drow questions

FilipeTeles · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2004, 08:09 PM

I just buyed the forgotten realms book,and as I like a lot mages and sorcerors,drow is the best because of the +2 int and car give me extra spells.But I will have +4 dextery and -4 con or just +2 and -2?

Rob-hin · #2 (**permalink**) 01-10-2004, 07:15 AM

The drow racial traits:
+2 dexterity
-2 constitution
+2 intelligence
+2 charisma

Strong fellows, them Drow.

Aegis · #3 (**permalink**) 01-11-2004, 12:49 AM

Also, I believe they work of ECL's, rather then regular class levels.

The Effective class level is what they are equal to. I think a level 1 Drow's ECL would be level 2.

Indeed, they are tough cookies. Especially when figuring in their spell resistance...

Rob-hin · #4 (**permalink**) 01-11-2004, 04:28 AM

Actually, the level ajustment is +2.
Drow can do levitate, detect good and detect magic once a day too, if they have the Highborn Drow feat. (they can always do dancing lights, darkness and fearie fire once a day.)

Moonbiter · #5 (**permalink**) 02-06-2004, 11:06 AM

As a rule, Drow shouldn't be allowed as PC's unless the rest of the party is superhuman as well.

Also remember this: The Drow special abilities doesn't work in daylight, and some DM's even use the rule that they don't work at all above ground. If they had, the Drow would have ruled Faerun ages ago. It is pretty dull to have a character who is week as a kitten all day, and has to roleplay alone 90% of the time because the rest of the party is asleep...

Rigrider · #6 (**permalink**) 06-26-2004, 09:34 AM

personally I love Drow. Great character's to play. And while they're overpowered that fact is offset by the fact that EVERYONE hates them. The rules I've used in the past is that the drow abilities go away on the surface, but after a time (Determined by the DM of course) those abilites slowly start to come back. Oh and just as a side note. I don't remeber where I read this (Underdark maybe???) but the charisma bonus is +2 for Females, -2 for males!!!! The society is entirley matriacle so the males are left to feel like the infirior beings.

Rob-hin · #7 (**permalink**) 06-26-2004, 11:31 AM

I can't find that rule un my Underdark book, it doesn't sound right eigther...

Rigrider · #8 (**permalink**) 06-26-2004, 12:18 PM

As I said, I'm not entirley sure where it was that I read it. I've only seen that variant once, and I don't actually use it. But it does make SOME sense. I'll have to dig around to see where it was (it may have been on the WOTC website in a pre-release to the underdark book.)

Lost One · #9 (**permalink**) 07-01-2004, 02:47 AM

I don't think drow are overpowered considering their level adjustment. A spellcaster drow would always be one spell level behind a normal spellcaster in the party, and that could mean the difference between having fireball and not having it, or having raise dead and not having it. Something to think about. Besides the lack of hps too. It's basically their powers for a sacrifice of two levels...might be worth it early on, but at mid-high levels I think the powers they gain can already be found through spells, magical items, etc...
They also gain spell resistance I think (which is not as great as it sounds, since there is usually a good chance it won't work). But yeah, they're still good.

Though I had a drow bard in the party once, the problems he gave to the party just by being a drow travelling on the surface were many. It's that dressed in a cloak, pulling the hood very low so none can see his face kind of scenario which repeats itself. Hehe. You'd think he'd have learned the change self spell, geez.

Galuf the Dwarf · #10 (**permalink**) 07-01-2004, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonbiter

As a rule, Drow shouldn't be allowed as PC's unless the rest of the party is superhuman as well.

Also remember this: The Drow special abilities doesn't work in daylight, and some DM's even use the rule that they don't work at all above ground. If they had, the Drow would have ruled Faerun ages ago. It is pretty dull to have a character who is week as a kitten all day, and has to roleplay alone 90% of the time because the rest of the party is asleep...

But in many Forgotten Realms novels, the innate magical abilities of Drow that work on the surface are the Faerie Fire and Darkness abilities. Other special abilities seem to be negated, but not those.

Lost One: At least Drow are not as set back in levels as, say, Tanarukks. Their Effective Character Level (ECL) is 8 levels higher due to their 5 Hit Dice and +3 level adjustment.

LastManStanding · #11 (**permalink**) 08-03-2004, 05:43 AM

i have seen somewhere that drow tend to be tolerated more "for some reoson" in the north possible becouse of drizzt?

i dont know were i heard this perhaps a book but whatever