Reincarnation

[Kalendraf]

I highly recommend sticking with the 3.5 race list. If the DM feels the need to edit this, then they should only allow ECL+0 type humanoids. Drow is not among the choices possible in 3.5.

The original 3e list was a mess, allowing characters to come back as many things that either had balance problems (see Centaur example above) or were nearly unplayable (bird, other animals, etc). We had a couple characters opt for reincarnate back in a 3e campaign, and both of them ended up retiring soon afterwards. Even the current choices in 3.5 can mess up a character somewhat, but at least it's not as bad as it used to be.

 

[ARandomGod]

Consider making it a 6th level drow rogue, and deducting a further 3000xp after the level loss for raising - you should still be 6th level (iirc - possibly with a bit of a deficit) and play on from there.

Use the arcana rules for buying off ECL adjustments... and make it a sixth level character with only one of those levels being ECL.

Which I think will result in a nice compromise. The character would still only be 5th level with one level of ECL adjustment, but would be a drow... and would be able to buy off the additional +1 ECL after reaching ninth level.