Making your first Drow

NWN is based on the 3rd Edition Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) rules. Arelith may have a lot in common with the D&D lore, but Arelith does not equal D&D. Arelith has its own rulesettings.

If you have read books from Forgotten Realms (by R.A. Salvatore or the War of the Spider Queen series) then there are many things that you will find familiar, but keep in mind that Andunor is not Menzoberranzan.

Character creation

Gender

It is strongly recommended to start with a male. You will have easier time to learn about Arelith Drow society with a male Drow.

Roll up a basic male fighter or rogue, jump into some roleplay (RP) and learn as you go. It is the best way to answer all of your questions concerning Drow completely on your own while having fun.

Female Drow are hold to higher standards. Their small mistakes are punished much harder. Female Clerics are leaders and expected to act that way. Female, non-clerics, is also not the easiest thing to do, because you have to bear in mind that they are often seen as not having received the power that the female clerics were granted by Lolth.

Race

Select Elf. You don't need to fill subrace at this point. This will be done later in game.

Portrait

To play a Drow, you need to look like a Drow.

Drow appearance

Drow have black skin and pale yellow, silver or white hair. Their eyes are usually bright red, but some are known to have different coloured eyes, commonly much paler such as blue, lilac, pink or silver. They vary in height between 4'7" (1.4m) and 5'7" (1.7m), and weigh between 85 to 135 lb (38 to 61kg) on average. Almost all Drow are handsome, especially nobles as Lolth does not favour meek, plain or unassuming worshipers.

(See more about Drow here.)

Class

It is recommended that you start with a normal melee class (i.e. Fighter or Rogue).

Wizards are expected to IC posses certain lore that your first character will likely lack.

Do not select Cleric, Druid or Monk for your first character. You will have enough to discover and learn in Udos without the additional strains posed by RP of these classes.

Alignment

Drow are usually of Chaotic Evil or Neutral Evil alignment.

No Good Drow, No Drow living on surface

Non-good. If you select any Good alignment, you will not be able to select Drow subrace later.

If you intended Drizzt Do'Urden for your inspiration then you need to reconsider or seek different server. The only exception could be 5% roll, but even then your concept can be denied. For details see The Definitive Drow Policy, and why.

Abilities

Remember that Drow have additional modifiers that will be applied on top of your "elf" once you select Drow subrace in game.

Elf receives +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution.

Drow have additional +2 Intelligence and +2 Charisma. Those will be applied to your character later in starting area when you select Drow subrace and will be automatically relogged. After that those modifiers will be hardcoded on your character (you will be receiving additional skill point on level up from higher INT score from subrace.)

In Andunor

Few tips for the start:

• Read the dialogues with NPCs. They will provide you with basic information, guide you around the city and help you start.
• Don't be afraid to start roleplay with other Drow. They may yell at you in character (IC), but most of them are very friendly and helpful in tells.
• Mention in character that you "have just arrived" and are "new to city". You will often get guidance and advices IC which is much more fun then long out of character (OOC) explanations.
• Noble houses: take time to get to know all of them before joining one of them. This is decision that will have major influence on future of your Drow.
• Have fun!