Deepwyrm Half-drow of Dambrath [Archive] - Wizards Community

Deepwyrm Half-drow of Dambrath [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
hellgrammite00
03-22-08, 02:04 PM Hi Guys,

I am starting in a Drow campaign soon, but decided to be alittle different from the group, and choose a half-drow character. I created this 'race' from a combination from many sources, and will present this to the DM next week. My character is of DeepWyrm blood, but I noted what could be substitued to have a normal Dambrathan Half-drow.
FYI that I reject the half-drow character from Drow of the Underdark, which I find unimaginative and overly weak. Perhaps it is a good archetype for surface dwellers, but not for a child of the underdark.
-There is no Level adjustment for the character (missing alot of attributes and strength of a full-drow, but having most of their weaknesses.)

-FYI this is specifically for half-drow from Dambrath. Which is in the underdark (next to a strong drow-city), and noted for the ruler classes to be mostly drow/ half-drow.

Please provide any feedback on this. Thanks!

Deepwyrm Half-Drow of Dambrath

-Medium Size
-Half-drow land speed is 30 feet.
-Darkvision 60ft
-Drow Blood: For all special abilities and effects, a half-drow is considered a drow
-Dragonblood Subtype: For all special abilities and effects, a deepwyrm half-drow is considered a dragon.
-Immunity to sleep spells.
-Spell-Like Abilities: Three times a day: Detect Magic; once a day: Disguise Self
-Weapon Familiarity: A half-drow of Dambrath may treat Spiked Chains as martial weapons rather than exotic weapons.
-+1 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.
-+2 Racial bonus on Gather information checks.
-+2 racial bonus on Bluff checks.
-Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, Undercommon, Dambrathan. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Sylvan.
-Light Blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds half-drow for 1 round. In addition, they take a –1 circumstance penalty on attack rolls, saves, and checks when in bright light.
-Favored Class: The highest class a half-drow has is considered his favorite.

*items in bold are changes due to the Deepwyrm bloodline. As a deepwyrm, a Half-drow loses: +2 on Diplomacy checks; +2 racial bonus on Will saves against spells, spell-like abilities, and enchantment effects.

-sources include Dragon Magic (pg.6), Races of Faerun, Player's guide to Faerun, Underdark (Faerun), Drow of the Underdark, Player's Handbook 3.5
The_Shaman
03-22-08, 02:22 PM It sounds ok, but I should warn you it's not true to FR canon. I'm not quite sure where you have your info from, but Dambrath is not in the underdark: while T'lindhet, the drow city which in theory dominates the Dambrai nobility, is in the underdark, Dambrath proper is an entire country on the surface. Therefore, I would suggest dropping the light blindness unless you particularly intend your character's lineage to be connected more closely to the drow overlords - the Crinti have long ruled Dambrath openly, and are fairly accustomed to sunlight.

Also, I would suggest giving a bonus to intimidate rather than gather information, and EWP whip rather than spiked chain. The half-drow tend to stick out like a sore thumb in both human and drow communities, and are not particularly liked either - but their drow legacy and the dislike of others to which they are accustomed have honed their talents to inspire fear where they can't inspire respect. Also, both the cult of Loviatar, which is paramount in Dambrath, and the long-standing horsemanship tradition of Dambrath have made whips and similar weapons (dagger-whips and scourges) popular among the half-drow nobility.

Should that stop you from running your version of the Crinti as it is? No. Still, it may help if you want to be as precise as possible.

Sources: Player's Guide to Faerun, Shining South
hellgrammite00
03-22-08, 02:35 PM Gather information -> Intimidate is a great idea.

You are right about Dambrath. My character will be primary in the underdark though (and have lived). Perhaps I could have had him raised in T'lindhet (for sure underdark). If I keep the darkvision and remove light blindness....is there another way to balance this out? Having dark vision without a negative may be too powerful, and my DM would suggest a LA +1.

