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Can elves trance?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
blueseraphtears
Jul 12, 2008 11:39:02 Am I missing something? In the PHB, elves do not gain the ability to trance. However, Eladrin and Drow (both offshoots of elves) can. What's that about?
#2
bedeverekm
Jul 12, 2008 12:02:01 Elves are much more tied to the 'real' world, so have lost the ability to trance.

I believe this is one of a number of small changes to elves that distinguishes them from Eladrin.
#3
nehallenia
Jul 12, 2008 19:54:43 Depends on your DM.

Although according to the 4e rules, they must sleep, there are plenty of DM's who give both Elf and Eladrin longer lifespans (600 and 800 years, instead of 200-300) and allow Elfs to meditate instead of sleep, although not with the full awareness that is granted to an Eladrin.
#4
The_Stray
Jul 14, 2008 7:40:37 Technically, no, Elves don't trance. I turned this into a plot point in my game...The Eladrin trance because they can't sleep normally, thanks to an ancient curse that subjects them to attacks by dream monsters if they do. While Trancing has the benefit of needing less overall rest, the Eladrin slowly go insane over the years because of the lack of true dreaming sleep. The Elves, on the other hand, split from the Eladrin race before this curse was laid, and thus get to escape it.
#5
eldritch_lord
Jul 14, 2008 8:13:08
Technically, no, Elves don't trance. I turned this into a plot point in my game...The Eladrin trance because they can't sleep normally, thanks to an ancient curse that subjects them to attacks by dream monsters if they do. While Trancing has the benefit of needing less overall rest, the Eladrin slowly go insane over the years because of the lack of true dreaming sleep. The Elves, on the other hand, split from the Eladrin race before this curse was laid, and thus get to escape it.

Interesting...I did it the other way around. Before the elven race split, they were attacked by a Quori-like race that invaded their dreams to try to gain a foothold on the Prime. The elves who would become eladrin developed trancing as a way to escape. The eladrin escaped to the Feywild and took up the study of magic to defeat the Quori, now that they could get a good night's rest so they could study.

They returned to the Prime and offered their knowledge to the rest of the elves; some elves refused to trance, believing that since the eladrin were the arcane, teleporting PHB eladrin now, they were actually quori in disguise. These became the regular elves. Some elves took the quori up on their offer, and thought that they should wipe out the regular elves to end the Quori menace. These became the drow. The eladrin were horrified at this idea and banished the drow to the Shadowfell, where they remain today; meanwhile, the elves finally were able to protect themselves by "finding religion" and gaining divine protection of their minds from the Quori.

The elves found out about the drow and their desire to kill the elves, and took the battle to them, so the elves and drow have been warring for a while now. Both races are divinely-inclined and so are mostly evenly matched, while the eladrin are arcanely-inclined and are trying to discover exactly what the Quori are and what their weaknesses are, in case they come again.

So...yeah. That's my version. Great minds think alike, huh?
#6
Drecon84
Jul 14, 2008 8:13:46 Eladrin trance because they are otherworldy and mystical creatures. You can hardly call elves that. You are free to change such factors if they work for your campaign though.

I for one have made a history that poses the elves as the ancient race. Doring one time period there is a civil war between two factions within the elven race. On led by Corellon and one led by Lolth. Once the two leaders ascend to godhood they start making their people more like them and eventually you end up with the eladrin en the drow elves. The eladrin, being magically enhanced, highly spiritual creatures don't require sleep while the ordinary elves weren't remade and behave like ordinary elves.
#7
tyrandor
Jul 14, 2008 12:00:42 Elves are offshoot of Eladrin, not the other way around.

"At the dawn of creation, elves and eladrin were a single race dwelling in the feywild and in the world, passing freely between the two. When the drow rebelled against their kin, [...] the resulting battles tore the fey kingdoms asunder. Elves are descendant of the House who lived primarily in the world, and they no longer dream of the feywild."

When they 'split' from the Eladrin, they lost their power to trance.

The Drows, didn't.

Different (de-)evolution
#8
aoxes
Jul 16, 2008 11:02:26 Eladrin and Drow have may have trance, but Elves get techno...Techno goes faster than Trance, hence the 7 square movement.
#9
_jayne_cobb_
Jul 16, 2008 12:50:17
Eladrin and Drow have may have trance, but Elves get techno...Techno goes faster than Trance, hence the 7 square movement.

Damn, I was gonna make that joke! :P
#10
The_Stray
Jul 17, 2008 23:08:22
Interesting...I did it the other way around. Before the elven race split, they were attacked by a Quori-like race that invaded their dreams to try to gain a foothold on the Prime. The elves who would become eladrin developed trancing as a way to escape. The eladrin escaped to the Feywild and took up the study of magic to defeat the Quori, now that they could get a good night's rest so they could study.

