Thread: Race: Elf

Ready to talk about the Race of Elves? Post your thoughts and comments here!

I dont get why elves get -20 morale from the start and still let them be both tank classes??? -10 would be no big deal but -20 is like 3 hits at the start of the game if it is anything like WoW.

I dont get why elves get -20 morale from the start and still let them be both tank classes??? -10 would be no big deal but -20 is like 3 hits at the start of the game if it is anything like WoW. I guess at whatever the max level is it wont be a big deal but at the start it might.

At first, seeing that the only bonus the elves had was their agility bonus, it made me wonder why you would bother making a champion at all, since with Fervour on all your evading abilities fly out the window.

The one redeeming factor for me that I realized (as a champion, that is) is that agility determines critical % modifiers. Once I understood that, I was perfectly fine with re-creating my elf champion from the closed beta.

I'm not sure how well this affects the guardian, on the other hand.

As an Elf guardian, and having played on in clased beta, its that agility bonus I like! my block and parry are pretty high. I think minus the lower physical traits (starting out, we make up for htem later in racial traits and such). The Elf Guardian is a great "reactive tank"

but it might just be my taste

Is there any chance what so ever that the run/walk animation for Elves can be improved and made much more graceful than humans? We had this is very early Beta 2 but it was soon discovered that some bug with it was actually causing server lag. Now that we have worked out most of our infrastructure issues, what are the chances of bringing back some of that gracefulness in animations with Elves specific to their movement?

Thank you,

Freja

Originally Posted by Firithir

As an Elf guardian, and having played on in clased beta, its that agility bonus I like! my block and parry are pretty high. I think minus the lower physical traits (starting out, we make up for htem later in racial traits and such). The Elf Guardian is a great "reactive tank"

but it might just be my taste

Just wanted to point out that your agility bonus only effects your parry and your dodge from a mitigation stand point. Might is the modifier for block %. That being said the higher parry and dodge rates help balance out the lower morale you will have as an Elf Guardian.

From a champion standpoint the higher crit rate should help on the DPS side and while with fervour up you will not parry or dodge, lets just say you really don't want to be off-tanking elites for any extended period of time with it toggled anyway (unless you like to be a mana-sponge or like dying). So with it toggled off your hit avoidance (parry and dodge) as an off-tank will be higher while your natural damage (common damage reduction) mitigation will most likely be lower.

What it really boils down to is your play style and probably more so your personality, I could never play an Elf as I am a Dwarf at heart.

Okay don't laugh, but are elves female only?

Originally Posted by Godrick

Okay don't laugh, but are elves female only?

No, They're not. My significant other pairs with me. His male elven Champion is again pairing with my female elven hunter. They are not the only pairs of elves we have.

Originally Posted by Felsong

I dont get why elves get -20 morale from the start and still let them be both tank classes??? -10 would be no big deal but -20 is like 3 hits at the start of the game if it is anything like WoW. I guess at whatever the max level is it wont be a big deal but at the start it might.

It's actually not that big of a deal. Champions get fervor. Hunters get stance. When my stance is stronger than his fervor, that is a big deal and problematic. Starting with -20 morale is really not since morale can be boosted by equipping the correct traits, jewelry, and armor even at low levels.

Shouldn't Elves be immune to disease? not just a paltry 1% bonus to resistance? hardly seems worth the bother. Men got sick and it was so significant that the Eldar called them the sickly. If elves only got sick 1% less than men it wouldn't have been a noticable difference between the two races that was significant enought for men to have the Eldar name them the sickly.

I think when you compare the character in the creation sequence compared to your character in game, I notice the coloring seems off. Like when I made my Lorien Elf in the character creation he looks like a white skin with little tan. But when I look at the character he looks like Michael Jackson Pastey White. As if the coloring was extremely off from what I choose. Maybe to fix this problem for people who want there characters to define themselfs more add an ability, only avilable to beta, where we can re-do the way our characters are going to look.

Granted I could just remake but I, like many others, have already worked on there characters a great deal. Example Myself and another are already at Artisian level for prospector. I don't want to start over because that takes forever to get. So maybe addeing a new feature to change that just for beta. Thank you

I really like the elves in the books, but I wonder why elves cannot be captains? The elves are very combat ready, and they do fight in units. Why is there not access to this leadership class?

Originally Posted by mao398

I really like the elves in the books, but I wonder why elves cannot be captains? The elves are very combat ready, and they do fight in units. Why is there not access to this leadership class?

