Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Fal 12-13-06, 02:20 PM	Having read quite a few threads recently with concern to the stereotyped Drow Ranger with scimitars (R.A. Salvatore anyone?) I was curious as to which Drow characters have cropped up in your games that were, dare i say it? Different...... I myself played a NE (see! Neutral! Didn't see that one coming) Drow Fighter/Bard who managed to mask his alignment to the rest of the PCs at the DMs approval and pretended to be another rehabilitaed Drow. Played selfishly and not quite so homicidal, he was an enjoyable character who got cursed by Lolth to carry a disgraced Yochlol in his skull which created many quirky situations.... Anyone Else?
Critical_Failure 12-13-06, 02:29 PM	one of my players wants to play a CE cleric of lolth once his goblin barbarian dies
TheChilliGod 12-13-06, 02:30 PM	I've seen a NE drow psion at work in an evil campaign. The real deal here, none of this 'good' bull. This one is the true backstabbing type of drow; he once tried to psionically assassinate my character because he was a higher rank in the evil army than the drow. And that was during combat. He stopped once he got promoted above my PC by another PC. But I get the feeling he won't stop until he's lord over all he surveys. (Pity too, because drow are known as "black trash" in the campaign :P ) I really want to kill this drow at the very first chance I get. And that means that it's an awesome PC and I applaud the player for making it so.
Artector 12-13-06, 02:35 PM	One of my players is considering a Drow Wizard. Its gonna be interesting to see how he plays him.
CryoSilver 12-13-06, 02:41 PM	I played a CN drow barbarian once. He was stranded in the Underdark as a child, during a failed raid against hook horrors, from which he was the only survivor, though left for dead. After waking up, he was forced to fend for himself for years, banished from the city for failing to defeat his enemies. He developed his barbaric traits after years of having to fight enemies larger and stronger than himself, and I RPed the rage as more of a supernatural effect that made him slightly Hulk-like (though not enough to increase his size) rather than a "rage."
Cainin 12-13-06, 02:52 PM	I've always been fond of my LN drow psi warrior / elocator. Real nobles never suly their feet by getting their boots dirty. Though more seriously, it was fun to react to the world from a drow society point of view.
GreyEagle 12-13-06, 03:09 PM	I've never played a drow character for more than a single session. Wierd huh? But if I do play one again I'll be going with a LE Rogue/ Shadowdancer
TroubleWolf 12-13-06, 03:32 PM	Wouldn't play one if you paid me. Too much baggage.
OravennasBrother 12-13-06, 03:36 PM	A group in college once played a campaign where they were all Drow (I joined later as a Human Fighter and so didn't fit in well) who all used bows. Called themselves the "Drow Archer Korp" aka "DAK" (the inside joke is that they were mocking one of the people in the gaming club who always played the German side in WWII Boardgames as DAK is the moniker for Rommel's dreaded "Deutche Afrika Korp")
Rodimal 12-13-06, 03:45 PM	My Drow character is a Lawful Good Paladin of the three Lawful Good gods of our homebrew world. Yes, he knows how to use a Scimitar (has Focus and Specialization on them, although his last one got broken and he hasn't got a new one yet), but his primary weapon is a long sword. Out
Rogue Shadows 12-13-06, 03:51 PM	I'm running an entire Underdark campaign - my world's surface is a frozen wasteland - but so far the only drow I have is a CE male drow Shadowcaster commoner (as in, with no noble House). But then, only 2 people showed up for the first session, and it DID only begin last sunday.
Fal 12-13-06, 05:15 PM	Wouldn't play one if you paid me. Too much baggage. baggage as in the urge to become good or convincing people that you are good really? It's weird, cos i havnt played a drow for years now so what you say does have some truth! Is it no fun to play stereotypes anymore?
TroubleWolf 12-13-06, 06:25 PM	Baggage as in...: ...if you play an evil drow, you're "kill on sight" to most other races. ...if you play a good drow, then you're called a "Drizzt clone". ...+2 LA. ...light blindness. ...no matter how cool you think you are, you're still an elven subrace, and elves are never cool. ;)
Bruunwald 12-13-06, 06:30 PM	Back in a 2nd Edition game, one of my players chose a drow ranger. His twist was that the character actually came from a splinter group of breakaway non-evil drow. My caveat was that he use a longsword/shortsword combination, rather than the two scimitars. I think it's actually just the swords that draw anyone to Drizzt in the first place, though. Well, that and the cat. If you think about it, as okay a character as he is, Drizzt is sort of bland, personality-wise. And there are just too many missed opportunities, with his abilities, story, development, etc., to make him all that exciting when he puts the blades away. And he's kind of boring without Gwenwyvar around. At first, the alignment thing was what made people interested, but now everybody and their brother is a good-aligned drow. (Not that the outsider character caught in an evil world thing was all that original to begin with.) That's all I'm going to say, because anything more and this will become a rant about a certain writer and a certain writer's uh... level of... uh... talent.