They returned to the Prime and offered their knowledge to the rest of the elves; some elves refused to trance, believing that since the eladrin were the arcane, teleporting PHB eladrin now, they were actually quori in disguise. These became the regular elves. Some elves took the quori up on their offer, and thought that they should wipe out the regular elves to end the Quori menace. These became the drow. The eladrin were horrified at this idea and banished the drow to the Shadowfell, where they remain today; meanwhile, the elves finally were able to protect themselves by "finding religion" and gaining divine protection of their minds from the Quori.

The elves found out about the drow and their desire to kill the elves, and took the battle to them, so the elves and drow have been warring for a while now. Both races are divinely-inclined and so are mostly evenly matched, while the eladrin are arcanely-inclined and are trying to discover exactly what the Quori are and what their weaknesses are, in case they come again.

So...yeah. That's my version. Great minds think alike, huh?

Nice!
#11
furryhowler
Jul 18, 2008 2:42:54
Am I missing something? In the PHB, elves do not gain the ability to trance. However, Eladrin and Drow (both offshoots of elves) can. What's that about?

Elves cannot trance; they dont like the repetitive beat - which is much more dwarvish :D
#12
Drecon84
Jul 18, 2008 10:57:41
Elves are offshoot of Eladrin, not the other way around.

"At the dawn of creation, elves and eladrin were a single race dwelling in the feywild and in the world, passing freely between the two. When the drow rebelled against their kin, [...] the resulting battles tore the fey kingdoms asunder. Elves are descendant of the House who lived primarily in the world, and they no longer dream of the feywild."

When they 'split' from the Eladrin, they lost their power to trance.

The Drows, didn't.

Different (de-)evolution

Ah, thank you for clearing up the history. I'm not really familiar with the story as it should be so I try to fill in the blanks on my own.

I personally don't like the way the gods and other realms like the feywild and the underdark are set up so I might not stick to it but it's always good to have a view of how everything was intended by the designers.
#13
Kaganfindel
Jul 20, 2008 22:53:56
Elves cannot trance; they dont like the repetitive beat - which is much more dwarvish :D

