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25/04/2012 09:28Posted by Nymi

There's a difference between night elf mages and Highborne. The Highborne are old and very experienced, competent and powerful magi. Night Elf mages are the night elves that have recently been allowed to receive training from these Highborne. It's also worth noting that the Highborne are the very caste any Blood Elf mages come from in the first place, possibly a few generations ago, so if they make any statements about Highborne, they are essentially making statements about themselves.

I wasn't suggesting otherwise, I'd like to think ;p

25/04/2012 09:28Posted by Nymi

There's a difference between night elf mages and Highborne. The Highborne are old and very experienced, competent and powerful magi. Night Elf mages are the night elves that have recently been allowed to receive training from these Highborne. It's also worth noting that the Highborne are the very caste any Blood Elf mages come from in the first place, possibly a few generations ago, so if they make any statements about Highborne, they are essentially making statements about themselves.

While the Blood Elves/Sin'dorei are in effect most of the Highborne/Quel'dorei that left the Night Elves/Kaldorei after Dath'Remars rebellion, they are not the same group (or rather a sect, focused on the Arcane arts) of Highborne that have been accepted back into the Kaldorei society by Tyrande. Those being the Shen'dralar whom have been living in the city called Dire Maul in the common tongue, feeding on Arcane and Fel energies from the demon Immol'thar after their connection with the Well of Eternity had faded away.

The Shen'dralar had no part in The Sundering as far as I know (they weren't around Zin-Azshari when the Burning Legion came to Azeroth). They thought for the longest time they were the only remaining elves, and in time have grown almost immune to the corrupting effects of The Arcane and Fel (from feeding of Immol'thar). That is most likely why the remnants of the Shen'dralar have been allowed back. They are, in that regard, very different from the openly addicted (and self proclaimed) Blood Elves.

The Blood Elves giggling about Night Elf magi, whom have not practiced the Arcane arts for several thousand years, are in their full right to do so. You try to do something complex after you've not practiced that particular skill for a very long time ;). You'd most likely be terrible at it as well from an (arrogant) Masters point of view.

They do need to remind themselves that they (the Night Elves) are being trained by the Shen'dralar, who might well be more powerful magi than the Sin'dorei could ever hope to be. Overcoming the addiction that comes with using the Arcane, and not becoming corrupted by the Fel after feeding on a demon for millennia on end.

To that end though, playing an Highborne/Shen'dralar mage might not be fully plausible. Aesthetics aside (they would probably look different than the Night Elves are portrayed in game), they would be incredibly powerful. That said, imagination is still key, and you don't have to play an Archmage.The only possible ways I can see Night Elf/Kaldorei magi in game are these;
(yes, yes, the type of people I associate with the choices are exaggerated!)

1. They are Shen'dralar
- Old elves, having a very large amount of self-discipline and Arcane knowledge.
- This is an obvious choice for either the more experienced roleplayers with self-restraint, or for godmode roleplayers that want to lulz around being dragons or what not.

2. They are Night Elf apprentices
- Pretty much only possible for the youngest generation of Kaldorei. The older generations probably wouldn't even consider going against their ancient teachings.
- A good choice for beginning roleplayers with a limited knowledge of the lore (not to be mistaken with kiddies). Might very well end up a human mage with pointy ears, though.

3. One of the old Quel'dorei that gave up magic, instead of being exiled after Dath'Remars rebellion
- Having used magic in the past but giving it up to become a member of the Kaldorei community. With the recent lifting of the ban on Arcane magic, the elf decided to return to his former habits.
- A choice for people that are rather well versed in Kaldorei lore. Otherwise it's very hard to play a convincing ancient elf (we're talking >10.000 years old)

4. One of the old Quel'dorei that "gave up" magic, instead of being exiled after Dath'Remars rebellion
- But whom kept practicing his arts in secrecy..
- This one is even harder to pull off, if not downright impossible. Practicing magic in front of the Kaldorei society and keeping it a secret for 10.000 years might not be accepted by the roleplaying community ;)

Group as in racial group, ie. Highborne. If you had read that into it, could that have spared you that 2000 word diatribe? I haven't read it but skimming over it, it looks like you're preaching to the choir.

Blimey, Nymi (hurr) - no need to bite his/her head off, surely! Although Saphyrias' post may be familiar to roleplayers that are already well-acquainted with Night Elf lore, that's not to say that everyone else is. Considering the title of the thread, it's really not beyond the realms of possibility that others interested in Highborne / Kaldorei lore could happen upon it and possibly learn something new.

