Re: Elven Superiority? Yeah, right.

On Wed, 1 Oct 1997, David Sheff wrote:

> They should at least be equal because they are almost humans anyway!
> The only bloody difference is that they are slightly shorter, skinnier,
> they weigh less, and are more angular and delicate in appearance.  They
> aren't that bloody different from us!!!  The biggest difference is their
> life span, but Elminster, Khelben Blackstaff, and the Seven Sisters
> prove that long life spans are possible even for humans!  Who has missed
> this info!?!?!?!?!?!?  Sweet Mystra, what makes them inferior?!?

The point is that within the context of the universe, elves are
inferior.  The game rules represent the "laws of reality" for AD&D.
Within those game rules, elves are incapable of the same kind of
advancement as humans.  all things are not equal in AD&D:  humans are the
overachieving ubermenschen of the Multiverse.

Of course, that POV does depend on a rigid interpretation of the rules.
I don't play a rigid campaign and I doubt that very many other people do
either.  House rules alter the "laws of reality" for your campaign (for
instance, I make the Prime an infinite Plane like the others and use the
Phlogiston as an extradimensional "hyperspace").  That's fine, and I
would resent it if someone tried to tell me that my campaign was wrong as
much as you would if someone tried to tell you yours was wrong.

So why am I arguing strict book rules?  Simple, it's the only framework
we have in common.  And within that framework, elves are essentially
long-lived but less-competant humans with a few whistles and bells.

Rich Gant