-I like your suggestion about whips. Scourges and spiked chains I have come across on my reading. (less slave culture than Drow, and seem to enjoy bladed weapons like crazy)

...also how close is Dambrath to the underdark....I mean how close/easy is it to access say T'lindhet from Dambrath (cave system, pits,ect.) Is it reasonable for a half-drow to grow up in T'lindhet. Are they alittle more liberal than say the larger drow cities? I know T'lindhet and Dambrath have close relations, and at least in Dambrath ruling families to be half-dro is not at all unusual.

*edit* I did read their is a major road leading down from the surface to T'lindhet.

thanks
The_Shaman
03-22-08, 02:50 PM Hmm, given what dwarves can do I doubt darkvision 60 is all that great, but ok ;) . I suppose it's possible among half-drow with more drow blood, although it would probably be viewed as a disability among their kind.

Anyway, as you suspected. T'lindhet is quite liberal for a drow settlement. Hell, they ceded direct ownership of Dambrath to priestesses of a deity other than Lloth - most of them half-elven at that - which is something most drow would not even consider. If I remember correctly, they used to take more direct interest in the government of the land in the first few decades, but they have been more than happy to let the half-breeds govern the sunlit lands as long as trade flourishes and, I guess, a bit of tribute is paid (though the books only mention the importance of trade to the T'lindei). In general, they view the half-drow as second-class citizens at best, but tolerate them for their obvious use. Other drow would scoff at them as pampered, money-loving merchants - but while trade and affluence might have blunted some of their edge, they are still drow, so don't be expecting them to be too soft.