That, and the glow sticks aren't biodegradable.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 blueseraphtears Jul 12, 2008 11:39:02	Am I missing something? In the PHB, elves do not gain the ability to trance. However, Eladrin and Drow (both offshoots of elves) can. What's that about?
#2 bedeverekm Jul 12, 2008 12:02:01	Elves are much more tied to the 'real' world, so have lost the ability to trance. I believe this is one of a number of small changes to elves that distinguishes them from Eladrin.
#3 nehallenia Jul 12, 2008 19:54:43	Depends on your DM. Although according to the 4e rules, they must sleep, there are plenty of DM's who give both Elf and Eladrin longer lifespans (600 and 800 years, instead of 200-300) and allow Elfs to meditate instead of sleep, although not with the full awareness that is granted to an Eladrin.
#4 The_Stray Jul 14, 2008 7:40:37	Technically, no, Elves don't trance. I turned this into a plot point in my game...The Eladrin trance because they can't sleep normally, thanks to an ancient curse that subjects them to attacks by dream monsters if they do. While Trancing has the benefit of needing less overall rest, the Eladrin slowly go insane over the years because of the lack of true dreaming sleep. The Elves, on the other hand, split from the Eladrin race before this curse was laid, and thus get to escape it.
#5 eldritch_lord Jul 14, 2008 8:13:08	Technically, no, Elves don't trance. I turned this into a plot point in my game...The Eladrin trance because they can't sleep normally, thanks to an ancient curse that subjects them to attacks by dream monsters if they do. While Trancing has the benefit of needing less overall rest, the Eladrin slowly go insane over the years because of the lack of true dreaming sleep. The Elves, on the other hand, split from the Eladrin race before this curse was laid, and thus get to escape it. Interesting...I did it the other way around. Before the elven race split, they were attacked by a Quori-like race that invaded their dreams to try to gain a foothold on the Prime. The elves who would become eladrin developed trancing as a way to escape. The eladrin escaped to the Feywild and took up the study of magic to defeat the Quori, now that they could get a good night's rest so they could study. They returned to the Prime and offered their knowledge to the rest of the elves; some elves refused to trance, believing that since the eladrin were the arcane, teleporting PHB eladrin now, they were actually quori in disguise. These became the regular elves. Some elves took the quori up on their offer, and thought that they should wipe out the regular elves to end the Quori menace. These became the drow. The eladrin were horrified at this idea and banished the drow to the Shadowfell, where they remain today; meanwhile, the elves finally were able to protect themselves by "finding religion" and gaining divine protection of their minds from the Quori. The elves found out about the drow and their desire to kill the elves, and took the battle to them, so the elves and drow have been warring for a while now. Both races are divinely-inclined and so are mostly evenly matched, while the eladrin are arcanely-inclined and are trying to discover exactly what the Quori are and what their weaknesses are, in case they come again. So...yeah. That's my version. Great minds think alike, huh?
#6 Drecon84 Jul 14, 2008 8:13:46	Eladrin trance because they are otherworldy and mystical creatures. You can hardly call elves that. You are free to change such factors if they work for your campaign though. I for one have made a history that poses the elves as the ancient race. Doring one time period there is a civil war between two factions within the elven race. On led by Corellon and one led by Lolth. Once the two leaders ascend to godhood they start making their people more like them and eventually you end up with the eladrin en the drow elves. The eladrin, being magically enhanced, highly spiritual creatures don't require sleep while the ordinary elves weren't remade and behave like ordinary elves.
#7 tyrandor Jul 14, 2008 12:00:42	Elves are offshoot of Eladrin, not the other way around. "At the dawn of creation, elves and eladrin were a single race dwelling in the feywild and in the world, passing freely between the two. When the drow rebelled against their kin, [...] the resulting battles tore the fey kingdoms asunder. Elves are descendant of the House who lived primarily in the world, and they no longer dream of the feywild." When they 'split' from the Eladrin, they lost their power to trance. The Drows, didn't. Different (de-)evolution
#8 aoxes Jul 16, 2008 11:02:26	Eladrin and Drow have may have trance, but Elves get techno...Techno goes faster than Trance, hence the 7 square movement.
#9 _jayne_cobb_ Jul 16, 2008 12:50:17	Eladrin and Drow have may have trance, but Elves get techno...Techno goes faster than Trance, hence the 7 square movement. Damn, I was gonna make that joke! :P
#10 The_Stray Jul 17, 2008 23:08:22	Interesting...I did it the other way around. Before the elven race split, they were attacked by a Quori-like race that invaded their dreams to try to gain a foothold on the Prime. The elves who would become eladrin developed trancing as a way to escape. The eladrin escaped to the Feywild and took up the study of magic to defeat the Quori, now that they could get a good night's rest so they could study. They returned to the Prime and offered their knowledge to the rest of the elves; some elves refused to trance, believing that since the eladrin were the arcane, teleporting PHB eladrin now, they were actually quori in disguise. These became the regular elves. Some elves took the quori up on their offer, and thought that they should wipe out the regular elves to end the Quori menace. These became the drow. The eladrin were horrified at this idea and banished the drow to the Shadowfell, where they remain today; meanwhile, the elves finally were able to protect themselves by "finding religion" and gaining divine protection of their minds from the Quori. The elves found out about the drow and their desire to kill the elves, and took the battle to them, so the elves and drow have been warring for a while now. Both races are divinely-inclined and so are mostly evenly matched, while the eladrin are arcanely-inclined and are trying to discover exactly what the Quori are and what their weaknesses are, in case they come again. So...yeah. That's my version. Great minds think alike, huh? Nice!
#11 furryhowler Jul 18, 2008 2:42:54	Am I missing something? In the PHB, elves do not gain the ability to trance. However, Eladrin and Drow (both offshoots of elves) can. What's that about? Elves cannot trance; they dont like the repetitive beat - which is much more dwarvish :D
#12 Drecon84 Jul 18, 2008 10:57:41	Elves are offshoot of Eladrin, not the other way around. "At the dawn of creation, elves and eladrin were a single race dwelling in the feywild and in the world, passing freely between the two. When the drow rebelled against their kin, [...] the resulting battles tore the fey kingdoms asunder. Elves are descendant of the House who lived primarily in the world, and they no longer dream of the feywild." When they 'split' from the Eladrin, they lost their power to trance. The Drows, didn't. Different (de-)evolution Ah, thank you for clearing up the history. I'm not really familiar with the story as it should be so I try to fill in the blanks on my own. I personally don't like the way the gods and other realms like the feywild and the underdark are set up so I might not stick to it but it's always good to have a view of how everything was intended by the designers.
#13 Kaganfindel Jul 20, 2008 22:53:56	Elves cannot trance; they dont like the repetitive beat - which is much more dwarvish :D That, and the glow sticks aren't biodegradable.