They are just the poor people with pointy ears of Dragon Age, you can replace them with human commoners and you can't tell the difference, why a lot of people wanted the elf in DA:I to be a city elf?
They have no culture, they aren't "more" beautiful than humans as people claim them to be, they just seem like an excuse to don't make black people be the poor ones because someone may get offended.
What if I have pointy ears? I feel offended.
My reasoning at the time I first played Origins: I don't want to play a dwarf, I don't want to be a magic dealer, and I didn't want to play a snot nosed noble. I also like backgrounds with "problems", it gets my imagination going.
So far, still the best Origin I've played out of three. Rolled a Noble my second go round, had fun, but i only did it to marry Alistair. Rolling a Dalish now. It's been interesting and I now see that all the Origin stories involve a loss, but nothing can top storming the castle and killing a rapist. Just sayin'
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I think the reason I didn't want to play a Dalish my first game is that the description of them was either racist or lore intensive or both. I knew zero about the world of Thedas and it just seemed to sound rather...serious about their religion ish. I don't know. It just didn't appeal to me as someone with no knowledge of the game.
You fool. You've opened up a can of worms.
As somebody who generally prefers Dalish because ya might as well go full elf, there are reasons to take a city elf. One, they're not Dalish. Two, sometimes they're seen as superior to Dalish becuz reasons.
Me, I wanted to see how it played out in DAO. The connection to the alienage. The interaction with Dalish brethren. That kinda stuff.
It focuses more on social class issues, without any other distractions. You could do that with humans, I agree, but it still works for me (although I'd prefer every race having this).
Story wise, City Elves and the Dalish elves talk about two entirely different things. Every Dalish is more concerned with the past. Every CE is more about the present and finding their own identity. There's more emphasis on individuality and carving out your own destiny. These are far different solutions, even if they both have a sense of loss.
And obviously, one is more urban. The other rural. Not everyone cares to be a magical hippy.
It's nice that there is more than one (dalish) background for elven character.
City Elves live as part of human society. Their role might be as second class citizens and servants but that is what makes it different from other backgrounds. All human protagonists so far have been nobles. There has been no commoner origin. City Elves are closest to that since they have almost no culture of their own but instead have been assimilated to andrastian/human culture. They are oppressed and have no rights in the world they live in. Their background is more varied - some city elves may be treated very well (like some of those Orlesian servants Leliana mentions in DAO) while some have literally nothing.
Most City Elves are probably andrastian - since why would humans allow them to practice their old religion in andrastian cities? Andrastianism has never been very accepting of other religions. Even so, some city elves could still remember the old elven gods - after all it's not unheard for dalish elves sometimes to come to live in the alienage (like Merrill). Most interesting for me about City Elves is how they are treated by other cultures of Thedas - they don't really belong anywhere. Humans will never see City Elves as their equals, the Dalish (who City Elves admire and see as figures out of half-forgotten legends) don't feel any kinship with elves who choose to live in the slums of human cities and the Qunari only accept them if they embrace the Qun - which is just another form of slavery.
I feel there is more different options for City Elf character than dalish (though I was happy the Inquisitor was dalish elf... it was better for the story and all the lore revelations about ancient elves). I don't prefer one background over another - like I said it's just nice to have options.
It's nice that there is more than one (dalish) background for elven character.
City Elves live as part of human society. Their role might be as second class citizens and servants but that is what makes it different from other backgrounds. All human protagonists so far have been nobles. There has been no commoner origin. City Elves are closest to that since they have almost no culture of their own but instead have been assimilated to andrastian/human culture. They are oppressed and have no rights in the world they live in. Their background is more varied - some city elves may be treated very well (like some of those Orlesian servants Leliana mentions in DAO) while some have literally nothing.
Most City Elves are probably andrastian - since why would humans allow them to practice their old religion in andrastian cities? Andrastianism has never been very accepting of other religions. Even so, some city elves could still remember the old elven gods - after all it's not unheard for dalish elves sometimes to come to live in the alienage (like Merrill). Most interesting for me about City Elves is how they are treated by other cultures of Thedas - they don't really belong anywhere. Humans will never see City Elves as their equals, the Dalish (who City Elves admire and see as figures out of half-forgotten legends) don't feel any kinship with elves who choose to live in the slums of human cities and the Qunari only accept them if they embrace the Qun - which is just another form of slavery.
