Help me fill out a high level drow raiding party

[NewJeffCT]

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.

I learned earlier in my current campaign that CR doesn't always translate - especially when you give a CR:7 or 8 type of monster a level or two in a class. It's usually not the equivalent of bumping up the CR by 1 or 2.

 

[Theroc]

Instead of using magic items you could have a 13th level abjuration master specialist for magical support. The master specialist prestige class is from the complete mage and would allow the mage to cast personal abjuration spells as range touch. Using this ability the mage would cast antimagic field on the frenzied berserker. This should dramatically increase the survivability of the berserker and neutralize magical protections and attacks. For the rest of the battle the mage hangs out invisible and counterspelling spells. The 10 levels of abjuration master specialist gives +5 dispel checks to keep the caster competitive with the higher-level PCs. Additionally, the mage could take elven spell lore for a +2 dispel checks and dampen spell to reduce the save DC of any spell the mage fails to dispel. Both of those feats are from the player handbook II.

This actually would be a decent idea for a Drow Mage as well. Empowering a minion and launching them at you, using the AM Field to throw off the casters initially, redirecting focus towards rescuing the Casters while the Drow either flee or reposition themselves for better manuevering.

 

[NewJeffCT]

This actually would be a decent idea for a Drow Mage as well. Empowering a minion and launching them at you, using the AM Field to throw off the casters initially, redirecting focus towards rescuing the Casters while the Drow either flee or reposition themselves for better manuevering.

It's a great idea, but I don't want dip into that same well for two encounters so close to each other...

 

[Herobizkit]

I second the Marshall and/or Dragon Disciple suggestion. May I also suggest a Half-Fiend Ogre Mage with Monk levels? It's a mathematical nightmare, but oh so sweet.

 

[Runestar]

A drow vampire sounds fun to throw against the party as a melee combatant, but that is cr+3. Unless you are evaluating the npcs' cr completely independent of existing guidelines, they may have too little hp. But their defenses should be fairly strong.

Maybe 1 or 2 monsters as pets. A dragon might fit the bill, perhaps a deep dragon?

 

[Physiker]

I would use Duergars as frontline fighters. For me they fit to the drow and are likely to join an alliance or what ever. Then perhaps some level as fighters and dwarven defender ?

But that's a question of tast, is it not ? I just don't like the idea of a drow party having pets...

 

[NewJeffCT]

I second the Marshall and/or Dragon Disciple suggestion. May I also suggest a Half-Fiend Ogre Mage with Monk levels? It's a mathematical nightmare, but oh so sweet.

wow - a half-fiend ogre mage monk. interesting - hit them with the cone of cold first, and then close for hand-to-hand

 

[JacktheRabbit]

One thought that comes to mind is that your raiding party should be built to deal massive damage quickly but not to take much damage. Drow surface raiders rely on surprise and overwelming force to win. They exist to show up kill quickly then retreat to the underdark. So someone who does average damage but can last forever in combat would not make much sense.

Also when running the encounter remember the Drow should be selfish. They should not depend on each other and the only real teamwork should amount to basically attempts at kill stealing.

Also if a Drow is down to just a couple hitpoints and there is no danger to his buddy it would make perfect sense for one drow to use the raid as an excuse to eliminate a rival.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I don't know about the teamwork thing...even "Chaotic Evil" demons have strategist demons, like mariliths, even though they REALLY should fight as you described above, not in any sort of cohesive fashion. I don't see why the drow coldn't have at least a little teamwork. The idea of going in striknig fast and efficient is completely at odds with a "kill steal" mentality. I might help to encourage more swift brutality right away, to make sure you get the kill, but it will make the second part, extrication, rather difficult.

I'm not in favor of what you suggest, though. It sounds too much like scry-buff-teleport, and ideally they'd want to finish off the entire party so they'd have a little time to decently loot the bodies before running away. So I suggest going with what others have said and play them more as skirmishers, annoyingly keeping away from the fight generally (maybe using some of the vanilla fighters as "anchors" that wade right in to support that), only popping in to do damage, and mimize exposure time to danger. Bonus points if the anchoring fighter/brute types aren't actually drow, but a "lesser" allied race, or possibly enslaved warriors forced forward first. Cause it's not like the PCs are going to stop in the middle of combat and ask, "Why are you fighting with the drow?" They'll be too busy hacking and slashing.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Oh, and that reminded me. As to WHY these poor creatures wouldn't eventually turn on their captors if the PCs seem to be holding the advantage against them mid-fight...

Baldur's Gate 2 had these awesome mind-control collars used by the illithids to keep their slaves in order. The drow could have purchased some such devices from them. If you don't want to make an item up, there is a similar item in Book of Vile Darkness. On p. 113, the Master Ring and Slave Rings (all keyed to the master ring) offers a powerful incentive for minions to remain loyal. The master ring is 40k, not out of the question at your levels. The slave rings are cheap, only 500 gp each.