Can Elves move their Ears?

[Expletive]

Can they? Is it a rare vestigial ability like it is in humans? If it isn't possible through conscious effort, what about reflexive? If you were to jump out and shout 'Boo' at an elf would their ears move in surprise? If it is possible with conscious effort, could an Elven bard use Perform (Percussion) with chimes/bells/etc. attached to their ears?

[Kazaan]

How about a Kobold with a drum strapped to his back and beating it with his tail?

[ArmouredMonk13]

Umm, I think that they can move their ears if they try, but I have to ask one question.

WHY?

[Caedwyr]

They can if they take the feat.

[cmastah]

ArmouredMonk13 wrote:

Umm, I think that they can move their ears if they try, but I have to ask one question.

WHY?

If they cast enlarge person on their ears specifically, I hear they can fly. One fellow made the mistake of casting enlarge person and bull's strength on his ears and that's how the first Vargouille was born.

[Jeven]

No, they are made of latex.

[Jorshamo]

Do they hang low? Do they wobble to and fro?

[Ellis Mirari]

This is one of those things that falls under the blanket of something that most don't even consider, so the ones that do just decide for themselves.

[Ambrosia Slaad]

Yes, as can Vulcans and the ultra-versatile actor, Leonard Nimoy.

[ngc7293]

I'm pretty much assuming that Elves are not cats and therefore can only move them like humans can. If you are big into Anime and a particular anime has elves with mobile ears then make a cat folk.

[Lurk3r]

Are you the GM?

If yes, then that's up to you. You want kitty-eared elves? You got em.

If no, ask your GM.

[Mikaze]

I vote yes, to a limited range of motion usually tied with mood. Especially considering how long they are.

Expressive ears are fun.

[Kalshane]

Old-school Vulcan-eared elves, I would say no. (At least no more so than humans.)

3.x-era anime-eared elves, I would say yes. (If only because of Deedlit.) Though it would be a limited and related to mood, as Mikaze suggests. Not catlike radar action.

[LazarX]

If a player asks, I roll a d100.once for each time they've had a character with me, including this one. If the roll comes up 100, they're one of the few circus freaks who can waggle their ears.

[Zhayne]

I'd leave that entirely up to the player of said elf.

[Umbral Reaver]

Elves in Archmage have expressive ears, if less so than orcs and gnomes. But that's because those races are kind of actually cats.

[LazarX]

Umbral Reaver wrote:

Elves in Archmage have expressive ears, if less so than orcs and gnomes. But that's because those races are kind of actually cats.

My cat could never waggle her ears. But then she's an Abyssinian who had the ears of a full grown cat, when she was a kitten (which inspired many Dumbo kitten jokes). She's spent most of her life since then getting her body to catch up. Still can't waggle though. Come to think of it, none of my cats ever could.

[Mordo the Spaz - Forum Troll]

Me love taunt elves with waggle their ears.

Ha ha! Got your ears!

Me not speak Elvish. That laughing or screaming?

[insaneogeddon]

Expletive wrote:

Can they? Is it a rare vestigial ability like it is in humans? If it isn't possible through conscious effort, what about reflexive? If you were to jump out and shout 'Boo' at an elf would their ears move in surprise? If it is possible with conscious effort, could an Elven bard use Perform (Percussion) with chimes/bells/etc. attached to their ears?

Not for any benefit or game effect to get extra actions.

But pretty sure they can move their ears anywhere .. with the help of a dwarven war axe of course !

[Coarthios]

Letting Elves move their ears is way overpowered IMO.

[Umbriere Moonwhisper]

Elves with expressive ears are cool. some can even twitch them antlers.

[TheNine]

AS long as their is some audible sound effect when they move their ears like 'boo-boop' or flittery noises i would say they could move their ears... I kid, I dont see anything wrong with say shifting of ears, or even perking more rigid upright, but like a floppy full bend would seem awkward to me.

[Doomed Hero]

I like to use Prestidigitation to make elf's ears glow without them realizing it.

[Set]

This is destined to go into rule 34 territory, I just know it.

[Jeven]

Elves should be able to wiggle their ears for the somatic part of spells.

[HaraldKlak]

This should probably be moved to the paizo products forum. There seem to be a huge popular demand for detailed information on ear-flexibility to be included in the racial stat blocks of all the races.

So let our voices be heard, so the dear people at Paizo can include it in the next printing of the ARG.

Or maybe it deserves it's own book (of course it does!). Pushing around their busy publication schedule we could probably have a player companion book ready in a year: "Ears of Golarion" with the tagline "A waxing tale of the waggeling lobe".

Alright, I know what you are going to say next: Of course it requires a larger volume to fully describe the mechanics and flavor of the our hearing aids, including but not limited to racial differences, ear-activated skills, ear slot magic items.
So a hard cover is probably needed, so let us raise the issue of the book we all crave: "The Advanced Ear Guide".

