So ... here's a bit of news. (Baldur's Gate 3)

[DeadPoolX]

You know what I never understood? Why is everything so human-centric? We call the offspring of a human and an elf a half-elf, right? Okay, that makes sense in human areas, but if you're in an area dominated by elves, wouldn't they refer to that same offspring as a "half-human?"

[Rath Darkblade]

I think they do that to keep things consistent. I don't think elves would be too bothered by that sort of thing -- most elves I've seen in RPGs are more concerned with immediate things, like keeping the clan together, getting enough to eat, not falling prey to some demonic influence -- stuff like that.

Besides, in some RPGs, they already do that. I don't think they have half-elves in the Dragon Age universe, but if they do, would the elves call them "half-shemlen"?

[MusicallyInspired]

You know what I never understood? Why is everything so human-centric? We call the offspring of a human and an elf a half-elf, right? Okay, that makes sense in human areas, but if you're in an area dominated by elves, wouldn't they refer to that same offspring as a "half-human?"

Perhaps it's a derogatory term. "You're ONLY a half-elf! Not a full-elf!"

I know nothing about the game.

[Rath Darkblade]

Heh. MI, "half-elf" is the term used when a human and an elf have a baby. There are some famous half-elves in fantasy; for instance, Elrond (of LOTR fame), the Lord of Rivendell, is known as Elrond Half-elven, because his father Eärendil was human and his mother (Elwing) was an elf. (Though, interestingly, Eärendil was a half-elf himself).

[Tawmis]

Half-Elf, in most D&D worlds, is a race - but often the term "Half-Elf" is used as a derogatory phrase; especially among elves, who see Half-Elves as tainted blood.
Most Elves are often written as rather full of themselves. So anything not an elf, is considered lower than them.

[Rath Darkblade]

Obviously these elves have never visited Middle-Earth. I doubt any of them could look down on either Eärendil or Elrond!

Do D&D elves have to be full of themselves? That's a very unattractive trait.

[Tawmis]

Obviously these elves have never visited Middle-Earth. I doubt any of them could look down on either Eärendil or Elrond!

Do D&D elves have to be full of themselves? That's a very unattractive trait.

Mostly the High Elves are.

Wood Elves, less so, but lack the trust of humans, in general.

Naturally, players are free to change these traits for their own characters.