Drow Monk

Lateralus

At level 14 monks become 42% immune to magic. At level birth, drow become 50% immune to magic. So a drow monk would be 92% immune to magic at level 14 and 101% immune to magic at level 17.

An army of 17th level drow monks would take over the planet in like a week.

Lord_Tansheron

Drow racial bonuses are quite silly, I don't think they were intended to be playable in most cases. Whenever they were, the bonuses were curbed considerably. Something to do with growing up outside the Underdark or some sort I believe.

elminster

Getting an army to level 17 would be difficult by itself. Even then Drow technically should begin to lose MR while on the surface. So I think the planet is safe. At least from this kind of a drow plan

element

sir! a huge number of unarmed un armoured guys are attacking us, theyre punching the castle walls as we speak!

Lateralus

element said:

sir! a huge number of unarmed un armoured guys are attacking us, theyre punching castle walls as we speak!

I was thinking more like a plague of spiders climbing over walls and moving in the shadows. Side stepping traps and attacking with secrecy. :P

Southpaw

element said:

sir! a huge number of unarmed un armoured guys are attacking us, theyre punching castle walls as we speak!

And they have just breached the wall with a blast, screaming "KAMEHAMEHA!"

ZanathKariashi

In 2nd edition, magic resistance never stacks, even from class/race bonuses, only the best one is used...something BG didn't implement well at all. 3rd edition would let a few things stack, such as race/class benefits.

A just born drow has 80% magic resistance..and as long as they stay in the Underdark, that's what it remains (barring spells to reduce MR). They also get several extra spell like abilities, and double range infra-vision.

For every week they're away from the Underdark their natural magic resistance drops by 10% and they lose 1 spell-like abilities. They need to spend a like amount of time in the Underdark to restore them.

Viconia by all rights shouldn't have any magic resistance given how long she's admitted to be away from the Underdark.

A drow monk would be no stronger then a human monk as far as MR goes. If the drow stayed in the underdark they'd have 2% more then a level 40 monk at lvl 1, but it would drop over time until it hit whatever MR they current had from monk levels, if any.


And a PC drow would have no special abilities at all since they haven't left Candlekeep in nearly 20 years...just the base drow stats, double range infra-vision and a 20% xp penalty. On the other hand, they also wouldn't suffer the day-light penalty, since that takes 10 years of living on the surface with frequent sun-light exposure to get used to.

Lord_Tansheron

I know it's not feasible to implement, but I really wish BG had rules as intricate and complex as PnP

Lateralus

Lord_Tansheron said:

I know it's not feasible to implement, but I really wish BG had rules as intricate and complex as PnP

If anybody makes a per hoyle 2nd ed video game i will burn all of my other games

blackchimes

If I remember correctly, 3.5/PTH changed the Drow magic resistance so that when a Wizard/Cleric of equal level cast a spell, they have 50% chance to resist it. This is further affected, mostly in the caster's favor, by feats and stat bonuses.

Madhax

Wait, Drow in the Underdark have 80% magic resistance? Why the hell do they bother training so many mages?

ZanathKariashi

@Madhax

Because most magic worth memorizing is unaffected by magic resistance. They tend to use buffs, summons, utility, or otherwise use spells that either by-pass or lower magic resistance. Flying spells for instance are very important for travel because Faerezz blocks most teleportation spells, except over very short distances.

Damn near everything in the Underdark has some degree of magic resistance so loading up on spells that affect enemies is usually a massive waste of slots, unless you can attack them indirectly (Disintegrating the floor under their feet to trap them in a 10 foot deep hole, for instance, or using a LB to cave in a ceiling)

Tysonm1

Plus they need a mage in order to operate their underdark clock... come on, even they have to keep up with the times.

DJKajuru

You know, it's kinda hard to be a monk and achieve internal enlightement when you live in constant danger of being "eaten" by the spider goddess.

Lord_Tansheron

Ah, but where best to find your inner light than in a place of complete darkness? I'd think the Underdark would breed a very interesting sort of martial artist; sort of like deliberately going into dangerous places to steel yourself.

Goodie, a challenge! Or something along those lines.

Lateralus

So a 14th level drow monk would be 122% MR. If I were a drow, I would totally be secretly worshipping Viconia I mean Shar...well...whichever is hotter.

Southpaw

New monk kit: Hot Viconia Order.
Only available for elves, when you choose dark skin.
Advantages: base MR
Disadvantages: automatically loses saving throw against Charm upon meeting Vicky in Peldvale.