I feel there is more different options for City Elf character than dalish (though I was happy the Inquisitor was dalish elf... it was better for the story and all the lore revelations about ancient elves). I don't prefer one background over another - like I said it's just nice to have options.
But why people complain? as you said, city elf are andrastian, they live in the same cities as human, they are basically poor humans with pointy ears, why would people want to play a human with pointy ears if you have a Dalish elf, an elf with culture who lived all his/her life in the woods studying history and hunting?
There is more people asking for City elf than a commoner Human.
I started using Dalish Elf, tried a hume and mage but, settle on the CE or Brand Dwarf and now I use the CE rogue 90% of the time and the brand the other 10%. Both puts down a baddie before becoming a Grey. The brand beat the crap out of the warrior class at the proving,then escape captivity and laid to rest a baddie. The CE rescues the kidnap wedding party and laid to rest three baddies or the bride to be escapes and ends up killing her kidnappers.
Oh the irony and humanity of it all..2 lower class scums deals justice to the high and mighty! 
You fool. You've opened up a can of worms.
Fool? Or troll? I suspect that can of worms was opened on purpose, personally.
The plight of the City Elf is unique, they face way more racism and don't have the strength of their Dalish clan and identity to fall back on. They bridge the two worlds, so for roleplaying it gives you some more interesting perspectives on the Elven people.
It's nice that there is more than one (dalish) background for elven character.
City Elves live as part of human society. Their role might be as second class citizens and servants but that is what makes it different from other backgrounds. All human protagonists so far have been nobles. There has been no commoner origin.
In one respect, I disagree. Hawke was the missing human commoner origin. at least for awhile.
And it's still different @ the person who somehow thinks it's the same and that elves should all be Dalish. *makes farting noises*
Hawke was in a unique position.. He/she could play up to nobility or try to act as a defender. Like the mission with Kelder.
On the flipside, the Arishok was sort of doing his own thing as well, and attracting city elves to the Qun. This is partly what Hawke and him clash over.. who is gonna be the better defender of forgotten folk like the city elves. Among other things.
Which brings me to another point. They are not all Andrastian. All elves are at a crossroads right now. Be it Andrastian or the Qun or being fools and following Solas.
They are just the poor people with pointy ears of Dragon Age, you can replace them with human commoners and you can't tell the difference, why a lot of people wanted the elf in DA:I to be a city elf?
They have no culture, they aren't "more" beautiful than humans as people claim them to be, they just seem like an excuse to don't make black people be the poor ones because someone may get offended.
What if I have pointy ears? I feel offended.
Because they are just "poor" people, they have no culture, because they have another viewpoint. Remember: despite the fact that they live among the people, they are still non-human: the poor humans also despise them. They are not simple "humans, with weird pointy ears". And some of them want to dalish culture and way of life, or nostalgic thinking about it,as for example Zevran, or, conversely, such as Sera. They are not the same: but it is definitely a different experience to play with them than with humans.
Most City Elves are probably andrastian - since why would humans allow them to practice their old religion in andrastian cities? Andrastianism has never been very accepting of other religions. Even so, some city elves could still remember the old elven gods - after all it's not unheard for dalish elves sometimes to come to live in the alienage (like Merrill).
Troll thread is trollish. It's like asking why someone would play a Dwarf Commoner versus a Dwarf Noble... they're different experiences, different expectations, a different cultural tableau.
Also many of them, you know... believe in Andraste and don't consider ancient elven religion to be "theirs" anymore than the worship of Korth or the Old Gods.
Usually, I'm good at detecting trolls. I genuinely thought the person was confused. lol
I guess I wasted my time here.
They are just the poor people with pointy ears of Dragon Age, you can replace them with human commoners and you can't tell the difference, why a lot of people wanted the elf in DA:I to be a city elf?
