Drow Items and Sunlight [Archive] - Wizards Community

Drow Items and Sunlight [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thenger
10-07-04, 08:19 PM Hello All,

I was wondering if someone can let me know what happened with the drow weapons and armor that they made that they no longer get destroyed by sunlight?

And if the weapons they forge now are as powerful as their old ones?

Alot has changed in FR, and am trying to figure some things out before I decide to start to run a game, which will mean I will need to dish out alot of $$ for the new books. Only have the Players Handbook 3.5.

Thanks in advance guys and gals.
Aluroon
10-07-04, 08:22 PM Drow Items are no longer destroyed by sunlight. This occured after the windwalker saga. There powers are no long supporesed either.

Aluroon
Kuje31
10-07-04, 08:39 PM Drow Items are no longer destroyed by sunlight. This occured after the windwalker saga. There powers are no long supporesed either.

Aluroon

Unless the items are Drowcrafted, which is in the Underdark sourcebook. :)
Thenger
10-07-04, 08:52 PM Drow Items are no longer destroyed by sunlight. This occured after the windwalker saga. There powers are no long supporesed either.

Aluroon

Does that mean all of the weapons they had at that point where destroyed?

And by there powers are no longer supporesed, what exactly does that mean if you don't mind explaining? I noticed that their vision changed, and they can no longer levitate without the use of house pins or other magical items..

What sourse book can I get to check up these items.
Kuje31
10-07-04, 08:58 PM Does that mean all of the weapons they had at that point where destroyed?

And by there powers are no longer supporesed, what exactly does that mean if you don't mind explaining? I noticed that their vision changed, and they can no longer levitate without the use of house pins or other magical items..

What sourse book can I get to check up these items.

It means, if the items are not drow crafted with that special property then those items don't decay in the sun. So in other words drow items work as normal as normal items, unless they have the drow craft property.
warlockco
10-07-04, 11:26 PM For Drow to get the more advanced Spell-like abilities they have to spend feats. These feats are High Born Drow, and Lolth's Blesssing. Both of which are in Races of Faerun. High Born Drow is also in Underdark.

With the Windwalker Series, drow items with the exception of items made with the Drowcraft special property (weapons/armor) don't decay in sunlight. So the cloaks and boots don't decay anymore. Drow don't lose their innate spells anymore either.

One thing of note is I have yet to see an Official NPC Drow with the feats that give advanced spell-like abilities. Instead all Official NPC Drow have House Insignians with Levitate at will on self only so far.
KingDes
10-08-04, 02:17 PM One thing of note is I have yet to see an Official NPC Drow with the feats that give advanced spell-like abilities. Instead all Official NPC Drow have House Insignians with Levitate at will on self only so far.

thats b/c it would take up a feat...and its hard to make a great character by spending all their freats on noble drow feats. Its much cheaper to buy the abilities.
Aluroon
10-11-04, 03:42 PM thats b/c it would take up a feat...and its hard to make a great character by spending all their freats on noble drow feats. Its much cheaper to buy the abilities.

Well a few are regional feats...

Aluroon
warlockco
10-11-04, 10:36 PM High Born Drow and Lolth's Blessing are not Regional Feats. They are Racial Feats for Drow, and not a single Official Drow write-up for 3E has them.
Kuje31
10-11-04, 10:51 PM And Daylight Adaption has been errata'd since it was a Regional Feat in the Player's Guide, but again WOTC fixed that cause it was a pain in the :censored:
Bocklin
10-12-04, 05:56 AM Hello All,

I was wondering if someone can let me know what happened with the drow weapons and armor that they made that they no longer get destroyed by sunlight?

And if the weapons they forge now are as powerful as their old ones?

Alot has changed in FR, and am trying to figure some things out before I decide to start to run a game, which will mean I will need to dish out alot of $$ for the new books. Only have the Players Handbook 3.5.

Thanks in advance guys and gals.

So, to complete somehow what has already been said, "Drow weapons" are not the über-weapons they used to be. They are normal magic items, just crafted by Drow.

The "Underdark" book offers a specific weapon property called "Drowcraft". It gives some modest boost to he weapon and also makes the weapon/armor vulnerable to the sun light. So if a Drow crafts a really powerful weapon that is intended for use during a nightly raid on the surface, it has the guarantee that, if things come to worse and the sword is taken by a surface dwelling ennemy, it will not serve her long.

The fluff text about this ability also says that weapons with this property are not really made any more (a fashion thing it seems). I guess this is WotC's attempt at an explanation for why drow weapons used to be destroyed by the sun in ADD and not anymore now in DD3.

Well, additionaly, to reply to your more general comment/question about the investing in the 3rd edition products, here is what I could offer as piece of (modest) advice: Underdark is a great product, with a lot of Realms Lore and good usable stuff for a DM to create a complete campaign there. Since you are interested in drow stuff, I guess it would be a good buy for you.

