Drow PC Traits - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Drow PC Traits

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
firimar_elerrino
Jun 03, 2008 3:07:14 I've reworked the drow elf racial traits for one of my players to use, where the primary goal was the eliminate the LA and create a flavor more akin to the setting. Comments, criticism and tips for improvement are appreciated.

Xen'drik Drow (These traits replace the high elf racial traits)

+2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma: Drow are quick and agile, but their highly possessive and territorial nature combined with an often strange and exotic appearance lend poorly toward social graces.

Medium: As medium creatures, Drow have no special bonuses or penalties due to size.

Drow base land speed is 30 feet.

Low-light vision: A drow can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. He retains the ability to distinguish colour and detail under these conditions.

Weapon Proficiency: A Drow is automatically proficient with the Xen'drik boomerang and Drow long knives. All Drow are trained in the use of these weapons at a young age for hunting prey and use in raids against other Drow communities.

+1 racial bonus on attack rolls made with the Xen'drik boomerang and Drow long knife: These weapons are use by virtually all drow throughout their lives; they have developed exceptional potency and aim.

+2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, increased to +3 if the poison is that of a scorpion. Ritual tattooing through the use of scorpid stingers to scar the flesh is an integral aspect of Drow society, lending resilience against toxins.

+1 racial bonus on attack rolls against monsters of the giant type (such as ogres, trolls, and hill giants): This bonus represents the training undergone by Drow in the use of special techniques to more effectively battle their former masters.

Automatic Languages: Common and Drow. Bonus languages: Giant, Elven, Draconic.

(I wanted Drow and Giant for automatic languages, with common as a bonus, but I thought it would potentially cause more trouble than it's worth if we run into a poor intelligence score.)
#2
dread_lord
Jun 03, 2008 3:50:01 I like it and I might run off with it.
#3
Alas
Jun 03, 2008 8:19:36
Weapon Proficiency: A Drow is automatically proficient with the Xen'drik boomerang. All Drow are trained in the use of this weapon at a young age for hunting prey and use in raids against other Drow communities.

How about the drow long knives mentioned in the Explorer's Handbook or Secrets of Xen'drik? (I can't remember which book had them.)
#4
firimar_elerrino
Jun 03, 2008 10:34:34
How about the drow long knives mentioned in the Explorer's Handbook or Secrets of Xen'drik? (I can't remember which book had them.)

I don't have either of those supplements, but I'll certainly take a look at that.
#5
Edymnion
Jun 04, 2008 17:26:04 Honestly, I would simplify it even more to stick with the "an elf is an elf is an elf" thing we have in Eberron. I'd just use normal elf stats, and exchange the sword/bow proficiencies and the like with xen'drik weapons.
#6
dsivis
Jun 05, 2008 17:24:54
Honestly, I would simplify it even more to stick with the "an elf is an elf is an elf" thing we have in Eberron. I'd just use normal elf stats, and exchange the sword/bow proficiencies and the like with xen'drik weapons.

Another option would also be to replace Low-Light Vision with 60 feet of Darkvision and Light Sensitivity.

Something I'm considering doing in my game as well is to replace the Drow bonus to Listen & Spot checks with a bonus to Move Silently and Hide checks, given they were bred by giants for skulking and assassination.
#7
Alas
Jun 06, 2008 7:39:41
Honestly, I would simplify it even more to stick with the "an elf is an elf is an elf" thing we have in Eberron. I'd just use normal elf stats, and exchange the sword/bow proficiencies and the like with xen'drik weapons.

This approach works. Similarly, I have a half-drow NPC in my campaign (Stormreach "native," caught between two cultures, yadda yadda), for which I just use a regular half-elf equipped with drow toys. The exoticness is in the attitude and the presentation, not the stats.
#8
phantomdotexe
Jun 06, 2008 12:08:04 No, actually, I disagree. The elves all have distince flavors as far as story goes, if not their actual capabilities.

There's where the big issues lies for me - Drow in Eberron aren't Drow in any other campaign - there are a number of differences that make it difficult for them to be called 'just elves'.

The biggest thing for me is just how they feel - they evoke angry Peruvian natives more than an evil empire below the surface to me.

I don't want to sound racist, but there's a big difference between a tribal warrior in the depths of the jungle and a merchant from the city, even if they're in the same country.

So yes, I think that Drow racials are important, and this set is much easier to use than one with a +2 racial adjustment.
#9
firimar_elerrino
Jun 06, 2008 19:22:00
Honestly, I would simplify it even more to stick with the "an elf is an elf is an elf" thing we have in Eberron. I'd just use normal elf stats, and exchange the sword/bow proficiencies and the like with Xen'drik weapons.

That would be the simplest approach, it's true, but I'd like to embrace the idea that these are decidedly not members of the same race, with darker skin and different weapon and skill proficiencies influenced by culture. Rather, my idea suggests that, using elves as a model, the giants of Xen'drik engineered an entirely separate species with different, specific intent on how to use them.

