[3.5] Question: Drow AFC's.

[Yael]

I've read in a recent thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312111) that you can take the (in my very personal opinion) awesome AFC's that the Drow of the Underdrow offers. Is it true? Can they be taken by non-drow related races?

[Marnath]

I've read in a recent thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312111) that you can take the (in my very personal opinion) awesome AFC's that the Drow of the Underdrow offers. Is it true? Can they be taken by non-drow related races?

No. You have to be a member of the specific race to use racial ACF's.

[A.A.King]

I believe it depends on the DM a bit.

The Drow ACFs aren't Racial Substitution Levels like you see in the "Races of X" books. They lack the "to take this you need to be an Drow X about to take his n-th level" rule you see with Gnome Bard or Halfling Monk. The flavour text suggest it is just the thing for Drows, but the rules don't stipulate that it is just for Drows.

[Darrin]

I can't find anything definitive in Drow of the Underdark.

On one hand, it says these are racial options (page 45):

"This chapter explores the options available to drow characters, presenting new uses for skills, new feats, alternative class features, and new spells and invocations."

Again on page 57:

"Alternative class features are ways to customize a class by selecting abilities that best reflect a racial choice and character concept."

But a couple sentences later it says:

"Alternative class features have no prerequisites; you simply select them at the proper levels in lieu of selecting the standard class features."

While it says these are racial options for Drow, you can still offer "options" to a specific race that are also available to other races or to anyone at all, and nowhere in the text does it say that these options are explicitly not available for non-drow. So... I think that's probably a "DM's Call".

[Yuki Akuma]

I think the mongrelfolk racial ability to count as any race would let you take racial ACFs. Unsure.

The ACFs in Drow of the Underdark might not actually have a racial restriction, though. They're written weirdly.

[Pluto!]

It's one of the big "ask 2 people, get 4 answers" kinds of situations, both in RAW or RAI.

Usually for the sake of handbooking, character-building without a specific campaign in mind, and other cases where you're planning characters without a specific DM to get feedback from, I think it's better to assume that they're Drow-only, just to avoid coming to the gametable and being told that you need to redesign the character from scratch.

[Red Fel]

It's one of the big "ask 2 people, get 4 answers" kinds of situations, both in RAW or RAI.

Usually for the sake of handbooking, character-building without a specific campaign in mind, and other cases where you're planning characters without a specific DM to get feedback from, I think it's better to assume that they're Drow-only, just to avoid coming to the gametable and being told that you need to redesign the character from scratch.

Seconded. The bulk of the text cited by Darrin suggests that these are ACFs to be made available specifically to Drow. The exception ("no prerequisites") was most likely intended to mean no class or feat prerequisites, while still assuming the character involved was Drow. That is, admittedly, more RAI than RAW, but it's an easily supported argument.

In any event, take the safe bet that they're Drow-exclusive, and move along.

[Boci]

The problem with race restricted stuff is that WotC is very bad at differentiating between what a race gets genetically (for want of a better world) and cultural. The distinction is important, because the latter should be more accessible to other races. So I'd allow non-drow to take the ACF, but then I'd allow non-Race X to take Race X racial substitution levels with the right background story/enough downtime with the race in question.

[Flickerdart]

When in doubt, take Half-Drow and suck up being a glorified Half-Elf.

[Nocharim]

Most of the ACF's listed seem to fill a cultural niche instead of a truly racial one and aren't really that powerful anyway to actually warrant a racial restriction.

Besides, the only one really worth using seems to be the Hit-and-Run Tactics for Dex based fighters. Its not like tactics can't be learned and must be inherited on the genetic level.


When in doubt, take Half-Drow and suck up being a glorified Half-Elf.

By half-drow you mean Lesser Drow (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040215a&page=2), right?

[Xuldarinar]

I'd say there is no racial restriction, though they are tailored towards the culture of the drow.

Preferencial and a fluff-based association, but nothing more.



By half-drow you mean Lesser Drow (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040215a&page=2), right?

I believe they mean half-elf, possibly with the Drow Legacy (http://www.realmshelps.net/cgi-bin/featbox.pl?feat=Drow_Legacy) feat from DotUD.

[Snowbluff]

It straight up says there are no prerequisites. Requiring a certain race is a prerequisite.

On the other hand, I totally want to restrict my players from using these options that could improve their experience of the game by tying them to a lousy LA +2 race.:smalltongue:

[Darrin]

By half-drow you mean Lesser Drow (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040215a&page=2), right?

No. Races of Faerun p. 62 describes half-drow. They're basically the same as half-elves, but get Darkvision 60' and Drow-Blood: treat as Drow for all special abilities and effects.

[Just to Browse]

I've have never read any Alternate Feature Classes in Drow of the Underdrow, but I'm be eager to get my hands on such a book.

Also by RAW there are no prereqs, so it's legal.

[Snowbluff]

Drow of the Underdark is what I consider a good book. I'd suggest it.

[Just to Browse]

Underdrow.

[Nocharim]

I
I believe they mean half-elf, possibly with the Drow Legacy (http://www.realmshelps.net/cgi-bin/featbox.pl?feat=Drow_Legacy) feat from DotUD.


No. Races of Faerun p. 62 describes half-drow. They're basically the same as half-elves, but get Darkvision 60' and Drow-Blood: treat as Drow for all special abilities and effects.

It seems that it was not obvious that I know of the existence of Half-Drow and merely suggested a more viable alternative for drow related content.

[Snowbluff]

Wow. That is really... I don't have a pun. Someone help me out here.