Help me fill out a high level drow raiding party

[FEADIN]

You can play with rock formations, difficult terrain, make an ambush in a forest of giant mushrooms (I love giant mushrooms!!!) and better than darknees use fog for miss chance if they don't have blindfighting.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Jeff, if you haven't already, I'd highly recommend Drow of the Underdark, as inspiration for Drow tactics. There is a section in the book specifically for giving you ideas for Drow tactics.

Among them:
Don't be afraid to make sacrifices, particularly if the Drow had any slave soldiers along.
Don't fight long. Drow don't have the staying power of other races, and prefer blitz tactics. If they don't win quickly, they'll probably cut and run.

Not very specific ideas, but something to give an idea.

If the Drow came to the surface looking for a fight, chances are they brought non-Drow minions along. They could be mobs of low level goblins, used specifically to flank and swarm and harry the casters, only to get mowed down by a Drow's beefed-up metamagic fireball on the party.

Good points - thanks. I did notice that in filling out the drow party that even the "main" bad guys don't have a ton of hit points because of the -2 Con penalty. Then, if I beat that with an Amulet of Health, I lose out on AC bonus from an Amulet of Natural Armor, and I'm basically back where I started.

Sounds like Regroup then Teleport, then heal up and strike back is the way to go.

Maybe some ogre barbarians to add some muscle to the party?

 

[Elethiomel]

From the SRD:
True Seeing
......
The subject sees through normal and magical darkness, notices secret doors hidden by magic.....

Sorry for my True Seeing misrepresentation; I must have remembered the version of True Seeing that I wished was in the book.

 

[Shin Okada]

As already pointed out, Drow NPCs are fragile for their CR. SR doesn't protect them well, especially if your play group is using non-core supplements. There are tons of SR "No" damaging spells and those spells kill Drows real fast. On the other hand, one of the problem of SR race is that they must overcome their comrade's SR for casting buffs and healings.

Let the Drow cleric take Arcane Mastery feat (CA). It will allow her to take 10 when making a caster level check. Then, give her Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration if necessary, and make sure that she can automatically overcome comrades' SR. Do the same for a Drow mage if that one also casts some buff spells.

As almost all the drows are worshipping Lolth, Recitation works nicely.

Drow's strongest racial feature is their 120 ft. darkvision. Under the moonlight/starlight, someone with low-light vision can have upper-hand. Drows are most strong when environment is in complete natural darkness and yet wide enough. Then, they can almost always find opponents first, attack, and then retreat if necessary.

 

[NewJeffCT]

As already pointed out, Drow NPCs are fragile for their CR. SR doesn't protect them well, especially if your play group is using non-core supplements. There are tons of SR "No" damaging spells and those spells kill Drows real fast. On the other hand, one of the problem of SR race is that they must overcome their comrade's SR for casting buffs and healings.

Let the Drow cleric take Arcane Mastery feat (CA). It will allow her to take 10 when making a caster level check. Then, give her Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration if necessary, and make sure that she can automatically overcome comrades' SR. Do the same for a Drow mage if that one also casts some buff spells.

As almost all the drows are worshipping Lolth, Recitation works nicely.

Drow's strongest racial feature is their 120 ft. darkvision. Under the moonlight/starlight, someone with low-light vision can have upper-hand. Drows are most strong when environment is in complete natural darkness and yet wide enough. Then, they can almost always find opponents first, attack, and then retreat if necessary.

Thanks - some excellent ideas. Where is "Recitation" from?

 

[Shin Okada]

Thanks - some excellent ideas. Where is "Recitation" from?

The newest version of that spell is in Spell Compendium.

 

[Runestar]

Must they all be specifically of the drow race?

I ask because as pointed out earlier, drow tend to be quite fragile for their cr, between the +1cr modifier and a racial con penalty. So I don't think they are suitable as front-line tanks.

For that, drow of the underdark has an excellent option in the draegloth. Tack on the lolth-touched template (MM5) for a massive boost to its physical stats. This makes it cr6, which gives you around 10-12 class lvs to play around with (assuming they are associated). Again, lvs in martial adept are always a good choice (in my book at any rate ). But if you find them too complicated to run, lvs in barb should work.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Must they all be specifically of the drow race?

I ask because as pointed out earlier, drow tend to be quite fragile for their cr, between the +1cr modifier and a racial con penalty. So I don't think they are suitable as front-line tanks.

For that, drow of the underdark has an excellent option in the draegloth. Tack on the lolth-touched template (MM5) for a massive boost to its physical stats. This makes it cr6, which gives you around 10-12 class lvs to play around with (assuming they are associated). Again, lvs in martial adept are always a good choice (in my book at any rate ). But if you find them too complicated to run, lvs in barb should work.

Nope - don't all have to be drow. The leaders will be drow, however. Monster Manual 5 is one of the few 3.5 books i never got and don't have access to... what does the template do? Thanks

 

[NewJeffCT]

The newest version of that spell is in Spell Compendium.

Thanks - I found it. Good spell to use.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

As already pointed out, Drow NPCs are fragile for their CR. SR doesn't protect them well, especially if your play group is using non-core supplements. There are tons of SR "No" damaging spells and those spells kill Drows real fast. On the other hand, one of the problem of SR race is that they must overcome their comrade's SR for casting buffs and healings.

Let the Drow cleric take Arcane Mastery feat (CA). It will allow her to take 10 when making a caster level check. Then, give her Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration if necessary, and make sure that she can automatically overcome comrades' SR. Do the same for a Drow mage if that one also casts some buff spells.

I've always liked the idea of a teamwork benefit to give you a massive bonus (at least +4, maybe higher if that's "balanced") at overcoming the SR of your teammates. That could also be an option, if you use teamwork benefits. To help balance it, I'd leave the "benefit" running even when it's not helpful, like if your ally gets dominated. Or decides putting you in the fireball radius is worth it to peg an extra 3 enemies... (I've made such decisions as a player myself before, though I typically ask if it's ok first)

Must they all be specifically of the drow race?

I ask because as pointed out earlier, drow tend to be quite fragile for their cr, between the +1cr modifier and a racial con penalty. So I don't think they are suitable as front-line tanks.

1.) I don't recommend EVER following the CR guidelines exactly when dealing with classed NPCs.
2.) Drow are often "overpriced" in CR/ECL for what they give
3.) While I'm saying they could be considered lower CR than what the book says, I will say...if that template is what i think it is (+6 str and con, some other goodies, all for +1 LA), it's the one I banned on the spot upon seeing for being just plain ridiculous. Not as stupid as the Feral template, but that's hardly saying much.