging Effects (pg. 109) I noticed it lists elves as reaching venerable age at 350 years, yet on pg. 15 under the Elves Physical Description: it states that elves can live over 700 years, which I believe is also mentioned in the MM and Races of the Wild. In addition, right above Table 6-5: Aging Effects it states most creatures die long before reaching their race's venerable age, so it implies that elves usually live even less than 350 years. Was this a typo? If it was a typo where can I find the correct chart? Oh, and does anyone know how the aging effects would affect an elf character who has become an undead/deathless? One of my current characters is a 1563 year old Grey Elf Skeleton deathless who retained his soul and intelligence score (my DM houseruled a +3 LA).
Rerecros 06-07-07, 02:12 AM	Well most creatures do die before they become venerable. Disease, accidents, MURDER, what have you.
SilentOne 06-07-07, 02:15 AM	Most die before reching vulnerable because of disease, war, rampaging demons, etc., not because they just die of pre-old age. As for the maximum age, they reach vulnerable at 350, as you said. Then, they live for another 4d% years, as indicated in the Description chapter of the PHB (and in the SRD), so the max age then is 350 + max roll on all of the d100s, so 350+400 = 750 years, which is, in fact, over 700 years.
Doleth 06-07-07, 02:21 AM	When the phb say that most people die before reaching the end of their natural life, it referes to the fact that many people get killed by dragon, orc, housecat, demons, necromencer with undead army, adventuring party, disease, injury with no way to afford magical healing, plot device, exposure to cold, and any other leading cause of death in the world of DnD. So, if an elf doesn't suffer from any of this, he'll die from old age anytime between 354 and 750 years old. That's barring any attempt to further his lifespan in any way, naturaly. For your other question, I don't know about the deathless, but most undead are not affected by the passage of time, save for being more and more detached from the life they once had. So, if you're somewhat low-level, the fact that your elf is over a thousand years old only means he was too lazy to do stuff until the begining of the game.:D Edit : got ninja-ed
Kevin Andrew Murphy 06-07-07, 02:26 AM	I think you're seeing another example of the poor editing between the PHB, DMG & MM. If you look back to 1st ed. elves lived about 700 years. Someone decided to bump that down by half so there wouldn't be the "wearing diapers until 35" jokes there used to be but failed to notify the designers of the other two books. As with all such discrepancies, decide with your DM which of the two rulings you want to run with and which you want to rule as error and go from there. Personally, I like elves to be older and conside the 350 year old ones to be the half elves.
Doleth 06-07-07, 02:49 AM	I think you're seeing another example of the poor editing between the PHB, DMG & MM. If you look back to 1st ed. elves lived about 700 years. Someone decided to bump that down by half so there wouldn't be the "wearing diapers until 35" jokes there used to be but failed to notify the designers of the other two books. As with all such discrepancies, decide with your DM which of the two rulings you want to run with and which you want to rule as error and go from there. Personally, I like elves to be older and conside the 350 year old ones to be the half elves. Not to offense you or anything, but you are quite mistaken in that post. First, the only core rulebook to give some sort of number for the life span of the elf is the player handbook, the monster manual only say "Their long life span make the Elf...." and I don't remember anything about it in the DMG, could be wrong about that one. Also, saying "and can live to be more than 700 years old" and that the maximum age of the elf is 350+4d% amount to the same, so there is absolutly no error. Anyway, I think the maximum age entry is more a guideline as to around when can an average member of the relevant race can die of old age.
celestialkin 06-07-07, 03:03 AM	Sorry for the misunderstanding. I should have payed closer attention to the 4d% part. I completely forgot that d% = d100. Thanks for clearing this up guy. :blush: However, I find it a bit odd that you could go over 350 years not knowing when you're finally gonna drop dead of old age, even though their bodies don't deteriorate over the years.
Kevin Andrew Murphy 06-07-07, 03:20 AM	Not to offense you or anything, but you are quite mistaken in that post. First, the only core rulebook to give some sort of number for the life span of the elf is the player handbook, the monster manual only say "Their long life span make the Elf...." and I don't remember anything about it in the DMG, could be wrong about that one. Also, saying "and can live to be more than 700 years old" and that the maximum age of the elf is 350+4d% amount to the same, so there is absolutly no error. Anyway, I think the maximum age entry is more a guideline as to around when can an average member of the relevant race can die of old age. Ah. Well, was just taking what was reported as given. I just checked my 1st ed DMG, however, and found that I was correct on the elves max age being nerfed. Page 13, DMG 1st ed, lists Venerable elves as living from 1000-2000 years max depending on their sub race.