They have no culture, they aren't "more" beautiful than humans as people claim them to be, they just seem like an excuse to don't make black people be the poor ones because someone may get offended.
What if I have pointy ears? I feel offended.
Wow, obvious troll is obvious.
Wow, obvious troll is obvious.
Troll? you know anything of history?
Troll thread is trollish. It's like asking why someone would play a Dwarf Commoner versus a Dwarf Noble... they're different experiences, different expectations, a different cultural tableau.
That isn't similar at all, in the Dwarf Noble you are even considered to be the king of Orzammar, in exchange, if you are a Dwarf Commoner you are the scum of the world just because of how you born, they both are still dwarves.
Unlike Dalish - City elf, the Dalish is an elf, and the City elf is an elf wanting to be human, like Sera, why would you want to play a Human-want-to-be if you can play literally a human.
That isn't similar at all, in the Dwarf Noble you are even considered to be the king of Orzammar, in exchange, if you are a Dwarf Commoner you are the scum of the world just because of how you born, they both are still dwarves.
Unlike Dalish - City elf, the Dalish is an elf, and the City elf is an elf wanting to be human, like Sera, why would you want to play a Human-want-to-be if you can play literally a human.
I know you're trolling, but an elf is still an elf regardless of where they live or what they believe. Nobody gets to write them off because they don't fit some arbitrary definition of elvish-ness.
From a meta perspective, playing a human - even a poor, disenfranchised one - is never going to be exactly the same as playing an elf in the same situation.
That's like saying that an homosexual is still an homosexual if he doesn't like his own gender.
Why would anyone want to play a Human-wanna-be?
you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.
Why would anyone want to play such a weak and submissive character? the people who want Inqui again in DA:4 must be because they want to play again the submissive wife of Cullen, that if you burn the food he is going to hit you.
That's like saying that an homosexual is still an homosexual if he doesn't like his own gender.
And a troll is still a troll...
And a troll is still a troll...
See? even I can understand what I am and I don't try to be a "good user", why elves can't?
They like being harassed by humans? they were bad bad boys/girls and needs to be punished?
See? even I can understand what I am and I don't try to be a "good user", why elves can't?
[...]
Do not try to disarm me!
Arshei,In DA:O the last thing Vaughan,Howe, the Tevinter Slaver and Loghain sees is the fiery hate filled green eyes of Tidus and Camin as they deal out payback for their crimes again the CEs.
Neither Tidus or Camin is a true Grey in fact after the blight ends both quits the Grays. They only go to Vigil's Keep under pressure from King Alistair and Camin even tells Alistair the last thing she wanted was to return to the Grey-there's a optional comment for that.
Arshei,In DA:O the last thing Vaughan,Howe, the Tevinter Slaver and Loghain sees is the fiery hate filled green eyes of Tidus and Camin as they deal out payback for their crimes again the CEs.
Neither Tidus or Camin is a true Grey in fact after the blight ends both quits the Grays. They only go to Vigil's Keep under pressure from King Alistair and Camin even tells Alistair the last thing she wanted was to return to the Grey-there's a optional comment for that.
. . .
What?
I think City Elves condition is worse than human and dwarf commoner, at least the human and casteless dwarves have own tradition, culture, identity and serve no other than their own race. They can raise their rank in their society. City Elf is a "race" that lost everything, only born to be human servant and human toy. They will never raise their rank ever.
You see, no human noble just happily barge in human commoner villages, kidnap brides and rape them...similarly no dwarf noble do the same in Dust Town, they even have breeders among commoners who want to rise their status should give birth to noble son...but City Elves is just sorry to say f***ed up, lower than the lowest society of any other "races"
I think that's make them a compelling "race" to choose than human and dwarf commoner.
I thought the original question odd but it's been the comments from the OP since that make me give up on the thread. This thread was not a question from a person seeking insight into why people chose the CE origin or s/he would have reacted to the several good reasons presented in a way other than just rehashing her original statement in a "you are all wrong" way.
-leaves thread-
City Elves who are mages are actually lucky being sent to the Circle...at least get free food, and they can raise their rank up to become the First Enchanter...they will never be like that in the Alieneage as normal City Elf...
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