The Elfiest Elf

[Rakoa]

How Elfy can an Elf be?

I'm sure that all of you have asked yourself that question at least once. But have you put any thought into it, really? That is the purpose of today's thought exercise. What build can be created that is the Elfiest there is? Obviously the race must be Elf, but there are so many different types out there. And what does "Elfy" mean, really? When you think "Elf," do you imagine a powerful wizard? An elegant druid? An expert huntsman? A dexterous swordsman? A city-dwelling, cultured, snobbish, arrogant Lord? How can you best embody what it is to be Elf? What does "Elf" mean to you? Has the word "Elf" lost its meaning to you yet?

I'm not interested in imposing rules or anything because this isn't really a contest. I'm just interested in seeing what people can create, and the different ways in which people envision the Elf. Personally, I imagine something along the lines of Arcane Hierophant or Eternal Blade, with a cocky and superior attitude, but that is just me.

[Doctor Despair]

I suppose the first distinction we'd have to make is to determine who was Elfier: Legolas or Elrond?

[JNAProductions]

Isn't there an Elvish Paragon class? Wouldn't that be the Elfiest Elf to Elfer Elf?

[Calimehter]

Taking all 3 levels of Elf Paragon seems important for this.

[Peat]

Elf Paragon would suggest the elfiest elf is a Wizard-based gish of some type. Which certainly fits a certain elvish stereotype.

[Jergmo]

http://www.msledd.com/oII-elf.jpg

[Zanos]

This Elf Paragon could also be a Ruathar, for even more Elfishness.

[nedz]

I suppose the first distinction we'd have to make is to determine who was Elfier: Legolas or Elrond Halfelven?

FTFY, also your question answers itself.

As to the build
Elf Mystic Ranger 5 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 10
An archer, of course, and SotMI is an elf only Prc which improves elf racial skill bonuses to +5, and other elven goodies.

Well its a start. Ruather is more for non-elves fluffwise, and Elf Paragon don't help unless you are a Wizard — though I suppose you could end with Wizard 1 / Elf Paragon 3 / Wizard +1 and Mage of the Arcane Order up your Ranger.

[Jeff the Green]

Wizard 3/Elf Paragon 3/Ruathar 3/Master of the Yuirwood 2/Olin Gisir 9

Wizard 3/Elf Paragon 3/Ruathar 3/Spellsword 1/Bladesinger 10

Warblade 5/Revenant Blade 5/Eternal Blade 10

[Red Fel]

Maybe an Elf with an Elf-only Dragonmark gestalting Warblade/Eternal Blade and Elven Generalist Wizard? Perhaps a tristalt to shove Revenant Blade in someplace? Champion of Corellon for reasons?

[(Un)Inspired]

It would probably have to be an Artificer with the Arctic Template.

[BowStreetRunner]

Ruather is more for non-elves fluffwise...
Not at all. The class entry specifically states "An elf becomes a ruathar when he renders a great service to an elf realm that is not his homeland, or when one or more of his nonelf companions receive the honor in recognition for a deed he also shared in."

This reminds me of an exercise some time back attempting to create a super dwarfy dwarf. In that instance they focused on maxing out the racial abilites - stonecunning and such. Looking at creating the Elfiest Elf in a similar vein the Ruathar PrC upgrades their low-light vision, increases their racial bonuses to search, spot, and listen, and extends their already long lifespan. Elven Paragon similarly boosts racial skill bonuses to search and spot, low-light vision, saves vs enchantments, and racial weapon skills. So if you are looking at the 'elfiest elf' being someone whose elven qualities stand out then these classes definitely fit the bill.

Many of the other suggestions made are more along the line of 'most stereotypical elf', which begs the question 'what is the most stereotypical elf of all?' For this I would go back to First Edition D&D where Elf wasn't just a race, it was also a class. The Elf in 1st Ed. was a warrior-spellcaster class along the lines of Duskblade and similar Gish classes.

[Acanous]

must be male, slender, effeminate and bisexual. Otherwise it's just not Elf enough.

[Âmesang]

This (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khIgGhrmjxw&t=13s) is what "Elf" means to me.

…either that, or Eladrin. https://www.schadenfreudestudios.com/backup/pictures/redneck.gif

(But in all honesty my first thought immediately went to "elf paragon" because, well, aside from arcane archer I'm not too familiar with elven prestige classes.)

EDIT: (Actually my first first thought was the character, "Melf." Can't get more elvish than actually having "elf" as part of your name, right?)

[torrasque666]

http://www.msledd.com/oII-elf.jpg
Brb, gonna go club some baby seals to balance this out.

[JBarca]

http://www.msledd.com/oII-elf.jpg

Close, but no cigar.

https://i.warosu.org/data/lit/img/0059/36/1420151591516.png

[Hamste]

First off my elfiest elf is a gnome.