MushroomSpore 06-07-07, 05:21 AM	However, I find it a bit odd that you could go over 350 years not knowing when you're finally gonna drop dead of old age, even though their bodies don't deteriorate over the years. What do you mean they "don't deteriorate"? They take aging penalties to their physical stats just like everyone else. Yes, gasp, even pretty elves get old. :P If you wanted to really figure out what an elf at 360 looks like compared to an elf at 700, just do some percentages and compare it to various points on the human aging chart. It's just like how a human at 15 "looks as old" as an elf at...whatever their starting age is, I don't have my PHB here. So a human at max age (110?) is roughly comparable to an elf at 750, so that elf is going to look REALLY OLD. Now, the ways in which this manifests may vary by species. For instance, going by some of the writing in Planescape: Torment, old githzerai/yanki tend to look like their skin is stretched too tight over their bones, instead of getting wrinkles like humans do. If you like a little Tolkien flavor in your elves, maybe elves just seem to "fade out" as they age, and then their spirits go over the sea or whatever. I don't pay much attention to elves. :P Ah. Well, was just taking what was reported as given. I just checked my 1st ed DMG, however, and found that I was correct on the elves max age being nerfed. Page 13, DMG 1st ed, lists Venerable elves as living from 1000-2000 years max depending on their sub race. They did pretty much the same thing to githzerai/yanki from 2E Planescape to 3E. Personally, I and my games/campaigns still use the old aging charts for giths, it's just more flavorful somehow.
Explosive_Zombie 06-07-07, 05:35 AM	Just a comparison I find funny. The Elan in the XPH reach venerable at 1000 years and live for another 10D%... talk about elves getting gyped.
lantan_gnome 06-07-07, 05:45 AM	actauly elans dont have a max age it was in the erreta nifty eh :D makes u wonder though what happends to an elan stuck in a pit trap, since they can go without food and water too.
celestialkin 06-07-07, 05:45 AM	What do you mean they "don't deteriorate"? They take aging penalties to their physical stats just like everyone else. Yes, gasp, even pretty elves get old. :P If you wanted to really figure out what an elf at 360 looks like compared to an elf at 700, just do some percentages and compare it to various points on the human aging chart. It's just like how a human at 15 "looks as old" as an elf at...whatever their starting age is, I don't have my PHB here. So a human at max age (110?) is roughly comparable to an elf at 750, so that elf is going to look REALLY OLD. Now, the ways in which this manifests may vary by species. For instance, going by some of the writing in Planescape: Torment, old githzerai/yanki tend to look like their skin is stretched too tight over their bones, instead of getting wrinkles like humans do. If you like a little Tolkien flavor in your elves, maybe elves just seem to "fade out" as they age, and then their spirits go over the sea or whatever. I don't pay much attention to elves. :P They did pretty much the same thing to githzerai/yanki from 2E Planescape to 3E. Personally, I and my games/campaigns still use the old aging charts for giths, it's just more flavorful somehow. Actually, according to Races of the Wild Elves physically stop aging once they reach adulthood. From what I remember, for them getting old is more of a mental and emotion thing, even though they don't grow gray and frail. Supposedly even other elves have a hard time telling an elf in his prime from an elf in his older years at first glance. And I think there was a whole part about them "evolving into a beings of light", or something like that. I think they even start glowing or something later on. Then again I probably need to reread that section before I keep talking...
Kalarus 06-07-07, 08:00 AM	actauly elans dont have a max age it was in the erreta nifty eh :D makes u wonder though what happends to an elan stuck in a pit trap, since they can go without food and water too. Very nifty. Now to find a group that plays for 1000 in-game years... most groups I know don't even keep track of age for their characters because they never see the next age category before death/retirement anyway. Unless you start 1 year behind, then the DM might remember to occasionally age players if you ask about it :P As for Elans who fall down pit traps, they obviously die of boredom ;)
Orenmir 06-07-07, 11:29 AM	One thing that slightly annoyed me about D&D was the rules' treatment of Elves' aging and dying. If we were to truly look at LotR (which is the original true essence of the game) treatment of Elves -- they are immune to disease and old-age. They only die from physical trauma (same type of trauma that would kill a human). But, they also decide to move on to the Gray Havens at some point in their life (be it age 700 or 5000 or whenever they feel like it). In our D&D setting, you could just decide never to go! In conclusion, I think it's best to roleplay Elves' age and aging-affects. Playing an 10,000 year-old Elf could be interesting and fun.
The Ubbergeek 06-07-07, 12:36 PM	Dsioclaimer - the D&D is NOT the Tolkienesque one, and thankfully so. D&D is it's own thing, with it' sown flavor.
Orenmir 06-07-07, 02:45 PM	Dsioclaimer - the D&D is NOT the Tolkienesque one, and thankfully so. D&D is it's own thing, with it' sown flavor. I will agree that it has evolved into something larger than the LotR scope; but, we all know it's roots are there. When it come races, envirnoment, and any other aspects that were so clearly and vastly detailed in the book - I like to keep those original. Afterall, that's what the original developers of the game wanted -- am I wrong?