In closed beta it was explained that there wasn't enough in the lore to flesh out Captains as it was thus they could only be male humans. They were only finding two examples of Captains as it was in the lore for the longest time. However, the player community asked for female Captains. It was a popular change that players wanted to see implemented. By players, I mean closed beta testers. One, and I sorely regret that I can't recall the forum name, player found a reference to what can be considered a female Captain in the lore. As I recall, she was the daughter of a King. She's in the books; and, fits the description of a Captain. We hoped but never saw action on closed beta. I'm pleased to see female Captains as an available option on open beta. Our Dev's do listen to creative feedback from the community. Female Captains and the ability for European citizens to play on Turbine's servers in order not to split Kinships are two great examples. Often, it just takes effort and time. In other words, see how popular your idea is within the elven community. Start a poll and/or a petition for change. Research it. See if you can find a lore specific example, of an elf or half elf that fits the description of a Captain. Cite your source to back you up. We are still in beta; and, our Dev's do read everything we post.

Pardon my ignorance, but is there a skill or option to "Sprint" while playing an Elf?

Originally Posted by Ticaliano

Pardon my ignorance, but is there a skill or option to "Sprint" while playing an Elf?

Walk and Run are available to all players. The speed buff which is the "sprint" I believe you're referring to is a hunters class skill.

Originally Posted by ciciliah_beta

Walk and Run are available to all players. The speed buff which is the "sprint" I believe you're referring to is a hunters class skill.

Unfortunately the walking animation is way too slow. The average human walks at a 3 - 3.5 m/h pace and jogs around 7 m/h. So jogging it little over 2 times the walking speed. From my testing in game the jogging speed is well over 3 times the walking speed. Walking in game is sooooooo slow that I have never seen anyone do it even hardcore roleplayers.

Originally Posted by Celebril

Unfortunately the walking animation is way too slow.

Very true. I can't believe how slow it is. It almost doesn't make sense to have it in the game.

Ug. I don't know why, but I found the whole elf area and characters highly annoying. Does the hunter trainer have to whine so? Ok, your heart isn't singing today! Get over it! I honestly don't remember the incessant whining from the books. By the end of the brother quest about leaving/staying.. I just felt like putting the elf on a boat and shipping him off. Also, equipment graphics. When I started, I kept thinking.. the item looks can't get worse. But they always did! A feather hat with a purple plaid skirt.
Maybe I'm just not an elf at heart... back to dwarves.

I admit, the voices are a bit annoying after a while, especially when you go up to a trainer and they snap at you or whine all the time.

I am curious, why do Elves (or even dwarves for that matter) have no night vision? Perhaps I am a bit too DnD now, but it seems normal. Did Tolkien make it that way? If so then I'd understand.

There is nothing worse than not seeing anything when you walk (yes I know about the torch, but it doesn't light up enough I think)

Originally Posted by SugarAngel

I admit, the voices are a bit annoying after a while, especially when you go up to a trainer and they snap at you or whine all the time.

I am curious, why do Elves (or even dwarves for that matter) have no night vision? Perhaps I am a bit too DnD now, but it seems normal. Did Tolkien make it that way? If so then I'd understand.

There is nothing worse than not seeing anything when you walk (yes I know about the torch, but it doesn't light up enough I think)

I believe it's [alt] [F10] to put a light around your character; so, you can see at night.

Originally Posted by ciciliah_beta

Walk and Run are available to all players. The speed buff which is the "sprint" I believe you're referring to is a hunters class skill.

There is a speed buff for Captain too.

Originally Posted by Celebril

Unfortunately the walking animation is way too slow.

Agreed. Too slow, and also it looks very, very unnatural.

without reading and posts by other members yet on this, it seemed to me that with the hair selection all the male elves look very feminine, and because of this i just chose a human as my character.

Originally Posted by bunnyspost

without reading and posts by other members yet on this, it seemed to me that with the hair selection all the male elves look very feminine, and because of this i just chose a human as my character.

I find it funny that someone would even make a statement like this. Elves aren't human, their genders aren't governed by the same "rules" - aren't they supposed to look rather androgynous?

I would like to see elves have at least a 2 second faster bow shot. And as an Elf Hunter, wow I am so glad I dont have to buy ammo.. because it has a pretty high miss rate.

I think either a 2 - 4 second faster bow shot timer, or keep it as it is, and a 95% chance to hit your target...

