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

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."

 

[Dire Bare]

. . . or a world where people are terrified of gnomes because of their beady little eyes and how they chitter in the darkness.

Well thanks, now I'm having nightmares tonight!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

So which setting would you prefer to be the default setting for D&D going forward?

Thunder Rift, baby! Let's detail the heck out of that tiny little region! Harn will look like a light sketch in comparison once we're done!

 

[Scribe]

I don't know why so many people hate on them.

Because they were snapped into existence.

 

[Remathilis]

Thunder Rift, baby! Let's detail the heck out of that tiny little region! Harn will look like a light sketch in comparison once we're done!

That's where I started my DMing, so you're pulling at my heart strings here.

 

[Chaltab]

Because they were snapped into existence.

Bro it's fiction, none of it exists. The drow (as depicted in D&D) were snapped into existence too.

 

[Scribe]

Bro it's fiction, none of it exists. The drow (as depicted in D&D) were snapped into existence too.

I am not saying you have to care about the canon.

 

[KentHusker]

I've already got my variation fleshed out other than what CR to make them.

I wanted the Drow in my campaign to be more fearsome like their GDQ debute.
So I gave them advantage on saves vs spells

And gave them blindsight 30' which while not part of their original package, something I like using with them. It really makes their innate Darkness spells a lot more scary when they can wade right in without any penalty.

And I went back to a 5th edition variation of all their old equipment, cloaks, boots, adamantine armor/weapons... and that they loose their properties out of the Underdark. That was the way they dealt with having so many items for them rather than have players hauling out truck loads of Drow gear..

Hardest part I've found is trying to decide what CR to make them with those changes. No wipes or permanent deaths yet, but they've been mostly facing lower level groups so it is hard to gauge if I have them were they need to be.

While not fully as hard to face as their original version, it is a big step in the direction I wanted them. Running GDQ again, the players have started to dread the common tactic I use where because often the Drow have surprised them, either way they immediately open with Sleep bolts, spells, and several using their Darkness, and then their front line just closing in and attacking in the darkness. Generally just causes chaos with the players.

The only challenge as a DM besides giving them a CR rating is figuring out how to mark the board in the darkness spells for those that can't see in them. I'm messing around with large marker rings that surround the player and 1 square around them Each ring represents an enemy. They'd know there is someone there but not exactly where. Makes them choosing where they maneuver more challenging and interesting.

We'll see, but if their published Drow is anything like what we already have, they are still just too neutered and no where near as scary as they were.

 

[Shardstone]

Because they were snapped into existence.

And??? People make new ideas and add them to the IP. We can justify them in a thousand ways. It doesn't matter if they were always there, and settings should be allowed to change and add cool new ideas. If the only problem with these badass Auroral Ice Drow is that they weren't thought up 50 years ago, then there isn't a real problem here. If the ideas aren't bad, let's not naughty word on them.

 

[Scribe]

And??? People make new ideas and add them to the IP. We can justify them in a thousand ways. It doesn't matter if they were always there, and settings should be allowed to change and add cool new ideas. If the only problem with these badass Auroral Ice Drow is that they weren't thought up 50 years ago, then there isn't a real problem here. If the ideas aren't bad, let's not naughty word on them.

And people found it contrived. You asked why people hate on the idea, and you've gotten an answer.

I think the ideas are bad, the execution as it was, was bad, and thats all there is to it. You dont have to like the answer, and I dont have to like the 'no totally Drow can also be good, see!' Drow.

 

[Zaukrie]

There is logic to this, though I'd prefer them in a MM 2 type book. 4e did this really well