The Complete Book of Elves is a supplementary sourcebook published by TSR in 1993 for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game. [1]
The Complete Book of Elves is a supplementary sourcebook published by TSR in 1993 for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game. [1]
The Complete Book of Elves was created to give players a deeper understanding of the Elven race within the world of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, from day-to-day life, culture, myth and religion too new abilities and spells. [2]
| Chapter | Titles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| One | The Creation of Elves | - |
| Two | Variations on a Theme | Aquatic Elves, Dark Elves, Grey Elves, High Elves, Sylvan Elves, Half-Elves, Elves of the Worlds. |
| Three | Physical Attributes | Physiology, Stages of Life, Diet, Elven Interfertility, The Elven Bond, Elven Music. |
| Four | Mental Attributes | Outlook, Individual worth, Emotion and Logic, Generational Splits, Attitudes Towards Other Races. |
| Five | Elven Society | The Elven Language, Livelihood, Rituals, Eleven Holy Days. |
| Six | The Elven Myths | The Legend of Fiona Cassiltenirra, Jarsali and the Treant, Halimath's Pride, Haranavei Koehlanna, Caelestis. |
| Seven | The Death of Elves | Accidental or Violent Death, Funeral Ceremonies |
| Eight | Elven Dwellings | The Grey Elves' City, The High Elves' Tree Town, The Sylvan Elves' Encampment. |
| Chapter | Titles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nine | Optional Rules | Level Limit Expansion, Extra Proficiencies, Combat Modification, Archery Modifications, Using Bows as Weapons, Arrow Breakage and Loss. |
| Ten | Character Creation and Kits | Standard Elf Abilities, The Elf Subraces, Elf PC Kits. |
| Eleven | Elven Equipment | Feywine, Elven Harp, Honey Leather, Sashling, Thistledown, Elven Bow, Arrows(Useful), Elven Armor |
| Twelve | The Magic of Elves | New Elf Spells, Magical Items, Artificial Limbs |
| Thirteen | Elven Campaigns | Campaign Worlds |
| Appendices | Index, MC: Avariel (Winged Elf), MC: Cooshee, Character Record Sheets |
In 1989, TSR published the three core rulebooks for the second edition of their popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The company immediately followed this with a long series of supplementary splatbooks outlining new powers and abilities for all races and classes. One of these was The Complete Elves Handbook, written by Colin McComb and published in 1993, with interior color illustrations by Brom, Larry Elmore, and John and Laura Lakey, and black and white art by Terry Dykstra. [2] It was originally advertised in TSR's 1992 Fall/Winter catalog as "a detailed look at the culture, society, habits, strengths, and weaknesses of the many nations of elves." [1]
In Dragon , The Complete book of Elves was mentioned throughout the series of magazines. Where a player Brian J. Van Court showed concern for the missing magical cards that could be implemented including such sources in a letter to the magazine. [3] In Bruce A. Heard's piece Lord of the Skies touched based on that of the "winged-elves" which were adapted from the Avariel in The complete book of Elves and Dragons Magazines issue #51. [4]
The Complete book of Elves was also asked about by the community in Dragon Magazine Sage Advice Asking a series of questions on the use of multiple actions to combine on that of quick-draw and double-arrow shot. As well further detail on the use of trick shots by one reader. [5] While another reader enquired about the use of that of the huntsmen to be given a "smaller penalty" when tracking "other non-rangers" as there was a hole in the kit's description on what the reduction of the penalty was. [6]
Thirty years after its publication, author Colin McComb admitted The Complete Book of Elves was "dreadful", and acknowledged the negative influence the book had on the 2nd edition of AD&D, apologizing for "making elves so incredibly powerful and unbalanced that all of our AD&D games were henceforth ruined until 3rd Edition D&D came to save us." [7]
In Issue 10 of Australian Realms , Brad Smart found the descriptions of the various subraces "too short for my liking, providing little additional information over what is set out in the individual campaign source books." He also pointed out that "the vast majority of the information on elven life, society, attitudes, culture and legends is useful only to players in generic 'standard' AD&D campaigns [...] I found it useless for an elf in say a Dark Sun world." Smart found the color plates "a pleasure to look at" but found the black and white illustrations "very bland." He concluded, "Compared with the other handbooks, The Complete Book of Elves holds its own, but does not stand out, useful for elf players, and those who buy every release, but otherwise read someone else's." [8]
In the March 1994 issue of Magia i Miecz , Maciel Kocuj reviewed the large number of "splatbooks" published by TSR, and found The Complete Book of Elves "very similar in content [to other 2nd Edition splatbooks]. In some places the material is weaker, in some place stronger, and it brings a lot of both curiosities and boring repetitions." [9]
The drow or dark elves are a dark-skinned and white-haired subrace of elves connected to the subterranean Underdark in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. The drow have traditionally been portrayed as generally evil and connected to the evil spider goddess Lolth. However, later editions of Dungeons & Dragons have moved away from this portrayal and preassigned alignment. More recent publications have explored drow societies unconnected to Lolth.
