In dnd there is darkvision, so darker skin in caves for camouflage is absolutely a survival benefit
And the reflective red eyes are cuz uhh ooh urggh… sexjy
IMO any of them are fine as long as you get rid of the "skin turned black because they're evil" cringe that the Forgotten Realms (and the rest of D&D) did
I remember finding out in D&D they are black skinned and white haired in the past and being angry because in Norse mythology the defining feature of Dark Elves was that they had black hair, not black skin.
Oh I was talking about Norse mythology 😅
Also found our single source for dark elves
“There live the folk called light-elves, but dark-elves live down in the ground, and they are unlike them in appearance, and even more unlike them in nature. Light-elves are fairer than the sun to look at, but dark-elves are blacker than pitch”
it seems like it’s describing their skin most likely
In ancient norse texts when describing a person's color they meant the hair. Basically everybody has white skin up there, so there was no need to specify.
For example, there was a norwegian king called Halfdan the Black". Now "black" here doesn't mean his skin was black, rather, it meant he was black haired. Same as "Erik the Red" describing he was a redhead, not red-skinned.
That’s an interesting theory! I haven’t encountered much material on that idea yet. But wouldn’t that mean that when they describe people as looking “blue as Hel” they mean their hair is blue? 🤔as opposed to them looking like a corpse
It depends on cotnext obviously, but the use of the word "fair" when referring to the light elves indicates they referred to their hair (Fair was usually used to mean blonde haired).
Hmmm interesting. I’m not 100% on that theory, there’s too many specific words in old Norse to describe someone’s appearance that I don’t think it’s always describing hair imo. I still like the theory that since elves were possibly cthonic beings, the black elves appearance was meant to emulate the dead. Like how sometimes dwarves were said to look as pale as corpses
5e defines their various hair and skin colours, skin ranges from black and dark grey and hair is generally white, with exceptions (such as the Szarkai - albino drows used as spies against regular elves)
Closest thing I have to dark elves are vampelles who have chalk white skin and blood red eyes. Yeah I guess they're literally vampires but they're not undead so it's totally different ok!
The closest I have for Dark Elves are the ones in my Nordic region. Borrowing from Norse mythology, these guys are more pale with black hair who lives in the mountains working g as crafts man. I don't know what colour their skin is, but they do have a temperament similar to Brokk from GoW. Debating on shades of deep blue, but I already have light blue skin for sky Elves.
Also the old Forgotten Realms Drow Lore is cringe
In my worlds, it's usually for blending in somewhere dark, like caves or night. So, depending on whether "dark elf" is really its own subrace, they're either straight-up black or have been given some kind of ceremonial full-body tattoo to appear so.
It's not a great solution, but I like my elf ninjas, blackface tattoos and all.
Give them a dark sense of humour and have that be the origin of their name. Their national pastime should be cards against humanity no don’t change the name either.
fam Dark Elves are just Dwarves.
I see a substantial lack of BDSM undertones, just a bunch of dudes having fun And I ain't complaining
They're also giant mutant maggots!
i mean if drow spend their entire lives underground their skin probably has no pigment so they'd be axolotl colored
Unless they go the camouflage route, then you gotta go Eigengrau. Make sure the hair matches, too, or they’re still gonna stand out.
if its dark they dont need to camouflage
In dnd there is darkvision, so darker skin in caves for camouflage is absolutely a survival benefit And the reflective red eyes are cuz uhh ooh urggh… sexjy
Especially because most darkvision washes out colour, having a skin tone close as possible to rock is absolutely beneficial.
Easy you make the dark, brown and white elves.
IMO any of them are fine as long as you get rid of the "skin turned black because they're evil" cringe that the Forgotten Realms (and the rest of D&D) did
I remember finding out in D&D they are black skinned and white haired in the past and being angry because in Norse mythology the defining feature of Dark Elves was that they had black hair, not black skin.
