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First off: I hate these boards, PITA to figure out where they expect us to move our threads too :/
From the other thread in Therengia Events:
>In DragonRealms, there is no such thing as someone who is a physiologically distinct half-elf (or half-whatever). An Elf and a Human produce an Elf or a Human. This is the same for every other paring where breeding is possible.
It's a good thing my character doesn't live in the world I live in, or he'd be having serious issues with making sense of the weird way genetics decides to work in DR :/
We have anatomy charts of all the races, so obviously someone has some knowledge of the inner workings of each race. The next question becomes, are all the inner works of the various races very similar? Or are there differences? And if there are differences, would the "A x B = A or B" apply to this as well?
Or when you say physiologically speaking, do you actually mean it as this particular dictionary puts it "the organic processes and phenomena of an organism or any of its parts or of a particular bodily process", which would imply "elf in every way that matters" or "human in every way that matters" per your statement?
>It's a good thing my character doesn't live in the world I live in, or he'd be having serious issues with making sense of the weird way genetics decides to work in DR :/
Why would you assume Elanthians have genes or genetics?
"...I am inclined to think the focus of the [Warmage's] spellbook should be ways to make things explode, to help you make things explode, or to assist your victim in exploding." -Armifer
Why would you assume Elanthians have genes or genetics?
"...I am inclined to think the focus of the [Warmage's] spellbook should be ways to make things explode, to help you make things explode, or to assist your victim in exploding." -Armifer
It helps to remember that when we are referring to a person's "race" in Elanthia we don't just mean that their skin is black or that their ancestors were from a certain area, we mean they are an entirely different species.
That said, yes, there are some huge physiological differences between each species, even the ones that sort of look alike.
It's a wonder that they can even interbreed at all, seeing as the typical result of interspecies breeding IRL is a sterile and often sickly offspring if it's possible at all (and it usually isn't).
Rev. Reene
You also see a broad-capped glass toadstool with white spots labeled "1UP".
That said, yes, there are some huge physiological differences between each species, even the ones that sort of look alike.
It's a wonder that they can even interbreed at all, seeing as the typical result of interspecies breeding IRL is a sterile and often sickly offspring if it's possible at all (and it usually isn't).
Rev. Reene
You also see a broad-capped glass toadstool with white spots labeled "1UP".
Well, keeping in mind that Elanthia is a magic Faerie land where we can shoot magic out of our butts, there's a simple explanation for why a child is born of just one race.
Have you ever taken a biology class that went into that basic chart for figuring out what eye color a baby can have based on the Prominent and recessive genes? And you get four "answers"?
That's perhaps how it works.
Of course, the world you live in (I live there too I think), there's only one race. Unless of course you're mating with an a non-human.
Bryan, player of Mordiazi
Have you ever taken a biology class that went into that basic chart for figuring out what eye color a baby can have based on the Prominent and recessive genes? And you get four "answers"?
That's perhaps how it works.
Of course, the world you live in (I live there too I think), there's only one race. Unless of course you're mating with an a non-human.
Bryan, player of Mordiazi
There's more to race than genetics. In fact, that's probably the least important element when I speak as a social scientist.
Someone's daddy is an Elf and mommy is a Human. Is it a Half-Elf? Well... biologically? Not as far as anyone can tell. Maybe there's some recessives floating in the mix or "elf blood" or whatever, but that's a level of understanding of life that Empaths and Necromancers don't have access to. Far as the setting is concerned, it's one way or the other with no exceptions.
That isn't everything, though. Does his father's extended family ignore him, realizing he's likely as not to die before a "real" child would hit puberty? Hell, does his father feel the same way? Do the other kids in his hamlet, who know nothing about these high faluffon concepts, expect him to shoot fireballs out of his eyes? Is it an easy way to insult him when you're drunk and searching for a rock to throw? Does there happen to be a messiah-figure in the setting that, coincidentally, is strongly identified as being part of an inter-species couple?
Just because we say, resolutely, you cannot be a Human with suspicious ears and an extra-long lifespan does not mean there isn't a story to tell, if you are willing to give up the generic fantasy interpretation of a half-elf for something more sociological.
-Armifer
<Kvlt> Step 1: Want stuff! Step 2: Be ambitious! Step 3: Believe in the ability of your fellow man to carry you to heights you are too incompetent to reach alone.
Someone's daddy is an Elf and mommy is a Human. Is it a Half-Elf? Well... biologically? Not as far as anyone can tell. Maybe there's some recessives floating in the mix or "elf blood" or whatever, but that's a level of understanding of life that Empaths and Necromancers don't have access to. Far as the setting is concerned, it's one way or the other with no exceptions.
That isn't everything, though. Does his father's extended family ignore him, realizing he's likely as not to die before a "real" child would hit puberty? Hell, does his father feel the same way? Do the other kids in his hamlet, who know nothing about these high faluffon concepts, expect him to shoot fireballs out of his eyes? Is it an easy way to insult him when you're drunk and searching for a rock to throw? Does there happen to be a messiah-figure in the setting that, coincidentally, is strongly identified as being part of an inter-species couple?
Just because we say, resolutely, you cannot be a Human with suspicious ears and an extra-long lifespan does not mean there isn't a story to tell, if you are willing to give up the generic fantasy interpretation of a half-elf for something more sociological.
-Armifer
<Kvlt> Step 1: Want stuff! Step 2: Be ambitious! Step 3: Believe in the ability of your fellow man to carry you to heights you are too incompetent to reach alone.
