I'm writing up a character application for an online game with a Chaotic Good High Elf Rogue. I've determined that this character is one of the Blessed of Corellon but hitherto (ie. pre game) they have largely presented as male for the first century of their life. Now they have decided to present as female for the next century or so.
My question is how recognisable would my character be to those who knew her as a male? I figure as a Rogue and a scoundrel my Rogue has a trail of enemies and rivals in their wake so it would be useful to know if they look different enough that they won't immediately be recognisable from a wanted poster.
I'm leaning towards different, but with a strong family resemblance - my Rogue could say she was her 'brother's twin 'sister' and everyone would believe her - but I wanted to hear what others thought.
Highly DM dependent. The text from Tome of Foes suggests that elves who possess the Blessing of Corellon (which is not an actual, specific 'blessing' but rather a state of being said to be similar to being blessed by Corellon) are inherently so androgrynous that they don't really do gender the same way we do. They take 'nobody who's not an elf can tell male and female elves apart' to the level of 'even other elves can't really tell at a glance what's in this elf's pants'.
I wouldn't necessarily force people to adhere to that as a DM - I'm not ever going to stand in the way of someone using roleplaying to explore gender given how critical doing so was for me - but I would be leery of allowing someone to get away with using the Blessing of Corellon as a sort of semipermanent, whenever-they-like Disguise Self. Primarily because that seems so cynical, and possibly likely to ruffle feathers at the table unless it was part of some manner of Official Homebrew Package that everybody else got to partake in, as well.
I would likely rule that anyone who knows the character well is going to recognize them on sight regardless of which sex they choose to wear, especially if they're not altering their behavior or mannerisms to account for gender as well as sex. People who don't know the character will describe them as they see them, which could muddy your rogue's trail and complicate their enemies' search for them until somebody catches on, puts two and two together and gets Woman. The ability would aid disguise but not substitute for it.
I would never prevent anyone from wanting to change their in-game gender, but I would hesitate a lot to give it such a powerful effect as "your previous enemies don't recognize you." That turns it into a mechanical perk rather than a purely roleplaying feature, which cheapens it in my eyes and may give other players the idea that if they ever need to run from their problems, they should consider changing gender.
As Yurei says, traditional elf androgyny gives us a pretty good in-game reason that you'd be totally recognizable, so I'd just go with that.
On reflection it does sound like the character would be better fit - mechanically and creatively - for a Changeling, especially since while I see them as gender fluid I don't see them as particularly androgynous as such.
Your particular elf doesn't have to be androgynous simply because the books say they are. Changelings are certainly an option, but tend to have a different view on fluidity than a high elf blessed of Corellon might. It's up to you what fits your story best; perhaps your elf can change her appearance more than usual during this switch because she truly believes she's taking on s new life and her blessing reflects that. Or perhaps changeling is indeed the way to go if your story favors an entirely fluid, constantly shifting identity.
Your particular elf doesn't have to be androgynous simply because the books say they are. Changelings are certainly an option, but tend to have a different view on fluidity than a high elf blessed of Corellon might. It's up to you what fits your story best; perhaps your elf can change her appearance more than usual during this switch because she truly believes she's taking on s new life and her blessing reflects that. Or perhaps changeling is indeed the way to go if your story favors an entirely fluid, constantly shifting identity.
That's a good point. I'll mull it over some more. :)
If you want your character to have a disguise, there are rules for that. But if they're not going to switch back and forth during the adventure, then you just have to ask yourself, are these backstory characters supposed to show up and cause problems for you, or not? I'm guessing they are, so you should probably say your character is recognizable to them.
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Greetings all,
I'm writing up a character application for an online game with a Chaotic Good High Elf Rogue. I've determined that this character is one of the Blessed of Corellon but hitherto (ie. pre game) they have largely presented as male for the first century of their life. Now they have decided to present as female for the next century or so.
My question is how recognisable would my character be to those who knew her as a male? I figure as a Rogue and a scoundrel my Rogue has a trail of enemies and rivals in their wake so it would be useful to know if they look different enough that they won't immediately be recognisable from a wanted poster.
I'm leaning towards different, but with a strong family resemblance - my Rogue could say she was her 'brother's twin 'sister' and everyone would believe her - but I wanted to hear what others thought.
There's no rules for how the Blessing of Corellion affects appearance, but "like a sibling" is reasonable.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Highly DM dependent. The text from Tome of Foes suggests that elves who possess the Blessing of Corellon (which is not an actual, specific 'blessing' but rather a state of being said to be similar to being blessed by Corellon) are inherently so androgrynous that they don't really do gender the same way we do. They take 'nobody who's not an elf can tell male and female elves apart' to the level of 'even other elves can't really tell at a glance what's in this elf's pants'.
I wouldn't necessarily force people to adhere to that as a DM - I'm not ever going to stand in the way of someone using roleplaying to explore gender given how critical doing so was for me - but I would be leery of allowing someone to get away with using the Blessing of Corellon as a sort of semipermanent, whenever-they-like Disguise Self. Primarily because that seems so cynical, and possibly likely to ruffle feathers at the table unless it was part of some manner of Official Homebrew Package that everybody else got to partake in, as well.
I would likely rule that anyone who knows the character well is going to recognize them on sight regardless of which sex they choose to wear, especially if they're not altering their behavior or mannerisms to account for gender as well as sex. People who don't know the character will describe them as they see them, which could muddy your rogue's trail and complicate their enemies' search for them until somebody catches on, puts two and two together and gets Woman. The ability would aid disguise but not substitute for it.
Please do not contact or message me.
I would never prevent anyone from wanting to change their in-game gender, but I would hesitate a lot to give it such a powerful effect as "your previous enemies don't recognize you." That turns it into a mechanical perk rather than a purely roleplaying feature, which cheapens it in my eyes and may give other players the idea that if they ever need to run from their problems, they should consider changing gender.
As Yurei says, traditional elf androgyny gives us a pretty good in-game reason that you'd be totally recognizable, so I'd just go with that.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Thanks for the replies, very helpful.
On reflection it does sound like the character would be better fit - mechanically and creatively - for a Changeling, especially since while I see them as gender fluid I don't see them as particularly androgynous as such.
Your particular elf doesn't have to be androgynous simply because the books say they are. Changelings are certainly an option, but tend to have a different view on fluidity than a high elf blessed of Corellon might. It's up to you what fits your story best; perhaps your elf can change her appearance more than usual during this switch because she truly believes she's taking on s new life and her blessing reflects that. Or perhaps changeling is indeed the way to go if your story favors an entirely fluid, constantly shifting identity.
Please do not contact or message me.
That's a good point. I'll mull it over some more. :)
If you want your character to have a disguise, there are rules for that. But if they're not going to switch back and forth during the adventure, then you just have to ask yourself, are these backstory characters supposed to show up and cause problems for you, or not? I'm guessing they are, so you should probably say your character is recognizable to them.