Next we go bard, can't be an elf if you can't sing after all (and it can give bonuses to craft when level 3). Those are the rules, not sure why elves need to sing but they do. Get skill focus Craft:(Toy making) and Skill focus Craft (shoes) (Other skills are available). Make sure you keep those maxed as well as hide, move silently, perform (sing), open lock, sleight of hand and at least 6 ranks in diplomacy. Eventually the go into exemplar choosing their craft skills and then the stealth focused skills for the exemplar bonuses. They would have the apprentice (Craftsman) feat, some magic item creation feat, exceptional artisan and extraordinary artisan as well as those skill focus feats.

Can't get much more elfier than that I think.

[tadkins]

With so many different types of elves it's hard to pinpoint.

The wise old high elven wizard, the rugged wood elven ranger at one with the forest, the scheming drow assassin with enough poison to bring down an entire kingdom, all of them scream "Elf" to me.

[Waazraath]

My first encounter with the concept was Hero Quest, so I'd go for an archtype that is both fighter and (partial) caster. Also, from something like LoTR, I'd see elves as with high dex, cha and wis then as high int per se, and as highly musical. Therefore, I'd probably go for a bard based build.

[Eldan]

There's three elven archetypes that tend to show up. Let's call them the high elf, the wood elf and the fair folk, though they are superficially similar.

The high elf. Noble, wise and ancient, surrounded by art and poetry, knowledgeable in all the ways of the world. The aristocrat incarnate. Elrond and Galadriel. Here, we want a wizard or bard. If we go wizard, then surely something like loremaster. In general, he needs a wide variety of not necessarily relevant skills, like several perform skills and many knowledges.

The wood elf. Ranger or druid, it matters little. Lives in the forest, friend to all animals, knows the names of the trees and the rivers and the mountains. Probably an archer, too.

THe fair folk. These days perhaps best known from Terry Pratchett. They are ancient, very bored and find you endlessly amusing. Especially that way you scream, sometimes. Knows illusions and enchantments, because messing with the little mortals is just such fun. Where the high elf is a good noble, this is an evil noble, with all the clichés. Probably skilled in stealth, deception and poisons. Assassin or beguiler.

[ben-zayb]

N Unseelie-Fey Magic-Blooded Gray Elf
Generalist-Elf Domain Elf-Domain-Granted-Power Combat Wizard 5 / Elf Paragon 3 / Ruathar 3 / Elf Ranger 2 / Bladesinger 5 / Arcane Archer 2

Use Light Swordbow to switch between einhanding Rapier or firing Shortbow. Imbue Arrow up to 7th-level area spells. Abuse the crapton-feats-Elven-special using DCFS scrolls.

Elfy feats may include any (or all, using Heroics + DCFS) of Elf Dilettante, Elven Spell Lore, Faerie Mysteries Initiate, Lightfeet, Fleet of Foot, Woodwise, Woodland Archer, and Apprentice (except Criminal?)

[Telonius]

For me, the Elfiest Elf of them all was Fëanor. I'd probably build him as an epic-level Elan (or possibly Kalashtar) Psionic Artificer.

[Hiro Quester]

Our party wizard is an extremely racist "elf supremacist".

He seems to be playing this character as an amateur anthropologist, studying the ways of the "lesser races" to affirm his belief in the supremacy of elves.

That would seem to be the attitude of the elfiest elf, who knows he's the elfiest elf.

[Âmesang]

Eldan, you forgot about the valley elf (http://www.canonfire.com/wiki/index.php?title=Valley_elf)! With their obsession with the latest fashions (anything not so five minutes ago), desire for social status (not just queen; prom queen!), gathering together in packs at the local mall (on a steady diet of chili fries), and their particular choice of vernacular (with such examples as "like", "whatever", "way", "as if!", "totally" and "tubular"). Also they seem to want others to "gag them with a spoon."

Also lets throw some thief (http://www.nuklearpower.com/8-bit-theater/) into the class mix, no?

"Your viziers are treacherous?"

"It's an elven court. It's all viziers and they're all @#$%&*^s."

[ben-zayb]

Eldan, you forgot about the valley elf (http://www.canonfire.com/wiki/index.php?title=Valley_elf)! With their obsession with the latest fashions (anything not so five minutes ago), desire for social status (not just queen; prom queen!), gathering together in packs at the local mall (on a steady diet of chili fries), and their particular choice of vernacular (with such examples as "like", "whatever", "way", "as if!", "totally" and "tubular"). Also they seem to want others to "gag them with a spoon."

Oh, I so know this one?!

Language
Valley elves speak Elven, Gnomish, and Common, but with an unusual accent.
In particular, the upward inflections at the end of sentences? It's almost as if every statement is a question?

[ShurikVch]

Eladrins are elfier than elves
Dragon #321 have Infused Warrior and Infused Spellcaster PrCs
Select Bralani (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/bralani.htm) or Ghaele (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/ghaele.htm).
(Note: 6th level for Bralani give +2 Dex; later levels are not especially Elf-like)

[Fouredged Sword]

So here is my thoughts on the matter.