Rogue Shadows 12-13-06, 07:19 PM	no matter how cool you think you are, you're still an elven subrace, and elves are never cool This is despite the fact that anything related to Drizzt sells by the barrelful, any Dragon magazine with a drow on the cover causes huge sales spikes, and drow are apparently popular enough that next year, they're getting a whole book to themselves. Drow are cool. People who think drow aren't cool are...people who think drow aren't cool. Which is all fine and good, but it flies in the face of all measurable data on the subject.
Cael 12-13-06, 07:25 PM	This is despite the fact that anything related to Drizzt sells by the barrelful, any Dragon magazine with a drow on the cover causes huge sales spikes, and drow are apparently popular enough that next year, they're getting a whole book to themselves. Drow are cool. People who think drow aren't cool are...people who think drow aren't cool. Which is all fine and good, but it flies in the face of all measurable data on the subject. Well, there is a possible reason for that: The Drow/Elf haters are being contrary to spite everyone else. That is, they are trying to emulate James Dean and basically become Rebels without a Clue. Just a thought :D
theotherdraxen 12-13-06, 07:30 PM	I made Drow different IMC by just making them an Elven sub-race with no LA (I removed abilites). I made their army like the Arcani from Rome: Total War.
SephDragoon 12-13-06, 07:31 PM	All in all, I've seen two drow in my campaigns as flushed out characters, one as a player, and then as an NPC in the same person's campaign when he was the DM... Funny enough, in his campaign, only one kingdom accepts them, though from my experience with those drow, they are STILL very evil. One that I met was more of a Jaraxle clone (in fact, the whole joke became clear when we found out his nickname was Axle o_O). The other was introduced as a luitenant in the army we were under the control of. He turned out to be one of the BBEG's highest powered minions, and currently my Human Duskblade's nemesis. No drow I've encountered in a campaign even remotely resembles drizzt...
AaronDireBear 12-13-06, 07:36 PM	I havent actually seen many drow rangers...the whole amount of Drow rangers gets exaggerated in pop culture but I dont think its as big as most people say.
Rogue Shadows 12-13-06, 07:52 PM	I'm running an entire underdark campaign, as mentioned earlier...so far, here's the major drow NPCs... 1) Iliira Ii'ilmerias: youngest daughter of Aunsab Ii'ilmerias, the Matron Mother of House Ii'ilmerias, the most powerful in the city. Neutral Evil (borderline Chaotic Neutral) Cleric 3 of Lolth. Iliira is basically the person who gets the PCs to go places, do things, and gain experience. She wants to kill her sister, the heir apparent of Ii'ilmerias, not because she actually wants to rule (Iliira would be just as happy to go off and found her own House), but rather because her sister, Ectanis, is violent, aggressive, and borderline insane. Iliira's convinced that Ectanis will destroy Ii'ilmerias in her quest for power. Iliira honestly cares for her brother, Illithyr. She uses either a scourge or a sickle (the traditional weapon of Ii'ilmerias) in combat. 2) Ectanis Ii'ilmerias: CE Clr 16 of Lolth. Ever played Xenosaga? Remember Albedo? She's something like that. She's borderline insane. Like most Ii'ilmerias, she is content to wait for her mother to die of old age before taking the throne (which shouldn't be more then a few years), then she wants to take Ii'ilmerias to war with the third, second, and first Houses (Ii'ilmerias is, itself, the Fourth House. It has purposefully remained so, despite its power, in order to present more apatizing targets both above and below it to lesser Houses). She uses a scourge when she has to, but prefers to use her +2 frost scythe in combat.
TroubleWolf 12-13-06, 09:32 PM	Drow are cool. People who think drow aren't cool are...people who think drow aren't cool. Which is all fine and good, but it flies in the face of all measurable data on the subject. Hence the ;) emoticon, which was meant to convey light-heartedness, sarcasm, and a joking tone. And as for the guy who didn't want to rant on Salvatore's level of talent, I can see where you're coming from. I like to think some of that is due to him being given a topic and asked to write a book about it. Then, when that book becomes popular, he's asked to extend it and extend it, etc. I really liked his Spearwielder's Saga. Three books. He told his story and then stopped. Maybe the Drizzt books just went on too long. He's not the only one with this problem. Robert Jordan comes immediately to mind here...
Issabella 12-13-06, 10:03 PM	no drow yet. Half dragons, spell scales, full elves, Phrenics, half farspawn, minatuars, deep gnomes with torrets. But thankfully no drow.
