Ok I'm getting ready to start a pathfinder game and have a player that wants to play a 1/2 drow 1/2 elf. any ideas on how to stat this up. i figured the drow half would be based off the basic drow in the bestiary, not the drow noble.
i know the player very well and if he's asking for something like this he has more to do with history for the character than stats and abilities. that said i would still like to come up with something, i'm just really bad at this kind of stuff.
thanks.
Ok I'm getting ready to start a pathfinder game and have a player that wants to play a 1/2 drow 1/2 elf. any ideas on how to stat this up. i figured the drow half would be based off the basic drow in the bestiary, not the drow noble.
i know the player very well and if he's asking for something like this he has more to do with history for the character than stats and abilities. that said i would still like to come up with something, i'm just really bad at this kind of stuff.
thanks.
Use the halfelf from the PFRPG. Drow are evilanyway, so its more of a cultural thing than a stat thing.
Quick question...
Are you asking for a half elf that is drow?
OR
Are you asking for a character who is both half (normal) elf and half drow? A "grey" elf so to speak? (normal being "light elf" and drow being "dark elf" this character being a mix of both would be "grey" or maybe "shadow"... I digress...)
If it's a half-drow elf, half-"normal" elf (all terror!) character, then as I understand it, Drow Do Not Work That Way in pathfinder.
If we're talking about half-drow half-human, there's not really anything that both half-elves and full-elves get that drow don't also get, so I would imagine that a half-drow would be statistically identical to a regular half-elf, except maybe with darkvision instead of low-light vision (assuming that sort of thing ever even comes up in your games).
yes to the "gray elf" question. The player wants to be 1/2 drow (dark elf), 1/2 elf (regular elf).
Howzabout asking your player to lay out what he has in mind? Let him do the work--you just tone down anything that seems excessive.
yes to the "gray elf" question. The player wants to be 1/2 drow (dark elf), 1/2 elf (regular elf).
Some Forgotten Realm book suggested that (at least for the skin color) the drow gene was dominant. So for a first, I'd say that in appearance, your half-drow should look pretty much like a drow, except perhaps for some minor features that someone REALLY familiar with drows (like another 'true' drow) could point out.
Personally, I'd tweak its racial feature a bit in exchange of its 1st level feat (darkvision and a few spell-like abilities perhaps). Basically, make a 'half drow' feat taken at 1st level only.
Of course there's always the option of leaving the stats as-is (like and elf or like a drow) and deal with the consequences...
yep, I also default to FR for crossbreeding elves{they have so many} it would be elf or drow, they do not cross breed, the child would be one or the other.
yep, I also default to FR for crossbreeding elves{they have so many} it would be elf or drow, they do not cross breed, the child would be one or the other.
technically the other traits are resessive so they could pop up in later off spring as quirks and what not, but that close to the original stock, yeah for almost all effects they'll be one or the other, with some possibility of cosmetic differences from the racial norm (red hair on a drow for example, or red eyes on a normal elf...).
yep, I also default to FR for crossbreeding elves{they have so many} it would be elf or drow, they do not cross breed, the child would be one or the other.technically the other traits are resessive so they could pop up in later off spring as quirks and what not, but that close to the original stock, yeah for almost all effects they'll be one or the other, with some possibility of cosmetic differences from the racial norm (red hair on a drow for example, or red eyes on a normal elf...).
true, but mechanically they are one or the other. An elf born of a drow mother, might have red eyes, or white hair, but would be an elf. Or he might be a drow with green eyes for instance.
Oh yes complete agreement on the mechanics of it. The real area of... concern will be the role playing which is always more fuzzy... and potentially disruptive.
That is the area that's going to require a sit down between the player and the DM and discussion over the character's temperment, appearance, and behavior and what he has come to expect and should expect from the world around him.
I did run a character that was based off of this concept and it was a lot of fun, however the role play was the part that took the longest to figure out.
(snip)
I did run a character that was based off of this concept and it was a lot of fun, however the role play was the part that took the longest to figure out.
Personally, I'd prefer that to the "I want to play a drow, but good" stereotype...
Personally, I'd prefer that to the "I want to play a drow, but good" stereotype...(snip)
I did run a character that was based off of this concept and it was a lot of fun, however the role play was the part that took the longest to figure out.
I allow that in FR, if you worship this one god anyhow :)
Go and read this thread. It is mostly about half-drow/half-human, but there are some posts by James Jacobs, including info on full Drow in Golarion. If you are not playing in Golarion, or any other published world, then how you want a half-drow/half-elf to work would be up to you, but them not being able to produce a mixed child ability-wise is probably best.
I would take the elf, and maybe swap low-light vision for darkvision.
