Hey there. I have some doubts about a potential RP of my Nelf Druid. While I am not much of a roleplayer, I like to imagine backstories of my characters and perhaps do some relaxed ones, so I have been very (or almost) clear with the Night Elves, as it is the story that brought me to the game. But I kinda feel them a bit restrictive in RP options?
Night Elves Druids are mostly in the Cenarion Circle (or related organizations) and where you tend to see them is in places where the land requires some Druidic intervention or the ones trying to save the animals. You rarely see them (if you see them at all) in a tavern, or anywhere else that’s not related to that so it is hard to actually think of them (my character in this case) doing something outside of it, making me feel they do not fit and have a harder time coming up with a RP in, lets say, these new Dragon Isles.
With my mage I do not have this problem (or this one), it is easy to see/imagine/rp him anywhere, he is a mage, he can be in a tavern, can be helping anyone, can be seen relaxing, etc. Is very easy to find any hobby with him, but with the Druid is hard.
Now, I know I can just skip all that and assume he goes or likes all these places. But I wanted to ask in a more lore strict way, how would you do it? Would you see a Night Elf Druid doing anything else that’s not their Druidic duties?
I know is a weird question, but I am curious. Have tried to do it in the past but felt the class / race so out of place.
Remember that these are supposed to be whole people, more than a skill set, a particular species or the archetypes and stereotypes associated. There may be cases where certain traits may seem binding, but often there are means to adapt or work around perceived obstacles. Consider all angles and all aspects of the character and the situation you desire them in.
I’d like to provide an example, albeit of a different class but one I imagine some might have similar situation with. My Pandaren Death Knight, Yun, canonically spends much of her free time in Stormwind; usually out of armor, sometimes unarmed, either sculpting or drinking tea. I’ve also written an occasionally explored interest in the culinary arts. Of course, none of these are things typically depicted in Death Knights, either aesthetically or in terms of common characterization; because they exist beyond that part of her character, either as relics of her past life or things driven by her personality. These are, at their core, separate things which may inform or influence each other, but never dominate the character as a whole.
Do you mean that the Nelves we see (or NPCs of any class) are only seen at work, but does not mean they might not have some hobbies or things they like before they decided to join their class or at any point in their lives?
This is what I understood by “don’t see them as just a skill set, but whole people”. Would be like assuming someone has no hobbies because I only see them at work?
What I’m trying to say is such people are likely to have more going on with them beyond their vocation. They’re likely to have hobbies or motives beyond what they’re typically depicted as, because in most cases that’s how people are.
So Druid are one of the classes I personally (opinion) think most people get wrong. Yes Druids are all about Wildlife and maintaining its Balance, but most of what I’ve seen are purple humans running around claiming to be an Archdruid, that does little but sit in Stormwind. So IMO as long as your aren’t doing that I automatically give you a thumbs up.
Now this isn’t true the Cenarion Circle was originally made up of the BEST of the Druid, mainly Archdruid of the other Circle. There are plenty of other Circles: Claw, Antler, Fang, Fin, Talon, etc. People ran with Cenarion because it was considered the “Circle of the Wild” meaning multiple forms. The other circles are their name implies heavily favored one form. So do take that into consideration.
But yeah you absolutely can have a hobby, but stear away from stuff like Arcane or other things Druids would be opposed to like cutting down trees. I had my druid long ago, like writing scrolls.
The best guide I’ve ever seen to roleplaying elves is this one.
That’s been walked back a bit. The one significant Talon Druid NPC that you meet in Legion also takes on Nightstalker and Bear forms. She’s also an Order Hall Follower that you can take on as a Broken Isles companion.
A lot of stuff in here can not only be applied to the various elf races in Azeroth but more importantly there’s guides for diversity in elf personalities even druid personalities… one of the biggest weak areas I’ve seen in elf roleplayers. At ten bucks for the PDF, it’s value for the money.
An elf druid sees the forest as family, and you’ve heard of people who see their families as something to make use of. (Neutral evil druid guide)
I noticed that too, but just figured that since its one time. It’s more or less a marginal moment, but nothing does state they ONLY use that form. Which is what lead me to surmize that those circles favor a form over the others.
Hey there! I’ve been RPing a NE druid since Wrath days, and I have had mine go through multiple changes depending on the stories of the expansions. For example, during Shadowlands, his two children were caught in the Teldrassil fire and died, and he spent a chunk of Shadowlands in Ardenweald in hopes of finding their souls and rebirthing them. He tended the Queen’s Conservatory, searching for their souls to rebirth in the plant pods. He also became a Night Warrior for vengeance. Honestly, the y is the limit rather than being chained to one thing with druids. If you look at Malfurion, he has definitely been all over the place. Druids aren’t just guardians of nature but they are often the guardians of all of Azeroth and you can run with that.
Here is how I look at things when I RP and develop my characters life and traits.
How old are they?
Based on their age, what is an appropriate skill level? Magic is difficult, even if a prodigy, we aren’t malfurion stormrage here.
What is their personal quest? what journey are they setting out on?
Finding the answers for yourself will develop a well rounded character. This is what gets me started each time.
There are rumors a new world tree will be grown on the Dragon Isles. So maybe you could do something with that. Scouting the land for a location perhaps or who knows.
You’re the bloody Champion. You’re the person Malfurion Stormrage comes to when they need something done, so maybe you are prodigious. Don’t limit your choices needlessly.
