Half-Elf

They share many of the characteristics the Elf and Human races have only watered down: For example, they live a wee bit longer than humans (they don't hit venerable until they're over 100 years old) but remain vigorous to the end like the elves.

Typically the combination is human father elven mother (because elven women are more desiereable to human men than elven men are to human women since Elven men are neither boyish nor manly, just effeminate), so they'd more correctly be called Half-Human Elves, but oh well. Also, the elven parent is almost always a high elf, half-drow, merrows, gray elves, and what-not are incredibly rare.

They have a +2 charisma and constitution in the 4th edition, but why the fuck something connected to elves would get a bonus to CON is beyond me. They make shitty rangers, which is also bizarre considering they're descended from the one race that can do it right. Huh, maybe 4e really is shit.

On the other hand, they can Warlord like a boss and they get a free Encounter Power from any class other than their own. If you like trawling through setting guides and back issues of magazines, Half-Elves are the class for you. The only downside is, you're playing a race with "Elf" in the name, and nobody wants that.