I started my Dungeon World party with five human members, and -- as party members discovered and came to learn the cultures of the other races as they pertained to my setting -- I allowed the players to play the other races.

The Elf Class was actually pretty neat and adapted very well to the mysterious, fae-like elves I wanted in my setting. Once the class is unlocked, I tend to allow people who want to play a race, to multi-class into their race-class.

I greatly approve of this quality Play-Book, and it has inspired me to try to make some of my own.

I'm not strictly a fan of the idea of races as their own classes, but the Elf is a very solid way of handling the concept. This two-page playbook contains various moves which really evoke the feeling of a mysteriously magical, naturally attuned race. The Elder Arts move natural to all Elves contains a bevy of flavor and a variety of useful tricks, while the advanced moves allow you to tailor your elf further towards mysterious powers or into the more prevalent archetype of a skilled archer or nimble, resourceful wilderness adventurer. I love the variety of moves and the ways they're used: such as revealing elder power to unsuspecting mortals, moving unhindered through terrain, or commanding spirits to help you in brief and subtle ways. You get a feeling that the Elf has power but respects it and uses it in a subtle fashion – you won't have overwhelming magical ability, but you can use what you have in many ways. While many moves work best in the wilderness, there's enough variety that you can play an elf anywhere and not feel like you've missed out or that you're out of place. It is a remarkable playbook and deserves a spot in your Dungeon World collection.