Bocklin
Zanan
10-12-04, 07:06 AM Vendui!

Drow weapons were not "über-weapons" since sunlight would easily have destroyed them even back in AD&D. The usual drow was an evil-doer and monsters got nastier stuff than usual. Since this material was not to be used by the usually good-doing PCs, the drow stuff decayed on the surface and fair enough.

These days, one may assume that many drow in the Underdark will still use drowcraft items, but their production - as is written in the sourcebooks - has been slowed down (no wonder, given the harsh requirements ... which do not make sense IMHO anyway). They are still quite powerful, considering the fact that they give luck bonuses (bad for the cleric regarding divine favor though). Those drowcraft items will decay on the surface if they fail (bad) Fort saves each day. Thus, most drow encountered these days (3E/RE Faerûn) will have masterwork and normal magic armor, since it gives them more flexibility on all front. This does not mean that there will be no drowcraft items about though. I for one can live with this ruling ... if not the requirements.
Bocklin
10-12-04, 08:08 AM Vendui!

Drow weapons were not "über-weapons" since sunlight would easily have destroyed them even back in AD&D. The usual drow was an evil-doer and monsters got nastier stuff than usual. Since this material was not to be used by the usually good-doing PCs, the drow stuff decayed on the surface and fair enough.

Well, indeed I agree that the "decay under the sun"-stuff was a necessary counterbalance to the higher-than-average boni they had and therefore *in the end* they were not über. But their weapons were offering heavier boni than the usual stuff. isn't it?

I guess that it was the ADD logic, as you were saying: "monsters get nastier stuff than usual".

*** warning: digression follows ***

I am no ADD specialist, but it seems to me that one of the big changes that the 3rd edition introduced is some "continuity" throughout for all creatures. I.e. thanks to the ECL and CR, it is easy to weight creatures against each other and set specific rules for the equipement they should be carrying with them according to their ECL (in case of humanoids).

A 10th level evil-doer Drow gets to carry the same equipement as a 12th level mister-nice-guy PC human paladin and that's it. They do not get bigger swords that do more damages just because they are the "monsters".

I guess this is the same continuity which enables the whole "let's play unusual races" idea. Which is, I think, a good thing. I hated those games where you clearly had no continuity and it was "they are the monsters, you do not need to know how they were put together: just take their abilities and scores at face value and do not try to see what's behind".

Now, thanks to the efforts made by WotC with their "behind the scene" boxed texts and the whole ECL system, you can actually do a real lot of fine-tuning and world creation yourself...

