They don't really sleep, do they? If that's the case, how can I, as a DM, mess w/ their dreams? I could just wave my hand and say, "It's DM-MAGIC," but I'd love to have some rules to back that up . . .
Don't elves sleep 4 hours instead of 8??...
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They go into trance for 4 hours. I would imagine they don't dream, since it's not sleep, but I don't know if that's ever stated outright.
Is your party all elves and outsiders? Can you mess with the other character's dreams? I wouldn't try to impose a dream sequence on an elf character; your adventure should be tailored to the characters, which means not relying on a dream sequence for your elves. (Unless, of course, someone can find a reference for them dreaming and I am totally wrong.)
Well, Native Outsiders need to sleep, and dream. Elves also dream, as stated by the Player's Handbook:
"While meditating, an elf dreams, though these dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice."
So yes, you can tinker with the Elf's dreams however you wish. Even an Extraplanar Outsider can sleep if he wishes to, though most don't.
Or knock them unconscious.
That might give the dreaming more weight.
I guess you don't want to deal with the planetouched elf from our campaign, huh?
:)
Elves also dream, as stated by the Player's Handbook:
"While meditating, an elf dreams, though these dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice."
The 2nd ed. Elven handbook described the reverie in a similar way, that elves replayed their memories instead of dreaming. In 3.5 I'd treat it the same way. Imagine how violated or unnerved an elven character would be if their very memories were somehow twisted or changed one night. This could be an interesting roleplaying event, with the dreaming races suffering the visions and the elf experiencing the same, albeit with a much more personal touch! After all, their memories/reminiscences are *theirs*...to have something monkey with something so personal should invoke terror or at the least, nervousness.
Often you'll see players simply play other races for the bonuses, ignoring all the other characteristics that make that race unique. The dream sequence could be used as a tool to enforce the uniqueness of the elf.
J-
I have always played that elves go into a trance and relive parts of their lives; this can mess with them as they can with gm influence have events change due to stuff.