What have you done to Drow in your world?

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

just curious, but...why do you guys changed drows?

Flavor conflict.

why make them white?

Because cave-dwelling creatures are usually pale.

 

[Satori]

just curious, but...why do you guys changed drows?

why make them white?

I changed Drow mechanically because their current stat set doesn't make sense, in my opinion.

Sure, their attribute modifiers do (Drow IMC have a higher Charisma due to a Spartan-like eugenics ritual)...

...but what about everything else?

-Why does EVERY Dark Elf cast the same three spells? The initial explanation was "All Drow receive magical schooling"...then why do they all choose the same three spells?

-Why does proximity to Underdark radiation create Spell Resistance in them, but not in all other critters?

-Expanding on the Spell Resistance issue...how can you have a culture with such a HUGE emphasis on magic, yet have a mechanic that makes them all nearly immune to magic?

---

Regarding the change in skin color...it really doesn't make any sense for an underground race, descended from "human colored skin" elves, to adopt pitch black skin. This only makes sense if you factor in the whole "Cursed by Corellon" shtick.

Of course, some DMs don't even have Lloth in their world, but want to include a subterranean elf. Without a suitable "God Curse", the natural evolution of a "Pink Skinned Elf" forced underground would, likely, result in near or complete albinism.

Also...and this is just me being mean...

...some DMs want to remove the silly "mystique" surrounding Dark Elves. A HUGE part of this mystique revolves around their appearance, which is unmistakably "KEWL" and exotic. Black skin, white hair, red eyes...it really is a cartoony, sinister, almost anime image.

This works PERFECT for iconic bad guys, but becomes silly when you have Drow prancing around the countryside, singings songs and playing with children.

Hence, some DMs allow Drow as PCs, but change their appearance to a more acceptable, less dramatic shade.

Of course, I wonder how many Drow PCs would still play Drow if they didn't have the standard Dark Elf appearance.

 

[rossik]

oh...anime-hate detected!

you see, i always thought that the 3 spells were hability like, not actually spells that you learn..at least in early editions

 

[el-remmen]

In my homebrew, Aquerra (see sig) while there is a race of dark-skinned elves that are said to live underground and are died out (or mostly died out) and are often referred to as "drow." The secret is that "Drow" is just a term for an evil elf who has performed a ritual dedicating themselves to the evil elven spider goddess (not named Lloth or Lolth), of which at one time many were of that dark-skinned race and they managed to kill off most of their own kind that refused to.

So while people may see a dark elf with white hair and think "DROW!" Truth is any elf could be a "drow." And I represent that with a "drow template," which grants many of the powers associated with drow from 1E Greyhawk days..

 

[Oni]

pale haired, pale skinned and red eyed is still kinda "anime" IMO. I can picture the soft androgynous drawings already.

 

[GeorgeFields]

Drow are unheard of in my game. Only elves have heard of them, and they are equivalent to our real world boogie-man.


Unfortunately for the world, they do exist...

As many others, they are albino but taller than humans; 6-1/2' - 7' tall.

Mechanics are similar, but all are gestalt characters. Males are wizards or sorcerers, and females are clerics or favored souls.

I've replaced Lolth with Mishka the Wolf-Spider from the Rod of Seven Parts adventure. I've kept females as the main priesthood for Mishka's perverted delight.

 

[Archade]

I've replaced drow with neogi, who slave and merchant from the underdark.

 

[an_idol_mind]

Drow in my campaign are elves who committed a serious crime and were marked for their sins. The ritual that serves as their punishment marks their skin black and does significant emotional and spiritual damage. Dark elves in my campaign are actually a bit weaker than normal elves, since this process removes some powers while not adding anything in their place -- it wouldn't make sense for the elves to willingly create a race powerful enough to threaten them.

 

[Sound of Azure]

Why pale skinned drow?

Because cave-dwelling creatures are usually pale.

This, and because fish belly white underdark dwellers jumping out at you from darkness is damn creepy. I did the same with Kuo-toa and Illithids (both significant dark elf subspecies).

 

[Sound of Azure]

This is cool. I'd never thought of giving them pseudonatural ties, great idea.

Thanks. It certainly made City of the Spider Queen far more memorable for my players!