Who are the Astral Elves? | Playable Race | Spelljammer | D&D

[@mentalrebllion1270]

So what I hear is that elves are basically Eevee

[@eclat4641]

Hmm.. yeah ! ☺️

[@joshholmes1372]

Yes. Drow = Umbreon Sea elves = Vaporeon Wood elves = leafeon Pallid elf = Sylveon Summer eladrin = Flareon Astral elves = Espeon Winter eladrin = glaceon High elf (sun) = Jolteon

[@eclat4641]

@@joshholmes1372 I am a moon elf

[@joshholmes1372]

@@eclat4641 pallid elves are moon elves

[@eclat4641]

@@joshholmes1372 I’d not heard that term - cool ☺️

[@TheGreatHohenheim]

I'm curious to what extent Astral Elves retained that initial desire to get closer to Correlon, which they mention early on in the conversation. They seem to be implying that when the elves reached the Astral Sea, the realization that they didn't age & everything else overshadowed that original motivation. Curious how that'll come into play if at all. It presents an interesting opportunity to further texture & illustrate a sense of varied ideological investments among Astral Elves at the table which I do like the sound of. Having something like an astral elf cleric of Correlon could be really interesting in Spelljamer contexts

[@KountKristyl]

Is it just me who thinks the Astral Elves look like the villains? Blood red clothes, high collars with spikes, baroque details with claws and ribs. I know I'm going to be using them for my evil galactic empire analogue. (And Jeremy literally mentions an empire just as I post this)

[@Envyus1]

The Spelljammer Elves were pretty villainous honestly.

[@Rick.Grayson]

New dnd doesn’t do evil races.

[@Envyus1]

@@Rick.Grayson the interview outright says they have an evil empire

[@borderlands10]

@@Rick.Grayson like it or not, evil races do exist and always will exist in D&D: The Drow are evil, Mind Flayers are evil, Beholders are evil, orcs are still mostly evil savages, and even Tieflings feel the call of their infernal heritage every now and then. Just because an alternative monster manual gets released doesn't mean their overall lore changes.

[@diarrheadan3601]

@@Envyus1 it’s not an evil empire, it’s like a puppy. It’s growing big and strong and needs more space and food. Can’t call a being that just needs more space and resources evil. There are no evil PC races in D&D.

[@MasumiSeike]

... So we got Space Elves because Chris likes Spock... that is the most Perkins way to add new things I know off xD

[@videogollumer]

It's ONLY logical.

[@Michael-du2fv]

Far more like the Aeldari from WH40k.

[@videogollumer]

@@Michael-fd1gx Well, the word "Astral" DOES mean "pertaining to *stars* "but I know where you're coming from. It's a plane of thought. These are basically "Spirit Elves".

[@kaskando]

So excited for Spelljammer! And loving all of the new content coming out on your channel. Getting me so hyped for sending my 20th level party into space to take on the Eldritch horror that created the universe

[@thebaron2277]

Definitely taking some inspiration from 40k eldar when it comes to these guys

[@Michael-du2fv]

Cenobite Elves coming, confirmed!

[@redeye3869]

I’m gonna make MY astral Elves basically be the Eldar Corsairs from 40k. A bunch of Elves that decided living on the ground in strict Elven society is too constricting, boring, and limiting and went off into space on there own in search of adventure, freedom, and there own destinies.

[@greggoryhorn]

Glad to see I’m not the only one who went there

[@thebaron2277]

Also great because I can use eldar minis to proxy for spelljammer elves

[@jamesbgood25]

Only if you call humans mon-keigh

[@thebaron2277]

@@jamesbgood25 YES.

[@nickhayley]

If Chris Perkins was on more thumbnails, I'd watch more videos. Chris is a magical human being and his voice is like nectar for my soul. More advertising Chris up front please!!

[@toddjones6946]

Literally use him to advertise Baldur's Gate 3

[@ogasnor]

I would love to see an update to the "base" elves that gives them the "tap into the memory" thing and allowed extra proficiencies, replacing the usual "you can use weapons X, Y, and Z." As a matter of fact, I may just make this the default for all elven races in my campaigns going forward.