The Player's Handbook is the name given to one of the core rulebooks in every edition of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). It does not contain the complete set of rules for the game, and only includes rules for use by players of the game. Additional rules, for use by Dungeon Masters (DMs), who referee the game, can be found in the Dungeon Master's Guide. Many optional rules, such as those governing extremely high-level players, and some of the more obscure spells, are found in other sources.
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The Dungeon Master's Guide contains rules concerning the arbitration and administration of a game, and is intended for use by the game's Dungeon Master.
The Complete Psionics Handbook is a supplemental rulebook for the 2nd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991 by TSR, Inc.
Dragonlance Adventures is a 128-page hardcover book for the Dragonlance campaign setting for the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Amazing Engine was a series of tabletop role-playing game books that was published by TSR, Inc. from 1993 until 1994. It was a generic role-playing game system - each publication employed the same minimalist generic rules, as described in the Amazing Engine System Guide, but each world book had an entirely different setting or genre. David "Zeb" Cook was credited with the design of the game rules.
The elf is a humanoid race in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, one of the primary races available for player characters, and play a central role in the narratives of many setting worlds of the game. Elves are described as renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the bow and sword. Becoming physically mature by the age of 25 and emotionally mature at around 125, they are also famously long-lived, capable of living more than half a millennium and remaining physically youthful. Possessed of innate beauty and easy gracefulness, they are viewed as both wondrous and haughty by other races in-universe; however, their natural detachment is seen by some as introversion or xenophobia. They were usually portrayed as antagonistic towards dwarves.
The Grand Duchy of Karameikos is an accessory for the Basic Set edition for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book was written by Aaron Allston, and was published in 1987. Cover art is by Clyde Caldwell, with interior illustrations by Stephen Fabian.
The Draconomicon is the title for several optional sourcebooks for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, providing supplementary game mechanics for dragons specifically. Different Draconomicon books have been issued for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions of the Dungeons & Dragons game. The Latin-inspired name of the books loosely translates as "Book of Dragon Names".
The Complete Book of Humanoids is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy adventure role-playing game.
The half-elf is a player character race featured in Dungeons & Dragons and related material.
Planes of Chaos was a boxed set for the Planescape campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
The Complete Priest's Handbook is a supplemental rulebook published in 1990 for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Accompanying manuals are The Complete Fighter's Handbook, Thief's Handbook, and Wizard's Handbook.
The Complete Wizard's Handbook is a supplementary rulebook published in 1990 for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Accompanying manuals are The Complete Fighter's Handbook, Priest's Handbook, and Thief's Handbook.
Campaign Sourcebook and Catacomb Guide is an accessory for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Time of the Dragon is an accessory for the Dragonlance campaign setting of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
The Complete Druid's Handbook is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Wrath of the Immortals, written by Aaron Allston, is a boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game first published by TSR in 1992, revising the rules of the Immortals Rules box set that was originally released in 1986.
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Corellon Larethian is the leader of the elven pantheon, and the deity of Magic, Music, Arts, Crafts, Poetry, and Warfare. Corellon is also considered a member of the default D&D pantheon. Corellon is the creator and preserver of the elven race, and governs those things held in the highest esteem among elves. Corellon's symbol was originally a crescent moon; in the 4th edition Corellon's symbol is a silver star on a blue field.