I have never played kaldorei before. A night elf hunter that is not associated with the sentinels is wierd? I think I want him to be young and curious with the world. I also want to have both a SoD and Retail version of the character so I can snapshot him in different points in time.
What do I need to know about their traditions? I know their history, war of the ancients, long vigil and whatnot. But what about the culture, the customs, what do kaldorei eat? What is their opinion on other races?
No it’s not. Especially if you are male. Plenty of night elf hunters are civillians and many since meeting the Alliance have become Alliance soldiers or mercenaries.
You are pretty much good to go.
The last one is the easiest. The only unique Night elf cooking recipe is Kaldorei spider kabob. That and their fangs would indicate an omnivorous diet with a good deal of meat. (We’re also taught to make spice bread)
The customs have been rapidly evolving over the last few years, Kaldorei roles are far more gender diverse and even the ancient prohibition against the arcane was relaxed, and it did not hurt that many young Kaldorei mages gave it their all in the War of Thorns. Aside from that though, Blizzard does not do indepth world building with any race.
As far as other races might go… if things hadn’t started off so badly with the Warsong Clan, and if their history with Trolls weren’t a factor, the Night Elves might have become Horde. They share a lot of attitudes with the Tauren, but are not nearly as pacifistic. Simmilar bad blood has precluded relations with the Nightbourne and Blood Elves, and I asm sure that Tyrande was not asked for her opinion on inducting the Void Elves who got in, mainly because Alleria’s history as an Alliance Champion.
Night Elf hunters seem to get very chummy with their dwarven counterparts and their are quite a few Night Elf Priests of the Light (mostly male.) The Night Elves even sent an ArchDruid to aid the Stormpike dwarves in Alteraac Valley.
Of particular note is the Night Elf relationship with the Worgen. The Night Elves feel responsible for the Worgen curse because of the actions of the Order of the Pack, and came to the Gilneans’ rescue when Sylvannas went all WMD on their homeland. The Worgen’s feral aspects complement the feral parts of their own nature, and it’s a good bet to say that of the Alliance races, the Worgen are the one with they have the tightest bonds.