Tokuhara
2012-04-09, 01:23 PM
I was browsing my library and came across Drow of the Underdark. Remembering all of the "fun" things I did playing a Highborn Drow Noble Wizard, I thought to myself, "How cool would it be to DM an all-drow D&D/PF game?" Then, I dug further, and found Plot and Poison, Quintessential Drow, Encyclopaedia Arcana: Drow Magic, among other Drow-themed books (I'm a HUGE drow fanboy), and the ideas started flooding in.
So my questions:
1. How would an all-Drow campaign play out? I understand that Drow are "stronger" than the average character (worthy of 2LA from WotC), and with 4 distinct flavors (Drow, Half-Drow, Drow Noble, Szarkai), it would allow for a varied party to say the least (however, Half-Drow and Szarkai [aka: Albino Drow] need a Pathfinder upgrade), and with Drow being of almost every class under the sun, there is no such thing as a "Cookie Cutter Drow."
2. What could be the central plot? I'm a new DM, so 4 or so races makes my life a lot easier, along with the campaign probably taking place in the Underdark, all I need is Underdark monsters (Illithid, Aboleths, other Drow, Driders/Scorrows, etc.). However, I don't have a major villain that could fit the bill for being a threat to the Drow way of life, nor a situation that could warrant a 1-20 campaign.
3. I want to Pathfinderize a few classes, including the Dark Weaver and the Shadowcaster (possibly with an upgrade). What are some suggestions to updating these classes for PF. Not looking for direct homebrew, just suggestions. That being said, if anyone has PF-ized these classes, would be appreciated if you linked them. Also looking to add ToB (just a good book), Binders (ToM, fits fluff-wise), and some Drow-Exclusive PrCs (Justicar, etc.) as well as a suggestion that someone in the party take the Drow Paragon racial class. What other suggestions do you guys have, including flavorful/Drow-exclusive/etc. PrCs that are good. I plan on making a compiled list of "allowed" PrCs/Classes/Races/stuff.
4. Feats: The bane of my existence. I will allow anything from 3.5 and PF, but I would like some other suggestions for maybe banned feats, such as maybe a feat that doesn't work with the Drow as a whole (exalted), or is overpowered (Otherworldly). Suggestions folks?
5. WBL is one thing I've rarely had to deal with. Should WBL be on the high end (considering these ARE Drow, who most often have Adamantine weapons) or normal (enemies won't always be Drow, so the WBL may fluctuate).
6. I plan on going with a house rule that states if you aren't using Special Ammunition (Flaming Arrows, Arrows of Slaying, etc.), you have "unlimited ammo." Is this a good house rule, or does this hurt the game in any way. The reason I like this rule personally is that it's less WBL spent on ammo and more spent on gear, and more practically, less paperwork. Guns in this setting won't have this rule (Gunsmiths are few and far between, with maybe one or two in major drow settlements, like Menzzoberranzen[?]), and thus will have to be bought as equipment.
7. Any suggestions other than those covered. Would like that a lot.
Party will most likely be between 4-6 players and a DM (me), played on a Skype/Live hybrid and run from 1-20. I'm new to DMing, but I've ran a few encounters. Two of the encounters I designed were TPKs and one nearly was a TPK, so I'm a little heavy-handed and like to design difficult if done wrong encounters (one was a battle with some Gnoll Necromancers and skeletons with a group of skeleton knights. The Necromancer leader could revive the skeletons, and the party was on a 20 round clock, or else Avatars of Yeeoghnu and Orcus would be made from a pair of statues. The party was about 10th level, and 3 of the 4 players were either killed or in seriously bad shape. The Rogue/Assassin was the only guy in decent health.).
Thank you all for any tips/tricks/ideas/critiques/etc. that you post.
So my questions:
1. How would an all-Drow campaign play out? I understand that Drow are "stronger" than the average character (worthy of 2LA from WotC), and with 4 distinct flavors (Drow, Half-Drow, Drow Noble, Szarkai), it would allow for a varied party to say the least (however, Half-Drow and Szarkai [aka: Albino Drow] need a Pathfinder upgrade), and with Drow being of almost every class under the sun, there is no such thing as a "Cookie Cutter Drow."
2. What could be the central plot? I'm a new DM, so 4 or so races makes my life a lot easier, along with the campaign probably taking place in the Underdark, all I need is Underdark monsters (Illithid, Aboleths, other Drow, Driders/Scorrows, etc.). However, I don't have a major villain that could fit the bill for being a threat to the Drow way of life, nor a situation that could warrant a 1-20 campaign.
3. I want to Pathfinderize a few classes, including the Dark Weaver and the Shadowcaster (possibly with an upgrade). What are some suggestions to updating these classes for PF. Not looking for direct homebrew, just suggestions. That being said, if anyone has PF-ized these classes, would be appreciated if you linked them. Also looking to add ToB (just a good book), Binders (ToM, fits fluff-wise), and some Drow-Exclusive PrCs (Justicar, etc.) as well as a suggestion that someone in the party take the Drow Paragon racial class. What other suggestions do you guys have, including flavorful/Drow-exclusive/etc. PrCs that are good. I plan on making a compiled list of "allowed" PrCs/Classes/Races/stuff.
4. Feats: The bane of my existence. I will allow anything from 3.5 and PF, but I would like some other suggestions for maybe banned feats, such as maybe a feat that doesn't work with the Drow as a whole (exalted), or is overpowered (Otherworldly). Suggestions folks?
5. WBL is one thing I've rarely had to deal with. Should WBL be on the high end (considering these ARE Drow, who most often have Adamantine weapons) or normal (enemies won't always be Drow, so the WBL may fluctuate).
6. I plan on going with a house rule that states if you aren't using Special Ammunition (Flaming Arrows, Arrows of Slaying, etc.), you have "unlimited ammo." Is this a good house rule, or does this hurt the game in any way. The reason I like this rule personally is that it's less WBL spent on ammo and more spent on gear, and more practically, less paperwork. Guns in this setting won't have this rule (Gunsmiths are few and far between, with maybe one or two in major drow settlements, like Menzzoberranzen[?]), and thus will have to be bought as equipment.
7. Any suggestions other than those covered. Would like that a lot.
Party will most likely be between 4-6 players and a DM (me), played on a Skype/Live hybrid and run from 1-20. I'm new to DMing, but I've ran a few encounters. Two of the encounters I designed were TPKs and one nearly was a TPK, so I'm a little heavy-handed and like to design difficult if done wrong encounters (one was a battle with some Gnoll Necromancers and skeletons with a group of skeleton knights. The Necromancer leader could revive the skeletons, and the party was on a 20 round clock, or else Avatars of Yeeoghnu and Orcus would be made from a pair of statues. The party was about 10th level, and 3 of the 4 players were either killed or in seriously bad shape. The Rogue/Assassin was the only guy in decent health.).
Thank you all for any tips/tricks/ideas/critiques/etc. that you post.