- For other Elves, see Elf (disambiguation).
Ability Score Adjustments: Because their lives are spent in constant exertion, wood elves are stronger than other elves. However, they are less sociable because of their upbringing. They have bonuses of +1 to Strength and Dexterity and penalties of –1 to Constitution and Charisma.
| Ability | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 6 | 19 |
| Dexterity | 6 | 19 |
| Constitution | 7 | 17 |
| Intelligence | 8 | 18 |
| Wisdom | 3 | 18 |
| Charisma | 7 | 17 |
Languages: Sylvan Elvish, High Elvish, centaur, pixie, dryad, treant, and other woodland creatures. Wood elves only rarely learn common; they are trying to keep humans and others away from their woods, and they think learning those languages would just encourage visitors to their realm.
Infravision: 60 feet.
Special Advantages: Sylvan elves have an instinctive, natural connection to the land. Their skills in dealing with the woodland are surpassed only by rangers, whose bonds with the forests are legendary.
Sylvan elves easily befriend natural woodland creatures. Unlike rangers, however, wood elves can only perform this trick with woodland creatures; against a desert lion, they must be as careful as any other being.
With the natural creatures of the woodlands, the wood elves' power is especially useful. Unless the animal is already hostile, sylvan elves can automatically shift its reaction by two categories. This ability applies only to natural forest creatures. It is not a charm spell and cannot be used to enthrall creatures of the forest. Creatures friendly to the elf will not accompany him unless persuaded somehow. The ability does not work on monsters.
Special Disadvantages: Because of their primitive lifestyle, wood elves have no special abilities with secret doors. They have no experience with this sort of door and do not gain the typical bonus for finding them.
Above all, wood elves never try to leave their forests. They withdrew into the woods to escape the outer world, and whenever they leave they rediscover why they withdrew in the first place. Wood elves take a dim view of those who try to forcibly remove them.
In general, wood elves are unfriendly and unhelpful. Any wood elf PC who is friendly to people he or she has just met (within the past five years or so) should be docked experience points for bad role-playing.
Finally, wood elves have an aversion to most settings that are not of the woods. They hate the sea (although they can travel on lakes) and will not willingly board a seagoing ship. They hate the underground and become claustrophobic beneath the soil.
These elves are even worse in the cities and lands of other races, including those of other elves. Sylvan elves regard cities as a perversion. They cannot deal with technology and civilization, for it was civilization that drove the wood elves into their isolation.
Additional Experience Cost: None.