Explain your elf-hate here.

RPGPundit

Homophobia.

Ubermensch, elf fetishism, the annoyingness of elf-obsessed players.

Prior to 3e, I had a big hate for elves. They were always made out to be (as Grim just said above) these exaggeratedly perfect characters, and you'd always end up in a group with that one guy who was obsessed with them.

AD&D 1:

Elf guy: My guy is an elf, so he's the best at being sneaky and finding secret stuff.
 
Rogue: Aww.. but I put all my skill points in--

Elf guy: trifling.

Fighter: At least I'm the best fighter.

Elf: Not with the bow or the sword. Of course I get a bonus with those.

Fighter guy: (looks at his bow and sword.) At least I can wear chainmail...

Elf: Is it elven chainmail? Because elven chainmail is superior.

Magic User: Well, at least I can cast spells!

Elf: I get a bonus on spells too. Enchantments? Don't even work on me. Plus, don't have to sleep. Yep. Just meditate. I've pretty much got magic covered.

Dwarf: Well, good thing for me, I can forge weapons and craft stuff. Thats the awesome thing about being a dwarf...

Elf: Well, everyone knows elven magic weapons and stuff are superior..

Dwarf: but--

Elf: I'm sorry, but I'm all around the best.

Ranger: well at least I'm good in the woods. Oh nevermind.

I like Elves. I just don't like D&D's take on them.

Games with "Elves" I like: Ars Magica, Lord of the Rings and Merp.

I much prefer something based in folklore than filtered so many times its a pale imitation. (I also like the fact that in classic folklore Elves were often inhuman, not "better" than men--just more magical and often lacking in human abilities--like handling/manufactoring with iron.)

Elves? I don't hate elves! Some of my best friends are elves. Who cares if they have a better fashion sense than I, or if they're better at decorating, or if they go to all the chic parties! No skin off my nose!

-mice

I rather like Elves.

Where this concept that they are homosexual, asexual, metrosexual or anything else comes from, I don't know.

In my worlds, Elves are rugged and have the same sexual demographics as humans: About 95% are hetero and 5% something else.

Quote from: VellorianI rather like Elves.

Where this concept that they are homosexual, asexual, metrosexual or anything else comes from, I don't know.

In my worlds, Elves are rugged and have the same sexual demographics as humans: About 95% are hetero and 5% something else.

I don't know where you got your concept, but I got mine from Jim Bob's post up overhead.

-mice

Quote from: Abyssal MawDwarf: Well, good thing for me, I can forge weapons and craft stuff. Thats the awesome thing about being a dwarf...

Elf: Well, everyone knows elven magic weapons and stuff are superior..

Dwarf: but--

I have always considered Dwarven magic to be deeper and more dependable than Elven magic.   Mind you, I know your running example was based on a specific iteration of D&D.

Elven magics, IMHO, should be subtle and gentle: bread that fills you with a single bite, water skins that purify their contents, wooden handles that can't be dropped or broken in battle, fabrics that blend you into your surroundings.

Dwarven magics, IMHO, should be strong, durable and intense: Blades that give a bonus to the hit, armor that withstands groundshaking impacts, and finely woven mesh of chainmail that makes an elf put on an eyeloop to admire.

What's most interesting is when you blend the magics together...

...which is why Elves and Dwarves should always be in a state of cold war.

Mostly it's what others have said: Elves in most RPGs are just a boring nth-generation Tolkien ripoff.

But you can add to that the way that they've also come to embody all kinds of ridiculous romantic Celtophilia.

Quote from: Elliot WilenBut you can add to that the way that they've also come to embody all kinds of ridiculous romantic Celtophilia.

Which makes no sense in my mind whatsoever.  Elves are Scandinavian, not Celtic.  Heavy Sigh

I agree, I think? On internet fora it's often difficult to interpret intent.

Quote from: Elliot WilenMostly it's what others have said: Elves in most RPGs are just a boring nth-generation Tolkien ripoff.

But you can add to that the way that they've also come to embody all kinds of ridiculous romantic Celtophilia.

Agreed.

To me, there has always been a disconnect between how elves were described in D&D, and how they were actually played in D&D.  As described, they came off as pretty cool folk.  However, every time someone played an elf, they invariably did so in a manner that basically came off as arrogant, better-than-thou jerks.

In my upcoming C&C campaing, I'm taking that style of play and using it to define the race as a whole: arrogant, racist assholes who conquer humans and other races 'for their own good'.

Quote from: KnightskyIn my upcoming C&C campaing, I'm taking that style of play and using it to define the race as a whole: arrogant, racist assholes who conquer humans and other races 'for their own good'.

That's how the High Elves are in my homebrew:  they were getting their butts kicked against humanity about a millenium ago, so they used a legendary Spell of Creation to bind all orcs and trolls in this mountain area to their will.  They then steamrolled the humans, only to find out afterwards the spell had been imperfectly cast, allowing the orcs & trolls to turn on them, really just completely handing them their ass.  Today, they only hold power in one huge last forest, plotting and waiting against humankind, which took refuge in the kingdoms to the east.  They are arrogant, militaristic buttholes who think no more of a human's lifespan than we would a small yipping dog.