Drow overpowered again? (and some other racial discussion)

[Graf]

-can- be used at range is not the same as "must be". See also: Minor Action to activate power.

Drow will almost certainly get lots of kewl feats (in the FR players guide for instance).

Would you rather play a drow or a half-elf rogue?
Would you rather play a drow or a half-elf <other class>?

Would you rather play a drow or a teifling rogue?
Would you rather play a drow or a teifling <other class>?

Are there any other races/classes/items that grant combat advantage once an encounter? and/or auto-hit blindness on every creature within 1 square of you?

I'm not saying that they are more powerful, they may not be. I'm not sure that loosing a bunch of dinky little powers that most races get actually balances.

They may be fine. I might actually allow someone to play one, but they seem to be pretty powerful.

There are whole threads talking about how it's hard for rogues to get combat advantage... this is one easy/simple solution.

 

[Byronic]

I thought that they'd get those powers later through feats. I know that they're supposed to get levitation later on (unless they scrapped that)

 

[dervish]

The Darkfire ability seems to be a ranged attack. Wouldn't that mean that it provokes opportunity attacks? If that's the case, it's quite a bit less powerful for a rogue type character (well, you can sneak attack with ranged weapons too).

The monster race I'd pin as overpowered is the bugbear. Say hello to the 1d10 rapier.

Not that I've tested it in game yet...

 

[Kwalish Kid]

DARKVISION?

They didn't give it to any of the normal races because it's too powerful.

No, darkvision was removed so that the designers could change the environment of the game and unify the descriptive text in published adventures. A society that doesn't need lights is going to live much differently from a society that does.

 

[hong]

No, darkvision was removed so that the designers could change the environment of the game and unify the descriptive text in published adventures. A society that doesn't need lights is going to live much differently from a society that does.

That, and it's useless unless everybody has it.

 

[WhatGravitas]

That, and it's useless unless everybody has it.

Unless you send the drow scouting. Alone.

Cheers, LT.

 

[hong]

Unless you send the drow scouting. Alone.

Cheers, LT.

Heh heh. Heh heh heh.

 

[Phaezen]

Unless you send the drow scouting. Alone.

Cheers, LT.

WHich reminds me of one of my favourite web comics

http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=060829

Phaezen

 

[Graf]

No, darkvision was removed so that the designers could change the environment of the game and unify the descriptive text in published adventures. A society that doesn't need lights is going to live much differently from a society that does.

I'd love to see an actual quote of this.
'cause saying "you see what he sees, but in black and white" isn't that tricky.

There's a reason they invented the darklight spell, etc.

 

[arghost]

I'd love to see an actual quote of this.
'cause saying "you see what he sees, but in black and white" isn't that tricky.

From Wizard Presents Races and Classes pages 30-31:

To play appropriately, the DM has to describe the big dark room one way for the drow (darkvision 120'), one way for the dwarf (darkvision 60'), another way for the elf (lowlight), and still another for the human with the torch.