So, I know Pathfinder is a new system. But traditionally Elves are Immune to Magic Sleep Effects because they do not 'sleep', but rather enter into a meditative trance. Even at that, traditionally they are only in this state for 4 hours. Which was what was nice about having 2 Elves in a party. One stays up while the other sleeps; and all other 8 hour-rest required races would be fine.
The exceptions for this was to either only travel for 12 hours, and rest for 12 hours. So no one in the party is fatigued for the next day. Or, someone bites the bullet and is fatigued for one day, due to not sufficient rest.
We had a new player join our group, and he flat out said "Where's this magical 4 hour rest for Elves?" So we went looking for it, and can't seem to find it...
So there's the basis of this thread. Elves, do they or do they not still have this element? The 4-hour Trance-like state sleep, or do they now sleep like everyone else, but are just Immune to Magical Sleep?
Per the rules, they do not have the ability. To some extent, its goes back to the fact that, oddly, if you look at the actual traits given to elves in the SRD, elven trance is never mentioned, so it technically isn't open content.
James Jacobs has said that its not assumed that elves in Golarion have this ability either.
Elves are immune to sleep because they are resistant to charm effects in general (and of course because its a legacy ability).
Per the rules, they do not have the ability. To some extent, its goes back to the fact that, oddly, if you look at the actual traits given to elves in the SRD, elven trance is never mentioned, so it technically isn't open content.
James Jacobs has said that its not assumed that elves in Golarion have this ability either.
Elves are immune to sleep because they are resistant to charm effects in general (and of course because its a legacy ability).
Elves not sleeping is a LotR thing.
I believe that the elven trance was first featured in the complete book of elves (D&D 2nd edition). Of course, Cartigan is right about elven trance being highly inspired by elves of Middle Earth.
It's up to your GM to use elven trance in is campaing or not. It's more a house-rule than a official rule now.
If you are using the Golarion setting, the four hour trance is part of elven heritage. It can be found on page four of the Pathfinder Companion/ Elves of Golarion. And to be fair, it says some elves prefer longer times in trance. If one worshipped Desna, I would encourage the activity of dreamtrances.
IIRC, Forgotten realms campaign setting also had the same listing. So it seems to be more of a campaign thing as opposed to a "core rule" thing.
I also seem to recall, that this feature had no effect for the recharge of eight hours rest for spell casting.
Greg
Edit: Sleep information can be found under the heading "Sleep" in the compainion. :P
also, with the new magic item creation rules sleeping for 4 hours would let you get in some serious item creation time.
If you are using the Golarion setting, the four hour trance is part of elven heritage. It can be found on page four of the Pathfinder Companion/ Elves of Golarion. And to be fair, it says some elves prefer longer times in trance. If one worshipped Desna, I would encourage the activity of dreamtrances.
IIRC, Forgotten realms campaign setting also had the same listing. So it seems to be more of a campaign thing as opposed to a "core rule" thing.
I also seem to recall, that this feature had no effect for the recharge of eight hours rest for spell casting.
Greg
Edit: Sleep information can be found under the heading "Sleep" in the compainion. :P
I know they reference it in the actual information in the companion, but it doesn't appear in the rules section, and I believe James has said they probably won't reference that again in the future, as it was based on the mistaken assumption that the four hour trance was part of the SRD information on the elf.
I'm not saying you can't use it in a home game or that it doesn't provide a foundation, I'm just saying that if there is ever a future Pathfinder RPG version of Elves of Golarion or something similar, it might not show up again.
I know they reference it in the actual information in the companion, but it doesn't appear in the rules section, and I believe James has said they probably won't reference that again in the future, as it was based on the mistaken assumption that the four hour trance was part of the SRD information on the elf.
I'm not saying you can't use it in a home game or that it doesn't provide a foundation, I'm just saying that if there is ever a future Pathfinder RPG version of Elves of Golarion or something similar, it might not show up again.
Alrighty. Works for me. I was always felt it created more hassle in our games than it was worth. One of the first magic items everyone wanted was the ring of sustenance. Mostly, out of jealousy over those four hour tranced elves.
However, gonna keep it until I see errata or new Elf book. My elf players would lynch me if I tried to make them sleep more. *sighs*
Greg