Grey Elf
Elven Generalist Wizard 3 / elf paragon 3 / Ruathar 3 / Abjurant Champion 5 / XXXXXX

Not the most optimal build. You lose caster levels and that is never optimal. On the other hand you have a lot of elf and live for a VERY long time.

[ArqArturo]

Our party wizard is an extremely racist "elf supremacist".

He seems to be playing this character as an amateur anthropologist, studying the ways of the "lesser races" to affirm his belief in the supremacy of elves.

That would seem to be the attitude of the elfiest elf, who knows he's the elfiest elf.

I had a dwarf monk drunken master that had a quest to find the eldest beer recipe because, in his study of all spirited drinks he found that the oldest beer recipe was discovered by... *GASP* Elves, and not dwarves! And such knowledge could bring about the end of the world.

Needless to say, I did find it... And it was dwarven-made (so all was right in the world).

To the topic at hand... The character also needs to be a Champion of Corellon Larethian, for extra elfinesse (eh, ehh?).

[Eladrinblade]

A 2nd edition fighter/mage/thief with elven chain. A "bladesinger".

Or a ranger. In BG2, I'd say an archer specifically.

Those two things exemplify "elven-ness" to me, though bards and ftr/mage, mage/thief, and ftr/thief all have their places as well.

[ShurikVch]

Anybody already mentioned elven substitution levels from Races of the Wild?

Also, PrC which required Elf/Half-Elf/elven heritage:
Ancestral Avenger (Dragon #278)
Arboreal Guardian (Ghostwalk)
Darkwood Stalker (Complete Warrior)
Elven High Mage (Races of Faerûn)
Evereskan Tomb Guardian (Player's Guide to Faerûn)
Skylord (Book of Exalted Deeds)
Spellsinger (Races of Faerûn)
Sword Dancer (Faiths and Pantheons)
Wildrunner (Races of the Wild)

[8BitNinja]

This

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiOqaDkhuTJAhVRyGMKHXhODykQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FLegola s&psig=AFQjCNGEzovtjsiT_ivzL--5UwQm_fXlqw&ust=1450481494555248

or this

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiEyvH8huTJAhVM02MKHSxtDJ0QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2014%2F11%2F06%2Fel f-producers-send-cease-and-desist-to-company-using-will-ferrell-to-sell-guns-4937176%2F&bvm=bv.110151844,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNEKQEaWk14qvaZmTyy0hL34OCGWuA&ust=1450481543796148

[Sayt]

For 3.p? In terms of a martial, at least, I'd have to say: Dervish Defender 5/Revenant Blade 5/Eternal Blade 10. Two Elf-only PRCs taken to completion seems pretty Elfy. Although it does need to do some compatibility backflips between Tome of Battle and Path of War, but they're more or less compatible.

[nedz]

Not at all. The class entry specifically states "An elf becomes a ruathar when he renders a great service to an elf realm that is not his homeland, or when one or more of his nonelf companions receive the honor in recognition for a deed he also shared in."

OK it's just that I always viewed the class as an Elfriend type of thing.

My build would look like this then, I guess

Elf Mystic Ranger 5 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 10 / Ruathar 3 / X2

Now X could be Elf Paragon, but it doesn't really help: more Mystic Ranger then I guess ?
+7 on Elfy skills (Thanks to Corellon's Perception and Ruathar) 16 BAB 18 levels of casting, only MR but whatever.
Magic domain too - for the Wizardy stuff, and the Travel domain - The road goes ever on and on

[Telonius]

The Elfiest Elf should be level 11. (Caution: Horrible pun only makes sense in German).

[Amechra]

A Half-Elf with levels in The Prettiest (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=7055.0) and Ruathar.

Elf Generalist Wizard 1/The Prettiest 5/Wizard +2/Ruathar 3 is 11th level and is so damn elfy.

[thorr-kan]

A Half-Elf with levels in The Prettiest (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=7055.0) and Ruathar.
You just go to your room. You know what you've done.

[Endarire]

In 1e (?), an elf was a class (an arcane fighter gish as I understand it) and not a race.

[ShurikVch]

In 1e (?), an elf was a class (an arcane fighter gish as I understand it) and not a race.And in the 3e we still have it - Monster Class for Ghaele (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/ghaele.htm) Eladrin

[Florian]

For me, the elfiest elf harkens back to the old oD&D days and is basically a gish.
Longsword, Longbow, Elven Chainmail, Elven Boots and Cloak, a competent combatant and caster but never as good as a focus human single-class character.

So, simple Duskblade.

[nedz]

In 1e (?), an elf was a class (an arcane fighter gish as I understand it) and not a race.

Not quite
In OD&D yes, in AD&D 1E there were a race, with several elven sub-races even.

[thorr-kan]

In 1e (?), an elf was a class (an arcane fighter gish as I understand it) and not a race.
Nope, 1ED had races and classes just like 2-5EDs.

Elf/halfling/dwarf as CLASS, rather than race, is an OD&D/Basic/Expert/Companions/Masters thing. The original, pure quill, if you will.