Mecha_Pope 12-13-06, 10:31 PM	Well, lets see. In my time as DM, i have seen the following CG Male Drow Wizzard/Air elemental Savant. Never been to the underdark, a follower of Elliestree NG Female Drow Rouge. Defeated in combat by a Paladin, who spared her life. She slowly became good, and eventually married him. LG Half Drow Paladin/Rouge/Shadowbane Inquisitor. Mother was a priestess of Elliestrie, father was a Cleric of Torm. Worshiped the Triad as a whole. Currently in play Exor Khunn LE Half drow Ranger 3/ Fighter 2/ Bloodhound 1. Uses the stats for a half drow, he's actualy a half drow quarter human quarter orc. He ends up looking like a human with black skin and white hair. Orriginaly a drow experiment in eugenics, in an attempt to make the perfect soldier, he escaped and killed the matron mother while she slept, for thinking that she could control him. He was raised to think that he is the perfect soldier, and so thinks like it. Rather than being put to death, an enterprising drow nobal purchased him as a gladiatior. After a few fights, he escaped and made his way to skull port, where he has become a capable and ruthless bounty hunter. He considers himself a professional, and once on a job, no other offer will dissuade him. He's in it for the challange and the money, and has been known to count his cash as he kills his targets. "100, 200, 300, you guys are gonna make me rich!" His weapon: a spiked chain. Part of a Bounty Hunter themed campaign.
Cael 12-13-06, 10:36 PM	no drow yet. Half dragons, spell scales, full elves, Phrenics, half farspawn, minatuars, deep gnomes with torrets. But thankfully no drow. Ironically, in my game, the only one to play a funny race (Half-Celestial Elf) is the one that always cry "broken", "munchkin" and "metagame" at the drop of a hat. Sometimes, I wonder about these people. Are they crying because they truly think those things are "broken", "munchkin" or "metagame", or are they just not happy because someone else can make a more effective character than them or have more of the spotlight?
supernerd222 12-13-06, 11:46 PM	<Sighs> Every time I lend out my Salvatore books, my players come to the table with requests to play a "new" character. Theree guesses to race, class, and favoured weapon. I never allow it. The word is no longer stereotype. It is now Cliche. Except, of course for the original.
Asche 12-14-06, 03:27 AM	I played a drow monk once, spicing it up a little with Fist of Zuoken. As monk, the LA didnt hurt as bad with a Monks belt and the excellent saves, and no caster levels to lose. Alignment was LE, and he was motivated primarily by trying to find Faeruns best fighter, and defeat him.... totally driven character, to the point where I abandoned him, as it really was just about finding more and more powerful opponents anymore.
Issabella 12-14-06, 08:08 AM	Ironically, in my game, the only one to play a funny race (Half-Celestial Elf) is the one that always cry "broken", "munchkin" and "metagame" at the drop of a hat. Sometimes, I wonder about these people. Are they crying because they truly think those things are "broken", "munchkin" or "metagame", or are they just not happy because someone else can make a more effective character than them or have more of the spotlight? the funny thing is, almost all the players who have tried templates and LA races...have come back to human. My gaming group has gone from a Noah's ark of a freak show to an all but one human party. Frills, claws and La's are nice, but an extra feat and skill points seduces many back to the path of humanity.
Mordent_Sage 12-14-06, 08:24 AM	We had a fun drow on a party. He had a very badly scared face; he had been handsome, and married, but a female cleric of Lolth took a shine to him. The problem with that is if she ordered him to betray his wife with her, and he refused, he'd be put to death for refusing a clerics order. If he obeyed her, his wife would kill him for adultery. So to solve this problem, he tried to peel his own face off and re-attach it. Didn't work, but stopped the cleric likeing him. Then came the voices. He was convinced it was Velshroon (fearun god of undeath), and became a worshiper and then a cleric. He had to leave the underdark because of that. The player didn't know whether the voices he was hearing was insanity or the god. As the GM, I knew that it was insanity to start with, then became insanity mixed with divine guidance. Lets hear it for insane PCs!
Mindolin 12-14-06, 08:50 AM	I've only played a single drow character. He was a half-drow Monk/Assassin. Later on he was going to become a Shadow Dancer as well, so that he could combine Shadow Step and Death Attack. Anyway, it was a Forgotten Realms campaign, and I begged the DM to let me encounter Drizzt so that I could punch him in the face. I started out a Drizzt fan, but then, after all these books, he is a stagnant character.
