Drow of the Underdark
Encyclopedia
Drow of the Underdark is the name of two supplemental rules books for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, providing supplementary game rules focusing on drow culture, equipment and folklore for both players and Dungeon Master
s.
in 1991, and focuses primarily on the drow of the Forgotten Realms
campaign setting
. The book features cover art by Jeff Easley
, and interior art by Tim Bradstreet
and Rick Harris.
This book details the nature of dark elves, dark elven society, drow religion (including Eilistraee, Ghuanadar/The Elder Elemental God, Lolth
, and Vhaeraun), the high history of the drow, drow spells, drow magical items
, drow craftwork, drow languages, drow nomenclature, and dark elven runes. This book also details the Underdark
of the Forgotten Realms, as well as several monsters of the Underdark (including the myrlochar and the yochlol
).
. The book's format and contents are similar to that of Draconomicon
, Libris Mortis
, and Lords of Madness
.
Although primarily intended for DM use, players can use information from the book to play as a drow character or half-drow character, as well as to fight against drow, or to adventure in the Underdark
in general.
This book was designed by Robert J. Schwalb
, Ari Marmell, Anthony Pryor, and Greg A. Vaughan
. It features cover art by Francis Tsai
, and interior art by Steve Ellis
, Wayne England
, Lars Grant-West
, Tomas Giorello, Jackoilrain
, William O'Connor, Richard Sardinha
, Beth Trott, Francis Tsai, Franz Vohwinkel
, Eva Widermann, and James Zhang
.
The first chapter contains general information about drow and contains few rules other than drow racial traits. A guide to drow names and their meanings is also included.
"Drow Options"
This chapter contains new uses for various skills, new feats (including general, metamagic, ambush, divine, vile, and weapon style feats), alternate class features for many classes, and new spells and invocations (some of which require the user to be a drow).
"Prestige Classes"
New prestige classes in this chapter include Arachnomancer, Cavestalker, Demonbinder, Dread Fang of Lolth Eye of Lolth, Insidious Corrupter, and Kinslayer. Each prestige class also contains a sample NPC ready for quick use.
"Drow Equipment"
This chapter contains new mundane, alchemical, and magic items, along with poisons, magic-infused poisons, and artifacts
"New Monsters and NPCs"
Numerous new monsters are presented in Drow of the Underdark, including the deep dragon, trolls, goblins, and draegloth. There are also numerous ready-to-use drow NPC statistics, both for "generic" NPCs (such as "drow slaver") and "specific" NPCs (like Xil'Etha Dhuvvaryl). Statistics for one monster, the vril, were accidentally left out of the book.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, providing supplementary game rules focusing on drow culture, equipment and folklore for both players and Dungeon Master
Dungeon Master
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Dungeon Master is the game organizer and participant in charge of creating the details and challenges of a given adventure, while maintaining a realistic continuity of events...
s.
Second edition
The 2nd edition "The Drow of the Underdark" book was written by Ed GreenwoodEd Greenwood
Ed Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
in 1991, and focuses primarily on the drow of the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
. The book features cover art by Jeff Easley
Jeff Easley
Jeff Easley is an oil painter who creates fantasy artwork in the tradition of Frank Frazetta.-Early life:...
, and interior art by Tim Bradstreet
Tim Bradstreet
Timothy "Tim" Bradstreet , is an artist and illustrator, best known for his work on comic books , book covers, movie posters, roleplaying games and trading cards.-Career:...
and Rick Harris.
This book details the nature of dark elves, dark elven society, drow religion (including Eilistraee, Ghuanadar/The Elder Elemental God, Lolth
Lolth
Lolth is a fictional goddess in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Lolth , the Demon Queen of Spiders, is the chief goddess of drow elves...
, and Vhaeraun), the high history of the drow, drow spells, drow magical items
Magic item (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a magic item is any object that has magical powers inherent in it. These may act on their own or be the tools of the character in whose hands they fall into. Magic items have been prevalent in the game in every edition and setting, from the...
, drow craftwork, drow languages, drow nomenclature, and dark elven runes. This book also details the Underdark
Underdark
The Underdark is a fictional setting which has appeared in Dungeons & Dragons role-playing campaigns and Dungeons & Dragons-based fiction books, including the Legend of Drizzt series by R. A. Salvatore...
of the Forgotten Realms, as well as several monsters of the Underdark (including the myrlochar and the yochlol
Yochlol
Yochlols are fictional demonic creatures in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. These lesser tanar'ri are handmaidens of Lolth, the drow goddess of Spiders, dwelling amongst the outer planes and being regularly summoned by the Queen of Spider's priestesses to witness sacrifices in the name of...
).
Third edition
The 3rd edition Drow of the Underdark is not tied to any specific campaign settingCampaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
. The book's format and contents are similar to that of Draconomicon
Draconomicon
The Draconomicon is an optional sourcebook for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, providing supplementary game material focusing on dragons. Different versions of the Draconomicon have been printed for different editions of Dungeons & Dragons...
, Libris Mortis
Libris Mortis
Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead is a book which is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game...
