Podcast: Drow Warrior 1 Usefullness

[Wiman]

Based on our current conception of 3.X a drow warrior 1 could maybe not survive in it's own city...it would have d8hp probably and a +1 attack bonus....with 4e wackiness (I use the word "wackiness" as a positive) this guy could have up to 40hp a couple of different encounter powers, a drow racial ability (which will probably be a doozy - as for some reason the drow has been made into an iconic race, thank you Mr. Salvatore) and legions of "slave" minions.

As for surviving outside his/her own city, I believe rank and file drow with capable commanders have more then their lion's share of holding their own in the underdark. This has become a very "team" oriented game in 4e...individual power is not out the window but it is flying towards said window.....again I like it. The thought of 20 1st level Drow Warriors as written above still equiped with the arms available to drow in earlier editions and being lead by a priestess and a warlord of much higher levels with some wizards thrown in makes them more then a suitable encounter for the Underdark.


I'll use Drow Warrior 1 and save my wrist from writing down all the short hand for the classes above on the poll everytime I write a stat block.

 

[Wiman]

Ok wow, sorry about that I read the poll only quickly and thought the second option was a multiclass character. I can see myself using some of the second option, but Drow Warrior should still be in there....everyone should have rank and file of their own race, not all drow are from noble families (houses).

 

[nick012000]

I'd use a Drow Warrior 1. I know some Eberron adventures used encounters with Drow Warrior 2s.

They're humanoids, and they bleed and die like anyone else. Even if they're a backstabby culture, you don't need to be a fabulous swordsmaster to survive. You just have to be nondescript enough to blend into the background, avoid drawing the ire of your superiors, and get along passably with your 'comrades'.

 

[Patlin]

As it's the weekend, I had time to look through my PC for the file in question. Turns out the drow in question were planar drow. Looks like I did this back in '04, and as much as I'd like to I haven't had time to do much similar recently, at least not in as much detail. Here it is in case anyone is interested.

Svartalfheim NPCs

Svartalfheim Swordsman, Male Drow Fighter 5/Rogue 1: CR 7; medium-size humanoid(Elf); HD 5d10+15 and 1d6+3; hp 52; Init +7 (Dex, improved initiative); Spd 30; AC 18 (base 10 +3 Dex, +4 Chain Shirt, +1 Shield); Attack Longsword +10 Melee (d8+6/19-20); AL CN; SV Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 12.
Skills: Spot +5, Hide +17 (+16 in armor), Move Silently +16 (+15 in armor); Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (Longsword), Weapon Specialization (Longsword), Stealthy, Skill Focus (Hide), Skill Focus (Move Silently)
Special: Darkvision 120 ft., light sensitivity, Sneak Attack 1d6, SR 17, (Local conditions on Ysgard grant Fast Healing 2).
Possessions: Masterwork Chain Shirt, Masterwork Light Steel Shield, +1 Longsword, Potion of Heroism (Shimmering Red), Potion of Blur (Lavender), 3 platinum pieces.

Svartalfheim Elite Swordsman, Male Drow Fighter 7/Rogue 1: CR 9; medium-size humanoid(Elf); HD 7d10+21 and 1d6+3; hp 70; Init +7 (Dex, improved initiative); Spd 30; AC 18 (base 10 +3 Dex, +4 Chain Shirt, +1 Shield); Attack Longsword +14 Melee (d8+8/17-20); Full Attack Longsword +14/+9 Melee (d8+8/17-20); AL CN; SV Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +3; Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 12.
Skills: Spot +6, Hide +18 (+17 in armor), Move Silently +17 (+16 in armor); Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (Longsword), Weapon Specialization (Longsword), Stealthy, Skill Focus (Hide), Skill Focus (Move Silently), Improved Critical (Longsword)
Special: Darkvision 120 ft., light sensitivity, Sneak Attack 1d6, SR 19, (Local conditions on Ysgard grant Fast Healing 2).
Possessions: Masterwork Chain Shirt, Masterwork Light Steel Shield, +2 Longsword, Potion of Heroism (Shimmering Red), Potion of Blur (Lavender), bead of force, 15 platinum pieces.

