Grugach (wild elves)--preferred class??

[AuraSeer]

Not really. Any way you look at it, their favored class is saying that it is the class that is easiest for them to learn, the one that comes most naturally to them, the one that doesn't slow them down when they want to learn something else.

Yes, I agree with you up to that point.

It's seems silly that the class which drow males have the easiest time learning is very rarely taken by them.

They have the easiest time learning the skills of a wizard. That doesn't mean they make a career out of wizarding.

Look at it this way: since it's so easy to pick up the knack of spellcasting, even your average fighter can easily figure out how to do it. He may not be very interested in it, and he may not spend time on it, but he'll absorb the basics just by being around it all the time. If he ever decides that magic would make his life easier, it's relatively easy to learn the details.

So a given male drow might think of himself as a fighter, but he'll still have a spellbook and know how to cast True Strike (because he also has a level of wizard). Similarly, a given dwarf might think of himself as a wizard, but he may still carry a warhammer and shield for emergencies (because he picked up a level of fighter).

Basically, it breaks down like this.
1) Drow males make awesome wizards because it comes more easily to them.
2) Drow males rarely ever are wizards.
See? Silly.

Well, yeah, I guess it's silly if male drow never multiclass as wizards IYC. But IMC it's hard to find a mdrow NPC without a wizard level or two (or more). For every mdrow Ftr20, there are twice as many Ftr19/Wiz1, and likely at least one Ftr17/Wiz3.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying you're wrong. Obviously you should use whatever favored classes work best for your game. I'm just pointing out that a demihuman's favored class is not necessarily the one with the highest level.

 

[kreynolds]

Well, yeah, I guess it's silly if male drow never multiclass as wizards IYC. But IMC it's hard to find a mdrow NPC without a wizard level or two (or more).

See, that's just the thing. In regards to what is listed as the favored class for drow males in the books, it doesn't matter what levels drow end up taking in your game or mine, because that isn't really the point. If you take a look at the various NPC drow to be found, less than 10% of the males, if even that many, have any levels in wizard what-so-ever. Most are fighters, though you will occassionally run into a freaky half-dragon/half-drow vampire, or something like that.

The point is that the material conflicts with itself. It doesn't add up. In one book it says that the favored class of drow males is wizard. Now, grab up every book you can find from Wizard's and you'll find that more than 90% of those male drow never even have a single level of wizard. City of the Spider Queen is the best example I can think of right now.

I do, however, see your point about drow males multiclassing as fighter/wizards, but it's still strange how that rarely ever happens.

But, here's another thing to consider. As a young drow, if you show promise as a wizard, you become a wizard or risk having your throat cut. Why aren't there more wizard's around? Honestly, I can somewhat understand that the authors were going for the same magical stereotype as the majority of surface elves, but it still doesn't help it make any more sense.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying you're wrong.

I don't what you think I'm saying you're wrong either. This is just something I've been wondering about for some time now.

I'm just pointing out that a demihuman's favored class is not necessarily the one with the highest level.

Well, I agree, but that isn't the crux of my argument either. You don't even see drow with wizard levels that often at all, not even when multiclassed. Heck, even Jezz the Lame from The Dalelands is a multiclass rogue, but he's a sorcerer for pete's sake. Like I said. Wierd.

 

[AuraSeer]

Oh. I get what you mean now.

I haven't read City of the Spider Queen yet. In fact, off the top of my head I can't think of any published drow NPCs, except Drizzt (who is not exactly typical). But you're probably right. This wouldn't be the first time that WOTC writers failed to read the rules.

 

[Nightstorm]

or here's an idea. break out of the box and make barbarian the prefered class. Barbarian is a very intelligent class to fit a Grugach.

 

[Darklone]

Ugh. Did you insult me?