Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 omniblackchaos May 27, 2009 11:48:31	I am trying to make a lvl 1 drow wizard build. The big problem with playing any drow is that little +2 LA. So what I wanted to do was use the racial table from Drow of the Underdark but I cant really figure it out. So any help on this would be great. Also this is for 3.5e not 4e. I am kinda new to DnD but I prefer the 3.5e over 4e.
#2 1_ton_ghost May 27, 2009 13:45:47	Don't have DotU w/ me, but I can recommend Player's Guide to Faerun. Towards the back, there are a few pages concerning Lesser varieties of races w/ LA. Largely, they are the planetouched, duergar, and drow IIRC. The short of it, for drow, IIRC, is they lose the Spll Rst, Darkvision drops to 60ft, and I think they also lose the (Sp)'s. Ability mods, proficiencies, etc all stay the same
#3 omniblackchaos May 27, 2009 14:22:31	Here is the table from DotU. See if you guys get it because I dont. How would you work this into a PC.
#4 omniblackchaos May 28, 2009 1:32:34	Well I thought I would just break it up into 4 lvls. So this is what my 1st lvl will look like. Feel free to let me know if something is still out of place or if he is still considered a +?LA.
#5 yellowdingo May 28, 2009 8:17:53	Flavour: The Wizards spellbook is a scroll of Bone chopsticks from various powerful creatures. Each new spell is sewn onto the rest of tha scroll as a newlength of bone etched with magic runes.
#6 omniblackchaos May 28, 2009 10:13:25	Man that is totally sick Why didn't I think of that, I think thats in Complete Arcane.
#7 1_ton_ghost May 28, 2009 12:50:38	Flavour: The Wizards spellbook is a scroll of Bone chopsticks from various powerful creatures. Each new spell is sewn onto the rest of tha scroll as a newlength of bone etched with magic runes. Nice, impressive. Thematically, that's cool as Hell. Mechanically, apt too; not exactly a lot of paper mills in the Underdark that can make books feasible. Had a friend in '05 that was playing a Shaaryan (think Sarengheti, pseudo primitive) PC in FrgttnRlms. His tribal Wzd scribed his spell book on lion, zebra, and other assorted animal hides. We ran w/ that as "hmm, interesting" and upped the weight & bulkiness, but it worked in his favor. Couple attacks & fires (flashover @ a burning inn) would've burned up paper double quick. Not so w/ the tanned and treated hide. Worked like a charm.
#8 omniblackchaos May 28, 2009 14:53:38	I would like to give my drow wizard a House Insignia but it would have to be a low lvl one sense no 1st lvl is going to have anything to good lol. Any suggestions on that? Also a little hazy on familiars. I mean are they worth having around or would they get in the way. Also what type of familiar is worth having. Any help on that would be great too.
#9 1_ton_ghost May 29, 2009 9:35:43	I would like to give my drow wizard a House Insignia but it would have to be a low lvl one sense no 1st lvl is going to have anything to good lol. Any suggestions on that? Yeah, WBL @ 1st is kinda' particular about magic anything. Realistically, there might be a few drow magi w/ them (@ 1st) given their really high turnover rate, drow that is. Worst enemy of a drow is another drow, particularly males of the arcane variety. Ownership as "possession" etc. Some DMs might throw you a bone given the racial handicap you'll be faced w/ when traveling upon the surface in allegedly "civilized" lands. Who knows. Many house insignias in Magic of Faerun and Races of Faerun. (Sp) suggested? Go for something not on your spell list that you can use. Might as well per practicality/utility. Usually, low lvl powers, etc. Underdark campaign? A combat utility probably; something to foster cover/concealment perhaps. Also a little hazy on familiars. I mean are they worth having around or would they get in the way. Also what type of familiar is worth having. Any help on that would be great too. Normally, the liability entailed scares the Hell out of me if they get zapped (XP loss and magi are not friends...). You need a feat just for them to take cover on your person/hide, etc. You can sub out Summon Familiar in a number of Dragon mag issues I saw from '07, Complete Mage, and PHB II I believe. However, creative familiar use can be incredibly important. I've seen many villains w/ nearly certain escapes get zeroed by a hawk familiar on overwatch and caught for one. Rats in urban areas/dungeons/etc make good scouts too, etc. All situational. Anticipate what you think the DM will throw @ you. -For your purposes, especially given the Constitution hit per race and Poor Fort Save by class, a Rat is nice given the +2 Fort. Rat is generally accepted in most climates as normal and may not necessarilly betray your presence or give you away as a magi (btw, Disguise your class/race as often as you can; if you're viewed as 'x', you'll be attacked as 'x', not 'y'). Rat might help that. If you look like an elf Ftr for example, your Will may be targeted accidentally, you're strong suit as a magi. -Bat is nice, especially in the Underdark & dungeons for sensory abilities, stealth. Not so great upstairs on a sunny day. -If you want to use a familiar for delivering touch attacks, I suggest a fast one, preferably an avian for defense purposes. In that same vein, Ravens, w/ the speak language bonus, can be incredibly handy for scouting, messaging, etc.
#10 omniblackchaos May 29, 2009 11:19:40	Well I reconsidered my 1st lvl feat when I thought about it. Daylight adaptation makes more sense really. As for a familiars I think I will go with the rat. After all rats are great at escaping and getting into places. No one really pays attention to a rat. Well I think my guy is game ready or does anyone have anything more to add that I may have missed?