I've been looking through my numerous books (starting with the epic level handbook) in search of a "Brew Epic Potion" feat that allows for a potion of a higher spell level, yet I can't seem to find any such feat. Was this just an artistic license by the author?
If I recall correctly, the potion was actually a thought bottle (Complete Arcane pg. 150) with artistic license added to it.
Well, tickle my fiddle. Thanks!
Think of it as a set of personal 'Replacement Levels' hand-tailored by Mielikki for Drizzt, and it all works out.
What he IS adverse to is destabilizing Drow Culture for any long length of time, and more specifically, Menzoberranzan. He does NOT act against Vhaeruan worshippers (in fact, IIRC, he even goes so far as to help hide their activities from the Matriarchy).
What that means is he is biding his time, and although he would love to see males become at least equal to females in drow society, he understands that this will probably not happen in his lifetime, nor come about easilly without leaviing the Drow weak and vulnerable for a time.
Gromph is that rarity among Drow - he is a DEEP thinker, and considers the long-range ramifications of all his actions, and what that would mean to other Drow. The very fact that he puts Drow civilization before his own personal desires shows his true character... and character is something sorely lacking in most Drow.
I could see him and Elminster being good friends.
I always assumed that Gromph could have pretty much whatever magical goodies he wanted.
-His write-up probably says something akin to that. With plenty of higher-level magicians, as well as political types, it says that they have access to pretty much whatever they want.
I was mulling through my memory of Forgotten Realms as I usually do when I find myself lacking in inspiration when I remembered a scene from the War of the Spider Queen where Gromph Baenre drinks a potion of time stop to defeat a power-hungry illithid. It was at this point where my thoughts came to an abrupt halt as I remembered something: the feat Brew Potion only allows you to create a potion with a spell of 3rd level or lower. Yet, time stop is a ninth level spell.
I've been looking through my numerous books (starting with the epic level handbook) in search of a "Brew Epic Potion" feat that allows for a potion of a higher spell level, yet I can't seem to find any such feat. Was this just an artistic license by the author?
The Master Alchemist in Magic of Faerun can brew ninth-level potions.
The Master Alchemist in Magic of Faerun can brew ninth-level potions.
Nice. The Thought Bottle explanation fits just as well, but this is an interesting mention. Incidentally, I don't have Magic of Faerun... is it 2E or 3E?
-Yes, and according to the rules, that's a no go. Third edition, anyway. Same thing with Levitate.
According to the 2E rules I believe you are correct. In 3E, however, they have the ability to conjure darkness and faerie fire, most likely influenced by R.A. Salvatore's writings. The levitation he initially describes as partially a racial power, but augmented by House emblems. As the drow were more extensively written about, however, it was re-written to simply be something their magic items conferred on them.
-His write-up probably says something akin to that. With plenty of higher-level magicians, as well as political types, it says that they have access to pretty much whatever they want.
Which also goes for priestesses, of course. While your everyday adventurer - NPC or opponent will go by the usual DMG rules with regards to equipment, certain groups could well get their hands at special or better stuff. Be that a castle guard while on watch, a drow house's tasks force (i.e. surface patrol), an aeon old lich living in a ruined city full of old treasures or the archmage of a drow city. The DM just need to keep the balance.
As for that potion ... artistic license. Then again, I have no problems with high-level potions, tiles, runestone et al, if the "maths" are fine.
I could see him and Elminster being good friends.
lol, even though he doesn't like Lolth or her priestress doesn't mean he is good. Gromph is absolutly evil too and he does everything what helps him. The fact that he doesn't want to destabilize menzoberancan is because it wouldn't help him and he would lose much of his power.
lol, even though he doesn't like Lolth or her priestress doesn't mean he is good. Gromph is absolutly evil too and he does everything what helps him. The fact that he doesn't want to destabilize menzoberancan is because it wouldn't help him and he would lose much of his power.
_Jarlaxle_ is correct. Gromph is like the textual Jarlaxle, creating chaos in small doses to control the outcome and emerge all the more powerful. His targets are always what he can afford to lose if the cards don't fall correctly. During the War of the Spider Queen there were too many variables when he was deciding whether or not to work with Dyrr. The stakes were too high for him to chance anything. Besides, if Dyrr's rebellion failed, Gromph's position is quite comfortable, in spite of the glass ceiling. He's the most powerful male in Menzoberranzan, with influence over Sorcere as well as many lesser houses of the city.
Both Elminster and Gromph are pragmatic and deep thinkers, but Gromph's end goal is himself, whereas Elminster's is the greater good. They may be able to cooperate on certain issues, but it would end in Gromph launching a carefully-planned surprise attack to remove Elminster from the surface's defense so that when his designs begin to include the surface he will have one less powerful enemy to subvert.
But surely he's smart enough to see that the chaotic ways of his people are not conducive to much beyond stagnation or a slow death, especially given their evil tendencies. I can see him making alliances (true friendship, I imagine, would not come easily to a drow) with people such as Elminster, even if only to give himself an escape should things "down under" go bad.
Yes. In WotSQ that's what he does. He see's that some of his more ambtious plans would most likely destroy the better part of menzo even if he would then take control of the crippled left overs. He waits till after the two armies are off his door steps. Too bad he then finds himself in a stuggle with an equally powered if not more so lich sorcceror. Darn the luck.
And I always found that the most unrealistic thing was him rolling around in that tiny ball from which he was imprisoned. That was ridiculas, even providing the author some leway. Don't get me wrong, I loved the gromph interludes and I still skim through the books to find them and reread everyonce and awhile. But then again I just enjoy gromphs atributes.
Btw, how do you think can the 4e Drow make up for their lose of the Int-Attribute bonus they had before? I dont see how I can make a Drow Wizard, worthwhile playing. I guess I have to stick to the upcoming Sorcerer class to create drow caster. The dark pact warlock just isnt my cub of tea.
Does anyone here remember "jalynfein", the "Spidermage"?
-Yes. What about him?
-Yes. What about him?
Well, this guy seems to really have the overview. And he isnt "evil". Quite interessting figure.
Gromph seems to get around with power that isn't too overwhelming so he still struggles with enemies and he almost never has that crippling concious effect. He always has an established line of order. What really takes president in his life. 1) himself; like any good (good as in normal, evil, self serving) drow. 2) His house; out of respect for his last name and postion. Another selfserving drow aspect. 3) His city; Menzo is his pride&joy as his is it's archmage. On principle and a sense of selfworth he must see to it's protection and further it's prosperity.
Sorrry for all the horrible spelling; or really misspelling.
I guess the real excitment of the Drow theme is that actually every element is just the opposite of what it would be in elven society. If you look at the Elfs everything is great, but in Drow society you just have one consence. They whine. Yes, Drows are whiners. They cry about anything in the world. About the bad things that made them bad too. About the good things which are unreachable for them. Just anything. Thats why its so much fun to behold any indivdual Drow who manages to flourish and rise above the collective agony in a self-determined way. Thats why the Elfs needed the Crown Wars, to get some contrast to the idle brightness of an elven life.
I do recall the Spider Mage, and I had set him up as the head of a cabal of mages who were working on a very long term plan to oust the priestesses from power. Agents of this cabal differed from the typical drow in that they tended to think more about the organization's goals than of themselves or their path to power. It was sort of a prerequisite before being approached by the group. It gave me an excuse to play some drow as atypical without heading in Drizzt's direction. In my game, Gromph had been recruited by the cabal before he was made the Archmage. Some think it was his mother's considerable influence that got him in, but it was political wrangling by the group to get one of their own into the coveted spot.