I was thinking about rolling up a conjurer so I could do some exploring a while ago, and as I was considering the races I found myself cancelling elves and drow off of my list. It wasn't because of a lack of smoothness, or that I thought it would be too hard to cover the vulns (hah). It was because I knew that at some point in my travels I'd be deep in some cool area and would have to use a key...and surely, the key would be iron or mithril.

I have a practical solution to this annoying problem...a solution that makes complete sense.

If an elf, drow, or the halfy variants are wearing hand protection in the form of gauntlets, gloves, or whatever, they should be allowed to pick up and even hold items that are mithril or iron. Yes, I know the half-breeds can already pick up those things, but this is directed mostly towards the purebloods. This benefit would even extend to weapons and shields, but only for show. See, if the character gets into combat they'll immediately drop those items because they no longer have the peace of mind to withstand being in their presence. Held objects and lights would work the same way in that situation. The trade-off is that the character will automatically be bumped down a level on their morale-o-meter, and they cannot rest or sleep while holding such an item do to its proximity. I think this is pretty fair, and would help people to get past that crippling key problem, which is (and I think this is the big point) NOT FUN.


-Mek

If an elf, drow, or the halfy variants are wearing hand protection in the form of gauntlets, gloves, or whatever, they should be allowed to pick up and even hold items that are mithril or iron.

In other words, every elf or dark-elf. "Wearing gloves" isn't exactly a rigorous precondition. When was the last time you played a character who spent a sizable amount of time with the hands slot empty?

The trade-off is that the character will automatically be bumped down a level on their morale-o-meter, and they cannot rest or sleep while holding such an item do to its proximity.

This has been brought up before. Roleplay-wise, elves/dark-elves should be terrified of the stuff and wouldn't want it anywhere near them.

We're not interested in diluting the vulnerability, and it's often intentional that an area author makes that vulnerability count by restricting access the way you discuss.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com

This has been brought up before. Roleplay-wise, elves/dark-elves should be terrified of the stuff and wouldn't want it anywhere near them.

Well, I can't say I totally agree here. I think the drow would probably be inclined to use mithril in devious ways, or maybe even on themselves as some sort of masochistic fetish. Militaristic elves might have some kind of "test of iron" to determine their willpower.

And really, this whole post is directed at iron and mithril keys. I know there is a way around it, and that way is to "bring a friend," but that kills the idea of solo-exploring, which is something a lot of people enjoy. I mean, why wouldn't an elf be able to use a pair of tongs to grab an iron object if he really needed to?

Elves and Drow are the two most intelligent races of Thera. I really can't see them bein irrationally horrified of the metals simply because it burns them. That's like saying people should be horrified of fire because it can burn them if they touch it. I really think they are too smart to give into this kind of irrational terror. Would they be uncomfortable holding it sure, but I think your taking it a step too far.

Intelligent people can know something but still not act rationally on that knowledge.

They are decently wise too.

>If an elf, drow, or the halfy variants are wearing hand
>protection in the form of gauntlets, gloves, or whatever, they
>should be allowed to pick up and even hold items that are
>mithril or iron.
>
>In other words, every elf or dark-elf. "Wearing gloves" isn't
>exactly a rigorous precondition. When was the last time you
>played a character who spent a sizable amount of time with the
>hands slot empty?

What if an elf holding an iron object received considerable damage when he/she picked it up and then every tick he/she was holding it? And the moral can go down as well.



>We're not interested in diluting the vulnerability, and it's
>often intentional that an area author makes that vulnerability
>count by restricting access the way you discuss.

Personally, I don't think this is doing any good for the fun stick.

Which is that sometimes area writers make use of elves and drow not being able to use certain keys.

If you suddenly enable them to use them, that isn't according to the plan of the area writer or writers in question.

Honestly, I can think of a very short list of places where that would be the case...Darsylon, Drow City, and maybe Velkyn Oloth. The rest of the annoying-as-#### iron keys were probably made without much, if any, consideration of the problems they might cause later...that's speculation, not fact, but given the evolution of the game, I think it's fairly accurate.

But I can tell you that in the area I specced out (which was another dark-elf city-state), iron keys were used for a reason.

That doesn't change the fact that sometimes, it makes sense to have keys that certain races won't use.

Elves/Dark-eves should be able to use keys but not weapons or other equippable items.

At least don't restrict the explorability of the race. Weapons/wear/held items are no-nos, but keys? Aw... the reason I don't play full elves or dark-elves is only when I want a race/char to explore with.

That's why I'm a sucker with half-bastards.

mostly involving mercs, potentially involving familiars(? -- a guess at the latter if the familiar is evil).

Or alternatively, do what I used to do when trying to get a certain necklace that progged burning hands and cure light -- pay someone to come and use the key.

Not convenient, but not insurmountable.

Could work like hydrophobia for arials, felar & dwarves. Iron-o-phobia and mithril-o-phobia.