Bocklin

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thenger 10-07-04, 08:19 PM	Hello All, I was wondering if someone can let me know what happened with the drow weapons and armor that they made that they no longer get destroyed by sunlight? And if the weapons they forge now are as powerful as their old ones? Alot has changed in FR, and am trying to figure some things out before I decide to start to run a game, which will mean I will need to dish out alot of $$ for the new books. Only have the Players Handbook 3.5. Thanks in advance guys and gals.
Aluroon 10-07-04, 08:22 PM	Drow Items are no longer destroyed by sunlight. This occured after the windwalker saga. There powers are no long supporesed either. Aluroon
Kuje31 10-07-04, 08:39 PM	Drow Items are no longer destroyed by sunlight. This occured after the windwalker saga. There powers are no long supporesed either. Aluroon Unless the items are Drowcrafted, which is in the Underdark sourcebook. :)
Thenger 10-07-04, 08:52 PM	Drow Items are no longer destroyed by sunlight. This occured after the windwalker saga. There powers are no long supporesed either. Aluroon Does that mean all of the weapons they had at that point where destroyed? And by there powers are no longer supporesed, what exactly does that mean if you don't mind explaining? I noticed that their vision changed, and they can no longer levitate without the use of house pins or other magical items.. What sourse book can I get to check up these items.
Kuje31 10-07-04, 08:58 PM	Does that mean all of the weapons they had at that point where destroyed? And by there powers are no longer supporesed, what exactly does that mean if you don't mind explaining? I noticed that their vision changed, and they can no longer levitate without the use of house pins or other magical items.. What sourse book can I get to check up these items. It means, if the items are not drow crafted with that special property then those items don't decay in the sun. So in other words drow items work as normal as normal items, unless they have the drow craft property.
warlockco 10-07-04, 11:26 PM	For Drow to get the more advanced Spell-like abilities they have to spend feats. These feats are High Born Drow, and Lolth's Blesssing. Both of which are in Races of Faerun. High Born Drow is also in Underdark. With the Windwalker Series, drow items with the exception of items made with the Drowcraft special property (weapons/armor) don't decay in sunlight. So the cloaks and boots don't decay anymore. Drow don't lose their innate spells anymore either. One thing of note is I have yet to see an Official NPC Drow with the feats that give advanced spell-like abilities. Instead all Official NPC Drow have House Insignians with Levitate at will on self only so far.
KingDes 10-08-04, 02:17 PM	One thing of note is I have yet to see an Official NPC Drow with the feats that give advanced spell-like abilities. Instead all Official NPC Drow have House Insignians with Levitate at will on self only so far. thats b/c it would take up a feat...and its hard to make a great character by spending all their freats on noble drow feats. Its much cheaper to buy the abilities.
Aluroon 10-11-04, 03:42 PM	thats b/c it would take up a feat...and its hard to make a great character by spending all their freats on noble drow feats. Its much cheaper to buy the abilities. Well a few are regional feats... Aluroon
warlockco 10-11-04, 10:36 PM	High Born Drow and Lolth's Blessing are not Regional Feats. They are Racial Feats for Drow, and not a single Official Drow write-up for 3E has them.
Kuje31 10-11-04, 10:51 PM	And Daylight Adaption has been errata'd since it was a Regional Feat in the Player's Guide, but again WOTC fixed that cause it was a pain in the :censored:
Bocklin 10-12-04, 05:56 AM	Hello All, I was wondering if someone can let me know what happened with the drow weapons and armor that they made that they no longer get destroyed by sunlight? And if the weapons they forge now are as powerful as their old ones? Alot has changed in FR, and am trying to figure some things out before I decide to start to run a game, which will mean I will need to dish out alot of $$ for the new books. Only have the Players Handbook 3.5. Thanks in advance guys and gals. So, to complete somehow what has already been said, "Drow weapons" are not the über-weapons they used to be. They are normal magic items, just crafted by Drow. The "Underdark" book offers a specific weapon property called "Drowcraft". It gives some modest boost to he weapon and also makes the weapon/armor vulnerable to the sun light. So if a Drow crafts a really powerful weapon that is intended for use during a nightly raid on the surface, it has the guarantee that, if things come to worse and the sword is taken by a surface dwelling ennemy, it will not serve her long. The fluff text about this ability also says that weapons with this property are not really made any more (a fashion thing it seems). I guess this is WotC's attempt at an explanation for why drow weapons used to be destroyed by the sun in ADD and not anymore now in DD3. Well, additionaly, to reply to your more general comment/question about the investing in the 3rd edition products, here is what I could offer as piece of (modest) advice: Underdark is a great product, with a lot of Realms Lore and good usable stuff for a DM to create a complete campaign there. Since you are interested in drow stuff, I guess it would be a good buy for you. Bocklin
Zanan 10-12-04, 07:06 AM	Vendui! Drow weapons were not "über-weapons" since sunlight would easily have destroyed them even back in AD&D. The usual drow was an evil-doer and monsters got nastier stuff than usual. Since this material was not to be used by the usually good-doing PCs, the drow stuff decayed on the surface and fair enough. These days, one may assume that many drow in the Underdark will still use drowcraft items, but their production - as is written in the sourcebooks - has been slowed down (no wonder, given the harsh requirements ... which do not make sense IMHO anyway). They are still quite powerful, considering the fact that they give luck bonuses (bad for the cleric regarding divine favor though). Those drowcraft items will decay on the surface if they fail (bad) Fort saves each day. Thus, most drow encountered these days (3E/RE Faerûn) will have masterwork and normal magic armor, since it gives them more flexibility on all front. This does not mean that there will be no drowcraft items about though. I for one can live with this ruling ... if not the requirements.
Bocklin 10-12-04, 08:08 AM	Vendui! Drow weapons were not "über-weapons" since sunlight would easily have destroyed them even back in AD&D. The usual drow was an evil-doer and monsters got nastier stuff than usual. Since this material was not to be used by the usually good-doing PCs, the drow stuff decayed on the surface and fair enough. Well, indeed I agree that the "decay under the sun"-stuff was a necessary counterbalance to the higher-than-average boni they had and therefore in the end they were not über. But their weapons were offering heavier boni than the usual stuff. isn't it? I guess that it was the ADD logic, as you were saying: "monsters get nastier stuff than usual". * warning: digression follows * I am no ADD specialist, but it seems to me that one of the big changes that the 3rd edition introduced is some "continuity" throughout for all creatures. I.e. thanks to the ECL and CR, it is easy to weight creatures against each other and set specific rules for the equipement they should be carrying with them according to their ECL (in case of humanoids). A 10th level evil-doer Drow gets to carry the same equipement as a 12th level mister-nice-guy PC human paladin and that's it. They do not get bigger swords that do more damages just because they are the "monsters". I guess this is the same continuity which enables the whole "let's play unusual races" idea. Which is, I think, a good thing. I hated those games where you clearly had no continuity and it was "they are the monsters, you do not need to know how they were put together: just take their abilities and scores at face value and do not try to see what's behind". Now, thanks to the efforts made by WotC with their "behind the scene" boxed texts and the whole ECL system, you can actually do a real lot of fine-tuning and world creation yourself... Bocklin