[@TonySamedi]

They're probably waiting for that "next evolution of dnd" be it 5.5 6e or whatever they'll call it. Since it's something they're doing with all elf subraces now I'm sure it'll get added to the OG elves. I'm just hoping they also do something similar with Tieflings to bring back concepts like the Tiefling subraces that got "legacy" treatment since they weren't in Multiverse. I love the idea of different devil lineages having different powers based on a theme.

[@badgerburns521]

Have you read Monsters of the Multiverse, that looks like exactly what they now have.

[@elithelionboy]

So simply just making elves better? I think the Astral flair makes sense but giving that to all Elves seems really weird without reason. It's your table though of course, I just don't see why Astral elves need to exist if you do this going forward.

[@ogasnor]

@@elithelionboy Mordenkainen's MoM appears to fundamentally change Eladrin, Sea Elves, and Shadar-Kai such that they lose "Elven Weapon Training" and as part of Trance they can swap in two proficiencies, so long as they are tool or weapon. This is explicitly called out as being drawn "from shared elven memory" and not specific subrace memory. It seems very likely that this will apply to all elves going forward, I just wish it had been addressed. Astral elves get this ability buffed, allowing them to access full skill proficiencies, meaning with a mere four hour meditation, they can do anything that is needed. Provides plenty of reason for them to exist.

[@powerist209]

Heck, they could do either Fallout-style trait selection (but with racial-exclusive traits or defaults), Dragon Age style background (like Dwarf outcast being Rogue and noble being Fighter). and/or Traveller's "this was your life" rolls (but without its terrible flaws if you remember Puffin)

[@snuggiethegoblin7101]

Someone beat me to it but I’ve never been a fan of thinking of astral space like “outer space” It’s more of a plane between planes

[@SMiki55]

Hyperspace!

[@benreed638]

A plane between planes, you say, almost like a vast sea between different worlds, sort of like...

[@feralmagick7177]

I think was Op meant was more like a spiritual realm rather than literal space. It's the difference between The space between the moon and the earth, and say.... The realm of the fey. Or the realm of fire. Space and the Astral Plane are two different places.

[@billmcdonald5063]

​@@feralmagick7177yeah. Wild space is the physical outer space. Astral space is a border to the astral plane.

[@glamourweaver]

It literally means “the plane of the stars”

[@Millstone1985]

4:15 I prefer to think of Wildspace as the portion of the Material Plane that is closest to the Astral.

[@lapispyrite6645]

Me too

[@januarygrey]

My plan is to run space as it exists in our real world, a big empty void (because I enjoy the feelings of isolation and diminution that that provides), and have the D&D worlds' version of hyperspace be Spelljammers taking wormholes into the brightly-colored and populated Astral Sea where they navigate through various obstacles, such as space whales and blink meteors, before coming back out of the Astral Sea into a part of "Wildspace" closer to their destination.

[@januarygrey]

From a cosmological standpoint, I would have the Ethereal Plane (called the Aethereal Winds in my take on the World Axis Cosmology) be coterminous with planets that have atmospheres and "Wildspace" be coterminous with the Astral Sea.

[@Millstone1985]

@@januarygrey That's cool,. But my hope is that it will be possible for a ship to hide in ethereal wildspace, Romulan-style.

[@januarygrey]

@@Millstone1985 I think by true D&D lore that should be possible. I just decided to share what I'll be doing in my own home game

[@alexloch77]

6:04 Astral trance! What an awesome name!

[@aagunman]

Elves be that roach race huh.

[@jamessmith5666]

Keen to hear about the origin of the Dwarves and their original home world

[@deadpoolrwbyfan8419]

Couldn’t help but notice Jeremy said they gave Astral Elves a teleport. That’s new from the UA, they didn’t have that

[@emmanuelacosta5371]

All the elves native to other planes, other than the Material Plane, have some form of teleportation in 5e (e.g. Eladrin, Shadar-kai, etc)

[@deadpoolrwbyfan8419]

@@emmanuelacosta5371 I was pointing out that they changed something from the UA

[@emmanuelacosta5371]

@@deadpoolrwbyfan8419 👍🏾

[@Iclay905]

I've really been enjoying these sit down chats! So thank you for making them! Some deeper lore diving videos on the general cosmology for 5e and how the various planes interact with one another would be a cool and helpful series of videos, especially when it comes to choosing creatures to represent some of the evil deities in the multiverse.