If the character was raised by drow and not elves, then swap elf weapon familiarity for drow weapon familiarity.
If you want one of the drow SLAs, take it at the expense of Elven Magic.
That should work overall and be pretty balanced.
There is a character in a campaign I run who is an elf with some drow ancestry, but statistically he plays an elf. He just has dark grey skin, and a lot of people look at him funny if he doesn't have his hood up.
The weird thing about FR drow-elf hybrids... even though they aren't supposed to exist, they had one in the FR-based video game <i>Demon Stone</i>. She was created by R.A. Salvatore... But she was also basically an elf with some drowish physical features. The char development system for <i>Demon Stone</i> was a hybrid thingy, so hard to get tabletop stats out of that.
yes to the "gray elf" question. The player wants to be 1/2 drow (dark elf), 1/2 elf (regular elf).There is no such thing. Golarian elves are either pure or all the way drow. You're either tainted with the evil that has turned you or your ancestors from elf to drow or you're not.
The only "half-drow" are the result of drow mating with non-elven races.
There are no such things in Golarion you should say. Nothing about the OP sets the game in Golarion; he only saying that he's using Pathfinder rules...
I realize that this is not the normal thing to do, but if my player is going to put his time into developing a unique character that he wants to be 1/2 drow, 1/2 elf, and creates a good history explaining his life as a half-breed of this type, i feel that it shouldn't be out of the question for me to look into representing his character mechanically for him.
my game is set in an original setting so the rules of Golarian or FR, while a good reference, don't matter much.
I was just trying to get some help laying out the stats.
thanks for the input though, it's always interesting to see where people stand on situations like this.
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my game is set in an original setting so the rules of Golarian or FR, while a good reference, don't matter much.
True true, but often times rules from the official campaign settings find their way into the core rules.
We're just staying previous precedent set back in the TSR days. I believe it came from the Complete Handbooks too, which is one of the few Realms titled books that's very generic. :)
Actually, Thunderhead Games (Out of business now) had a race called the Nevea. Here is the entire PDF that used to be on that website. It is 3e & I haven't changed it so that you can judge for yourselves.
NEVAEQUARLANI
Nevae or ”The Dark Souls”
“Yes, my brothers, they share our blood, but also that of the others. That is my fear, for their mild appearance hides the dark heritage within.”
— Himos Siannodel, an elder of the village where the name Nevaequarlini was coined
Nevaequarlani (Nevae for short) is elven for dark souls, for that is what they are. The race has evolved from the offspring of drow and surface elves (High Elf being the most common). Most historical cases involve a drow raiding party coming to the surface and pillaging an elven community. Drow males, released for a short time from the tyranny of their female rulers, strike back at the pale cousins of those who
oppress them. Those few who survive these savage assaults sometimes give birth to these elves of mixed heritage. If not destroyed at birth, the child is usually tolerated by its community, but rarely loved or even
liked. Such cold upbringings resulted in cold, aloof adults who left their communities as soon as they could survive on their own. Harassed and cast out wherever they wandered, they could find no safe haven in a suspicious world.
Eventually there arose a leader among the Nevae, who brought dozens of his kind together. They formed a community of their own and defended their territory with the considerable skills they had developed over decades of wandering and surviving. From these dark, dubious beginnings the nevae have grown.
The Nevae are fiercely loyal to their own kind, and wandering Nevae will always be welcomed into any Nevae community they encounter. Nevae communities are orderly and small, and treat any non-Nevae as suspicious outsiders.
Personality: Nevae are almost always loners. Player characters normally start their careers by running away from the cold hearths of their parent to a life of adventure. They often feel they have nothing to loose and much to gain. Most are shy, discreet or assertive to an extreme. Nevae are usually shunned by other races, especially elves. Drow encountered treat them as abominations at worst, and lowborn trash at best. They attract attention for their unusual appearance and could easily be confused for a drow by the ignorant.
The Nevae struggle with adversity sometimes grants them insight into the humanoid condition, allowing them to interact with other races with empathy for their problems. Over the centuries, their reputation for
excellent diplomacy has earned them respect in many regions. Accept what you are and move on, or wallow in it. This way of thinking drives the Nevaes’ words if not always their actions.
Physical Description: Nevae typically stand from 4 1/2 feet to 5 1/2 feet tall and weigh from 90 to 140 pounds, with men the same height as women and only marginally heavier. They are graceful and slim, like their Elven brethren. They have smoke colored skin and silvery-ash hair, often mixed with strands of stark white or darker raven. They
never grow facial hair. Nevae have varying eye color—most commonly
that of a surface elf. They possess the grace and fine features of their elven heritage, but also the dark, rougher side associated with the drow. Many races find them both beautiful and horrific, much like one would find beauty staring into the jaws of a stalking predatory cat. Nevae achieve maturity at about 110 years in age, and can live to be over 700 years old. Like their parents, Nevae do not sleep. Instead, they go into a trance-like state to refresh themselves. They usually wear whatever is typical for their current region and climate, but prefer clothing with subtle, almost drab colors. They prefer light/medium armor (chain shirt), and are usually armed with longsword and bow.