Some great points in this thread and I'd like to add support for a couple of them. I do think Elves should personify grace, dwarves brute strength, humans diversity (The only race I can recall who fought on the side of absolute good and absolute evil) and Hobbits love of food, moments of greatness and all round good guys. In most of these areas, I think Turbine has captivated the essence but the Elves grace is not immediately apparent.

The Elves being androgynous is fine by me. Effeminate does not mean weak. The Spartans were homsexual to a man (no pun intended) or rather more accurately, Bi-sexual; however, it didn't stop them being the toughest SOBs and probably the best hand-to-hand fighters this planet has ever seen (History, not Frank Miller). Part of their ritual for getting ready for battle was to oil and braid their hair (Gotta look good for the big fight). To sum up, looking girly doesn't mean yer a sissy.

I think the morale and fate hit is spot on. They are at the end of their time AND they know it. Any battles they fight now are for other races and the principle of good. I should imagine risking death when you've been around for a few thousand years, would definitely dampen your motivation.

Elves are my preferred race and I think Turbine has done a great job. Now, if we could have some more graceful animations...

The devs DO realize that in Middle Earth, Elves are actually physically superior to Men in -every- way, correct?

They are to Men what space marines are to imperial guard. Stronger, faster, etc.

I guess this is another case of unrealistic stereotyping?

Honestly, I didn't really look to much at their traits. I was looking to have fun with them at first, but I really looked a lot at how the avatars looked. I think they look all right, but some editing could be done to add more feature editing, the avatars are really bland. There are only a few options for hair, color, etc.. and a lot of the people look the same when I run around and look at people. Btw, I love the elvish race.

Small question... Why cant elves have Blond hair?

None of the Color Palettes for Elves allow them to have Blond hair, you have to select a white/gray, Light Brown or a Ginger. Where as Dwarves get Blond hair aplenty.

Originally Posted by Ascadia

Small question... Why cant elves have Blond hair?

None of the Color Palettes for Elves allow them to have Blond hair, you have to select a white/gray, Light Brown or a Ginger. Where as Dwarves get Blond hair aplenty.

I actually have to agree, why is it that elfs do not have the option for true blonde or Red/Auburn hair?

Information take from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_%28...9#Hair_colours

Hair colours: Despite what some illustrations and adaptations might imply, Elven hair colour is actually quite varied and more complex than many people realize. In general, the Vanyar were blond, and the other Elves (including Noldor, Sindar, and Avari) had dark or even black hair, although some of the Teleri had silver hair. Lúthien Tinúviel and her remote descendant Arwen Undómiel, both described as the fairest of all Elves, were dark haired.

This is not the full picture, however: Finarfin, the youngest son of Finwë, and his descendants (such as Galadriel) had blond hair on account of Finwë's second wife, Indis of the Vanyar. Idril, the daughter of Turgon, had golden hair inherited from her mother, Elenwë of the Vanyar. Even the sons of Fëanor, the eldest Noldorin prince, were not all dark-haired: Maedhros and the twins Amrod and Amras had auburn hair, from their grandfather Mahtan.

Additionally, a silver hair colour existed in the royal houses of the Sindar, with Thingol, Círdan, and Celeborn all described as having silver hair. As revealed in Unfinished Tales, Galadriel displayed an extremely rare hair colour nowhere else observed: "silver-golden" hair, said to be dazzlingly beautiful ("blending the light of the Two Trees, Telperion and Laurelin"), which may have been a result of her unusual mixed Noldor-Vanyar-Teleri heritage (her mother was the niece of Thingol). Thranduil, father of Legolas and a Sindarin elf, is described as having blond hair in The Hobbit. Legolas' own hair colour is actually a bone of contention. The blond Glorfindel was a Noldorin elf of Gondolin.

OK, elves. Let's get down to this one. I've tried an elf hunter and an elf champion, and got 'em both to lvl 9 before tearing my hair out and logging off.

First off...the NPCs. There's a difference between being sensitive and continuously whining. These guys and gals just whine whine whine. They whine about the land. They whine about the Good Olde Days. They whine about dwarves. They whine about each other. ALL they seem to do is whine. It gets REALLY annoying.

Secondly...I have a Mighty Elf Champion who spends a majority of her time picking flowers and even looking in traps for bunnies. Oh yeah, see me wield my mighty weapons.

Which brings up the third point...I'm a mighty elf Champion or a svelte elf Hunter. WHY are my quest rewards maces, axes and hammers??? My elf champion is wielding dual maces while my dwarf guardian is using a scimitar! Uh, that's not canon.

