Almost every player has, at one time or another, played a non-human character. Whether an elf, dwarf or even half orc, non-human humanoids add an exotic and mythical touch to any role-playing fantasy setting, be it online or in books. But I sometimes cannot help but wonder if some of the character races introduced are a tad bit far fetched or irrelevant.
For one, I really do not see the use of half elves as a race. I think they’re catered more towards a player who can’t decide if he wants to be elven or human, and thus offers him a perfect solution to his dilemma. I don’t see their functional value. Half elves may make good reading (Tanis, the only half elf of note), and little else. This also applies to half orcs. This class probably was created to take into consideration certain players who are brutish and incapable of any subtle moves.
Another point to note is the drow, or dark elf. This is one new character race that really, if all things are considered, does not have a logical rationale to its existence. Can there be a good drow? Are all evil elves drow? Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms seem to differ on the concept of the drow. In Krynn, the term drow is not used extensively (or at least, not till recently). Dark elf is used more as an adjective, rather than to denote a particular race. It represents an elf who has turned away from the typical elven existence and is a follower of the evil gods. Hence Dalamar is portrayed as a normal looking elf who serves Takhisis. Drizzt, on the other hand, represents the dark elf as a race, both physically and mentally. The ebony skin, the snow hair and red eyes highlight the physical difference between a normal elf and an evil one. More so the fact that drow in Faerun worship Lolth. So where does that leave an evil elf who worships, say, Bane or Bhaal? Is he or is he not a dark elf?
In terms of D&D, I feel that races should be homegenous, for the simple fact that there aren’t any half minotaurs, or half halflings, or half dwarves. If elves and orcs and humans can interbreed, why not dwarves, and halflings and centaurs? What would the offpsring of an elf who breeds with a dwarf be? Mind boggling, to say the least.
Thus, I reckon future editions of the D&D Handbook should leave out ‘half’ races and include more feasible ones to the exisitng list, such as centaurs and minotaurs. The drow should also be reinvented as a race separate from elves in all aspects. After all, can anyone honestly permutate the results of intercourse between a drow and a gnome?
[Image from D&D Player's Handbook]