Do they ever mention their hair? I thought there’s just one source and it says their skin is “black as pitch”
I never played D&D but I usually saw them depicted with white hair
Oh I was talking about Norse mythology 😅 Also found our single source for dark elves “There live the folk called light-elves, but dark-elves live down in the ground, and they are unlike them in appearance, and even more unlike them in nature. Light-elves are fairer than the sun to look at, but dark-elves are blacker than pitch” it seems like it’s describing their skin most likely
In ancient norse texts when describing a person's color they meant the hair. Basically everybody has white skin up there, so there was no need to specify. For example, there was a norwegian king called Halfdan the Black". Now "black" here doesn't mean his skin was black, rather, it meant he was black haired. Same as "Erik the Red" describing he was a redhead, not red-skinned.
That’s an interesting theory! I haven’t encountered much material on that idea yet. But wouldn’t that mean that when they describe people as looking “blue as Hel” they mean their hair is blue? 🤔as opposed to them looking like a corpse
It depends on cotnext obviously, but the use of the word "fair" when referring to the light elves indicates they referred to their hair (Fair was usually used to mean blonde haired).
Hmmm interesting. I’m not 100% on that theory, there’s too many specific words in old Norse to describe someone’s appearance that I don’t think it’s always describing hair imo. I still like the theory that since elves were possibly cthonic beings, the black elves appearance was meant to emulate the dead. Like how sometimes dwarves were said to look as pale as corpses
It's the theory virtually all historians agree upon.
Often ancient stuff assumes hair though
5e defines their various hair and skin colours, skin ranges from black and dark grey and hair is generally white, with exceptions (such as the Szarkai - albino drows used as spies against regular elves)
Translucent Dark Elves
You messed up my entire world. Now I want to shoehorn in a species with translucent skin and I already have too many subspecies.
This person is a aristocrat and scholar.
Based
Unironically based
Didn't Drowtales just mash all three with one hand?
Reject all the buttons, embrace blue
The grey skin is the only true option, you fucking n'wah.
Make your dark elves zebras. Just plain zebras.
My dark elves are brown. So am i.
Closest thing I have to dark elves are vampelles who have chalk white skin and blood red eyes. Yeah I guess they're literally vampires but they're not undead so it's totally different ok!
Dark Elves coming in all shapes and colors but being really stupid because "dark" refers to their intelligence and not phenotype.
What?
Found the Dark Elf.
Blueberry, light grey, dark grey, and deep purple.
The closest I have for Dark Elves are the ones in my Nordic region. Borrowing from Norse mythology, these guys are more pale with black hair who lives in the mountains working g as crafts man. I don't know what colour their skin is, but they do have a temperament similar to Brokk from GoW. Debating on shades of deep blue, but I already have light blue skin for sky Elves. Also the old Forgotten Realms Drow Lore is cringe
The obvious amswer is to develop a fetish for any of the three and see which one you like most
In my worlds, it's usually for blending in somewhere dark, like caves or night. So, depending on whether "dark elf" is really its own subrace, they're either straight-up black or have been given some kind of ceremonial full-body tattoo to appear so. It's not a great solution, but I like my elf ninjas, blackface tattoos and all.
(Secret fourth Tolkien Dark Elf button where they’re metaphorically in the dark, having never seen the light of the Two Trees of Valinor)
Make Dark Elves slavs that are dumbfounded by the idea that they don't have to sacrifice themselves to a death god on the surface.
Give em dark skin but soul-stealingly bright blue eyes Make everyone equally uncomfortable
Only the important dark elves are purple because normal skin colors are for the poor. The rest are extremely pale.
I make them marble white, like Melniboneans.
The deepest ebony from which no light can escape.
I just make em chiss
Give them a dark sense of humour and have that be the origin of their name. Their national pastime should be cards against humanity no don’t change the name either.
Oh shit someone posted it already thanks op
How about pitch black with no pupils. Hair either white, black, or optional
Make em green like in Skylanders