RPG Retro Review: The Shadow Elves

[@kendo2377]

1980's and 90's D&D really was its own thing. Good times back then.

[@agemmemnon100]

I have always felt that the Shadow Elves were far more interesting and complicated than the Drow. Thanks for covering this.

[@captcorajus]

yes, me too! You're welcome!

[@daviddobarganes9115]

I really enjoy the stuff you cover. Back then I was more of a reader and imaginer than a DM; since the internet wasn't so much a thing, a lot of useful commentary and content went right by my little head. Until now!

[@captcorajus]

That's what I'm here for!

[@dangarthemighty0980]

Great review Captain. Mystara is up top on my list of favorite fantasy settings.

[@captcorajus]

Mine too!. Glad you enjoyed!

[@misomiso8228]

Such a fantastic supplement. Was one of my favourites when I was younger. Amazing cover art as well.

[@captcorajus]

Yes, Its one of my favorites of the entire line.

[@rockwallaby550]

Always a great thoughtful review. Thanks Cap'n--

[@dfcsons]

This is a cool little setting to be sure, nice review. Happy Yule!

[@josullivan5604]

wait! “complete fabrication?!” holy moly, 80s DnD is wild! i kinda want to run this setting…

[@MrMisterMysterio]

I like to think that Matt Mercer's Kryn Dynasty drow are based on the Shadow Elves lore but played straight without the twist (I haven't finished Campaign 2 so I don't know if that changes things lol)

[@jameslove5504]

that would be awesome

[@yegenek]

The pulp fantasy sci-fi story featured in this book is mind blowing.

[@captcorajus]

I thought so too!

[@Leftylives]

Gaz 10 was my favorite, I have made many adaptions from it. I need to get all the Gazzes.

[@captcorajus]

You do! Collect them all!

[@jslandes]

Great review! Wish more of there were available for pod.

[@humanphillips3091]

I said it before I will say it again ....Love that old school artwork .

[@peatmoss4946]

oldie but goodie.....still on my shelf....with the other gaz

[@foxyfoxington2651]

This was the first D&D book I bought with my own money. Must have been in '90 or '91.

[@MrArioncete]

My favorite Mystara Gazeteer

[@TheBigGuppy]

Mystara and Greyhawk forever.

[@captcorajus]

Indeed!

[@TheGeekDaddy929]

OHHHHHH YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

[@mykediemart]

cool review I really liked this book. I can't believe that price

[@johnnyo3535]

Very good my liege.

[@captcorajus]

Thank you sir!

[@daviddobarganes9115]

All I know about Shadow Elves is from Fantasy Empires and Arcade Games, lol

[@GreasusGoldtooth]

I never liked the fact that Mystara called its gods "immortals" but made little if any differences between the two. Both are immortal, receive worship, and grant spells to Clerics.

[@HowtoRPG]

Thank you.

[@captcorajus]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed!

[@cinocefalo284]

i read all that gazetteer 2 months ago. Super fun to read, but i would not run a campaign on it.

[@elextrano7597]

I play more modern sistems but this books are so usefull

[@MrRourk]

Check out Chagmat sometime:)

[@Dragoran5836]

Has any product you have reviewed ever gotten a Critical Hit?

[@captcorajus]

I've given critical hits to individual categories, but to get 20s across the board is a near impossibility.

[@Dragoran5836]

@@captcorajus So which games have gotten in some categories?

[@drorbital3034]

Great video man which Edition is this for?

[@captcorajus]

All of the Mystara Gazeteers were originally for the 'basic' or Moldvey/ Cook or Mentzer 'Basic' games. Though you could absolutely use them for any edition all the way up to the current with a bit of modification.

[@Renkaru]

I only ever played the capcom beat em up Shadow over Mystara, I know there were shadow elves in that game! :D

[@immortallegacy100]

We (Wizards) recognize that some of the legacy content available on this website does not reflect the values of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise today. Some older content may reflect ethnic, racial, and gender prejudice that were commonplace in American society at that time. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. This content is presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. Dungeons & Dragons teaches that diversity is a strength, and we strive to make our D&D products as welcoming and inclusive as possible. This part of our work will never end. I'm glad that WotC disavows its older content. It means I don't have to give them credit for all the amazing content that was created back in the day. Amazing video, and also an amazing work of art. Can't get enough of the cover art for Gazetteer 13.

[@rule-of-three1483]

You are speaking my language.... Except I joined the Legion of Thar and speak proper Orc.

[@captcorajus]

Good job recruit, make sure to scrub your feet. Orcs need clean feet for marching in Thar's army!

[@richmcgee434]

It's an interesting read, but far from my favorite. Always felt like someone looked at the established info about the drow and said "let's do things as differently as possible with our underground elves to confound player expectations" without asking themselves why they *needed* underground elves if they were so anxious to avoid drow tropes. Would have rather seen something more original like an underground nation of (say) more evolved troglodytes who were slowly dragging themselves out of barbarism by developing metalworking, argriculture, and animal husbandry, all twisted to fit their cavern ecologies. Or a race of vampire-worshipping bat-people who use cave chimneys to raid the surface before retreating to safety deep below . Or both. TSR had already done "elves in caves" once, did we really need another take on them?

[@captcorajus]

yes. Underground elves in caves are cool. :P

[@richmcgee434]

@@captcorajus Meh. I like these better than the spider-themed demon-worshipping sadomasochists, but they still don't do much for me. Caves are for Dwarves and monsters. Might as well add a culture of tree-hugging hippy forest Dwarves to your campaigns if you want to break stereotypes. Which might actually be funny to do. Flowers braided in their beards, runic body paint, chummy with the local dryads and treants. Maybe most of them are nudists when it's warm enough - it'd break the "wears armor everywhere" trope and show off the body paint better, and the beards would cover the NSFW stuff most of the time. :)

[@Bluecho4]

I, for one, enjoy seeing basic tropes being played with.

[@LordSephleon]

@@richmcgee434 I feel like gully dwarves kinda lean into that idea. Except, well... not the smartest of folk.

[@serigraph73]

I never got to play D&D back in the 80s, even though i desperately wanted to. I have played 3e-5e over the years and have finally settled into OSR and am playing in a Mystara campaign. I love the system, but not wild about some of the lore, such as the whole alien/scifi tie in (nuclear reactor) and the obvious Aztec influence with the Shadow Elves. Luckily, the game I play in hasnt explored or applied these aspects, yet, anyway. I love classic D&D, tho

[@MrRourk]

Aeflheim is lost!

[@Se7enBeatleofDoom]

I remember when Drow is a culture, not a race. You can be a dark elf without being a Drow was a big deal. Shadow elves sound like a better name for the dark elves on a whole than Drow.

[@danielrockstrom707]

I like this video too!

[@albanmahoudeau1779]

The shadow elves are everywere on the Net.

[@sunsin1592]

One of my least favorite gazetteers, though I used it a bit. Just didn't care forb the concept that much.

[@albanmahoudeau1779]

MAOH,MAHO,MAHOW.

[@dane3038]

200xp