Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dougf1971 Oct 03, 2015 19:47:11	What's the deal with drow arms and armor?  In earlier editions they were dripping with magical equipment.  In this edition (the only one that matters), the drow entry in the MM states the drow,"craft weapons made of adamantine, a dark and supernaturally hard metal."  But the stat blocks indicate mundane chain shirts, scale mail, or studded leather.  Then the DMG comes along and says adamantine armor turns any critical hit into a normal hit.   *SPOILER BELOW*       So is every drow considered to be armed and equipped with adamantite arms and armor, or only if that is specifically mentioned?  This has some impact in the Out of the Abyss campaign, as the drow figure prominently in that right from the beginning.  The PC's could potentially find themselves outfitted in magical adamantine armor and bearing adamantine shortswords before they even escape Velkenvelve, which seems contrary to the spirit of the adventure.
#2 Grazel Oct 05, 2015 18:39:39	Keep in mind also from the note about drow equipment in OotA that an hour exposed to sunlight will destroy the equipment, so unless the party become fully nocturnal they'd lose that nice arms and armor very soon. Also adamantine is rare so common drow soldiers aren't likely to have it. Drow may craft with it (and other materials) but it doesn't mean ALL their gear is made using it. Just look at Tolkein, mithril chainshirts weren't common even amongst elves and dwarves but it was something they were known for being able to make.   Adamantine isn't technically magical despite being listed in the magic items section. It likely doesn't have a magical aura but instead is where they felt like putting in a masterwork/unusual material item entry in 5e (where 4e they just had tables for various materials). Reducing a critical hit to a normal one is useful but not overly powerful as most creatures aren't going to get many criticals against a PC.