[cmastah]

You're forgetting the bard archetype that lets them play by ear or even ultimate combat's answer to UM's magical duel: Ear duels.

There's even a whole culture around ear dancing and even the courting rituals of the elves of Cheliax involves complicated dance moves where you only move your ears.

Some elves have even accepted that they're freaks (Dwarves FTW) and just go ahead and show their ear's versatility by clapping them together.

[Andrew R]

Set wrote:

This is destined to go into rule 34 territory, I just know it.

Handlebar reference?

[Mikaze]

Set wrote:

This is destined to go into rule 34 territory, I just know it.

Lana: We're just looking for an answer, not soliciting elf ear porn.

Archer: Oh my God that's a thing?!

[Mikaze]

HaraldKlak wrote:

"Ears of Golarion"

I think that title is reserved for the book on Golarion's various kinds of corn.

In Arcadia we call it maize.

[RainyDayNinja]

Expletive wrote:

Can they? Is it a rare vestigial ability like it is in humans? If it isn't possible through conscious effort, what about reflexive? If you were to jump out and shout 'Boo' at an elf would their ears move in surprise? If it is possible with conscious effort, could an Elven bard use Perform (Percussion) with chimes/bells/etc. attached to their ears?

I'm not sure which is scarier: the idea that this is a key component to some power-gamer build, or that this is a key component to your elaborate character backstory.

[cmastah]

RainyDayNinja wrote:

Expletive wrote:

Can they? Is it a rare vestigial ability like it is in humans? If it isn't possible through conscious effort, what about reflexive? If you were to jump out and shout 'Boo' at an elf would their ears move in surprise? If it is possible with conscious effort, could an Elven bard use Perform (Percussion) with chimes/bells/etc. attached to their ears?

I'm not sure which is scarier: the idea that this is a key component to some power-gamer build, or that this is a key component to your elaborate character backstory.

The kingdom of Elfinheim was once ruled by a benevolent and highly misunderstood family called the Romanovs, at a time of political upheavals and during one particularly nasty rebellion, most of the royal family were killed off. The rule came down to the sole heiress who was smart enough to have many body doubles of herself positioned around the country. The family were renowned for their unique genetic makeup that allowed them to wiggle their ears. The sole heiress Earastasia at some point saw a singing minstrel from afar, hearing his beautiful song, she chose to go near him within the royal gardens that was outlined by a steel fence. The people who passed around the gardens paid no heed, for even though they hated the royal family, they had no way of knowing that this was the true Earastasia. The young Queen neared the singing minstrel until she lay herself upon a chair beside him. Upon him turning to look upon her, the young and innocent Earastasia who didn't understand her desires blushed and unknowingly and instinctively wiggled her ears. The onlookers saw her ears move and immediately burst into a murderous frenzy, screaming for her death. The poor and bewildered girl, in a fright, ran off, escorted by guards who immediately came to her rescue. She has fled the country and had to learn to protect herself. The innocent flower bloomed into a thorny rose whose first contact with love took her forever from her home and position. Her ears wiggle no longer for love but for sadness.

[Josh M.]

I think they should be able to. It's not that difficult for humans to do, let alone a race with long, pointy ears. I figure their physiology must be pretty similar, and at the very least have tiny muscles to support the extra weight of their larger ears.

I can wiggle my ears independently(one at a time), so I just sort of always figured other races in fantasy lore could too.

[Jaelithe]

Just when they're on the verge of or—

—acular expression.

[MagusJanus]

I think the ears are like human ears. Just extra sensitive at the tips.

[master_marshmallow]

Caedwyr wrote:

They can if they take the feat.

^This guy wins the thread.

[Mikaze]

MagusJanus wrote:

I think the ears are like human ears. Just extra sensitive at the tips.

Kyra: Why do you ask for ear massages so much? Surely your shoulders could use the attention more than these.

Merisiel: No, don't stop, it just feels nice when you do it. Keep going!

Kyra: If you say so, but could you...

Merisiel: OH GODS OH GODS OH GODS

Kyra: ...stop with those strange outbursts while I'm doi-

wait

Set wrote:

This is destined to go into rule 34 territory, I just know it.

DAMMIT

[Icyshadow]

Mikaze wrote:

I vote yes, to a limited range of motion usually tied with mood. Especially considering how long they are.

Expressive ears are fun.

Indeed.

Mikaze wrote:

MagusJanus wrote:

I think the ears are like human ears. Just extra sensitive at the tips.

Kyra: Why do you ask for ear massages so much? Surely your shoulders could use the attention more than these.

Merisiel: No, don't stop, it just feels nice when you do it. Keep going!

Kyra: If you say so, but could you...

Merisiel: OH GODS OH GODS OH GODS

Kyra: ...stop with those strange outbursts while I'm doi-

wait

Damn it, now I want to make a Tiefling with a sensitive tail.