Elrond

[Afrodyte]

It's kind of silly to say that Elrond is a half-elf, period, when being a half-elf in Tolkien's Middle Earth does not mean you're a half-elf in the D&D sense, but rather that you must choose whether to be an elf or a human.

I've heard this said a lot, and from my readings of Tolkien's works (and I mean everything, not just The Silmarillion and LotR), that's not precisely true.

The choice of the Half-Elven refers to fate and destiny, not type. The reasoning is pretty simple: You can't be both mortal and immortal. Also, since both Elves and Men are Children of Eru, it's not exactly within the authority of the Valar to decide the fate of the Half-elven for them (that's more along the lines of what Morgoth or Sauron would do). Hence, the irrevocable choice. It's not like it went like this:

VALAR: You gotta choose: the fate of Men or the fate of the Elves.
ELROND: Elves.
ELROS: Men.
VALAR: Alright, then. Elros, we need you to hand back the pointed ears. Elrond, you give up testosterone.​

Tolkien didn't really elaborate about how the Half-Elven are similar to and different from "pure" Elves and Men, but if the Half-elven presented thus far are any indication, they seem to have gotten the best of both worlds. As far as Elrond is concerned, Tolkien's description seems to imply greater virility than observed in most Elves. Then again, the Elves of the First Age had big mithril cajones. Even the women.

 

[jdrakeh]

I don't think that D&D classess represent Elrond very well without lots of handwaving or house rules. I think that he's a GURPS character

 

[the Jester]

Keep in mind that Tolkien elves are NOT dnd elves. The elves (and eladrin, in 4e) we are used to in dnd terms are a pale shadow of the elves as Tolkien saw them. Witness Legolas not leaving tracks in the snow, not getting cold... actually, just refer to the 2e Book of Elves, and I guess you're pretty close to Tolkien elves. But seriously.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

Afrodyte wrote:
Then again, the Elves of the First Age had big mithril cajones. Even the women.

Gotta love Galadriel. And Luthien. And Aredhel. And Elwing ...

 

[Orius]

I'd go with something like a cleric myself, given his healing abilities, but Elrond doesn't really do much except hang around in Rivendell most of the time, so it's hard to tell exactly what sort of abilities he has.

 

[Afrodyte]

I'd go with something like a cleric myself, given his healing abilities, but Elrond doesn't really do much except hang around in Rivendell most of the time, so it's hard to tell exactly what sort of abilities he has.

A. Lot.

He's a Badass Bookworm. Even compared to most Elves.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

Let us not forget he was Gil-Galad's herald in the Last Alliance and fought beside his Lord, Elendil and Isildur on the slopes of Mount Doom. Before that he must have fought in the last of the Wars of Beleriand. Although to my knowledge this has never been specified it is unlikelyhe didn't fight to help protect the last bastion of Elves and Men at the Mouths of the Sirion. And there were Balrogs and dragons by the score wandering around back then.

The guy's no wuss.

 

[szilard]

Why Cleric? Because he can heal?

What about Bard? Doesn't he spend most of his time telling stories and singing?

-Stuart

 

[DrunkonDuty]

Frankly I don't think DnD can really model anyone from LotR. Not without some serious modifications to the rule set.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Frankly I don't think DnD can really model anyone from LotR. Not without some serious modifications to the rule set.

Definitely.

The races, classes and magic system(s) - and some key monster types - would need to change, radically. Everything else should be more or less OK, with the application of some good judgement.

By which time, of course, you may as well start from a closer source, to make things easier for yourself.