[@MichaelLennondeMoura]

Don't forget to put something about far realm in this expansion please.

[@spaceninja7687]

dang, Jcraw is smoking some astral Hooka to be coming up with this version of astral elves

[@Creon692]

My 20th level Chronurgy Eladrin decided to Reincarnate himself into an Astral Elf now that they're published. I love the concept, and look forward to a campaign to become the Pirate King of the Astral Sea.

[@Revenge-kh4xt]

The idea of an ancient civilisation that is sort of evil and ancient rulers who have all the knowledge (Astral Elves) kind of remind me of the Timelords and Gallifrey, and that’s definitely how I’ll be running them

[@foodie135]

I like this

[@greggoryhorn]

So, is this where I find a way to play a Warhammer 40k Aeldari/Eldar in D&D?

[@thebaron2277]

Yes

[@lsporter88]

They sound astoundingly powerful (potentially anyway). And maybe a little frightening. Fascinating, and very cool.😎👍🏾

[@acidnine3692]

Okay, so there is still the imperial elven navy there, but the vibe i am getting is that they are more the Empire from Star Wars instead of the Star Trek / idealized British Royal Navy they originally were? PLEASE tell me the Scro make a return too at least

[@FrznTrx5]

So basically elves in d&d are like eeveelutions in Pokémon

[@DeanNatheos-eq3hl]

The astral plain is good for lets say a first level magic user if he can get there. To stay for five hundred years he would most definitely level up quite well before he came back to the prime material plane😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 thank you and have a good day.

[@skylord8625]

That poster behind Chris is fire!! Anybody know where to buy it?

[@HowtoRPG]

Thanks.

[@cultofnatethemagnificent5879]

I love this but there is one thing I don't understand. It is my understanding that when you leave the astral plane you age for however long you have been there. So if you were there for 10,000 years you age 10,000 years which is also why you are hungry and thirsty when you leave. The githyanki have a secret defense against it do the astral elves have that too?

[@ericsanders9847]

Hey I am just wondering if that you could or would add a race for kitsune

[@-Lindol-]

Is nobody going to talk about the Phlogiston and why they’re not using it?

[@twilor9515]

They’ve talked about the Phlogiston in other videos covering the updated 5E Spelljammer setting I am pretty sure

[@Millstone1985]

@@twilor9515 I am pretty sure they haven't.

[@TheZenBullet]

They are ignoring it cuz it isn't in this edition, the Astral Sea is going to replace flowspace

[@sylvnfox]

@@Millstone1985 no they did. chris or maybe jerremy mentioned that the Phlogiston doesn't fit into the 5e cosmology so they droped it for the astral sea. good ridince I say I don't know why they even had it back in 2e. even then the astral plane made more sence since they already had spells that allowed planer travel to other campaign settings that used the astral plane.

[@seibervideo]

I suppose if you want to use the phlogiston, you can put it back in. I was watching lore videos on old Spelljammer and thought it sounded cool. 🤷‍♂️

[@KnicKnac]

Astral elves look like snooty elves that left the material plane because it was dirty or below them.

[@godofzombi]

and all the while singing "Everything you can do, I can do better."

[@GZilla311]

So… elves, then.

[@goesifmacrae7389]

He kept saying realm of thought, I kept hearing realm of THOT which sounds like a funner realm to me personally

[@blairbird8022]

I'd listen to Astral Trance music. I figure elves who Trance are dancing to EDM for the 4 hours they need to so I wonder what Astral Trance sounds like.

[@jgr7487]

ok, so we're NOT getting Spelljammer, but a mix of it & Planescape. Spellscape?

[@Millstone1985]

I prefer Planejammer.

[@daluigi1]

The concept of the sub race is cool, no problem there, but did it have to be elves again? They have like 5 or 6 subraces, everywhere you go again there are elves and yeah yeah old race and bla bla bla, but how many more elf types are we going to get? How about some love to other races?

