With the Rhune: Dawn of Twilight Campaign Guide now out in the wild (you can find it a Paizo, DriveThruRPG, and the Open Gaming Store), I'm turning much of my focus toward its further unfolding, both as a setting (through adventures and smaller PDFs), as well as a setting (expanding it into other mechanical systems). In this post, I'm going to share some of that expansion - by showing you how some of the races (in this case, the ælves) have been (or are being) translated into other systems.
First, let's start with Savage Worlds. While I'd love to take credit for this design, Brad Bell (Achtung! Cthulhu - Secrets of the Dust, Iron Dynasty - Kesshi Tales #10) is the genius behind its conversion, as well as one of the driving forces behind it.
Ælven Racial Traits
Agile Graceful and quick, they start with a d6 in Agility instead of a d4.
All Thumbs With their strong dislike of technology, they have the All Thumbs hindrance when it comes to anything mechanical.
Languages Ælves begin play speaking Ælven and Sylvan. Other languages they frequently know include: Celestial, Low Common, High Common, Glittertongue and Goblin.
Low Light Vision Ælven eyes are accustomed to the darkness under the mountains, and they ignore attack penalties for Dim and Dark lighting.
Survivalists Ælves gain a d6 in Survival
Unwelcome Ælves are rarely welcome outside of their lands, and count as having the Outsider Hindrance when dealing with any other race.
Next, let's look at how the ælves might be built in 5e. I've been following and reading 5e since it was first released, although held back on any full conversions because I wasn't sure when (or if) a 5e OGL was going to ever surface. Now that it has, I've been actively turning my notes into actual content. While there is a LOT of material to cover, 5e is a much different beast than Pathfinder (my "go to system"). That's certainly not to say one is better than the other (I am a BIG Pathfinder fan), but they do offer noticeably different play experiences - at least to me.
The Ælves - Children of the Divine Dream
Ælves are a silent, brooding people with a direct connection to the realms they live in. Although immortal, ælves are bound to the lands they occupy, often making them violent and xenophobic.
Ability Score Increase Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age Although immortal, ælves often live as if they were not. After about a century, sometimes more, ælves engage in a process known as I'próiseas' a'athnuachaana (which translates into the Rite of Renewal in High Common). After completing this rite, these ælves are effectively reborn. Your starting age, as a result, might vary from twenty to several hundred years.
Alignment Wild and free, most ælves identify more easily with chaos than they do law. Inside their sacred forests, however, there are still laws and decrees, which all ælves generally follow - understanding that the good of Midgard requires it.
Size Most ælves stand between 5 and 7 feet tall, and with only rare exceptions, are muscular and fit. Your size is Medium.
Speed Your base walking speed is 35.
Darkvision You are accustomed to dimly lit forests and the open, starry night. You can see in dim light up to 60 feet, treating it as if it were bright light. You can see in darkness, instead treating it as if it were dim light. You cannot discern colors in darkness, only shades of gray.
Keen Sense You have a natural proficiency in the Perception skill.
Sil Bound You, like all ælves, have a bond to the lands around you. Whenever you within range of your Sil (generally no more than a day’s march away), you gain advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks whenever you take the Hide action.
Trance Ælves, as a practice, often reach out to their beloved Æssinyr in a practice known A' Aisling—the Rite of Divine Dreaming. While dreaming with their gods, ælves enter a semiconscious state that is similar to sleep, but which they may easily awake from. After dreaming for at least 4 hours, you gain the same benefit as a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Ælves of Nayadia’s Blessing
You are quick and nimble, the perfect example of the sacred work of the Queen of the Waters.
Ability Score Increase Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Nayadia’s Grace You are incredibly hard to surprise. Provided at least one of your allies acts during the surprise round of combat, you may do so as well.
Nimble Attacks You may, as a bonus action, activate this ability to gain advantage on your next attack with a finesse weapon you are wielding. You must finish a short rest before you can activate this ability again.
So, if you've been looking at incorporating the ælves into one of your games, you now have two more mechanical choices! While I'd love to also convert these guys over to Monte Cook's Cypher System, I haven't had the time (yet). With the announcement that Monte Cook Games is going to be supporting 3rd party publishers who want to use their mechanics, I may have to make more time! But before I do, I'm going to remain focused on both Savage Worlds (with lots of help from Brad Bell) and 5e (with the new team I'm developing for Rhune's conversion).
And with that, Rhune fans, I bid you a good week!
Cheers, Jaye PS... if you do want to see some of my 5e design before the Rhune conversion happens, check out Mike Myler's current Kickstarter for the Mists of Akuma!