Zumarai 12-14-06, 10:05 AM	CN male drow, psion (seer) NE male drow, barbarian 1/fighter 4/ranger 2/swashbuckler 3/assassin 10 LE male drow, fighter/monk CE vile male drow (albino), chaos monk
Critical_Failure 12-14-06, 10:55 AM	the funny thing is, almost all the players who have tried templates and LA races...have come back to human. My gaming group has gone from a Noah's ark of a freak show to an all but one human party. Frills, claws and La's are nice, but an extra feat and skill points seduces many back to the path of humanity. ironic, i played half elves, gnomes, elves, etc. and my current 2 pc are both humans... ...with the half dragon template
The Grig Fiddler 12-27-06, 02:36 AM	CN male drow ranger: used a bow and a great sword,the guy just got back from boot camp and wanted to play a tough survive in the wild type, and thought the drow looked cool. I played a female, drow, wizard, LG, killed her off, playing a girl was creepy. Then there was the NG femal drow fighter, my characters sister, shes still in play, and it's one of the best played characters I've seen. She is a two weapon fighter, but she uses two bastard swords.
allenchan 12-27-06, 02:41 AM	Had an NPC that was a Male Cleric of Vhaerun. Enjoyed slowly killing females of any kind. :eek: No, that didnt make for an uncomfortable time at the table at all (yes it did)
JoAT 12-27-06, 03:15 AM	This is despite the fact that anything related to Drizzt sells by the barrelful, any Dragon magazine with a drow on the cover causes huge sales spikes, and drow are apparently popular enough that next year, they're getting a whole book to themselves. Drow are cool. People who think drow aren't cool are...people who think drow aren't cool. Which is all fine and good, but it flies in the face of all measurable data on the subject. "...They're mainstream now. I was a big drow fan way back when, but since they've hit the big time, they just seem to have sold out, you know? It used to be all about the music torture, but now? Now it's all about the image and attitude. I swear. Do they torture anymore? Heck, when was the last time they sacrificed a squirming, squalling pile of still-living human infants to the insane, tenticaled demon-lords of the Abyss, and then feasted upon the burnt remains? It's all dual scimitars and angsty do-gooding now. Cool? They haven't been cool in years, man." - interview with Baurlin Vom, Cultist of Dagon, experted from Behind the Pointy Ears
bayke 12-27-06, 03:18 AM	Adinirac Teken'duis Lawful Evil Half-Drow Fighter/Rogue/Wizard. He was never in the Underdark (the Drow side of his family was wiped out in "Homeland"), but he made a nice living as a crimelord on the surface. Adin, as his friends called him, was an expert in the two weapon style but prefered a rapier and dagger combination. He had a deep hatred for both racism (he suffered from a lot of it growing up on the surface) and the Drow (whose legacy fueled the racism he suffered from). While ruthless, he protected those who suffered for being different.
Drucilla_Rocks_my_Socks 12-27-06, 09:43 AM	My Players recentely were in a drow city. There they met several people who weren't like Drizzit. Mr. Floofy (I had lost the piece of paper with his original name on it, and I gave the description anyways. One of the players said "Oh, Mr. Floofy!" and the name stuck)- A neutral drow rogue/Wizard/Shadowdancer of very high level who's signature ability is to turn into a cloud of black butterflies and fly away (counts as gasious form). He is the new drow queen's "PR guy", helping her sell her new progressive aporach of letting serface dwellrs visit the city. He used the PCs as mascots (Ethnic Diversity Squad Go!) for the program by exagerating thier exploits against the goblinoid empire. Nethly (CE Half-Fiend Drow Rog 3/Ranger 2/Asn 3) and Sethly (CE Half-fiend Drow Rog 2/Wiz 6)- The two assassins who did most of the work against the goblin empire. They don't want fame, as they tend to be too nasty even for drow. They like to do serial killer things on a large scale. Gethlive (CE Half Fiend Drow Ftr 6)- The formerly employed captain of the gaurd in th city. He used to run the powerful (but disorganized) drow millitary, who gained magic and extra troops rom the abyss (Drow city gave souls to them, lots, and lots of souls). The new queen has ended thier deal with the various demonic lords and switched to a contract with a LE yugoloth, putting Gethlive out o buisness. He got very ****** and ended up taking back the city and expelling the surface dwellers from it.
Otto the Bugbear 12-27-06, 05:33 PM	Ironically, in my game, the only one to play a funny race (Half-Celestial Elf) is the one that always cry "broken", "munchkin" and "metagame" at the drop of a hat. Sometimes, I wonder about these people. Are they crying because they truly think those things are "broken", "munchkin" or "metagame", or are they just not happy because someone else can make a more effective character than them or have more of the spotlight? The latter, from what I've seen. On topic: I have not seen played any drow since 2ed, either as a player, or as a DM. I've never played one myself, though I was tempted to do a NE one some time back. Barbarian perhaps.
Kojiro James 12-27-06, 09:52 PM	Zurgazt Teken'duis - NE drow sorcerer. Possibly the most evil bastard alive. He dragged around a human slave girl whose face he deformed with acid splash and renamed Boil. The way he constantly tormented and tortured her and his overall disrespect for anyone else's well-being but his own earned him the status of being more evil than the yugoloths themselves.