[@Egilhelmson]

In 2nd Edition Spelljammer, there was an Orc-like astral race. If you go in the Star Trek direction, you get Klingons, just as Romulans and Vulcans are elf-related. Oh, there are astral currents which take you in directions related to cultural tendencies, like Major D&D base worlds (including Dave Arneson’s Arduin) or Star Trek, or your particular favorites (Babylon 5?).

[@Egilhelmson]

In 2nd Edition Spelljammer, there was an Orc-like astral race. If you go in the Star Trek direction, you get Klingons, just as Romulans and Vulcans are elf-related. Oh, there are astral currents which take you in directions related to cultural tendencies, like Major D&D base worlds (including Dave Arneson’s Arduin) or Star Trek, or your particular favorites (Babylon 5?).

[@jessemccarter7939]

U mean the eldar?

[@samuelskidmore2704]

I noticed that helmet as well.

[@barbarianofkhazmodan9975]

Right. Thats not subtle lol

[@thebaron2277]

Yea. That helmet is definitely eldar inspired. Glad there are 40k fans in the production of this module

[@eclat4641]

I love elves ☺️☺️

[@zwartdude]

I was wondering why in MoM they removed the concept of Subraces.

[@bryanabbott6169]

Tag Team Interviewees.

[@richardmoreno5445]

Interesting, another form of Elf. I think we need Astral humans now. And let's not forget Astral Dwarves. Seriously, we need those additions.

[@danielkubicek1323]

So does age not catch up to people when they leave the Astral Plane, or is this immortality just for elves?

[@eclat4641]

I’ve been calling them “Luna elves” 😂😂

[@powerist209]

Please don't tell me, someone on the team is 40k fan and trying their way to avoid GW lawsuit. The helmet didn't lie.

[@thebaron2277]

Most likely. Got to love how many people went to eldar when they see astaral elves

[@atsuskyreign7083]

What book is he holding?

[@Daelon89]

The Spelljammer book presumably

[@KountKristyl]

Probably one of the Spelljammer books

[@atsuskyreign7083]

@@KountKristyl Exciting!

[@atsuskyreign7083]

@@Daelon89 I wonder what that piece of art is?

[@SilentSooYun]

Just what we needed... yet another g'd Elf species.

[@gerlofwoudstra7506]

I do not like this. Astral and wildspace are completely different things that should not be mixed like this. Astral elves are a great idea but keep them on the astral planes where they belong. Just as Space Elves are a great idea as well. But I want them to be seperate not the same race, that makes no sense to me, Also, immortal elves (as they should have been to start with), a nice idea, but what have you done all these millenia? Still a level 1 peasant who has done nothing for all those years? Their deep trance ability would make a lot more sense if the skills come from their own past. As ages pass, I would imagine these beings to abandon their former occupation and learn something new. The trance would let them remember a skill (maybe even a spell?) they used to know in their past.

[@arcojin-carlosh.9435]

I guess the "level-1-ness" can be explained by the astral plane itself, the only portion of you that can change there is your mind. But then they should have a whole lot of mental stuff and almost nothing else (So wizards and sorcerers, maybe bards and warlocks)

[@QASIMARA]

Astral DUNKEL Elves! Yaowza!

[@jamesryan6720]

But how do elves evolve into astral elves if little time passes, people don’t age and generations aren’t made in the astral age

[@TheGreatHohenheim]

While evolution would typically imply a series of changes or developments over time, I imagine the effects of the Astral Sea are more akin to a kind of cosmic radiation. So while aging is not a factor, physical and biological transformations brought on by prolonged exposure to the Astral Plane or whatever else in Wildspace could easily explain how Astral elves developed from the elves of the Fey Wild. My mind kept going to Fantastic 4 & how they gained their powers when I watched the vid - idk if it's the best comparison but it isn't too out of left field imo

[@MohaimenurRashid]

Yes! More elves! Adore it! Praise be to Sehanine!

[@archam777]

I HATE that you replaced the phlogisten (however its spelled) with the Astral. What was so difficult about the way it was before??? Three intermediates, Astral to the outer planes, Etherial to the Inner planes, and the Phlogisten between the crystal spheres......oh wait, are those gone now too?? People arent so retarded that you had to retcon the way "space" worked. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! Now, its basic. Not a good change.