Elven Architecture...yes, it's very beautiful. It's stunning, especially with my new NX8800GTX, Core2Duo E6400 and 2 gigs of ram. Stunning, gorgeous, every graphic setting maxed. Never seen better graphics. But who DESIGNED the furschlunger things, Escher? Half the time I just say "Screw it" and jump off the top. If I die, at least the rez circle's on flat land. There's one spot in Duillond where I literally feel vertigo if I look out past my toon. Very realistic. Not prone to make me continue playing, though.

All in all, Elves have been my least favorite race to play.

Rider from Rohan : "If your head was a bit further from the ground, I would cut it off with one swing"
Legolas drawing an arrow and aiming: "And you'd be dead before you drew your sword"

Elves are fierce in the movie, why are we not in game?

Originally Posted by Ascadia

Small question... Why cant elves have Blond hair?

None of the Color Palettes for Elves allow them to have Blond hair, you have to select a white/gray, Light Brown or a Ginger. Where as Dwarves get Blond hair aplenty.

Oh no, no, no You would break Tolkien lore if you allowed Sindar and Nandor (which is what the elves of LOTRO are) to have blonde hair. Only the Vanyar and those that have Vanyar blood have blonde hair. Since there are no Vanya in ME you would not expect to find Elves of mixed blood.

The Elves really need a land of their own to start in. It is nice of the Dwarves to let them live and play on their lands but the elves long for Lindon.

Originally Posted by Celebril

The Elves really need a land of their own to start in. It is nice of the Dwarves to let them live and play on their lands but the elves long for Lindon.

The same thing happens with the Hobbits. They're stuck in red-neck Archet with the Men in their starting area.

I am enjoying being an elf of middle earth which is quite awesome. I like the gameplay so far and all the abilities of the elven race. Recently i acquired this trait called "Sylvan Shadows" which is quite handy but the cooldown time on it is way too long (i think its 30 min). As per lore elves are quite proficient in hiding themselves from the unfriendly eyes and i was wondering if anything can be done about reducing the cooldown time to probably 5 min or something like that

Regard,

Completly a first impression issue
But
In Char creation,
I know Elves are ageless and fair, but the choices are all so... smooth, young and fair.

Prehaps some options that are a bit more grim?

Originally Posted by oseleon

Prehaps some options that are a bit more grim?

I think that in Tolkien's world, a grim elf is a contradiction in terms. The men and dwarves may be more to your liking.

Originally Posted by Fornost

The same thing happens with the Hobbits. They're stuck in red-neck Archet with the Men in their starting area.

LOL That is too funny.

I love elves, and I am mostly playing elven characters. So, my thoughts?

Things to Change

-Nerf the whininess of the NPCs. I think everyone will appreciate this - especially the people who like Tolkien's elves. As it's already been pointed out, Tolkien's elves aren't the nancy little sissies of various other fantasy realms.

-Buff the Disease resistance.

-Lower cooldown time and/or increase moving speed with "Stealth Shadows".

-More variation at character creation. It's not really so much an issue with hair colour to me, as it is one of having only one eye shape, lip shape, etc.

-More Elven settlements. There are plenty of human and hobbit places to fellowship, trade and get quests. Dwarves even have a good number of them. From what I can gather, there's Duillond, Celondim, those ruins near Edhelion - and then very, very little until you get to Rivendell. There were "hidden" Elven communities throughout ME at the time, so maybe more of those could be worked in?

Things That Are Great

+The aspects that have been bonused and nerfed I think are very proper, and with a little tweaking (like with the disease resist mentioned above) could easily both satisfy the Lore's description of Elves, and manage to balance gameplay so that they aren't completely overpowered. You're heading the exact right direction at the moment.

+The racial traits are spot on. Again, slight adjustments, and you've got all the right ideas.

+What you've done so far in regards to the models for the Elf toons are great! Just because I'd like to see some more variation doesn't mean that I don't think they look very nice, and properly "Elvish".

+Having the Elves start in Edhelion doesn't bother me nearly as much as others. It makes sense since the Ered Luin used to be a part of the Elven Kingdom of Doriath.

+The Elven cities are breathtaking. Again, the only downside is that there aren't more of them! Worse yet, I suppose, is that the Lore probably doesn't allow for too many more Elven settlements... (On that note, I'm really looking forward to seeing Lórien!)

Keep it up though! I'm sure elves will only get better as the game goes on. I look forward to seeing how you guys tweak the Firstborn.