It's not far-fetched to presume that there may be a number of half-drow or even an entire quarter for them in the city. There certainly exists a small market village where the drow - and half-drow, one could presume - merchants ply their trade, and it is possible that most half-drow live nearby. I would, however, presume that the number of half-drow in T'lindhet itself isn't very big - they have little to gain by living alongside the drow as near slaves when their blood makes them masters in the world above.
hellgrammite00
03-22-08, 02:55 PM Thanks alot Shaman. I just pulled up the Shining South book, and it is a great help. Much more clear now. Hopefully I can use some of this in the Drow of the underdark campaign.
The_Shaman
03-22-08, 04:49 PM Good luck, I hope it works out for you. Let me know if I can give you a hand, I've had some interest in Dambrath.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
hellgrammite00 03-22-08, 02:04 PM	Hi Guys, I am starting in a Drow campaign soon, but decided to be alittle different from the group, and choose a half-drow character. I created this 'race' from a combination from many sources, and will present this to the DM next week. My character is of DeepWyrm blood, but I noted what could be substitued to have a normal Dambrathan Half-drow. FYI that I reject the half-drow character from Drow of the Underdark, which I find unimaginative and overly weak. Perhaps it is a good archetype for surface dwellers, but not for a child of the underdark. -There is no Level adjustment for the character (missing alot of attributes and strength of a full-drow, but having most of their weaknesses.) -FYI this is specifically for half-drow from Dambrath. Which is in the underdark (next to a strong drow-city), and noted for the ruler classes to be mostly drow/ half-drow. Please provide any feedback on this. Thanks! Deepwyrm Half-Drow of Dambrath -Medium Size -Half-drow land speed is 30 feet. -Darkvision 60ft -Drow Blood: For all special abilities and effects, a half-drow is considered a drow -Dragonblood Subtype: For all special abilities and effects, a deepwyrm half-drow is considered a dragon. -Immunity to sleep spells. -Spell-Like Abilities: Three times a day: Detect Magic; once a day: Disguise Self -Weapon Familiarity: A half-drow of Dambrath may treat Spiked Chains as martial weapons rather than exotic weapons. -+1 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. -+2 Racial bonus on Gather information checks. -+2 racial bonus on Bluff checks. -Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, Undercommon, Dambrathan. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Sylvan. -Light Blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds half-drow for 1 round. In addition, they take a –1 circumstance penalty on attack rolls, saves, and checks when in bright light. -Favored Class: The highest class a half-drow has is considered his favorite. *items in bold are changes due to the Deepwyrm bloodline. As a deepwyrm, a Half-drow loses: +2 on Diplomacy checks; +2 racial bonus on Will saves against spells, spell-like abilities, and enchantment effects. -sources include Dragon Magic (pg.6), Races of Faerun, Player's guide to Faerun, Underdark (Faerun), Drow of the Underdark, Player's Handbook 3.5
The_Shaman 03-22-08, 02:22 PM	It sounds ok, but I should warn you it's not true to FR canon. I'm not quite sure where you have your info from, but Dambrath is not in the underdark: while T'lindhet, the drow city which in theory dominates the Dambrai nobility, is in the underdark, Dambrath proper is an entire country on the surface. Therefore, I would suggest dropping the light blindness unless you particularly intend your character's lineage to be connected more closely to the drow overlords - the Crinti have long ruled Dambrath openly, and are fairly accustomed to sunlight. Also, I would suggest giving a bonus to intimidate rather than gather information, and EWP whip rather than spiked chain. The half-drow tend to stick out like a sore thumb in both human and drow communities, and are not particularly liked either - but their drow legacy and the dislike of others to which they are accustomed have honed their talents to inspire fear where they can't inspire respect. Also, both the cult of Loviatar, which is paramount in Dambrath, and the long-standing horsemanship tradition of Dambrath have made whips and similar weapons (dagger-whips and scourges) popular among the half-drow nobility. Should that stop you from running your version of the Crinti as it is? No. Still, it may help if you want to be as precise as possible. Sources: Player's Guide to Faerun, Shining South
hellgrammite00 03-22-08, 02:35 PM	Gather information -> Intimidate is a great idea. You are right about Dambrath. My character will be primary in the underdark though (and have lived). Perhaps I could have had him raised in T'lindhet (for sure underdark). If I keep the darkvision and remove light blindness....is there another way to balance this out? Having dark vision without a negative may be too powerful, and my DM would suggest a LA +1. -I like your suggestion about whips. Scourges and spiked chains I have come across on my reading. (less slave culture than Drow, and seem to enjoy bladed weapons like crazy) ...also how close is Dambrath to the underdark....I mean how close/easy is it to access say T'lindhet from Dambrath (cave system, pits,ect.) Is it reasonable for a half-drow to grow up in T'lindhet. Are they alittle more liberal than say the larger drow cities? I know T'lindhet and Dambrath have close relations, and at least in Dambrath ruling families to be half-dro is not at all unusual. edit I did read their is a major road leading down from the surface to T'lindhet. thanks
The_Shaman 03-22-08, 02:50 PM	Hmm, given what dwarves can do I doubt darkvision 60 is all that great, but ok ;) . I suppose it's possible among half-drow with more drow blood, although it would probably be viewed as a disability among their kind. Anyway, as you suspected. T'lindhet is quite liberal for a drow settlement. Hell, they ceded direct ownership of Dambrath to priestesses of a deity other than Lloth - most of them half-elven at that - which is something most drow would not even consider. If I remember correctly, they used to take more direct interest in the government of the land in the first few decades, but they have been more than happy to let the half-breeds govern the sunlit lands as long as trade flourishes and, I guess, a bit of tribute is paid (though the books only mention the importance of trade to the T'lindei). In general, they view the half-drow as second-class citizens at best, but tolerate them for their obvious use. Other drow would scoff at them as pampered, money-loving merchants - but while trade and affluence might have blunted some of their edge, they are still drow, so don't be expecting them to be too soft. It's not far-fetched to presume that there may be a number of half-drow or even an entire quarter for them in the city. There certainly exists a small market village where the drow - and half-drow, one could presume - merchants ply their trade, and it is possible that most half-drow live nearby. I would, however, presume that the number of half-drow in T'lindhet itself isn't very big - they have little to gain by living alongside the drow as near slaves when their blood makes them masters in the world above.
hellgrammite00 03-22-08, 02:55 PM	Thanks alot Shaman. I just pulled up the Shining South book, and it is a great help. Much more clear now. Hopefully I can use some of this in the Drow of the underdark campaign.
The_Shaman 03-22-08, 04:49 PM	Good luck, I hope it works out for you. Let me know if I can give you a hand, I've had some interest in Dambrath.