Just gonna drop in again to say:
Elves are fictional creatures. They don't have to adhere to a rigid standard based on tradition. New traditions get created all the time. D&D is flexible when it comes to ensuring the best player experience. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be able to identify with the character you play by having it resemble you--that's why we have character creators.
Having greater diversity that reflects real world diversity hurts no-one and can dramatically improve the experience of people who have long been told they don't look like the "standard."
This is fantasy--logic need not apply.
THIS!!!! THIS IS EXCELLENT!
it's a dnd FANTASY game! And the dnd universe its constantly changing and evolving as we progress through time!
We can all argue about the traditional appearance of elves! Everyones opinion is valid and great!
But one thing I want to say is why do we have to constantly go with the "traditional" elves? If it's all gonna look the same as every other fantasy game and movie what's the point of having creativity? It's kinda boring no?
I feel like we have this mindset of sticking to this "tradition" because we are too used to it, and with this we should be encouraging change and breaking boundaries because that is what the Dnd universe is constantly doing! And it's great!
It's nice to see changes when it comes to something like this because it just means its thinking outside of the box and exploring more! And we need that! Like I said we cant keep sticking to the same old thing because it just to me at least gets boring!
I'm not going to lie I am super tired of seeing the same old elves must have x and y features because of x and y and such!
I completely understand it when it comes to the science and history of the specific campaign setting but like I said in an earlier post there are many different races of elves so why do they all have to look the same?
I understand there are colour variations but that just feels like a slap in the face! Like "here you go heres a sun elf with the exact same features as a high elf except you can give them more darker skin tones" like what? No show me different features! Show me more of a regional difference!
A good example I can think of (though the races are limited so far) is the dragon prince on netflix and their distinction between the moon elves and the sun elves! You can definitely tell the difference and that's not just because of colour variations!
(Apologies if I went off I had no intention of offending anyone if I did I just simply wish to express my frustration, English is not my first language so i understand of there might be a miscommunication, sorry if it felt like an attack on anyone specifically it really wasnt I promise you, just let me know and I can explain further
)
Fantasy does not mean disregard for the Setting this is something that the bad roleplayer do the kind one a DM don't want at the table. D&D offer the freedom to create your own world and in your own world you are free to make the elves appear exactly how you want. Unfortunately BG3 follow a setting that has his own races and lore the elves of Forgotten Realms ((the setting bg3 take place in)) are diverse on theyr own.
The fact a setting is a fantasy world does not mean you can "Make up" things. In that way you don't only disergard the setting but you kill the credibility and the background people written about that world.
Now the point is BG3 have elves that looks more human than elves and that is an issue as this setting is not created by larian. I don't feel your post desrespectful at all i am just attempting to explain one thing that many seems to forger.
A) Elves are not humans they are a completely different race. Expect the Elves to have Human Ethnicy diversity is like expecting a Benholder to have human tracts completely out of place.
B)This is not an homebrew setting created by Larian this is Forgotten Realms a setting that have Lore Background and also well extabilished look when it comes to races killing off this just kills the credibility of the setting.
If a player would tell me: I would like to play an elves with dark skin but not drow. I would tell him or her: There are both Wood Elves and WIld elves to chose from. Both this races have colour variation that can be dark and both of them have a cool background about them.
What makes my nose wrinkle is that people that seek to enforce human ethnicy where it does not belong in a setting with extabilished appearance when it comes to races don't have the minimal respect for the setting or simple they don't know the setting.
As a person i attemt to explain things in a manner they understand it.
But i don't condone or never support who is pointing the finger. I was called Intellectually Dishonest because i was disagreeing with someone and this is not a prime example of civil discussion. However i did not put so much weight on it and instead if anyone felt offended that was not my intention.
I Care about the setting i love and grew up with. That's all.
The moment things are forced for no logical reason is the moment you destroy a setting and trash Artistic Integrity down the toilet.
((Reason why WOTC butchered the 4th edition and created the 5th one))
And no i don't think the current BG3 head in the game represent elves at all.