Svartalfheim Shadowkiller, Male Drow Rogue 6: CR 7; medium-size humanoid(Elf); HD 6d6+12; hp 38; Init +8 (Dex, improved initiative); Spd 30; AC 20 (base 10 +4 Dex, +6 Chain Shirt); Attack Rapier +8 Melee (d6+2/18-20) or Hand Crossbow +8 Ranged (d4 + poison/20); AL CN; SV Fort +4, Ref +9, Will +3; Str 14, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 12.
Skills: Spot +10, Listen +10, Hide +15, Move Silently +15, Tumble +15, Balance +15, Climb +11, Jump +11, Escape Artist +13; Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse, Stealthy
Special: Darkvision 120 ft., light sensitivity, Sneak Attack 3d6, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, SR 17, (Local conditions on Ysgard grant Fast Healing 2).
Possessions: +2 Mithril Chain Shirt, Rapier, Hand Crossbow, Vial of Drow Poison, 3 applications, 10 hand crossbow bolts

Svartalfheim Elite Shadowkiller, Male Drow Rogue 8: CR 9; medium-size humanoid(Elf); HD 8d6+16; hp 50; Init +10 (Dex, improved initiative); Spd 30; AC 22 (base 10 +6 Dex, +6 Chain Shirt); Attack Rapier +14 Melee (d6+4/18-20) or Hand Crossbow +12 Ranged (d4 + poison/20); Full Attack Rapier +14/+9 Melee (d6+4/18-20); AL CN; SV Fort +4, Ref +9, Will +3; Str 14, Dex 22, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 12.
Skills: Spot +12, Listen +12, Hide +17, Move Silently +17, Tumble +17, Balance +17, Climb +13, Jump +13, Escape Artist +15; Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse, Stealthy
Special: Darkvision 120 ft., light sensitivity, Sneak Attack 5d6, Evasion, Improved Uncanny Dodge, SR 19, (Local conditions on Ysgard grant Fast Healing 2).
Possessions: +2 Mithril Chain Shirt, +2 Rapier, Hand Crossbow, Vial of Drow Poison, 3 applications, 10 hand crossbow bolts.


Svartalfheim Stonewitch, Female Drow Shugenja 6: CR 7; medium-size humanoid(Elf); HD 6d6+18; hp 42; Init +3 (Dex); Spd 30; AC 13 (base 10 +3 Dex); Attack Staff +5 Melee (d6+1); AL CN; SV Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +7; Str 12, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 20.
Skills: Concentration +12, Diplomacy +14, Spellcraft +10, Move Silently +12, Hide +12; Feats: Stealthy, Skill Focus (Hide), Skill Focus (Move Silently)
Special: Darkvision 120 ft., light sensitivity, SR 17, (Local conditions on Ysgard grant Fast Healing 2).
Spells Known (times per day): 0: (6) Daze, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mage Hand, Mending, Guidance, Purify Food and Drink, Create Water 1st: (8) Change Self, Shield of Faith, Magic Weapon, Cure Light Wounds, Faerie Fire 2nd: (6) Know the Shadows, Barkskin, Cure Moderate Wounds 3rd: (4) Invisibility, Prayer
Possessions: Quarterstaff, Divine Scrolls: Dispel Magic, Lightning Bolt; Potion of Fire Breath

Svartalfheim Stonewitch Elite , Female Drow Shugenja 10: CR 11; medium-size humanoid(Elf); HD 10d6+30; hp 63; Init +3 (Dex); Spd 30; AC 13 (base 10 +3 Dex); Attack Staff +7 Melee (d6+1); Full Attack Staff +7/+2 Melee (d6+1); AL CN; SV Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +9; Str 12, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 22.
Skills: Concentration +16, Diplomacy +19, Spellcraft +14, Move Silently +14, Hide +14; Feats: Stealthy, Skill Focus (Hide), Skill Focus (Move Silently), Spell Penetration
Special: Darkvision 120 ft., light sensitivity, SR 21, (Local conditions on Ysgard grant Fast Healing 2).
Spells Known (times per day): 0: (6) Daze, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mage Hand, Mending, Guidance, Purify Food and Drink, Create Water, Know Direction 1st: (8) Change Self, Shield of Faith, Magic Weapon, Cure Light Wounds, Faerie Fire, Sanctuary 2nd: (8) Know the Shadows, Barkskin, Cure Moderate Wounds, Resist Elements, Lesser Restoration 3rd: (7) Invisibility, Prayer, Dispel Magic, Haste, Wind Wall 4th: (6) Air Walk, Spell Immunity, Fire Shield, 5th: (4) Improved Invisibility, Wall of Stone
Possessions: Quarterstaff, Wand of Lightning Bolt (8 charges, CL 10)