I'd like to represent that a bit more in their statistics than I have, somehow, but I'm not quite certain how. What I have in the present iteration are mostly cultural traits, like the boomerang and long life, and even the bonuses against poisons and attack rolls against giants. The only real difference, physically, between the typical drow and a typical elf is the lack of a penalty to constitution, which I don't feel is sufficient enough for the distinct flavor I want to convey.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 firimar_elerrino Jun 03, 2008 3:07:14	I've reworked the drow elf racial traits for one of my players to use, where the primary goal was the eliminate the LA and create a flavor more akin to the setting. Comments, criticism and tips for improvement are appreciated. Xen'drik Drow (These traits replace the high elf racial traits) +2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma: Drow are quick and agile, but their highly possessive and territorial nature combined with an often strange and exotic appearance lend poorly toward social graces. Medium: As medium creatures, Drow have no special bonuses or penalties due to size. Drow base land speed is 30 feet. Low-light vision: A drow can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. He retains the ability to distinguish colour and detail under these conditions. Weapon Proficiency: A Drow is automatically proficient with the Xen'drik boomerang and Drow long knives. All Drow are trained in the use of these weapons at a young age for hunting prey and use in raids against other Drow communities. +1 racial bonus on attack rolls made with the Xen'drik boomerang and Drow long knife: These weapons are use by virtually all drow throughout their lives; they have developed exceptional potency and aim. +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, increased to +3 if the poison is that of a scorpion. Ritual tattooing through the use of scorpid stingers to scar the flesh is an integral aspect of Drow society, lending resilience against toxins. +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against monsters of the giant type (such as ogres, trolls, and hill giants): This bonus represents the training undergone by Drow in the use of special techniques to more effectively battle their former masters. Automatic Languages: Common and Drow. Bonus languages: Giant, Elven, Draconic. (I wanted Drow and Giant for automatic languages, with common as a bonus, but I thought it would potentially cause more trouble than it's worth if we run into a poor intelligence score.)
#2 dread_lord Jun 03, 2008 3:50:01	I like it and I might run off with it.
#3 Alas Jun 03, 2008 8:19:36	Weapon Proficiency: A Drow is automatically proficient with the Xen'drik boomerang. All Drow are trained in the use of this weapon at a young age for hunting prey and use in raids against other Drow communities. How about the drow long knives mentioned in the Explorer's Handbook or Secrets of Xen'drik? (I can't remember which book had them.)
#4 firimar_elerrino Jun 03, 2008 10:34:34	How about the drow long knives mentioned in the Explorer's Handbook or Secrets of Xen'drik? (I can't remember which book had them.) I don't have either of those supplements, but I'll certainly take a look at that.
#5 Edymnion Jun 04, 2008 17:26:04	Honestly, I would simplify it even more to stick with the "an elf is an elf is an elf" thing we have in Eberron. I'd just use normal elf stats, and exchange the sword/bow proficiencies and the like with xen'drik weapons.
#6 dsivis Jun 05, 2008 17:24:54	Honestly, I would simplify it even more to stick with the "an elf is an elf is an elf" thing we have in Eberron. I'd just use normal elf stats, and exchange the sword/bow proficiencies and the like with xen'drik weapons. Another option would also be to replace Low-Light Vision with 60 feet of Darkvision and Light Sensitivity. Something I'm considering doing in my game as well is to replace the Drow bonus to Listen & Spot checks with a bonus to Move Silently and Hide checks, given they were bred by giants for skulking and assassination.
#7 Alas Jun 06, 2008 7:39:41	Honestly, I would simplify it even more to stick with the "an elf is an elf is an elf" thing we have in Eberron. I'd just use normal elf stats, and exchange the sword/bow proficiencies and the like with xen'drik weapons. This approach works. Similarly, I have a half-drow NPC in my campaign (Stormreach "native," caught between two cultures, yadda yadda), for which I just use a regular half-elf equipped with drow toys. The exoticness is in the attitude and the presentation, not the stats.
#8 phantomdotexe Jun 06, 2008 12:08:04	No, actually, I disagree. The elves all have distince flavors as far as story goes, if not their actual capabilities. There's where the big issues lies for me - Drow in Eberron aren't Drow in any other campaign - there are a number of differences that make it difficult for them to be called 'just elves'. The biggest thing for me is just how they feel - they evoke angry Peruvian natives more than an evil empire below the surface to me. I don't want to sound racist, but there's a big difference between a tribal warrior in the depths of the jungle and a merchant from the city, even if they're in the same country. So yes, I think that Drow racials are important, and this set is much easier to use than one with a +2 racial adjustment.
#9 firimar_elerrino Jun 06, 2008 19:22:00	Honestly, I would simplify it even more to stick with the "an elf is an elf is an elf" thing we have in Eberron. I'd just use normal elf stats, and exchange the sword/bow proficiencies and the like with Xen'drik weapons. That would be the simplest approach, it's true, but I'd like to embrace the idea that these are decidedly not members of the same race, with darker skin and different weapon and skill proficiencies influenced by culture. Rather, my idea suggests that, using elves as a model, the giants of Xen'drik engineered an entirely separate species with different, specific intent on how to use them. I'd like to represent that a bit more in their statistics than I have, somehow, but I'm not quite certain how. What I have in the present iteration are mostly cultural traits, like the boomerang and long life, and even the bonuses against poisons and attack rolls against giants. The only real difference, physically, between the typical drow and a typical elf is the lack of a penalty to constitution, which I don't feel is sufficient enough for the distinct flavor I want to convey.