D&D General Escaping the Shadow of Drizzt

[Ralif Redhammer]

I dunno…I get the appeal of them as mysterious and powerful villains, but then that butts back against the problematic origins of the drow as the all-evil dark-skinned race.

The last time the Drow were interesting was 1984.

After Unearthed Arcana in 1985, with drow-as-PC, it was all downhill.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[BookBarbarian]

I mean, it makes perfect sense, because they are underground, and when you live underground without any light, you turn black. Super tanning.

Um ....

Yeah, there have always been some problematic issues in that area. However, some things remain better when there is some mystery.

Let's see, so polar bears have black skin to maximize heat from the sun, and white fur to blend in with their icy surroundings.

Drow also have black skin and white hair. I can only conclude that Drow are descended from polar bears. Lolth and her spiders are full of lies.

 

[Jer]

Eh - just make a character who doesn't act mopey and dark. If you avoid the "dark loner with a mysterious past (aka "Wolverine syndrome"), you're good.

"This is my Drow Rogue Francois. He ran away from home and joined a troupe of wandering performers so he's been an actor for the past century or so and has picked up just enough thieving skills to get by when times are lean and he's between troupes. He's adventuring at the moment because his old troupe disbanded when the humans in it got old and wanted to retire, so he's trying to find a big score so he can build his own theater eventually. He's really bad with money though - he has a tendency to spend it on elaborate parties and charming young nobles - so it's probably a pipe dream."

"This is my Drow Warlock Angelique. She came to the surface decades ago and has a pact with the Archfey Queen of Spring Titania. She has gained a reputation as a kind of "Folk Hero" who can be counted on in a crisis among the local halflings of the shire that she's been living in for the past few decades. Now her patron has sent her out of the shire and into the world because there are signs that another Archfey is meddling in things they should not, and Angelique is acting as her patron's eyes and ears to see what she can find out. And she's not opposed to sticking her nose into other wrongs that Angelique might discover along the way as well."

 

[jasper]

I mean, it makes perfect sense, because they are underground, and when you live underground without any light, you turn black. Super tanning.

Um ....

Yeah, there have always been some problematic issues in that area. However, some things remain better when there is some mystery.

Hey hey love potions are a think. Lonely artic elf, polar bear, and long winter night. What is not to love.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Spiderpolar bears.

And people though Owlbears were vicious.

Drow also have black skin and white hair. I can only conclude that Drow are descended from polar bears. Lolth and her spiders are full of lies.

 

[BookBarbarian]

Spiderpolar bears.

And people though Owlbears were vicious.

Spoiler

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

@BookBarbarian - Gah, I can barely look at that thing!

 

[BookBarbarian]

@BookBarbarian - Gah, I can barely look at that thing!

I probably should have wrapped it in spoilers for the arachnophobes.

I'll see if I can figure out how to do that.

 

[Zardnaar]

Play a female, spellcaster, strength based or non good aligned.

I did think of rolling one up, he was going to be a Sorcerer, defer to females and call them mistress or otherwise be very formal.

Don't dual wield, be a ranger full stop, or use a scimitar.

 

[cbwjm]

K'thriss Droub from acquisitions inc c team is a good example of a drow that is nothing like Drizzt.

 

[DammitVictor]

Sometimes, it's great to have cool and mysterious antagonists that AREN'T PCs. See also, gith.

As a Spelljammer fan first and foremost, Gith are one of my favorite PC races.

 

[Zardnaar]

Gith kinda Lise the kewl factor when allowed as PCs.

Same with Drow. They keep watering them down compared to the 1E version. Ruins the whole concept IMHO.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

No worries! I've dealt with decades of having pages dedicated to spiders in monster manual after monster manual (don't get me started on that 1e full-page spread!).

But back to drow, I haven't seen that many in Adventurers League play. Maybe two or three, including the one I've got? And none of them were rangers.

If I had to guess, it's the sunlight sensitivity giving disadvantage on attack rolls.

I probably should have wrapped it in spoilers for the arachnophobes.

I'll see if I can figure out how to do that.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Don't use scimitars, dual wield, or act emo.

And be evil!

 

[Emirikol Prime]

I honestly only see this issue on RPG threads and never at the table. Immaturity?

 

[Zardnaar]

Who reads Frizzy these days? The last good one was 1999, gave up in them 10 years after that.

 

[BookBarbarian]

Who reads Frizzy these days? The last good one was 1999, gave up in them 10 years after that.

I've had Archmage on my to read list for ages but I find I have no desire to actually read it.

 

[Zardnaar]

I've had Archmage on my to read list for ages but I find I have no desire to actually read it.

The last good one IMHO was the Silent Blade, a couple after that were decent the the decline happened with a Thousand Orcs, and fell off a cliff with the 4Evtinrjumoband the resurrection of the companion s.