Evil Drow Statblocks to Return in Forgotten Realms Rulebooks Later This Year

drow matron.jpg


Drow-specific NPC statblocks will be included in the upcoming Forgotten Realms Adventurer's Guide set for release later this year. Over the past several weeks, much hullabaloo has been made over the Monster Manual, specifically that the D&D design team replaced specific drow and orc statblocks with generic NPC statblocks that can be used for any kind of humanoids. In a video released today, D&D lead designer Jeremy Crawford confirmed that more specific statblocks tied to specific humanoid sects or characters would return in future rulebooks, with evil drow given as an example.

"Also for anyone who's eager to see more species-tailored humanoid statblocks, people are going to see more of that in our setting books," Crawford said. "You're going to see that in our Forgotten Realms products, for example. The malevolent drow of Menzoberranzan are an important part of that setting and so they get their own statblocks. This is really true of all the creatures in the Monster Manual. This is your massive starting toy box of monsters that are usable anywhere in the multiverse. The bestiaries in our setting products, that's where we can provide you versions of things tailored to the cultures and histories of our different worlds."

 

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Christian Hoffer

Christian Hoffer

Will they also have the super awesome and so much better Ice Drow who are more powerful and beautiful and special than the evil Underground Drow?

I see it as a 100% chance that if they show you Evil Drow, they will also show you Good Drow, just to be sure nobody has the Wrong Think idea that all Drow are Evil and its a complete straightjacket that must NEVER be changed by a DM.
 

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It makes sense to me that cultural specific tendencies (even if it's primarily for a specific species) belongs to setting specific books. I have my own lore for drow which outside of some superficial things is likely completely different from the lore for drow in every other campaign even if I've borrowed ideas from other books.

I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see a few higher level evil orcs as well. Because after all, this thread is really about orcs, right? Right? :unsure:
 

Will they also have the super awesome and so much better Ice Drow who are more powerful and beautiful and special than the evil Underground Drow?
Let me guess, you didn't read the novel trilogy featuring the aevendrow, or starlight elves, right?

I mean, that's okay if you didn't. Salvatore's Dark Elf novels aren't for everyone.

But you mocking that of which you know nothing is tiresome.
 





Just wait a page or two. If it isn't yet, it will be. We'll also probably start re-litigating "race", "phylactery", maybe even gender-based ability restrictions . . .

Have you seen the other thread? It's wild.

I've given up reading ... well a lot of threads.

But on topic I do think it will be interesting to see what they come up with, especially if they start branching into other worlds and attempt to make them truly unique. We've had cannibal halfling dino riders, maybe it's time for authoritarian dwarves that rule with an iron fist or a world where people are terrified of gnomes because of their beady little eyes and how they chitter in the darkness. ;)
 



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