Discord
Changelog
08-08-2015, 03:33 PM
I am posing this as a question to the staff and player-base as it has come up in RP on occasion and the books only really went into depth on the issue in first edition D&D. Also i invite anyone to look this topic up and draw there own conclusions as well because while i still have my 3.5 edition stuff my 1st edition books are long gone.
In D&D Reverie (or the elven equivalent of sleep) is described in a level of detail that no other edition came close to. It is described in all books as a trance like state in which the elf is able to rest while remaining fully aware of there surroundings. The difference is that in first edition (and its compendiums) the mechanics of this ability were discussed and this reveals some deep insights into what reverie actually IS.
In First Edition D&D Reverie is described not as a inherently racial trait (although it is treated as one for purposes of play) but rather as a learned trait that is passed down through generations as a closely guarded secret. This puts reverie as the FR equivalent to "Wood Steel" in ancient India. The smiths that made this steel were not born with this knowledge but were shown how to make the material from an early age. The skill was considered such an important secret that they would rather die than pass it on to anyone that wasn't there decedent and when the family's that made it died off the secret was lost for hundreds of years.
In the same way First edition D&D seems to describe reverie. Even stating that elves "Can" sleep in that they are biologically capable of doing so however they never do so if they have a choice because reverie is so much more efficient and in effect prevents things like nightmares. At the same time it seems to indicate just how far the elves will go to protect this secret as it would keeping secret the art of reverie on par with how viciously they defend there distant homeland. Its not because none else could do it or even because they cant do otherwise but rather because its one of the few remaining things the elves have that they can hold above others.
This description was never contradicted in any later D&D book. In fact the issue of what reverie actually was, was never touched upon again in later editions. But it brings up an interesting set of questions. By this description, it seems that any race could in theory learn how to reverie if they could ever figure out how.
Anyway that's just my thoughts... what about yours? Remember this wouldn't change anything as far as RP because even if it is a learned trait everyone would more than likely just assume that "elves just do that thing" and the elves most defiantly wouldn't be correcting them. However i was curious what you guys thought on the issue.
In D&D Reverie (or the elven equivalent of sleep) is described in a level of detail that no other edition came close to. It is described in all books as a trance like state in which the elf is able to rest while remaining fully aware of there surroundings. The difference is that in first edition (and its compendiums) the mechanics of this ability were discussed and this reveals some deep insights into what reverie actually IS.
In First Edition D&D Reverie is described not as a inherently racial trait (although it is treated as one for purposes of play) but rather as a learned trait that is passed down through generations as a closely guarded secret. This puts reverie as the FR equivalent to "Wood Steel" in ancient India. The smiths that made this steel were not born with this knowledge but were shown how to make the material from an early age. The skill was considered such an important secret that they would rather die than pass it on to anyone that wasn't there decedent and when the family's that made it died off the secret was lost for hundreds of years.
In the same way First edition D&D seems to describe reverie. Even stating that elves "Can" sleep in that they are biologically capable of doing so however they never do so if they have a choice because reverie is so much more efficient and in effect prevents things like nightmares. At the same time it seems to indicate just how far the elves will go to protect this secret as it would keeping secret the art of reverie on par with how viciously they defend there distant homeland. Its not because none else could do it or even because they cant do otherwise but rather because its one of the few remaining things the elves have that they can hold above others.
This description was never contradicted in any later D&D book. In fact the issue of what reverie actually was, was never touched upon again in later editions. But it brings up an interesting set of questions. By this description, it seems that any race could in theory learn how to reverie if they could ever figure out how.
Anyway that's just my thoughts... what about yours? Remember this wouldn't change anything as far as RP because even if it is a learned trait everyone would more than likely just assume that "elves just do that thing" and the elves most defiantly wouldn't be correcting them. However i was curious what you guys thought on the issue.