Are we sick of the Drow yet?

[Jolly Giant]

I went with "KInda".

Drow hasn't been a major feature in any of my campaigns until a couple of months ago, and since I'm not a FR-fan, I've never really had the chance to grow sick of them. On the other hand, the reason they've not been used much is that I never thought they were all that cool to begin with... :\

 

[Nightingale 7]

I voted the first option,but I feel I have to explain my choice.
First of all,I admit that I am massively enjoying the Drizzt novels,but I'm not a Drizz't "fanboy".I don't think he is the ultimate in cool heroes and I'm not trying to force a dual-scimitar wielding Ranger in every game I play.(Actually,I rarely play drow.That +2 LA is a bit stiff.)
It seems that most people have accumulated this drow-phobia mainly because of two prevailing archetypes:the Drizz't clone,or the I'm-so-evil drow rogue/assassin.
I admit those archetypes are annoying,but no more than the Elminster-clone,or the I'm-so-evil halfling rogue/assassin.
Would the people who despise drow be so openly against a drow cleric/sworddancer of Eilistraee?Or a Neutral drow Vhaerunite Rogue,looking out for number one?
What I'm getting at,is that every race,is as interesting,or as boring,as the GM or player that is bringing them to life.To me,the dark elves,seem to hold great potential as villains,since I've not yet used them in my campaign.
I agree,there is a lot drow related material around,but that doesn't mean that the drow are any more stilted and boring than regular elves,dwarves or halflings.

 

[teitan]

Why is this thread just now being created when it should have been 6-7 years old by now? LOL

Man, back when I was in high school Drow were cool and then TSR did Menzo and Drow of the Underdark (not in that order) and while both are cool, it was kind of the beginning of the end as with the novels etc. all focusing on the Drow the whole mystique seeped out of them by the time I was 17 or 18 because all my players knew them and the secrets of their society. I HATED the Drow until about a year ago...

I was running a game and my players were laughing at the stats of the Drow in the MM and after hearing how bad ass they were they kept laughing. These guys were fairly new and didn't read a lot of novels and such so I threw a party of Drow, CR1 critters mind you, at them when they were 5th level. They had their ASSES handed to them. All but the Cleric died and he only succeeded after I reminded him he had a light spell. Now they bow to the drow, especially my drow. My critters are nasty buggers anyway...

Jason

 

[demiurge1138]

I can still eke enjoyment out of the drow, although a part of me is sick of the Drizzt "good-drow" archetype. I think he works fine in the novels, but keep him off of my gaming table.

Also, I think it's high time to concentrate more on the other evil Underdark races. Aboleths? Illithids? Derro? But I can kind of understand why these species are underused. Which is easier to write (and sell)- alien horrors with minds and goals beyond our comprehension? or sexy leather-wearing backstabbers? Face it, drow sell.

Demiurge out.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

I think nearly anything can be made new, exciting, and interesting again if you apply a little bit of imagination to it.

If I can develop my initial ideas a little bit, I may well end up using dark elves in my upcoming campaign - but they won't be drow.

I like the idea of a cruel, dangerous society of scheming longlived bastards, but reading this thread gave me an idea; if I place them in my world, they will probably live in a single metropolis carved in a spiral pattern out of the side of a tall, frozen mountain peak.

Instead of the creepiness of spiders (or any other insect or arachnid associations), their harsh racial character will be reflected in an association with merciless cold. They might well even wear the "classic" skimpy clothing, as part of a masochistic complex.

Well, if I end up doing this I will, at least, have a use for Frostburn, which I had not expected.

 

[the Jester]

I prefer the Drow the way they were treated in pre-UA 1e- a super mysterious, super dangerous group of effete, corrupt, decadent demon-worshiping fallen elves.

I hate Drow the way they are portrayed now- a dime a dozen, no mystery, pcs think they know everything about 'em... bah!

 

[bodhi]

Because!

I wonder, why do people loathe drow, but not, say, ale-drinking dwarves with axes?

Bye
Thanee

Everything is better with beer.

ObTopic: I like the drow concept. Eeeevil. Like the fru-its of the dev-eel. The evil twin of the surface elves. Shelob, not Galadriel. Darkness, spiders and hand crossbows with poisoned bolts. Short, nasty and not-so-brutish.

I even like Drizz't, having gotten into the series early on.

That being said, at this point, I'm interested in new cultures, and getting away from the standard drow, orcs and core races. I like some of Eberron's ideas, and I like Warcrafts orcs and night elves (and dwarven copters and goblin zeppelins).

 

[Psion]

Love Drow. Even Like Drizzt. Hate Drizzt wannabes.

 

[Ibram]

Personalty I never cared for the whole Drow bit... give me Warhammer Dark Elves any day.

 

[teitan]

Why do we need to even worry about the Underdark anymore? Underdark adventures have been played to death since the drow explosion occured, what, 12-13 years ago? I am even kind of sick of the over-rated mindflayers myself.

Jason