Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Akisa 10-28-07, 05:47 AM	I’m looking to make a CG drow who’s not a Drizzt clone seeing as he seems to be the Sephiroth of D&D (which why the hell is he popular and gets on people nerves if someone tries to copy them). Now I don’t have a group as of yet so can’t provide background of the campaign world (but I avoid eberron and FR is a “do we have to… Ok I guess” situation for me). After reading about the drow and how they were transformed by the Seldarine in FR it gave me an idea about making a character. I was wondering if anyone could help me flesh out my idea (and maybe suggest a name ^^’). I was thinking of making a drow who grew up on the surface in a community that worships Eilistraee and has never set foot in the underdark. Although she has grown up in a community that worships Eilistraee, she has heard stories of drow atrocities, and the racism she endures as a drow even during ‘the run’ she begins to learn to carry conceal weapons in order to protect herself narrow-minded individual. As time went by she begins to learn the history of the drows and how they were cursed or transformed after Lolth’s failed attempt to over throw Corellon Larethian. My drow then sets out to find the cure to the curse so she could be transformed into a normal elf. She quickly discovers that the best way to avoid confrontation was to disguise herself as another regular elf (or another elf subrace) as she did not want to harm people unnecessarily. Now I was debating on creating a rogue or bard not sure what to go for, probably depends on what group needs and what sort of campaign is going on. Because I’m pretty sure I’m not going to have the patience for an undead campaign even if there is a lot of traps as I’ll see myself sitting around just provide flanking and aid another in combat while the warriors and spell casters have something to do. ((Sorry for the grammar and spelling errors it's 4:46AM))
Terjon of the Blue Rose 10-28-07, 07:08 AM	To start with I'd make that a community of both standard and drow elves. Elistrae preaches reunion of the two races. I'd start the bg off with a little bit on your life to start and then move on to focus on what you have learned since leaving your home. Given that you have a major long-term goal for your character I'd try coming up with a start as to how you plan on going about it. Perhaps seeking out evermeet, despite the fact that as a drow there is almost no chance you'll ever make it to that island alive. To make the character differ from Drizzt though you already have the key ingredient. Drizzt has no long term goal; no internal force driving him over the next horizon. You do. Keep that focus in mind. Never forget that there is something you must accomplish in your life. Drizzt is a character who is constantly fighting to protect what he has. You need to be prepared to show that you are trying to actually achieve something. To that end you may want to try and reveal yourself as a drow whenever you find an elf you think will accept you. Read Ellistrae's dogma and live it. You may even consider taking levels in favored soul or cleric to truly set yourself apart and show your dedication to righting that ancient wrong.
ArkhamInmate 11-13-07, 08:13 PM	Also i wouldn't make him CG more of a CN with a strong leaning of good, perhaps once you find out what his driving force is, give him a more of an "End justifies the means" type outlook which Drizzt doesn't have, also don't make him into the whiny little d-bag that drizzt is any time he isn't fighting
Orchomenos 11-14-07, 12:00 PM	Beware to don't get too near of the 2nd CG drow stereotype: the hot dark female elf cleric of Eilistraee dancing naked to pray for her spells. :D Also, you could give her a past of violence. Perhaps was she tortured by some human mercenaries or soldiers. Though she would be wise enough to not seek revenge on anything human, but rather trying to find who were these soldiers, and take a personal revenge.
The_Shaman 11-14-07, 02:28 PM	I'd make her a dervish. Eilistraee digs those who can whirl around someone while chopping various bits off him/her/it, and the party members will appreciate a combat blender ;) Your ideas aren't bad as well, btw. Conceptwise, just make sure she's her own character, and if she happens to be in some way similar to another character in D&D's long list of iconics, big deal. Going out of your way to avoid stereotypes can be just as bad as going out of your way to conform with them. She's your character, so you know her background best: what would she prefer to turn her talents to? Bards, rogues, and any others can be useful in nearly any situation, especially if you have access to a few splatbooks (Dungeonscape and/or Magic item compendium, in the case of rogues in undead-heavy campaigns). BTW, you can probably ask the DM what campaign s/he has in mind. It's good if all characers get an opportunity to shine, although it will mostly depend on your own ingenuity.
Kelmourne 11-23-07, 06:56 PM	Wow... looking at the name of this thread I thought it was impossible put its actually quite impressive what you came up with.
Akisa 12-20-07, 10:09 PM	Thanks for your advise guys, I still need to look for a game that let me play this character -_-'
I_roll_ones 12-22-07, 11:29 PM	Does it have to be a drow? I assume that if there are both races in the community who are over their prejudices, someone is going to be making eyes at an elf of another race sooner or later. Could be half-drow, half some other type of elf. If she is not fully drow, her features might be easier to hide and it would be more feasible to disguise herself as another type of elf.
The_Shaman 12-24-07, 03:12 PM	Well, if you start at higher levels, a hat of disguise is fairly cheap. If not, ranks in disguise and a MW kit can't go wrong. If you wear a lot of clothing and, say, a mask, finding out you're a drow can be rather hard. Plus, the idea of a masked bard is imo a great start for an interesting character :) . Anyway, I'm not sure I know of any drow settlements on the surface that worship the Dark Maiden en masse. Does the Skullport promenade count?
I_roll_ones 12-24-07, 04:44 PM	The idea that you can slather enough make up on yourself to turn black skin un-black(And still look natural) or people won't question someone who is entirely covered doesn't seem plausible, but it is up to the DM, really. And I didn't read the Drizz't books very far, but did he ever buy ranks in social skills/disguise? I can't remember, but I think he was more of a Mr. Stabberson type character. As for name? I sorta wonder if the character would have a drow sounding name. If they are trying to become a normal elf, I would say that she would leave drow culture behind. She may even cover herself up more(I'm under the impression that drow are the ones who are big on casual nudity, not other types of elves, but it depends on the setting) then other Eilistraeeans and consider her own features ugly and a perversion of "true" elves. Instead of going all whiney, however, I reccomend investing in disguises or trying to change herself via magic. However, if she dislikes her features, then chances are, once she becomes an adult(I also can't remember if FR elves do the thing where they chose a name for themselves at adulthood or not, but if it's a homebrewn setting, what the hey) she would choose a very surface elven name. If she doesn't take pride in being a Drow, then she would perhaps divorce herself from the culture. Perhaps a Moon Elf name or whatever the type of elf that associates most with drow will be in the setting.
The_Shaman 12-26-07, 07:41 PM	The idea that you can slather enough make up on yourself to turn black skin un-black(And still look natural) or people won't question someone who is entirely covered doesn't seem plausible, but it is up to the DM, really. It may not seem particularly plausible, but a character who has a few ranks in disguise can do some pretty amazing things with some heavy make-up - judging by the level most NPCs are, 5-6 ranks or so already shows that you're quite accomplished at some skill, so 7-8 would indicate you're practically a virtuoso. Mechanically speaking, iirc a male duergar who wants to disguise himself as a female elf takes only a -4 penalty. Of course, you'll probably look like some obscure elven subrace nearly no-one has heard of... luckily, there are enough elven subraces that it might just work.
Akisa 12-30-07, 02:21 AM	There is also Hat of disguise, but I'll use mundane disguises underneath as well (true sight).