For our upcoming campaign we are redoing (long story) I am going to be playing an old character I haven't played in years.
Now, i am to play a wood elf (was human in 4E, but I now stray away from playing humans since I am one irl lol). I am also going to play a ridiculously young elf. Not 100 years old, not 125, no. I was going to be a 25 year old elven rogue. From what I have read, they reach physical maturity at the same rate as humans, but what does it mean about worldly experience?
I don't exactly believe my character would have the mental capacity of a toddler, per se. Stats are as followed:
Level 5, all rogue.
STR: 10
DEX: 18 (took the +2 DEX with ability improvement at level 4)
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 14
CHA: 10
Is there a proper way I should go about roleplaying a young elf? Is there certain differences in maturity between an old elf to a young elf or is it relatively the same? To older elves, I would most likely be percieved as a child, being so young.
You'll still have above average intelligence and wisdom, so I wouldn't play it like you're less than average in any way at all.
Just less.... "Worldly"... Maybe (depending on background) you're a little naive, or trusting, or overly idealistic, or impressed easily. Maybe you think older elves are just too serious, and you're impatient. You might see it as "wasting time" to meditate on things, or to "slow down and smell the roses." You might see old ways as outdated and older people as clueless relics of the past. You might think you can "do it better" and that traditional ways are holding you or others back.
Elves view you as young because you don't have experience, in the same way a 40 year old human views a 20 year old human. They have the full mental capacity, the intellectual horsepower, quick wit and such, but they may have mistaken beliefs about how the world really works, or are especially idealistic, valuing personal expression over financial practicality, have a short-sighted perspective and difficulty seeing the long-term effects of actions, etc.
Hope that helps!
CrimsonAssassin wrote:
It's rather cliche, but watch the interactions between Legolas and his father and whatshername the woman-elf from Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug.
Young: impetuous, and don't care about the long-term consequences, and convinced of your own strength and skills, and you are ten feet tall and bulletproof, the older guys have lost that edge - proof being that they are a little slower and weaker than you.
You aren't dumb but you also have no idea where your limits are, so you may stop far short of them unknowingly, or blow right past them - to your complete surprise when you find yourself in over your head. (Trying to run the marathon at a sprinter's pace sounds perfectly reasonable; it just takes some training and time at practice.)
The 'mature' elves might react to you as if you were a high school graduate who thinks he's going to change the world all by himself. They will try to reason you down off a foolish drop, especially if they have personal experience of what you want to do, but in the end they will get out of the way and let you jump; "only way for some folk to learn".
These are all really fantastic responses! 
A naive, somewhat reckless elf does make sense. I took the criminal background due to my backstory (lived in a small town that was raided by drow, both parents were killed, escaped with my younger sister, was adopted by thieve's guild).
I could RP the recklessness via my flaw, trying to take REALLY valuable stuff instead of pocket change (though I will still take pocket change). If I see something valuable, I can't think of anything else but to how to steal it. It also ties in my bond that my ill gotten gains go to support my family (my sister and the guild).
I think I know what must be done. Thanks again you all :D
Hopefully, this also helps others who want to play young elves, too.