Salla 06-07-07, 04:13 PM	for them getting old is more of a mental and emotion thing, even though they don't grow gray and frail. Those negatives to STR, DEX, and CON sure look like frailty to me. :)
Yadot 06-07-07, 04:19 PM	You may not be wrong about Gygax, et al, when they turned Chainmail into a roleplaying game, but all things change and DnD has obtained its own flavor - a flavor that still has some roots in Tolkien - but never-the-less its own. Plus, largely because Tolkien was, in the minds of the general public, the first main fantasy author his works have become over used cliches and even tropes.
MushroomSpore 06-07-07, 05:46 PM	Actually, according to Races of the Wild Elves physically stop aging once they reach adulthood. From what I remember, for them getting old is more of a mental and emotion thing, even though they don't grow gray and frail. Supposedly even other elves have a hard time telling an elf in his prime from an elf in his older years at first glance. And I think there was a whole part about them "evolving into a beings of light", or something like that. I think they even start glowing or something later on. Then again I probably need to reread that section before I keep talking... This is the fruitiest thing I've ever read, thanks for reminding me why I don't like elves. :heehee I just can't handle the fact that nooooo, elves have to stay young and pretty forever! They turn into magical glowing fairies instead of getting old and dying like the rest of us puny mortals! Oh well, that's what comes of death-fearing, youth-worshipping humans who want to get their wish fulfillment kicks this way. Your game your rules, but man. Until elves are changed to Fey instead of Humanoids, any of my players who come to me with things like this are getting smacked around with a sack of d20s. :P
Sabni 06-07-07, 05:54 PM	I see that no one here is factoring in if the elf in question is a smoker or a non-smoker. If we calculate the percentage of total lifespan that smoking is reputed to cut off the average person's life (10 years or 7.5%), and that the estimated worldwide percentage of the population that are smokers is roughly 32.7%, then we can deduce that the actual maximum age for an elf is going to be somewhat more in the 725 year range. These figures, of course, are just ballpark estimates, and do not include second hand smoke, other cancers from refined sugars, diabetes stemming from refined sugars, or elf on elf crimes due to high stress from nicotine withdrawl.
Explosive_Zombie 06-08-07, 12:45 AM	I see that no one here is factoring in if the elf in question is a smoker or a non-smoker. If we calculate the percentage of total lifespan that smoking is reputed to cut off the average person's life (10 years or 7.5%), and that the estimated worldwide percentage of the population that are smokers is roughly 32.7%, then we can deduce that the actual maximum age for an elf is going to be somewhat more in the 725 year range. These figures, of course, are just ballpark estimates, and do not include second hand smoke, other cancers from refined sugars, diabetes stemming from refined sugars, or elf on elf crimes due to high stress from nicotine withdrawl. :clap: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
key 06-15-07, 04:51 AM	What is an elf's maximum age? For a sun elf, 1020 years.
key 06-15-07, 01:47 PM	What is an elf's maximum age? Specifically, what is the maximum age of a grey elf? I see at least 3 options: A) Since the MM does not list anything different, go with the standard 750 years. B) 925 years, per the 2nd edition Book of Elves. There, high elves have a max of 750, while grey have 925. C) Since the sun elf of 3.5 is essentially the grey elf of 2nd edition, go with the sun elf max of 1020. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Scipio 06-15-07, 11:24 PM	Specifically, what is the maximum age of a grey elf? I see at least 3 options: A) Since the MM does not list anything different, go with the standard 750 years. B) 925 years, per the 2nd edition Book of Elves. There, high elves have a max of 750, while grey have 925. C) Since the sun elf of 3.5 is essentially the grey elf of 2nd edition, go with the sun elf max of 1020. Does anyone have any suggestions? The answer is B. IIRC, if 2nd edition sources have not been officially retconned in 3e or 3.5e then they're still considered to be canon.
Salla 06-15-07, 11:33 PM	The answer is B. IIRC, if 2nd edition sources have not been officially retconned in 3e or 3.5e then they're still considered to be canon. Says who? No mention in the MM is made that elven subraces have different maximum ages that I can recall, so they're still elves and still go off the age chart in the PHB.
key 06-16-07, 10:58 PM	For what it's worth, I asked CustServ and they said: "The Grey elf uses the High Elves age, so they use the maximum age outlined on page 109 of the Player's Handbook." So the switch from 2nd edition to v3.5 has affected the 5 major subraces' maximum age as follows: High (no change) Drow (increased) Aquatic (increased) Sylvan (increased) Grey (decreased) The grey are the only ones who got screwed. Thanks 3.5! My next character will now have to be a sun elf...unless anyone knows of an elf subrace who has a higher maximum age? (using 3.5 rules of course)