An Elf?
An examination of Elves in Fantasy Roleplaying Games.
The first in a series of articles by Paul Mather
GM : So Gavin, what type of character do you want to play? Gavin : I want to play an Elf GM : Oh really I suppose because that gives you a lot of good opportunities to play a character with a different outlook on life, a respect for nature and a love of life? Gavin : Naaah! because they get really good Stat bonuses and can see in the dark which means I can fight in any conditions. Plus they tend to get magic easier so if I can't shoot the monsters I can blow em up with fireballs. GM : Sighs

So just why do you want to play that Elf?
For many players the above conversation probably has something of a ring of truth to it. No matter how much we like to 'role play' rather than 'roll play' it's only natural to try and get a character that has advantages. Elves certainly have plenty of those in the majority of fantasy games. Elves are long lived if not immortal, they resist disease, they can see in the dark, they are naturally agile as well as highly intelligent and innately magical. What more could a character need?

What a lot of players fail to think about is how Elves, as represented in literature, think, act and believe. In some games such as runequest the nature of Elves are clearly defined but seldom followed.Probably the poorest representation of elves tends to be in the more D&D like games where eleves seem to be shown as little more than pointy eared humans. Elves should feel alien to us mere mortals. They think, feel, act and are motivated completely differently to humans.

Premise 1. Elves are sneaky!
If we take Tolkein as the font of all knowledge Elves are immensely wise, aged and patient. Elves are very slow to act, rarely resorting to violence, with the exception of the Elves of Mirkwood who, due to their proximity to a number of natural enemies, are more aggressive. Even these Elves. However, would rather use magic to hide rather than face open conflict.
Conclusion 1 : Elves are secretive. Reclusive and slow to act.

Premise 2 : Elves live forever!
We next need to consider the concept of longevity. If an Elf lives as near forever as makes no odds, why hurry to do anything at all? If there is a human who is bothering you, walk away? He'll be dead and gone in a few short decades. The minor petty squabbles between the younger races must seem trivial and fleeting. Elves must find the hustle and bustle of humankind distracting, frustration and, in all probability, annoyingly tiresome. In this respect, when we play roleplaying games, should we allow Elves to accumulate experience and rise in levels as quickly as their short lived colleagues? Humans need to cram information as quickly as possible to learn before they die, Elves could spend centuries studying before considering themselves even remotely educated. They would consider an argument from all angles before committing something down as a fact.
Conclusion 2 : Elves learn slowly, and never rush.

Premise 3 : Elves have pointy ears and see in the dark!
Premise 3 : Elves have pointy ears and see in the dark! Elves have enhanced senses it is true, but is this necessarily always a bonus? Imagine a world where people speak too loudly all the time, where food is so heavily spiced it burns your tongue, where bright lights in the darkness make you squint and everyone around you seems to have an unpleasant body aroma - welcome to an alternate world of the elves - not a pleasant picture! No wonder Elves can come across as unmitigated snobs! This is an important one for me for, though these sensory overloads may seems comparitively trivial but it will be a constant deluge on the senses, day in, day out. No wonder Elves go off by themseleves to stare at pretty, sweet smelling daisies!
Conclusion 3 : Elves are extremely sensitive

Premise 4 : Elves don't get on with Dwarves
Or do they? They certainly have some things in common, they are both reclusive, both craftsmen, long lived etc. True traditional Dwarves are mountain folk and Elves love the deep woods - but this means no territorial disputes, It's unlikely a Dwarf would run off with the Elf kings daughter so why should they not get on? Plus both are being driven deeper and deeper into their native domains by these fast breeding, greedy humans! In actual fact Elves probably have more reason to hate orcs and man than alomost any others. Although hate may not be a concept they would consider but rather dismay, despair and smoe desperation at the speed of the change. Perhaps this is why Elves venture out of the deep woods, so as to better understand the plague sweeping the land.
Conclusion 4 : Elves may get on ewith Dwarves, but do they get on with anyone else?

Coming soon.... So you want to play a Dwarf?