What if Santa's helpers, instead of being tiny toy-making elves, were D&D style elves: forest-loving, magically-inclined, longbow wielding.  What type of jobs would Santa have for them?  What kind of enemies would they face (in keeping with the Christmas spirit)?

I don't know why I thought of this, except the idea of an adventuring party of elves working for Santa just seemed so incredibly awesome, I thought others might be able to expand on it.

It depends on the tone you find most amusing.

You could very well do a straight-up quest adventure wherein Santa's elves (the PCS of course) have to save Christmas.  That might mean rescuing Santa, recovering toys, etc.  Like a TV movie you'd see on ABC Family.

The situation of course invites parody and satire, and that opens up all kinds of avenues of crazy.

Rowdy elves busted down to stable duty, dealing with uppity, snobby reindeer.  Black ops against a major toy company trying to horn in on Santa's turf.  Babysitters for a bumbling, aging Santa Claus.  Escorting Mrs Claus to an important meeting in a major world metropolis.  Working Internal Security to ferret out spies within Santa's organization.

Add in Christmas-flavored foes (Dark Reindeer, Abominable Snowmen, Jack Frost, Yukon Cornelius) or even other holiday mascots (The Easter Bunny trying to take over Christmas from Santa), and you're on your way.

Or you could have the Martians try to kidnap Santa.  Again.

There's a children's book called "Jo Jo the Elf Meets Santa's Enemy".

Jo Jo isn't a cute little elf, like the ones who work around Santa's workshop, no sir.  Jo Jo is a badass wood elf with a magic sword from the Black Forest of Germany, who works as Santa's bodyguard.  In the story, Jo Jo fights off various monsters before confronting Natanzo, the Master of Evil, who wants Santa's bag of toys.  Jo Jo is, of course, far too badass to ever let something like that happen.

It's a cute story (and I'm willing to bet cold, hard cash that it was written by a gamer).

Good villains might include Pere Foutard and/or the Krampus(es? Krampi? I dunno.)

Quote from: beejazzGood villains might include Pere Foutard and/or the Krampus(es? Krampi? I dunno.)

Well, it's either Coca Cola Santa and his elves _or_ the evil spirits...

Ooh... or you could bring in the butcher from that one French carol! You know... the guy who chopped up the orphan children and kept them in a barrel of salt!




What?

Version 1 : Santa's Bunch

You're the old timers in the workshop. Back in the day when dirty work needed to be done, you dealt with the naughty on the list. These days, you slum away the time, drinking yuletide joy from the boots of Santarina's...

But the Grinch is back. That green bastard of old has, has gotten the  the list and Rudolph...yes the Rudolph. Time for the crew to shake of the years, and pick up sword and bow. Let's go get Rudolph...Why the hell not?

Regards,
David R

Version 2 - Christmas : The Seasoning

When did we lose the true meaning of Christmas? Have these mortals truly forgotten the pagan origins of this most cherished of holidays? Why are they doomed? Why are we allowing them to continue in this World of Consumerism?

You are the chosen sacred warriors of Father Christmas, an ancient spirit from the other world. You must propagate the Clause, the true meaning of Christmas. But beware the Hallmarks, for their words are prosaic but their intent malicious....

Regards,
David R

Santa's Elves: Survival Horror

The Lobo ParaMilitary Christmas Special! (Warning: I'm not sure any of the elves actually survive...)

A friend of mine who likes to homebrew (and actually did write some stuff for Chaosium) wrote a little game called Rooftops and Reindeer. Amusing for a few one-shots.

He actually pitched it to Mark Rein(splat)Hagen once. Mark actually looked interested, I'm told, but wanted to gut it and put his own mechanics in.

My friend said nevermind.

Version 3 - My life With Santa

Okay, I'll let this drop....

Regards,
David R

Quote from: David RVersion 3 - My life With Santa

Okay, I'll let this drop....

Regards,
David R

Maybe Santa in the Vineyard...?  

I'm running the "let's kill Santa" campaign.
We've been talking about it for several years, but noone has been brave enough to take it on...leave it to the angry mall worker! It's on this year.:evillaugh:

To me, Santa's Elves have always been more like the diminutive types, ala the Forest Gnomes of D&D. I don't know how it would feel with elves in the D&D model.