Relations: Nevae are outsiders almost anywhere they go. Elves may tolerate Nevae once they realize they are not Drow, but the origin of the race is abhorrent to most elves. While Nevae feel some kinship with half-elves, they expect to be rebuffed and so treat them indifferently. Humans treat Nevae as either drow or half-elves, depending on whether they understand what the Nevae is. Because of their drow heritage, most will tend to distrust them until their virtue is proven. Nevae find some comfort and acceptance in nature if they can, are very introverted and
contemplative, and often seek out animal companions, familiars or simple animal pets.
Alignment: Despite their feelings of isolation from the rest of the world, Nevae are often strongly aligned towards good or evil, law or chaos. Only rarely are they neutral. Communities of Nevae, however, are
most commonly lawful neutral.
Nevae Lands: Nevae can be found mostly in lands where elves live and are or were subject to drow attacks. Their communities are usually in some isolated territory near such regions, but separated by
geographical features.
Religion: Most Nevae worship Elven gods, except for those most vehemently opposed to the drow.
Language: Nevae speak elven and common.
Names: The names of the nevae tend to be the same as elven or some derivative. The structure of the names do follow the elven way with family names usually being a name of something described in nature. Most have kept this tradition, but some have created their own distinctive names.
Male Names: See PHB for elves. Some natural nevae names are Antith, Broward, Castre, Daerk, Endrow, Felent, Gussoroff, Hawrold, Intillese, Jammace, Kwull, Lourtex, Maoiul, Noonnon, Opitullf, Pollox,
Queiek, Rasse, Sellerd, Tueghh, Univalce, Waldoree, Yasster
Female Names: See PHB for elves. Some natural nevae names are Axille, Brellette, Cucucmor, Duerk, Enigraw, Fallant, Gesseme, Hewardes, Itsamans, Jimmace, Kallak, Lutz, Mooiul, Naanaon, Owoloff,
Pendwelen, Quieeke, Resse, Slimmare, Talageth,
Unavolce, Wellette, Yessmam
Family Names: See PHB for elves. Some natural nevae names are Arsilath (Above mountain), Enyorenial (Battle home), Staciakerym (Star sword)
Adventurers: With their loner tendencies, this race is a prone to take up adventuring at some point in their lives before returning or joining some form of community and settling down. The reasons vary from wanting a better life, to a death wish, to exile.
Nevae Racial Traits
+2 DEX, +2 CHA, –2 CON: Nevae are graceful but frail, like their elven cousins. Their natural empathy helps in their relations with others.
Medium Size: As a medium-size creature, nevae have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Nevae Base Speed is 30 feet.
Immunity to sleep spells and similar magical effects.
+2 to saves against spells or spell-like effects.
Darkvision 60 feet.
Gain proficiency in wielding one of the following weapons: Longsword, Bastard Sword, Elven Thin-Blade, or Rapier.
+2 racial bonus to Search, Spot and Listen checks. Any nevae who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret door or concealed door is entitled to a search check as though actively looking for it.
–3 to Charisma-based skill rolls when dealing with other Elves (Except Half-Elves). With drow, this penalty increases to –6.
Light Blindness (Ex): Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as a daylight or fireball spell) has a chance to blind a Nevae for 1 round and the nevae must roll a Fortitude save equal to the spell DC (even if
the spell does not normally require a save.) Nevae are not affected by normal occurrences of light, just sudden flashes.
Spell-like abilities: 1/day dancing lights, darkness, and faerie fire. These abilities are as the spells cast by a sorcerer of the Nevae’s character level.
Automatic Languages: Common and Elven. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Sylvan, Undercommon, Goblin, & Orc. Nevae, like elves, commonly know the languages of their enemies as well as their friends.
Favored Class: Sorcerer.
Equivalent Class Level: Class +1
©2001 Thunderhead Games Inc.
Looking at this, I would think it would be possible to use the stats for the regular (non-noble) drow & adopt a good backstory.might also change their overall appearance.
I would say use either the normal stats for a regular elf or drow (non-noble of course), or make a slight mix like a regular elf with +Cha instead of Int and Darkvision 60 ft instead of Low-Light vision.
Similarly on a half-human half-drow i would just swap Low-light vision with dark vision.