Debates about competence and what-not aside, the Hornmantled did recruit mages - albeit with a certain level of wariness and under particular guidelines of their own. However, I sincerely doubt that we'll be recruiting for at least a month, as I'll not be back in-game until I finish my studies. More details can be found on our forum thread, if you're interested.

I enjoyed playing a Shen'Dralar. Overcoming magical addiction basically means not using the Arcane, or using it *very* infrequently. Xaei was capable of some great things, but I almost never used magic ICly on her. Sometimes a wand, usually very simple non-flashy spells like fire blast. The only time she showed off some of her power was in crafting magical items, which was her speciality. Sadly not many people had her make these, though she did at one point begin to make Cerelia a weapon in secret. Maybe she'll finish it when she returns from her travels in the Nether.

... >: 3 Sounds promising, minion. Or is this just a lure to tempt me back?

Anyway, Night Elf mages are fascinating if you can get past the (understandable) challenge of interacting with the highly suspicious Kaldorei and the (less understandable and somewhat frustrating) obstacles of OOC stereotyping and having to 'prove' oneself near to more cynical roleplayers, à la most Death Knights.

They're also awesome for sneering at people like Valven, who've worked so hard to become great examples of intellectual, powerful mage roleplayers. "Oh. You invented a spell to change your clothes in an instant? Impressive. I think we had that eight-thousand years ago. But don't worry, we're all super proud of your achievements."

:D

They're also awesome for sneering at people like Valven, who've worked so hard to become great examples of intellectual, powerful mage roleplayers. "Oh. You invented a spell to change your clothes in an instant? Impressive. I think we had that eight-thousand years ago. But don't worry, we're all super proud of your achievements."

:D

Sorry, fellows. I had to disappear for half an hour. Two highborne "archwizards" were havin' an argument over above Desolace. Needless to say, someone had to tell them not to act like children with toys.

They're also awesome for sneering at people like Valven, who've worked so hard to become great examples of intellectual, powerful mage roleplayers. "Oh. You invented a spell to change your clothes in an instant? Impressive. I think we had that eight-thousand years ago. But don't worry, we're all super proud of your achievements."

:D

Sorry, fellows. I had to disappear for half an hour. Two highborne "archwizards" were havin' an argument over above Desolace. Needless to say, someone had to tell them not to act like children with toys.

"And then they polymorphed me into an abstract concept."

Sorry, fellows. I had to disappear for half an hour. Two highborne "archwizards" were havin' an argument over above Desolace. Needless to say, someone had to tell them not to act like children with toys.

"And then they polymorphed me into an abstract concept."

Actually, they decided to shut up.

"And then they polymorphed me into an abstract concept."

Actually, they decided to shut up.

Non-verbal casting is just one of their many talents, yes. Anyways. If you can handle the challenge I'd go with a Highborne any day of the week. Generally speaking they look just like regular Kaldorei, albeit paler. You can go for a variety of personalities, although arrogance is generally accepted as "their thing". Xaei was generally too busy reading to talk, so any underlying arrogance didn't really show - plus as a Smith (a magical one, but a Smith nonetheless) she was considerably more down to earth than some of her compatriots. If you're really into magic (I mean, Valven-into-magic, not just a fan of flashy lights) then they make a great choice as you can really explore and theorise on a lot of it as part of your character.

It's a lot rarer on AD to find Kaldorei mages, but again there are a variety of possibilities with them. There's the unskilled newcomer getting to grips with the arcane - imagine learning to walk after being in a wheelchair for decades. Then there's the older elf who decided to change professions, who are much rarer but are generally at least more capable. There's an NPC in Feralas, for example, who left the Priesthood to become a Mage, and she seems fairly competent at her study. Much much rarer would be the Kaldorei that practised in secret, as they would generally be outcasts from society and almost surely criminals (in behaviour, not simply for committing the crime of using the arcane). Returning and trying to fit into society for these individuals would be even more difficult than anyone else, I think.

You would (and should) encounter quite a lot of hostility from a lot of night elf roleplayers. My only advice is, don't take it too hard. :) It's nothing personal, just a strong IC urge to make mages' lives into a living hell and ultimately kill them!

Honestly though, prepare to face some serious discrimination, and try to keep that in mind when making your character - some personalities work way better under that kind of pressure than others. It might not be entirely pleasant, but not all good RP is. :)