Why So: Anti-Elf?
- Thread starter Kimarous
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That wretched woman allowed arwen to become a major character. There is no defense for thisCraorach said:
This might have already been said, but the big reason that Elves bug me so much in fantasy is because Lord of the Rings did them well enough, in my opinion, that almost every other portrayal of Elves pales in comparison. It's not that I can't handle stories with Elves, it's just that I strongly prefer it when the creators come up with actually original races.
To put it in perspective, what if a huge amount of science fictions had Klingons. Some had different interpretations of the Klingons, and they were often in different settings, but they were definitely Klingons, not just a generic warrior society. Personally, that'd feel a bit off to me.
To put it in perspective, what if a huge amount of science fictions had Klingons. Some had different interpretations of the Klingons, and they were often in different settings, but they were definitely Klingons, not just a generic warrior society. Personally, that'd feel a bit off to me.
You can honestly blame Legolas for that. He's one of the most popular elves, and most tend to forget that he was pretty extraordinary in comparison to his race. They want to create something elf related, and use him as inspiration. Which is silly to be honest.Craorach said:
Elves aren't supposed to be perfect in any regard.
Edit: I love elves. I honestly believe a lot of the anti-elf mentality comes from some popular iconic figure stating that he/she is sick of them. I just can't remember who the heck that was... Crap, if I end up finding myself searching all over previously watched youtube videos for it, I'm gonna be annoyed. >:\
The only import i WANT from the elves is giant snarling tamed animals, not pieces of fucking cloth.
My only export i give them is copious amounts of magma and swords through throats and faces.
If i keep them happy they bring in more cloth, if i keep them unhappy they send animals or, if I'm lucky,war. Yay military training!
Really, fuck elves. i want to chop as many wood as i want, you daft treehumpers!
Dwarf fortress is a wonderful game. So many ways to get creative with things.
My only export i give them is copious amounts of magma and swords through throats and faces.
If i keep them happy they bring in more cloth, if i keep them unhappy they send animals or, if I'm lucky,war. Yay military training!
Really, fuck elves. i want to chop as many wood as i want, you daft treehumpers!
Dwarf fortress is a wonderful game. So many ways to get creative with things.
I have a number of problems with elves.
They are perfectly attractive, perfectly behaved, masters of the woods and animals and magic, with lives that will outlive all others by centuries. Which means that either elves are better than all other races at any given task, or they were lazy for a century or two.
But my biggest problem with them? If its fantasy, it will have elves. They are freaking everywhere. It's like vampires. Overused. Honestly, it seems more likely to find an elf in a fantasy setting than it is to find a dragon, which is wrong to me.
They are perfectly attractive, perfectly behaved, masters of the woods and animals and magic, with lives that will outlive all others by centuries. Which means that either elves are better than all other races at any given task, or they were lazy for a century or two.
But my biggest problem with them? If its fantasy, it will have elves. They are freaking everywhere. It's like vampires. Overused. Honestly, it seems more likely to find an elf in a fantasy setting than it is to find a dragon, which is wrong to me.
I like elves. I really really like elves. I've just started reading LotR again and oh my god there are so many elves that were dropped from the movie I am drowning in them. It's wonderful.
But I hate that they've become staples of the fantasy genre. Why do all elves have to be beautiful, delicate, perfect people? Why do all dwarves have to be abrasive drunken Scotsmen?
But I hate that they've become staples of the fantasy genre. Why do all elves have to be beautiful, delicate, perfect people? Why do all dwarves have to be abrasive drunken Scotsmen?
I have a very thin tolerance for most of the standard fantasy tropes. Not just elves.
One of the things I've actually rather enjoyed about the Warcraft series is the fact that they killed of the High Elves (your standard Archery and Magic fantasy elves) and replaced them with the Night and Blood Elves. both of whom have a much more interesting background and culture to them than most fantasy games would give to an elf.
There was also a comic series that I used to read called "Elfquest" which took a much more tribal and savage approach to the elvish society and I remember quite enjoying that.
Beyond those few examples I just find that the standard fantasy elf archetype is just played out and boring and if you can't bring something to the table beyond the bog standard asexual pretty boys or cave dwelling "dark elves" then just don't bother.
One of the things I've actually rather enjoyed about the Warcraft series is the fact that they killed of the High Elves (your standard Archery and Magic fantasy elves) and replaced them with the Night and Blood Elves. both of whom have a much more interesting background and culture to them than most fantasy games would give to an elf.
There was also a comic series that I used to read called "Elfquest" which took a much more tribal and savage approach to the elvish society and I remember quite enjoying that.
Beyond those few examples I just find that the standard fantasy elf archetype is just played out and boring and if you can't bring something to the table beyond the bog standard asexual pretty boys or cave dwelling "dark elves" then just don't bother.
Generally I get annoyed with all-pure attitude of high elves, but my favorite elves have to be the Dark Elves from Warhammer fantasy. I Loved reading Malekith and the chronicles of Malus Darkblade. The Dark elf society was very grim and I would hate to live there, but I like the blood-thirsty psychopaths with very interesting murder cults. I also loved the artwork of their troops usually the very gorgeous use of black, red, purple colors. I also played a Blackguard from Warhammer Online: the age of Reckoning, terrible game, but awesome class to play.
This. Elves just always fit into a single niche. In my current Pathfinder campaign, elves essentially fill the role of humans, except for the fact that they are more along the lines of the Fey Realm's humans, stuck on normal earth because of a rift in the realms.A Weakgeek said:
In the TES 'verse, mer (elves) are basically humans with pointy ears, no better or worse than the human races. Also in TES orcs are elves. Go wrap your head around that one. High elves are humans with pointy ears and a healthy dose of arrogance.
In AD&D elves sacrificed a point of constitution for one of dexterity, definitely no Sues there. IIRC in 3E this was upped to two points each way, ouch.
In most other portrayals I think the supreme arrogance they often display disqualifies them from being Sues. Well, maybe they could be Jerk Sues. But as a race they usually have some flaw that prevents them from taking over. Individuals could be pretty Suetiful though.
In AD&D elves sacrificed a point of constitution for one of dexterity, definitely no Sues there. IIRC in 3E this was upped to two points each way, ouch.
In most other portrayals I think the supreme arrogance they often display disqualifies them from being Sues. Well, maybe they could be Jerk Sues. But as a race they usually have some flaw that prevents them from taking over. Individuals could be pretty Suetiful though.
Simply because there has been a bit too many recently. They have become bland and stale because nobody does anything new with them. Maybe tolkien-esque fantasies should start either making up their own or at the very least use some more obscure and out there races, like driders.
Really, it's the fact that there's no reason whatsoever for the appearance and archetype to always be entwined, except for Tolkein Worship.Kimarous said:
It's no different than if every story had to feature a tough-as-nails ex-military leader with an eye patch and gravely voice and dark past. You're basically having to endure the exact same character (in purpose and appearance) in multiple stories, and for no good reason.
Is there a reason a fantasy game can't feature Elves that are more like the old Christmas elves? Or some reason that Gnomes can't be the archetypal "perfect" race? (I at least appreciate that Skyrim made elves uglier, because that's how they would actually look to us, as humans.)
It instantly shows you exactly what kind of story you're dealing with: same old, same old.
