Sylvan elf
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The term Sylvan elf may refer to different things, depending on the edition of the game. It may refer to either of two subspecies of elves or two distinct cultures of one (sub)species:
- Grugach (Wild elves) — a tribal and reclusive society opposed to civilization, who live in the deep heart of the forest, or
- Wood elves — the most populous of elves, who view themselves as protectors of the forest and prefer the ancient elven forest as their home, but may interact with other cultures.
Publishing history
Due to many descriptions of elven subspecies in various editions or settings, there has often been confusion about which elves are being referred to as "sylvan". For example, in the Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance, "wild elves" are described with different physical appearance than they have been in Greyhawk and in core books. "Wild elves" are also called "sylvan" or "forest" elves in the Forgotten realms. In Dragonlance, the Kagonesti are called "sylvan" in some editions, but later became iconic as being "wild" elves.
Below are listed references to how the term is used as it applies to wood and wild elves in the World of Greyhawk™ from core sources.
- In first edition, both subraces are separate. Wood elves are "sometimes called sylvan elves"[1][2], but wild elves were "grugach", and each had their own stats.[2][3]
- In second edition, "sylvan elves are often called" wood elves[4] and vice versa.[5] "The grugach are much like sylvan elves", but are more "savage".[6]
- In third edition, wood elves are "also called sylvan elves", but wild elves are called "grugach" in core books.[7][8] Each was its own subrace and had its own stats.[7][8] However, while core sources describe wild elves (grugach) as having dark brown skin and brown or black hair,[7] wild elves' appearance was also described in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer as being shorter, but "otherwise resemble the wood elves".[9]
- In fourth edition, the single "elf" race in the Player's Handbook is the "wood elf".[10] Grugach are not found in fourth edition.
- In fifth edition, wood elves and wild elves are under the same entry and "this category [wood elves] includes the wild elves (grugach) ... as well as the race called wood elves in Greyhawk."[11] The term "sylvan elves" is unused in fifth edition, and elves are consolidated into more general categories.
- In 2017, grugach were included in Unearthed Arcana as "playtest material".[12]
- In the revised Player's Handbook (2024), Wood elves "are known by many other names, including wild elves ... Grugach are reclusive wood elves of the Greyhawk setting."[13]
See also
See also: Category:Elves
References
Citations
- ↑ Monster Manual (1977), p.40.
- ↑ a b Unearthed Arcana (1985), p.10.
- ↑ Dragon #67 (Nov 1982), p.10.
- ↑ PHBR8 The Complete Book of Elves (1992), p.19.
- ↑ Monstrous Maual, p.109.
- ↑ PHBR8 The Complete Book of Elves (1992), p.26.
- ↑ a b c Monster Manual (Oct 2000), p.87.
- ↑ a b Monster Manual v3.5 (2003), p.104.
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.8.
- ↑ Dragon #405 (Nov 2011), p.4.
- ↑ Player's Handbook (2014), p.24.
- ↑ Unearthed Arcana: Elf subraces (2017) , p.1.
- ↑ Player's Handbook (2024), p.169.
Bibliography
- Monstrous Manual. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993. Item code TSR2140.
- McComb, Colin. PHBR8 The Complete Book of Elves. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992. Item code TSR2131.
- Mearls, Mike and Jeremy Crawford. Player's Handbook. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2014. Item code A9217.
- Crawford, Jeremy. Unearthed Arcana: Elf subraces. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved on 23 December 2022. "... the grugach of the world of Greyhawk ..."