[@Micaerys]

If the Astral Plane is timeless, does that mean that all the astral elves are adults that came from elsewhere? Because it would be complicated to have children if they are babies for all eternity 🤔

[@Millstone1985]

They probably use the same method as the gith, establishing "crèches" in wildspace and on material worlds where their children can grow up.

[@Micaerys]

@@Millstone1985 Cool! That makes a lot of sense

[@thebaron2277]

They are also probably pretty infertile because there are only a certain amount of elven souls

[@Micaerys]

@@thebaron2277 Are there? I thought there was a normal amount but elves hated the idea of taking soul mojo from Arborea because that realm is so great and the Material Plane isn't, that sort of stuff 😂

[@stevestumpy6873]

A 30 year old elf is just out of diapers

[@danielrockstrom707]

Eldar 40k in dnd.

[@thebaron2277]

Definitely doing this when I run this setting because I love the eldar

[@danielrockstrom707]

@@thebaron2277 Thay are my favorite faction.

[@thebaron2277]

@@danielrockstrom707 same. Do you have an army? If so what craftworld do you play. I'm am Ulthwe guy btw

[@chris-the-human]

Oh, I thought the trance proficiencies were only going to be an Astral Elf thing I completely missed it was added to Eladrin, Sea Elves, and Shadar Kai I was already excited to make a broken Astral Elf Artificer Good to know it's just going to be all elves They can build anything!

[@forsaken7976]

It that Kevin feige? 🤣

[@brodiel2392]

so are astral elves immortal?

[@Millstone1985]

Nobody ages in the Astral.

[@slaaneshthedarkprince2000]

Yes but actually no

[@sylvnfox]

they are as long as they stay in the adtral sea. touch down on a planet and the clock starts ticking

[@Millstone1985]

@@sylvnfox To be precise, enter Wildspace and the clock starts ticking. ( 4:27 )

[@sylvnfox]

@@Millstone1985 yea i know i was being poetic :p

[@sinisterinc]

Akashik knowledge.

[@nathangodwin5348]

Gnome lands

[@JosephCornishV]

Neato

[@davea6314]

Question for anyone: Is there any way that a character can pick-up counterspell in 5e without being a Wizard, Sorcerer, Warlock, or Lore Bard, and not using a wish spell or magic item?

[@kmoustakas]

Azorius background from ravnica

[@RandyKalista]

Paladin Oath of Redemption, Paladin Oath of the Watchers. But with all the exemptions you're listing, it sounds like you just want a sit-down conversation with your DM about getting it as a homebrewed ability :)

[@davea6314]

@@RandyKalista I'm not currently in a campaign, I'm just exploring all of the character build options that include counterspell.

[@davea6314]

@@kmoustakas Can you reply with a link to that?

[@yellowbeard1]

Arcane cleric could work I think

[@RDWRER19]

Lol, elves are highly susceptible to evolution

[@silverthorngoodtree5533]

Ugg Mr crawford messes up again.:(. No respect for DnD history. Instead "Destroy the past, kill it if you have to".

[@gallavanting2041]

Why is Perkins talking about astral elves like he came up with them for the first time for this book and isn't just making a new verison of them for this edition? They're an old idea.

[@jshortforjay7270]

Cos they’re new to this edition and this video is aimed at new fans who have never heard of them.

[@gyorgyor7765]

Astral Elves are new, the Elven Empire in original Spelljammer was made up of regular Elven subraces (Moon, Sun, Wild, Wood, etc..., elves). The OG Spelljammer had nothing to do with the Astral Plane. The Astral Elves are basically Vulcans mixed with Aasimar, but tied to Elven lore.

[@premenband]

These Astral Elves are cool but this was literally 7 minutes of saying the same thing over and over again getting more robust each time

[@NotAlrightSpider]

This video could have been much shorter but these old nerds really love hearing their own voices don’t they?

[@StriderZessei]

Then don't watch it lol

[@thunderheadcinema6743]

The astral elves being able to get a skill proficiency instead of a tool proficiency seems like power scaling

[@godofzombi]

They can all do it now. see Monsters of the Multiverse

[@RevocerGM]

I'm sorry: I was the six-hundredth-and-sixty-seventh liker.

