Well, there goes the "Drizzt Clone" theory...

[Welverin]

I CAN say that circa 1985, Drow PC's were using 2-weapon fighting style, and Drizzt appeared on the literary scene after this point. However, where R.A. Salvatore got his spark from, I don't know - has anyone ever asked him where in his imagination Drizzt came from - or did someone at TSR say, "I want you to write a novel about a Drow Ranger?"

From this interview: "What was the first reaction from your publishers when you proposed a Drow Elf Ranger character?

Stunned silence. Which was pretty much my reaction when I thought about what I had just said. Drizzt was a spur of the moment thing. I was put on the spot for a new sidekick for Wulfgar (who was supposed to be the star), because we had reset the novel away from the Moonshaes, but as I already told you, Daryth and Canthus were in the sample chapter I had submitted to get the assignment. So my editor calls in frenzy, heading to a marketing meeting and needing a new sidekick. I was at work as a financial specialist at the time, with a desk covered in papers, and put on the spot, the idea of Drizzt, and the name, just popped into my head. Very strange."

As you can see it just sort of popped out.

 

[Storm Raven]

From this interview: "What was the first reaction from your publishers when you proposed a Drow Elf Ranger character?

Stunned silence. Which was pretty much my reaction when I thought about what I had just said. Drizzt was a spur of the moment thing. I was put on the spot for a new sidekick for Wulfgar (who was supposed to be the star), because we had reset the novel away from the Moonshaes, but as I already told you, Daryth and Canthus were in the sample chapter I had submitted to get the assignment. So my editor calls in frenzy, heading to a marketing meeting and needing a new sidekick. I was at work as a financial specialist at the time, with a desk covered in papers, and put on the spot, the idea of Drizzt, and the name, just popped into my head. Very strange."

As you can see it just sort of popped out.

The thing is, I can't figure out why there would be stunned silence, especially since Drow Rangers had been legal since UA had come out (the Ranger class was officially open to all subraces of elves by the UA rules). It wasn't like he was proposing a race and class combination that was prohibited at that time.

 

[Storm Raven]

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't Drizzt a half-drow? If this is true, then he might not have access to the Drow natural ambidexterity, just as a half-elf does not gain the elven +1 with bow and sword (under 1st/2nd edition). This may lead to the conclusion, like it or not, that Drizzt's two weapon ability was derived from his ranger class.

Given that Drizzt was originall created in the 1e era, and in the 1e rules Ranegrs had no special ability to fight with two weapons, I find it hard to connect his two weapon fighting with being a Ranger.

Since 1e Drow could fight with two weapons, I find it easy to connect Drizzt's two weapon fighting to his being Drow.

 

[Davelozzi]

The thing is, I can't figure out why there would be stunned silence, especially since Drow Rangers had been legal since UA had come out (the Ranger class was officially open to all subraces of elves by the UA rules). It wasn't like he was proposing a race and class combination that was prohibited at that time.

Well they weren't technically prohibited, it was a very unusual choice. Rangers at the time were required to be good and were generally thought of only as surface dwellers (IIRC it was not until the 2e splatbooks that the idea of underground rangers and druids was proposed). Surface dwelling drow were pretty much unknown at the time as well, as were good aligned drow. This was before Elistrae and well before the Forests or Cormanthyr and Mir were filled with drow. It didn't have to be prohibited because it the circumstances made it close to impossible anyway.

 

[Squire James]

So what you're saying is, nothing can convince you short of notorized TSR designer's notes circa 1988?

If I were presented overwhelming evidence, I'd have to believe it, but it isn't a life-or-death question for me, so I will drop it.

I CAN say that circa 1985, Drow PC's were using 2-weapon fighting style, and Drizzt appeared on the literary scene after this point. However, where R.A. Salvatore got his spark from, I don;t know - has anyone ever asked him where in his imagination Drizzt came from - or did someone at TSR say, "I want you to write a novel about a Drow Ranger?"

Yeah, I'm pretty stubborn. I hardly consider a secondhand "Monte says..." post to be "overwhelming evidence". Especially since Monte is perfectly capable of doing an "I say..." post here or on his own webpage if he thought enough of the issue to actually do research on it!

Actually, I feel the "Drizzt clone" hypothesis weakening a bit, to the point that I no longer think Drizzt was the main motivation for shoving the Drow TWF ability over to Rangers. However, I also think the presented evidence is not enough to remove my belief that it was a major factor (Drizzt = sales = T$R must include in next game).

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't Drizzt a half-drow? If this is true, then he might not have access to the Drow natural ambidexterity, just as a half-elf does not gain the elven +1 with bow and sword (under 1st/2nd edition). This may lead to the conclusion, like it or not, that Drizzt's two weapon ability was derived from his ranger class.

You are reverse engineering based on incorrect assumptions. There were no rules regarding ambidexterity in 1e.

 

[Codragon]

Why Drizzt? Why Drow?

I am a bit tired of references to Drow and Drizzt when someone resurrects the "ranger debate".

Some things to consider:

* Drow aren't listed in the 3E Core Rules

* Rangers gravitate towards forests, drow are from the underground. Therefore, drow rangers, at best, should be extremely rare.

* Not everyone has read Salvatore's books.

* Not everyone games in the FR, where Drizzt lives.

 

[Tsyr]

Um.

Where do you get the idea that drow aren't in the core rules?

They aren't in the PHB to my knowledge, but they are in both the DMG and the MM.

And I fail to see what your last three points really have to do with the debate at hand.

 

[Tom Cashel]

Some Rangers need to realize that the ability to Rage is not available for their class...they must curb their tempers...