Not sure where else to put this, Drow of the Underdark question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Not sure where else to put this, Drow of the Underdark question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
AkumaDaimyo
05-13-07, 09:57 PM Why does the drow racial class as presented in drow of the Underdark take 4 levels to get all the drow abilities? A drow is a ECL +2 race. At most it should take 3 levels, not 4. I belive there is already a drow racial class somewhere else that takes only 3 levels.

Also, with the feat in the book that allows you to use poison with no chance of poisoning yourself AND being able to do it as a move equivalent action that does not provoke a attack of opportunity AND has NO requirement to take, doesn't that detract from some PrC such as assassin?
Artifact
05-14-07, 12:47 AM I'm asking myself the same questions. The drow "monster class" looks solid enough but consider this: You get drow abilities within 4 levels (great!) but why make it a 20-level build? Very odd (not bad), just odd.

Wasn't it established in Savage Species that a monster class had levels equal to the monster's ECL, or am I mistaken? Along witht the OP, I'm really curious about what others think. [Edit] I don't own Drow of the Underark but this caught my eye while browsing.

Sean K. Reynold's developed a 2-level drow monster class in the "Savage Progressions" articles presented on the D&D website. If I ever want to play a drow at 1st level, I think I'll use these rules. They just seem more "elegant" somehow.
AkumaDaimyo
05-14-07, 01:00 AM Hmm I think your right. A monster class is supposed to have levels equal to the ECL isnt it? So you basically buy your ECL with levels. A drow is ECL +2, not 4. On top of which I think some of the abilities a drow got at some of those later levels were abilities a normal elf already has like the sleep immunity?

And that one feat is pretty overpowerd. It gives you what a PrC can do AND it is actually better than the PrC ability, plus it has no pre-req at all. You don't even need to be a drow. Sure it's not death attack but it's still nice.
Joesph_kurr
05-14-07, 12:55 PM I just lump they monster class into there standard class progression so at class LV. x they get ability y. works better for some races then others but hey it works for me.
Morwen
05-14-07, 01:48 PM I don't have the book yet, but the description of a 20-level racial class makes me think of Complete Psionic. In that book, the racial classes had regular class levels mixed in with the racial hit dice and level adjustment. Is that the case also in the Drow of the Underdark book? That would explain why it would take 4 levels to get all the drow abilities (if 2 class levels are also part of the 4-level mix).
BugHunter
05-14-07, 08:14 PM Yes it has 2 class levels mixed in with the racial levels. So at racial level 4, you would have all of the drow abilities for the LA +2 and 2 class levels.
AkumaDaimyo
05-16-07, 10:39 PM It still doesnt make much sense to me but I like the book. Very informative and gives some info the other books on drow didnt give. However I was hoping for more info on Vhareun, Seveltarm, Eilistraee and other gods of the drow. Also info on playing non-evil drow who aren't Drizzt clones would have been nice too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
AkumaDaimyo 05-13-07, 09:57 PM	Why does the drow racial class as presented in drow of the Underdark take 4 levels to get all the drow abilities? A drow is a ECL +2 race. At most it should take 3 levels, not 4. I belive there is already a drow racial class somewhere else that takes only 3 levels. Also, with the feat in the book that allows you to use poison with no chance of poisoning yourself AND being able to do it as a move equivalent action that does not provoke a attack of opportunity AND has NO requirement to take, doesn't that detract from some PrC such as assassin?
Artifact 05-14-07, 12:47 AM	I'm asking myself the same questions. The drow "monster class" looks solid enough but consider this: You get drow abilities within 4 levels (great!) but why make it a 20-level build? Very odd (not bad), just odd. Wasn't it established in Savage Species that a monster class had levels equal to the monster's ECL, or am I mistaken? Along witht the OP, I'm really curious about what others think. [Edit] I don't own Drow of the Underark but this caught my eye while browsing. Sean K. Reynold's developed a 2-level drow monster class in the "Savage Progressions" articles presented on the D&D website. If I ever want to play a drow at 1st level, I think I'll use these rules. They just seem more "elegant" somehow.
AkumaDaimyo 05-14-07, 01:00 AM	Hmm I think your right. A monster class is supposed to have levels equal to the ECL isnt it? So you basically buy your ECL with levels. A drow is ECL +2, not 4. On top of which I think some of the abilities a drow got at some of those later levels were abilities a normal elf already has like the sleep immunity? And that one feat is pretty overpowerd. It gives you what a PrC can do AND it is actually better than the PrC ability, plus it has no pre-req at all. You don't even need to be a drow. Sure it's not death attack but it's still nice.
Joesph_kurr 05-14-07, 12:55 PM	I just lump they monster class into there standard class progression so at class LV. x they get ability y. works better for some races then others but hey it works for me.
Morwen 05-14-07, 01:48 PM	I don't have the book yet, but the description of a 20-level racial class makes me think of Complete Psionic. In that book, the racial classes had regular class levels mixed in with the racial hit dice and level adjustment. Is that the case also in the Drow of the Underdark book? That would explain why it would take 4 levels to get all the drow abilities (if 2 class levels are also part of the 4-level mix).
BugHunter 05-14-07, 08:14 PM	Yes it has 2 class levels mixed in with the racial levels. So at racial level 4, you would have all of the drow abilities for the LA +2 and 2 class levels.
AkumaDaimyo 05-16-07, 10:39 PM	It still doesnt make much sense to me but I like the book. Very informative and gives some info the other books on drow didnt give. However I was hoping for more info on Vhareun, Seveltarm, Eilistraee and other gods of the drow. Also info on playing non-evil drow who aren't Drizzt clones would have been nice too.