D&D elves, including dark elves, are borrowed from Norse folklore and Tolkien's interpretations of it. Mind flayers and beholders were specifically created for D&D, so the reason for their exclusion is legal.
Tolkien's "dark elves" weren't black-skinned, nor did they live underground, worship spiders or take slaves. They were called "dark" elves (Moriquendi) because they never saw any light before the sun and moon (i.e. the sacred light of the Two Trees).
Tolkien had a big thing about light. And its opposite, darkness.
yeah even in pathfinder its a little different. drow are elves that went underground during earthfall while the good elves went back to their planet (yes, elves are aliens). the drow went insane because rovagug, the eater of worlds, is imprisoned in the core of golarion and has a greater influence the deeper down you go. earthfall itself was a bunch of asteroids being flung at the planet by tentacle space fish, the asteroids themselves physically killed a couple of gods
fun fact, golarion means god cage in some random language
Huh, for some reason I always just assumed it was a Gygaxism. Also don't worry about it lol. Is it even still mansplaining when you're talking to another guy?
Surprised those weren't already banned under the old OGL along with mind flayers and beholders tbh.
D&D elves, including dark elves, are borrowed from Norse folklore and Tolkien's interpretations of it. Mind flayers and beholders were specifically created for D&D, so the reason for their exclusion is legal.
Tolkien's "dark elves" weren't black-skinned, nor did they live underground, worship spiders or take slaves. They were called "dark" elves (Moriquendi) because they never saw any light before the sun and moon (i.e. the sacred light of the Two Trees).
Tolkien had a big thing about light. And its opposite, darkness.
yeah even in pathfinder its a little different. drow are elves that went underground during earthfall while the good elves went back to their planet (yes, elves are aliens). the drow went insane because rovagug, the eater of worlds, is imprisoned in the core of golarion and has a greater influence the deeper down you go. earthfall itself was a bunch of asteroids being flung at the planet by tentacle space fish, the asteroids themselves physically killed a couple of gods
fun fact, golarion means god cage in some random language
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Both are based on the Dokkalfar of Norse myth.
Oh obviously, I meant the specific name "Drow".
According to Wikipedia:
Also please forgive the mansplaining. I'm especially bad at it when it comes to D&D/PF.
Huh, for some reason I always just assumed it was a Gygaxism. Also don't worry about it lol. Is it even still mansplaining when you're talking to another guy?
Double man-splained