Drow Racial Weapons

[LiL KiNG]

Aside from the Scorpion Chain and the Drow Longknife, are there any other Drow racial weapons?

Hand crossbows are common, but not Drow specific.

Another question along the same lines; in our campaign we allow 'racial' weapons to be martial for their race instead of exotic. This opens up the Elven Courtblade, Thinblade and Swiftblade as martial weapons for Elves, Double-Axe and Shotput as martial for Orcs, etc. - would you allow Drow access to the Courtblade as martial since they are technically Elves? Or would you disallow it since surface Elves and Drow have two very different cultures?

Thanks in advance!

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

I don't know of any other Drow weapons, so can't help with your first question, however...

If you said to a Drow or an Elf that they in any way the same, methinks they'd be upset with you.

 

[LiL KiNG]

I agree with you on the second part Rumble. So do you feel the courtblade is a surface Elf weapon, or should/would Drow have access to it as a racial weapon per our house-rule?

The book Races of the Wild, where the courtblade shows up, only seems to describe surface Elves. But, Drow do favor fluid combat style and finesse-able weapons; hence their proficiencies with rapiers and short swords...

 

[Nebten]

Per your house rule, Drow should be allowed to use those weapons in the same fashion as their surface "brothers." Why should they be any different compared to wood elves (which are more brawny) or gray elves (which are more brainy).

They are subtype "elf", so that alone show allow them access to those weapons unless your DM says otherwise.

 

[LiL KiNG]

As written yes, I agree with that the 'Elf' subtype should work. Flavor-wise though it feels off... a surface Elf most likely won't ever use a scorpion chain or longknife.

We've been debating this as a group for a while tonight now, was just looking for other opinions here during that time. It looks like we're going to let him have it since Drow do favor finesse-able weapons per fluff.
I guess it's just my views on the differences between Elves and Drow, and their cultures and all. Though they share a common ancestry and many items are similar; elven cloak - piwafwi, etc., there are differences nonetheless.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

I'd rule that Drow did not get surface Elf weapons, but I'd be ok with a DM who felt differently.

 

[Samloyal23]

Did the weapon get invented before the schism between light and dark elves or after? Are there similar weapons among the drow that are called by a different name but have equivalent stats? Compare the katana to the claymore, in D&D they are both "bastard swords"...

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Did the weapon get invented before the schism between light and dark elves or after? Are there similar weapons among the drow that are called by a different name but have equivalent stats? Compare the katana to the claymore, in D&D they are both "bastard swords"...

Oh... well then, that's up to the DM's version of the campaign world. I could see a sweet encounter where a band of Drow meet surface elves, a battle ensues, then a personal challenge occurs between the two party leaders. Each draws his... wait, is that the same weapon? Now is the time to see who's style is truely masterful and which race is truely inferior!

...of course we're talking Drow and Elves. Such a single duel would not be honorable. The Drow would do something backstabby, then the surface elves would have thier hidden archers in the woods mow the remaining Drow down. Or something.

 

[kitcik]

...of course we're talking Drow and Elves. Such a single duel would not be honorable. The Drow would do something backstabby, then the surface elves would have thier hidden archers in the woods mow the remaining Drow down. Or something.

Exactly how I picture it.

 

[Samloyal23]

Oh... well then, that's up to the DM's version of the campaign world. I could see a sweet encounter where a band of Drow meet surface elves, a battle ensues, then a personal challenge occurs between the two party leaders. Each draws his... wait, is that the same weapon? Now is the time to see who's style is truely masterful and which race is truely inferior!

...of course we're talking Drow and Elves. Such a single duel would not be honorable. The Drow would do something backstabby, then the surface elves would have thier hidden archers in the woods mow the remaining Drow down. Or something.

Exactamundo... That said, drow weapons will be very aesthetically distinct, made with black adamantine alloys, spider motifs etched into blades, hilts shaped like spider legs, guards shaped like mandibles, et cetera...