[@Vilis_Farthuk]

Astral Elf:" HI, I'm Starleaf Akilthrem of the Distant Comets which shine amongst the gods. I'm 22,000 years old... ish." The Captain: "Umm, you look 12." Astral Elf: "Yup, I came here as a child. We don't physically age." The Captain: "...22,000? Huh..." Ashley Williams: Damn, I hope I look that good when I'm that old! Literally Everyone: "Not now, Ash. Not ever."

[@RandyKalista]

Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel launches today and you put out a Spelljammer video instead? C'mon, guys.

[@projectrallus]

There's 9 videos on radiant citadel already on this channel. They announced its launch on social media after teasing it in videos leading to launch. That's how they do every book

[@RandyKalista]

Fair point,@@projectrallus. I was talking more about the timing than the quantity. Wizards of the Coast's previous coverage of Radiant Citadel is sufficient. (I'm hyped for Spelljammer, too.)

[@projectrallus]

@@RandyKalista only done a first flip through but radiant citadel looks sick so far. Wish it had come out on time so it would get more fanfare

[@camdensedmilk]

Honestly I’m so tired of them making more and more elves. Make a new race or give one of the races who don’t have many sub races a new one. We don’t need this many elf sub races while others don’t have any

[@RikelWirkkunen]

Little secret Chris… elves have been part of the Spelljammer setting since TSRs Spelljammer and were confirmed in 3e… you didn’t exactly create anything new

[@danielgunther4238]

Oh...look...another..."new"...PC race...how original. As more info comes out about the reimagined Spell Jammer setting, I've gone from "About damn time" level of excitement and anticipation to unimpressed and disappointed with the hints and bits of info that have been released. I think it's time for me to walk away from D&D, I have zero confidence in the creatives at WotC/Hasbro...then again, with D&D garnering $1.2 Billion dollars in sales in 2021 and on pace to exceed in 2022, what the hell do I know. Maybe I'll just stick with older editions.

[@wbbartlett]

But where are the articles on the Red Elves, or the Pale Elves, or the Tea Elves, or the One Shoe Elves, or the Monkey Elves, or the Milk Elves, or the Hibiscus Elves or the Incontinent Elves... You get the point. D&D with it's stupid, endless lists of creatures. An elf is an elf. Or maybe an Orc.

[@Millstone1985]

Pale elves are in Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, pages 70 and 163. 😛

[@corbindalis]

The way Jeremy talks is rather annoying

[@canis2020]

Why more elves? They are like Biome Velcro and cockroaches.

[@sylvnfox]

didnt you know everyone came from the elves, humans were elves, orcs were elves. dwarves were elves... oh no sorry that was elderscrolls. nm

[@jasondahfolf4325]

Probably because elves are their favorite race from the looks of how they treat them

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

Not gonna lie I hate this whole shape shifting elves thing they decided to run with.

[@twilor9515]

Elves are meant to be the literal embodiment of change and flux. Their god was a shapeshifter and they were literally made from him. It makes perfect sense that they would evolve rapidly to fit their environment.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

@@twilor9515 That's like the exact opposite of how they've been presented until ToF was released; the whole deaal with them is that they're an ageless people who change and addapt to change slowly as a result. This is why humans equal parts fascinate and terrify them; they're so varied and unpredictable relative to other races.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

@@AuntieHauntieGames From my perspective most of the also elves have just been either barby or ken with a different hat and the rules reflected that throughout their entire run pretty much with them being broken down into high elves, wood elves, drow and sea elves. Which is fine! And I fully support it! But what annoys me is the ridiculous way they've decided that Corellon and the rest of the seldrine were Ultra gender-fluid otherkin; what with how they can be literally anything (man, woman, plant, animal, matter, energy, topography, weather or abstract concepts). Other elves used to have this but apparently they lost this because corellon was sulking (I'm perhaps being a bit too condescending but that's what it boils down to). Also if you're old enough to recall the complete guide to elves you'd know that it' was widely considered bad fanfiction at the time it was written since they were presented as the greatest marys to ever sue.