Svatalfheim Swordsman, Male Drow Fighter 5/Rogue 1: CR 7; medium-size humanoid(Elf); HD 5d10+15 and 1d6+3; hp 52; Init +7 (Dex, improved initiative); Spd 30; AC 18 (base 10 +3 Dex, +4 Chain Shirt, +1 Shield); Attack Longsword +10 Melee (d8+6/19-20); AL CN; SV Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 12.
Skills: Spot +5, Hide +17 (+16 in armor), Move Silently +16 (+15 in armor); Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (Longsword), Weapon Specialization (Longsword), Stealthy, Skill Focus (Hide), Skill Focus (Move Silently)
Special: Darkvision 120 ft., light sensitivity, Sneak Attack 1d6, SR 17, (Local conditions on Ysgard grant Fast Healing 2).
Possessions: Masterwork Chain Shirt, Masterwork Light Steel Shield, +1 Longsword, Potion of Heroism (Shimmering Red), Potion of Blur (Lavender), 3 platinum pieces.

 

[Celebrim]

I can't vote, because you've picked two extremes and I'd never use either one.

You are highly unlikely to encounter even an orc warrior 1 in my campaign. Any being that does fighting for a living is a fighter class, regardless of race. The only warriors are people that live like commoners but occassionally have to defend themselves, like say farmers living on the edge of the wild. So, maybe the goblin shephard, woodcutter, or swineherd is a warrior 1, but the goblins in the war party will certainly be fighters - and probably 2nd level at that.

That said, NPC's that are of higher than 6th level would be extraordinarly rare regardless of race, and I generally don't like PrC's.

I haven't used Drow in my campaign since 1st edition, but average Drow were assumed to be 3rd - 5th level, with occasional individuals of 7th-9th level and truly rare individuals of up to 11th level. I seriously doubt there is a drow anywhere in or under my world higher than 13th level.

Hense, 1st level warriors aren't particularly interesting to me but neither are 20th level spider priestesses with 3 different classes. I would likely get no use out of either. Things that would be used out of the book as written would be things like 3rd-5th level fighters, 5th-7th level clerics and 5th-7th level wizards. Ideally, a racial entry for a humanoid is a template and a handful of example entries under CR7. I'm highly likely to individualize any NPC more powerful than that anyway.

 

[nick012000]

I can't vote, because you've picked two extremes and I'd never use either one.

You are highly unlikely to encounter even an orc warrior 1 in my campaign. Any being that does fighting for a living is a fighter class, regardless of race. The only warriors are people that live like commoners but occassionally have to defend themselves, like say farmers living on the edge of the wild. So, maybe the goblin shephard, woodcutter, or swineherd is a warrior 1, but the goblins in the war party will certainly be fighters - and probably 2nd level at that.

Incorrect. By DND RAW, only the best and most skilled are fighters; PC classes comprise about 3% of the population. Once you've hit level 2, you're in the 1% of the population. The goblin shephers, woodcutters, and swineherds are all Commoners, and probably level 1 at that.

 

[Celebrim]

Incorrect. By DND RAW, only the best and most skilled are fighters; PC classes comprise about 3% of the population. Once you've hit level 2, you're in the 1% of the population. The goblin shephers, woodcutters, and swineherds are all Commoners, and probably level 1 at that.

What makes you think I give a damn about what the RAW say?

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Incorrect. By DND RAW, only the best and most skilled are fighters; PC classes comprise about 3% of the population. Once you've hit level 2, you're in the 1% of the population. The goblin shephers, woodcutters, and swineherds are all Commoners, and probably level 1 at that.

I am pretty sure Celebrim knows what is true for his campaign, RAW be damned.

 

[Derren]

I prefer the drow warrior 1, first because I don't follow all the "every drow is super 1337" fanboy talk and second, when I have a drow warrior level 1 its very easy to simply add other classes to it so that I can have every drow which I want instead of having 4 fixed archetypes.