Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Elves are not Elven - Tel-quessir feed back ;)

maybe he's a werebear, just being a shapeshifter has to account for something .

At least they are not the ungodly horrors from DoS2, omg the depiction of elves in that game. I think someone in the upper echelon of Larian hates elves. They have them eat people, turn them into trees, make their stomachs look like they’ve gained and lost weight 100 times, and omg are they ugly, there’s 1 good female face, and every male face makes me never want to eat again.

Elves should be hauntingly and enticingly beautiful. Even if the depictions of them have changed. The lore hasn’t. Half elves are one of the most rampant half-breed in Faerun, because everyone lusts after them, for that very reason. Elves, the original viagra, lol.

I agree the elven faces lack that other worldly beauty they're known for. They look like someone slapped some pointy ears on a wide range of human faces and called it a day. Other than pointy ears there's nothing that makes them stand out as Elven to me. None of that arrogant superiority aura you'd expect from an elf. Normally I'm all for playing elves but these faces just give me the whole I'm playing a humans with pointy ears feeling and I quickly lose interest in them.

That depiction of elves actually gave me hope when I heard that Larian was doing BG3. Because while I didn't like their version of elves at all, it was steadily and consistently maintained, and above all they did not look or feel human. Something in Larian's world building has failed between then and now.

I kind of liked the take DOS2 had on elves. It was something very different, something unique. Something definatly not done before as far as I know and clearly not Tolkien-ish elves. It worked in the custom setting they created. Rule of Cool is a thing to play with in your own custom setting because it is your own custom setting.

But elves (or Tel'Quessir if you will) in Forgotten Realms are already established and regardless of what sort of elves someone might prefer... their lore as well as image and appearance. To just make them look human with pointy ears is kind of doing a discredit to elves as they are established. Rule of Cool does not really work with this, as it can just clash with lore and immersion.

Thats the thing. I dont care if someone makes their elves different, but this is not that game. This is Forgotten Realms. Elves have a set of attributes. A description. Halsin is not an elf.

Oh don't get me wrong I actually love what they did with the Elven lore, in DoS. However, the male faces look like emaciated Goblins, and the stomachs creep me out. I get that it was suppose to look like bark, but it kind of makes my skin crawl. The eating for memories is actually pretty kewl, and there is a real world belief that you gain someone's essence, from eating them. Then there is IZombie which was awesome, where zombies could see your memories from eating your brains. However, someone calling your race cannibals is something someone who hated them would say. I still stand behind someone in the upper echelon hating them, lol. Its hard for you to feel sexy when your stomach is covered in giant stretch mark scars. I had to let go of "my elves", and learn to appreciate them as a different universe's elves.

"These aren't the Elves you're looking for."

Halsin is the elf I was looking for!

Yep! All of us sometimes dreamed about big and strong elf, and not a typical "scientist" elf type.

The elves in Baldur's Gate 3 resemble Tel-Quessir in the art from the wiki page. Forgotten Realms Wiki

One of them even resembles Halsin.

Third from the left

The main differences are that male Drow are too tall in Baldur's Gate 3 and elves don't have a v-shape to their eyes. If the elves do get a slight v to their eyeline, I'd say they're spot on in Baldur's Gate 3.

What nonsense is this? You are a minority that wished for an Elf like Halsin . I did not even notice that Halsin was an Elf when I did meet him. The only thing that makes sense he is an Elf that the leaders of this faction are Elves:


Halsin is perhaps in his bulking form like a Werebear.

I am even so fan of traditional Elf look that when I created my Wood Elf I changed the skin from green to white .
Here a picture of my Wood Elf when he becomes level 4:

Well though my favorite Cleric domain has not yet been introduced the Light Domain is ok for me for now currently if Cleric.

Here is the look of my dream partner she is actually Half-Elf, but certainly she looks more Elven then say Halsin.



What me racist on green skin? No it is not that I find Lae Zel so attactive I could spend a night with her in real life. Githyanki though are not Elves and my ultimate dream partner in looks is not Lae Zel. Can I find Drow dark skinned and white haired attractive so I could spend a night with a drow woman? Yes!

Yes, Halsin looks specific for elf. But you know what? This is what makes him interesting and attractive. If he wasn't an elf and was, for example, a human, he would look "ordinary".

Personally, I'm tired of all those typical elves in fantasy games. Usually they are scientists, mage, all so thin and refined... I'm very glad that Astarion is a bastard and asshole, and Halsin is a big and reliable guy, and they are both elves. Not in every game you will have such experience with elves. I understand that someone wants to create a "typical" elf for themselves. I respect their choice. You just need more types of faces and maybe a few different body type. But I don't want change original characters to "typical standards".

I've already seen someone ask to make Astarion "younger", my God.

Halsin has a rather unique look, not necessarily bad but.. also not elven going by Forgotten Realms lore and how elves are described. He can pass as half-elf, sure. But full elf is a stretch.

Elves can still be muscular and well toned wile fitting the lore FR has. And, regardless of it being a preferred look or not, this IS the setting we are working in. It is like wanting to have 8ft tall dwarves that speak in Japanese accents, just because it is "different" and unique.

I have yet to see any elf "scientists" as well, elves do not look like that at all. Except maybe in the Dragon Age setting, elves still have some muscle to them, though it is more the dexterous kind rather than the bulky muscles. It is like a professional swimmer or dancer compared to a weightlifter. Halsin just goes full weightlifter mode.

I agree with you in everything. That said, I don't really care all that much about Halsin's bodytype. It's a stretch, a long stretch, but as a wood elf (who knows, maybe even wild elf) druid I can tolerate the bulk. What I don't like is the lack of facial elven features, that is what bugs me the most with all elves so far.

Besides the obvious fact that they are also portrayed as pointy eared humans in every other regard.

the elf i made with head 5, black raven hair and dusk tone 6 skin looked more like a half-orc than an elf.

Elf means something within the Forgotten Realms. This isnt the game for breaking out of the 'expected' look. This is a Forgotten Realms game. Elves, are "Elves". They are not huge body builders. Its simply wrong.

Like, you can want buff hulking elves. Thats not my issue. This game is not one where 'Our Elves are Different'. This game, they have height and weight that is codified. Its just not correct for the game at all.

Considering everything else that is fundamentally wrong, I shouldnt be surprised, but still, I am.

Well, you don't think they'll completely redesign Astarion and Halsin for you, do you? I hope that you have already realized this.

It is a fairly easy fix all in all, technically speaking: Make them half-elven. Problem solved, and no inconsistensies really with the story (as it is a minor change, with a big impact on lore/immersion)

No, you simply call them Half Elves, as they should be. I have less issue with Astarion anyway. Halsin however? Thats a bad joke.