Drow Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Drow Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DarkLink
05-24-04, 08:10 PM First of all, I'm pretty much a newb to D&D, so forgive me if I sound ignorant. I was paging through my Monsters Guide, taking a look at the various PC subraces, when I came accross the Drow. It didn't take me long to realize that this class was in almost every was superior to not only the elves, but practically all races. They have virtually everything that high elves have and more, and a +2 to dex, int, and char, with only a -2 to con. The only real drawback is the Light Blindness, and as I hear it, they can slowly adjust to that.

So I was talking to this with a buddy of mine (who has basically been playing D&D for his whole life), and he told me that Drow get a -10 to all charisma-based checks against humanoids, which basically rips any plans I may have had to tiny shreds. But after paging multiple times throught the Monster Manual, I could find nothing on the subject.

Is he just pulling my leg, or is this penalty for real?
danman
05-24-04, 08:18 PM There is no actual game mechanic that supports that rule (unless it's a house rule), but rogue drow who try to fit in on the surface do have a severe social stigma. Drow are an inherently evil race, living in their decadent underground cavern cities, and as such, no decent person would want to be associated with them. Drow are generally treated with suspicion, if not outright hostility, by all, especially elves. While it depends on your campaign world, drow are generally a bad choice for a PC race, as they will most likely not be accepted into any civilized surface society.
Joe Gold
05-24-04, 08:18 PM There is no -10 penalty. There is a level adjustment, however. So while you have the neat drow abilities, your party is a higher level.
TWG_Prometheus
05-24-04, 11:45 PM Just to explain on the important point here further, as Joe Gold indicated, Drow have a level adjustment of +2. This means that in a party of normal 3rd level characters, the drow member should be level 1 to compensate for all the bonuses they receive. It hurts, but it still might be worth it to you. (If you're wondering, your character would still be level 3 in a measure we call ECL.)

ECL = class levels + racial HD (if any) + level adjustment.

In the case of a 1st level drow:

ECL = 1 (class level) + 0 (no racial Hit Dice) + 2 (Level Adjustment)= 3.

If your DM implements a form of roleplaying penalty for being such an outsider, ect. this may make Drow very unprofitable for you to play as a PC. I wouldn't implement a -10 on Charisma-based checks myself, as that's inflexible and doesn't represent situations very well, but most folks you'd meet would probably start out at Unfriendly only if you're very, very lucky. Most likely they'd be Hostile.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DarkLink 05-24-04, 08:10 PM	First of all, I'm pretty much a newb to D&D, so forgive me if I sound ignorant. I was paging through my Monsters Guide, taking a look at the various PC subraces, when I came accross the Drow. It didn't take me long to realize that this class was in almost every was superior to not only the elves, but practically all races. They have virtually everything that high elves have and more, and a +2 to dex, int, and char, with only a -2 to con. The only real drawback is the Light Blindness, and as I hear it, they can slowly adjust to that. So I was talking to this with a buddy of mine (who has basically been playing D&D for his whole life), and he told me that Drow get a -10 to all charisma-based checks against humanoids, which basically rips any plans I may have had to tiny shreds. But after paging multiple times throught the Monster Manual, I could find nothing on the subject. Is he just pulling my leg, or is this penalty for real?
danman 05-24-04, 08:18 PM	There is no actual game mechanic that supports that rule (unless it's a house rule), but rogue drow who try to fit in on the surface do have a severe social stigma. Drow are an inherently evil race, living in their decadent underground cavern cities, and as such, no decent person would want to be associated with them. Drow are generally treated with suspicion, if not outright hostility, by all, especially elves. While it depends on your campaign world, drow are generally a bad choice for a PC race, as they will most likely not be accepted into any civilized surface society.
Joe Gold 05-24-04, 08:18 PM	There is no -10 penalty. There is a level adjustment, however. So while you have the neat drow abilities, your party is a higher level.
TWG_Prometheus 05-24-04, 11:45 PM	Just to explain on the important point here further, as Joe Gold indicated, Drow have a level adjustment of +2. This means that in a party of normal 3rd level characters, the drow member should be level 1 to compensate for all the bonuses they receive. It hurts, but it still might be worth it to you. (If you're wondering, your character would still be level 3 in a measure we call ECL.) ECL = class levels + racial HD (if any) + level adjustment. In the case of a 1st level drow: ECL = 1 (class level) + 0 (no racial Hit Dice) + 2 (Level Adjustment)= 3. If your DM implements a form of roleplaying penalty for being such an outsider, ect. this may make Drow very unprofitable for you to play as a PC. I wouldn't implement a -10 on Charisma-based checks myself, as that's inflexible and doesn't represent situations very well, but most folks you'd meet would probably start out at Unfriendly only if you're very, very lucky. Most likely they'd be Hostile.