Half-elves do not form a
race unto themselves, but rather they can be
found amongst both elvenkind
and men. For details of the typical half-elf
see AD&D,
MM
under the
heading Elf.
<(Half-elf)>
Permitted Class Options:
A character of half-elven race can play as a cleric
(maximum of 5th level),
druid,
fighter
(max. of 8th level), ranger (max. of 8th level),
magic-user
(max. of 8th level), thief, or assassin
(max. of 11th
level).
| Ability Score | Cleric | Druid | Fighter | Ranger | M-U | Thief (All) | Assassin |
| 15 | 5 | U | 6 | 6 | 7 | U | 11 |
| 16 | 6 | U | 6 | 6 | 7 | U | 11 |
| 17 | 7 | U | 7 | 7 | 7 | U | 11 |
| 18 | 8 | U | 7 | 8 | 8 | U | 11 |
| 18/90 | - | - | 8 | 91 | - | - | 11 |
| 18/99 | - | - | 9 | 101 | - | - | 11 |
| 18/00 | - | - | 10 | 112 | - | - | 11 |
| 19 | 10 | U | 11 | 153 | 8 | U | 11 |
| 20 | 12 | U | 13 | 153 | 8 | U | 11 |
1: Intelligence 18, wisdom
18, and constitution 18 also required.
2: Intelligence 18, wisdom
18, and constitution 18 also required.
If both wisdom and constitution
are greater than 18, the character can attain 12th level.
If both are greater than
19, the character can attain 14th level.
3: Intelligence 19, wisdom
19, and constitution 19 also required.
Multi-class Restrictions:
A character of half-elven race can also opt to become a multiclassed
individual, i.e. cleric/fighter,
cleric/ranger,
cleric/magic-user,
fighter/magic-user, fighte/thief,
magic-user/thief, cleric/fighter/magicuser,
or a fighter/magic-user/thief.
Half-elven characters who choose the
cleric as one of their multi-classes
aren't limited by that class' proscriptions
upon weapons usable, but
they are quite restricted in level. Half-elven
characters who choose the
thief class as one of their multi-roles are limited
to the weaponry and armor
of that class when operating as a thief. All
earned experience is always
divided evenly between the classes of the
multi-classed character,
even though the character is no longer able to
gain levels in one or more
of the classes. (See CHARACTER CLASSES, and
consult the various classes
for more detailed information pertaining to
half-elven characters operating
within the stated classes.)
Resistances: Half-elven
characters have a 30% resistance to sleep
and charm spells (if
the spells are cast upon
them, a percentile dice roll of 31% or better is
required to allow the magic
any chance of having an effect, and even then
the saving throw against
spells is allowed versus the charm spell).
Languages:
All half-elven characters are able to speak the "common tongue" of men,
their alignment
language (q.v.), and the following: elvish, gnome,
halfling, goblin, hobgoblin,
orcish, and gnoll. Half-elven characters of
above 16 intelligence are
able to learn one additional language for every
point of intelligence above
16, so that a 17 intelligence indicates the
character can learn one
additional language, and an 18 intelligence
indicates two languages
can be learned in addition to those listed above.
* Infravision:
Half-elves have the ability to see into the infra-red spectrum, so they
are
able to see up to 60' in
darkness, noting varying degrees of heat radiation.
* Secret Doors: Secret
or concealed doors are difficult to hide from half-elves, just as they
are noticeable by elves.
Merely passing within 10' of a concealed door
gives the half-elven character
a 1 in 6 chance (16 2/3%) chance of spotting
it. If the character is
actively seeking to discover such doors, he or she has
a 2 in 6 chance (33 1/3%)
of spotting a secret door and a 3 in 6 chance
(50%) of locating a concealed
door.
DMG: Half-Elves are usually much like their elven parent in characteristics, though to somewhat lesser extent than a pure elf.
AT A GLANCE:
Half-elves are a mixture of man
and elf, and occupy the middle ground between the
two.
They are stockier than elves and lack the pointed ears, though they
still have slender and finely chiseled facial features of the elven faces.
It is possible for a Half-elf to "pass" as a man or elf for brief periods,
but usu. such duplicity is discovered.
ELMINSTER'S NOTES:
Half-elves are not a true race, but rather the product of the union
of man and elf, and as such have no national or racial heritage other than
that of the area they have been brought up in.
A Half-elf that had been raised in the Elven Court thinks like an elf;
one from Aglarond thinks as a man, for
the elven people have been long bred into the general population.
Half-elves appear as men, tending to be slenderer than most but not
matching the thinness of the elves themselves.
Half-elves tend to take on some of the features of their Elvish sub-race:
* Moon Half-elves tend to be pale with just a touch
of blue around the ears and at the chin.
* Gold Half-elves tend to be bronzed
of skin.
* Wild Half-elves are very rare and tend to have
bronzed
skin touched with green.
* Sea Half-elves tend to be a blend of the fleshtones
of human and elven parent.
A child of a Lantan merchant
and a Great Sea Elf will appear a like green.
* Drow Half-elves are very rare and tend to be dusky-colored
with white hair.
Half-elves may mate and breed, but will always produce the offspring
of the other parent (a Half-elf/elf pairing will produce elven children,
while a Half-elf/human pairing will result in human children).
Second generation Half-elves only result if two Half-elves marry (as
is the case in Aglarond).
GAME INFORMATION:
Half-elf PCs have the limitations and advantages set down for Half-elves
in the PH and DMG,
regardless of the sub-race of the elven parent.
A drow Half-elf, in other words, would not gain all of the drowish
abilities, and would be considered N'Tel'Quess by his people as well.
ABILITY SCORE MODIFIERS:
RACIAL LIMITATIONS:
STRENGTH: 3/18
INTELLIGENCE: 4/18
WISDOM: 3/18
DEXTERITY: 6/18
CONSTITUTION: 6/18
CHARISMA: 3/18
RACIAL PREFERENCES:
STARTING AGE: Cleric (40+2d4), Fighter (22+3d4), Magic-User (30+2d8),
Thief (22+3d8)
AGE CATEGORIES: Young adult (24-40), Mature (41-100), Middle aged (101-175),
Old (176-250), Venerable (251-325)
RACIAL TENDENCIES:
HEIGHT:
WEIGHT:
NPC ABILITY SCORE MODIFIERS:
Here we go again
Dear Editor,
Page 11 of Unearthed Arcana says that ?no
instances are known of half-elves descended from
grugach stock.? However, in the article Arcana
update in issue #103, it says on page 12 that ?A
half-elf of wild descent cannot become a cleric, a
ranger, or a magic-user.?
Based on this evidence, either (a) The rule on
half-elves of wild descent from Unearthed Arcana
is removed; (b) An error was made in issue #103;
or (c) Wild elves can toss humans a long way.
Which is it?
Nicholas Leahy
Boise, Idaho
(Dragon #105)
Thanks, Nicholas. I love multiple-choice tests,
and I love making corrections to an article about
corrections. . . . The answer, of course, is (b).
I
used the offending sentence in issue #103 as an
example to illustrate how certain classes were
prohibited to certain half-elves, and I didn't stop
to think that no half-elves can be "of wild elf
descent" in the first place.
Technically, the statement is accurate — there
is no such thing as a half-grugach cleric, or
ranger, or magic-user. What it doesn't say is that
there is also no such thing as a half-grugach
fighter, or thief, or illusionist, or . . . . — KM