Elf Cross-Breeds. (EX: Moon Elf+Avariel=...?)

[Angcuru]

Yet another bit of info I can't figure out for my upcoming FR campaign. *SIGH*

This issue is something that should be discussed in general, but what I'm looking for is something more specific. A few characters in the campaign will be cross-breeds of a moon elf and an avariel.

Seeing as how these two elven sub-races are very different, how would I go about writing up their children? I already have the basics worked out, I just need advice on the more complicated details. I.E. Would they or Wouldn't they have wings, and what would they be called in terms of race? The possibilites boggle the mind.

 

[Angcuru]

heeellllppp meeee....

 

[kengar]

I don't have my FR books in front of me, but I wouldn't get too complicated about it. See what traits they have in common and have them "breed true", then maybe pick one from each race that's exclusive then include that. The rest (hair color, etc.) is pretty optional. Also, take into account where the cross-breed grew up. If among one group, maybe they favor them in term of skills, class, etc.

Hope this helps

 

[Umbran]

What would they be called in terms of race? Sounds like these are just a few fairly unique individuals, and don't qualify as a "race" to have a separate name.

As for what qualities they have - what qualities do you want them to have? There are no rules for the results of random crossbreeds. Make 'em up!

 

[Seraphael]

Although I'm not sure how close to canon it is, I've always understood that all elves favored a single race even if their parents are of mixed heritage. That means that a moon elf and an avariel can expect half of their children to be moon elves and the other half to be avariel. Its a bit of an odd rule, but I always related it back to the very likely fey ancestry of elves.

Just in case your wondering, I took that rule from Evermeet (one of the FR novels) which describes the Sun elves as arriving on Faerun via a high magic portal after fleeing their fallen nation on the elven homeworld Faerie. They bring with them one moon elf who ends up marrying a green elf and fathering the entire moon elven race. Once again, I'm not sure how canonical that is, but it does have some interesting implications.

 

[Kolindra]

Going by the old rules which were also in the 2e campaign settings, a moon elf and a avarial would make either one or the other, not a mix of both. In 3E no idea if this rule stands still but that's how I run it in my games.

 

[Angcuru]

I don't really know how I'd run this. In terms of determining stats, I go with the system found in the CGtUCL, where you take the average of the parents' stats and add 1d4 then subtract 1d4, the result being up to 3 less or 3 higher than the parential average, allowing for genetic strengths and weaknesses to come into play.

I don't know whether to create a moon elf-avariel mix or follow the suggested one-or-the-other method. Personally, I think the mix would be more interesting, if not more difficult to develop. Perhaps the wings would be weaker due to the introduction of non-avariel blood, possibly causing them to be of only ornamental purpose, or usable only for gliding. Interesting....but confusing!

 

[Graf]

Not an expert on FR elves.

Having said that 3e has been all about children of the parents are a consistent-and-equal mix of partental traits, no matter how weird.
(Half dragons are an excellent example IMHO).

Look at half-elves and half-orcs. I'm not saying that it wouldn't be cool to have radically different siblings, but I think that you're on pretty consistent footing with giving both wings and some weakened moon-elf abilities.

Maybe a smaller set of wings allowing fight only with a light load or at a decreased rate of speed?

 

[Aaron L]

Offspring of parents from two different subraces take after one or the other, just like in 2E. It says this in RoF and in the FRCS. My current character is a gold elf whose mother is a silver elf.

 

[Sejs]

Personally, just off the cuff - moon elf stats, appearance somewhere between an avariel and a moon elf (darker hair than an avariel, taller and thinner than a moon elf, etc) and small vestigial wings that can't support flight, gliding, etc. Wings about the length of your arm, without your hand on the end.