A Few Potential Elf Sub-Races
So, in preparing for a campaign (my first homebrewed one) I was trying to get a feel for the shape of the world and the history. In that process I had an "age" or long period noted by Elven dominance with a series of city states. Figuring that Elves themselves are naturally adaptable and respond magically to their environment, I thought it'd be good to flavor some sub-races to line up with some potential city states. The ones that aren't covered by the PHB are a desert city, a floating mid-ocean city, a city in the caldera/side of a volcano, and/or a city in the arctic north/south.
tldr: Elf sub-races to match environment of cities they live in (Sand, Ocean, Volcanic, Arctic).
Anyway, on to the sketched ideas.
Sand Elves (Desert City)
- +1 Bonus to Constitution
- Proficiency in Survival
- Can cast Blur as a second level spell once per long rest.
- At third level can cast Misty Step once per long rest as well
- Weapon Proficiency in the Scimitar, Shortbow, Pike, and Dagger (possibly Spear)
Ocean Elves (Atlantis)
- +1 Bonus to Strength
- Can breathe in both air and water
- Can cast the Shape Water cantrip at will
- Weapon Proficiency with the Trident, Quarterstaff, Rapier, Longsword, and Longbow
Volcanic Elves (Literal Volcano)
- +1 bonus to Intelligence
- Proficient in Arcana
- Can cast the Firebolt Cantrip at will
- Can cast Flame Blade at 2nd level once per short rest (should ever get the level to increase the spell level?)
- Weapon Proficiency in the Greatsword, Longsword, Shortsword, Longbow, Shortbow (Perhaps flavor it into more Battleaxes instead of blades?)
Ice Elves (Arctic Cities)
- +1 bonus to Wisdom
- Can cast Ray of Frost and Frostbite cantrips at will
- Once per long rest, can cast Ice knife as a 1st level spell
- At seventh level, can cast Snilloc's Snowball Swarm once per long rest.
- Weapon Proficiency in the Glaive, Longbow, Shortbow, Rapier, and Longsword
I am mostly looking for advice on the last two, since they have a number of spells that I dont know the limits of. I understand that things might need to be tweaked and some things removed, but I wanted all the ideas out on the sheet. Honestly most attached to the Sand Elves as a concept, even if it requires a complete alteration of what I have there, and the Flame Blade of the Volcanic Elves. Even if I set the campaign in a different age/era, encountering and exploring these ruins and cities, perhaps encountering a wandering vagrant leftover of them or something.