Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MarkusTay63 01-06-07, 01:37 PM	It has been mentioned over the years that a Drow's items loose their potency on the surface because they are infused with magical radiation from the Underdark. In Daughter of the Drow, part of the Starlight and Shadows trilogy, the EXACT substance that gives off the radiation I believe is mentioned. I can no longer find my copy of the book, does anyone know the name of this substance? Does anyone know if there is a write-up for this somewhere, either here or at Candlekeep? :confused:
DreamStalker 01-06-07, 02:39 PM	Faezress. Which is describe in every sourcebook concerning the FR Underdark. 3.x has The Underdark for such a sourcebook. There has since been a retroactive change that Drow items do not melt in sunlight. Instead there are weapon and armor enhancements that make them work better in Faezress. Personally I prefer the old method but I understand the reasoning behind the change. There is a good rant on it over at www.seankreynolds.com
MarkusTay63 01-06-07, 02:51 PM	For some reason, that name doesn't sound familiar to me at all. :( Either way, I fully support the change that was made. Originally, it was a cheap 'fix' TSR used to cripple the over-powerful Drow. Everyone wanted to run a 2e Drow, they were like supermen! Now that they have been toned down, it is only fitting that the 'bizarre radiation' argument get tossed. I am currently re-reading Drow of the Underdark, and haven't come across it being specifically named yet. I own Underdark, but I am ashamed to admit I have never read it through its entirety. Not sure why.... I have only used it to look up specific information, but now that you have pointed out my lapse to me I will correct it. :D Thank you for the heads up.
Derren S. 01-06-07, 05:03 PM	What prevents the drow from smithing a small piece of Faezress in each piece of their equipment so that they constantly have the bonus (or the item never decays if you prefer that)?
MarkusTay63 01-06-07, 06:29 PM	Also, are you sure that that is the same substance that Kiriel placed within the Windwaker? :confused: If the powers of the Windwaker enabled Drow to use their abilities on the surface, then why didn't it effect Drow-made items the same way? That doesn't make much sense; either the radiation is now present on the surface or its not, you can't have it both ways.
Teh_username 01-06-07, 07:21 PM	I prefer to extrapolate using the "Drowcraft" weapon/armor property from Underdark. The idea was that the old "disintegrates in sunlight" items were made using the Drowcraft property, which grants increased bonuses in areas of faerzess radiation (and is cheaper than enhancing weapons/armor outright), but now that more surface raids/excursions are being made (not to mention raids on Underdark areas without faerzess), the property is becoming less and less popular. I expanded the property a little in my Drow game, actually - instead of a +1 enhancement that equals out to a +2, I allowed it to be applied to masterwork weapons/armor AS the first "plus". A couple really agonised over whether the increased power was worth having to leave it behind if they went to the surface. :D