, and Lords of Madness
Lords of Madness
Lords of Madness is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Contents:It includes new content for aberrations including new aberration monsters and monsters related to them, and information on how to hunt aberrations.-What Is an...
.
Although primarily intended for DM use, players can use information from the book to play as a drow character or half-drow character, as well as to fight against drow, or to adventure in the Underdark
Underdark
The Underdark is a fictional setting which has appeared in Dungeons & Dragons role-playing campaigns and Dungeons & Dragons-based fiction books, including the Legend of Drizzt series by R. A. Salvatore...
in general.
This book was designed by Robert J. Schwalb
Robert J. Schwalb
-Career:His works for Dungeons & Dragons include: Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells , Drow of the Underdark -Career:His works for Dungeons & Dragons include: Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells (2006, with Robin Laws), Drow of the Underdark -Career:His works for Dungeons &...
, Ari Marmell, Anthony Pryor, and Greg A. Vaughan
Greg A. Vaughan
-Works:Grey A. Vaughan's role-playing credits for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game include Drow of the Underdark, Scepter Tower of Spellguard, Pathfinder #11: Skeletons of Scarwall, Anauroch: The Empire of Shade, The Twilight Tomb, and Pathfinder #6: Spires of Xin-Shalast.He was written...
. It features cover art by Francis Tsai
Francis Tsai
Francis Tsai is an American comic book artist, illustrator, author and conceptual artist. He is of Taiwanese and Japanese ancestry.-Early life:Tsai was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Lubbock, Texas...
, and interior art by Steve Ellis
Steve Ellis (comics)
Steve Ellis is an American comic book artist and illustrator who has worked for Wizards of the Coast DC Comics, Wildstorm, White Wolf, Moonstone Books, and Marvel Comics.-Early life and education:...
, Wayne England
Wayne England
-Works:Wayne England has produced interior illustrations for many Dungeons & Dragons books since 2002, and did the cover for Lords of Madness...
, Lars Grant-West
Lars Grant-West
Lars Grant-West is an American artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games.- Early life and education :Lars Grant-West was born in Brooklyn. He attended New York City's School of Visual Arts. As of 1997, he lives in North Scituate, Rhode Island...
, Tomas Giorello, Jackoilrain
Carlo Bocchio
Carlo Bocchio known as JackOilRain is an Italian illustrator and comic book artist .His style was strongly influenced by Simon Bisley, Justin Sweet, and by costume designer Bob Ringwood....
, William O'Connor, Richard Sardinha
Richard Sardinha
Richard Sardinha is an American artist based in Providence, Rhode Island, whose work has appeared in role-playing games.-Works:Richard Sardinha has been illustrating books since the 1980s. He provided the art work for At Lovecraft's Grave by Brett Rutherford.Sardinha has produced interior...
, Beth Trott, Francis Tsai, Franz Vohwinkel
Franz Vohwinkel
Franz Vohwinkel is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games.-Works:Vohwinkel drew the cover art for the book Dataware for TSR's Alternity game, and illustrated cards for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game...
, Eva Widermann, and James Zhang
James Zhang
James Zhang is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games.-Career:Zhang has done interior illustrations on a number of Dungeons & Dragons books for Wizards of the Coast, including Sharn: City of Towers , the Eberron Campaign Setting , Monster Manual III , Races of the Wild , Races of...
.
Contents
"All About Drow"The first chapter contains general information about drow and contains few rules other than drow racial traits. A guide to drow names and their meanings is also included.
"Drow Options"
This chapter contains new uses for various skills, new feats (including general, metamagic, ambush, divine, vile, and weapon style feats), alternate class features for many classes, and new spells and invocations (some of which require the user to be a drow).
"Prestige Classes"
New prestige classes in this chapter include Arachnomancer, Cavestalker, Demonbinder, Dread Fang of Lolth Eye of Lolth, Insidious Corrupter, and Kinslayer. Each prestige class also contains a sample NPC ready for quick use.
"Drow Equipment"
This chapter contains new mundane, alchemical, and magic items, along with poisons, magic-infused poisons, and artifacts
"New Monsters and NPCs"
Numerous new monsters are presented in Drow of the Underdark, including the deep dragon, trolls, goblins, and draegloth. There are also numerous ready-to-use drow NPC statistics, both for "generic" NPCs (such as "drow slaver") and "specific" NPCs (like Xil'Etha Dhuvvaryl). Statistics for one monster, the vril, were accidentally left out of the book.
See also
- Plot and Poison: A Guidebook to Drow was released in 2002 by Green Ronin PublishingGreen Ronin PublishingGreen Ronin Publishing is an American company based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2000 by Chris Pramas, they have published several role-playing game–related products...
. - Underdark is a supplement to the Forgotten RealmsForgotten RealmsThe Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign settingCampaign settingA campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, released in 2003 by Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
. - The Second Darkness Adventure Path, an Adventure PathAdventure PathAdventure Paths are serial adventures for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Though originally applied to the series of Third Edition modules beginning with The Sunless Citadel, the phrase has more recently come to apply nearly exclusively to several lengthy series, each consisting of...
centered around drow by Paizo PublishingPaizo PublishingPaizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
in 2008 and 2009.