Wasn't there a story about how Lanival slept for a long time? Or are people implying he was genetically an elf but sociologically a human and possibly even shifted to resemble a human because that's who he identified with between his two parents? Was he the one exception to all this and probably the equivalent of a Mule? Perhaps he was a god-touched human and granted long life?
I am merely curious because what ever happened with him, it does not seem to be something that happens often and probably won't happen again. I also doubt that we will ever know for sure unless we develop time travel in Elanthia and it's a two way affair with the traveler arriving alive at the end.
Genetically I assume that there is something that makes the elf genes or the human genes dominant in any one person that is a child of a mixed couple. So, if the elf genes are turned on and the human ones turned off, you are an elf. Alternately, if the elf geners are turned off and the human ones turned on you are a human. If the particular gene is not a racially linked gene, it's not affected one way or the other. I am guessing that things like eye and hair color and skin color tend to not be racially linked. Perhaps even part of the genes determining the shape of an ear and so on. But there would be no question about the dominant race in a child born of a mixed race couple.
But, then again, who is to say that people in elanthia have genes? This whole discussion may just be totally without any merit at all. The important thing is that we don't have crossbreeds. You are either one race or another. The rest is just idle speculation.
--There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.--George Carlin
--'Must you fall asleep when I am talking?'..'No, its purely voluntary'..Churchill
I am merely curious because what ever happened with him, it does not seem to be something that happens often and probably won't happen again. I also doubt that we will ever know for sure unless we develop time travel in Elanthia and it's a two way affair with the traveler arriving alive at the end.
Genetically I assume that there is something that makes the elf genes or the human genes dominant in any one person that is a child of a mixed couple. So, if the elf genes are turned on and the human ones turned off, you are an elf. Alternately, if the elf geners are turned off and the human ones turned on you are a human. If the particular gene is not a racially linked gene, it's not affected one way or the other. I am guessing that things like eye and hair color and skin color tend to not be racially linked. Perhaps even part of the genes determining the shape of an ear and so on. But there would be no question about the dominant race in a child born of a mixed race couple.
But, then again, who is to say that people in elanthia have genes? This whole discussion may just be totally without any merit at all. The important thing is that we don't have crossbreeds. You are either one race or another. The rest is just idle speculation.
--There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.--George Carlin
--'Must you fall asleep when I am talking?'..'No, its purely voluntary'..Churchill
>>Wasn't there a story about how Lanival slept for a long time?
There's also a story about him being a Warrior Mage that taught the Resurrection spell to the world and lived far longer than even an elf would.
Lanival is not a good example for anything, because either he was a historical figure of such divine significance that he broke a lot of rules, or such a body of myth has grown up around him that his true nature is now impenetrable.
-Armifer
<Kvlt> Step 1: Want stuff! Step 2: Be ambitious! Step 3: Believe in the ability of your fellow man to carry you to heights you are too incompetent to reach alone.
There's also a story about him being a Warrior Mage that taught the Resurrection spell to the world and lived far longer than even an elf would.
Lanival is not a good example for anything, because either he was a historical figure of such divine significance that he broke a lot of rules, or such a body of myth has grown up around him that his true nature is now impenetrable.
-Armifer
<Kvlt> Step 1: Want stuff! Step 2: Be ambitious! Step 3: Believe in the ability of your fellow man to carry you to heights you are too incompetent to reach alone.
>>Will we ever see Lanival in some kind of supremely epic event?
I bet the sorcerors know. Anyone wanna wager that Thee Mottled Texte knows where they buried Lanivale's body, who really killed Kalag, or what's inside a stretchy Vorclaf doll?
DISCLAIMER: THIS POSTER IS NOT A MEMBER OF STAFF AND HIS INFORMATION IS/MIGHT BE WRONG.
I bet the sorcerors know. Anyone wanna wager that Thee Mottled Texte knows where they buried Lanivale's body, who really killed Kalag, or what's inside a stretchy Vorclaf doll?
DISCLAIMER: THIS POSTER IS NOT A MEMBER OF STAFF AND HIS INFORMATION IS/MIGHT BE WRONG.
>what's inside a stretchy Vorclaf doll?
Meraud mostly.
Magic's Death Caraamon Makdasi,
Gor'Tog Barbarian
Hunta Talna Kortok, built by Gor'Togs, for Gor'Togs
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/caraamon/home.html
Weapon Combo Balance List
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/caraamon/balance.xls
Meraud mostly.
Magic's Death Caraamon Makdasi,
Gor'Tog Barbarian
Hunta Talna Kortok, built by Gor'Togs, for Gor'Togs
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/caraamon/home.html
Weapon Combo Balance List
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/caraamon/balance.xls
People really, really want to play Half-Elves I guess. I suspect they want to be awesome like Elves without the crappy stat layout.
I met a Human Bard the other day who RP's a half-breed from Mer'kresh (hey neat, a culturally appropriate background!) who actually doesn't have pointed ears shifted on for a change.
I was supremely impressed, and then I felt sad.
Rev. Reene
(10:12:00 PM) Celeres: For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry you attract nut jobs.
(10:12:08 PM) Celeres: I'm also equally sorry I find it amusing.
I met a Human Bard the other day who RP's a half-breed from Mer'kresh (hey neat, a culturally appropriate background!) who actually doesn't have pointed ears shifted on for a change.
I was supremely impressed, and then I felt sad.
Rev. Reene
(10:12:00 PM) Celeres: For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry you attract nut jobs.
(10:12:08 PM) Celeres: I'm also equally sorry I find it amusing.
