How to Play A Drow - Starfinder

[@Kholan95]

I hadn't realized till now that Drow society has a lot of Bene Gesserit of Frank Herbert's Dune vibes.

[@Kholan95]

Also the races of K'n-yan by Zelia Bishop and H.P. Lovecraft.

[@Kholan95]

Especially the original write up before R.A. Salvatore got his hands on it

[@TheMapleTable]

In the galaxy exploration manual Paizo listed many of these names as inspiration for their work

[@jindrariley1824]

I agree! As I'm making my way through video drow remind ne of something between eldar from 40k and great houses of Morrowind 😅 Yet I feel like your description is more fitting 😜

[@lazerninga]

Oh, I just realized that Drow are the equivalent to Cardassians. On playing evil characters I think that tends towards “you stick with the party because they’re useful”. Narratively if a PC would betray the party I think it’s best in a situation where the character becomes an NPC and the player gets a new character. Like the drow is trusted with the mcguffin so he hitches a ride to ditch the party and head to Apostae to sell it. Player rolls up a new character who has reason to meet the party and also want to take down the old character.

[@lucasaugustovitalino534]

The Drow are my third favorite race, only behind the Aasimar and the Elves. (I was once the king of the elves by the way) Thanks for the great video as always you always make my days better with your content, thanks for being so amazing!

[@TheMapleTable]

Glad I could brighten your day

[@cliftonsills6939]

Using this to better flesh out my Drow Operative. Playing Fly Free or Die and Apostae is our next destination. Great video!

[@TheMapleTable]

Glad to hear that I could help!

[@louisbabycos106]

I like how you brought up the subject of anarcho-tyranny even if it was quite possiblity accidental ,like it was surprising somehow that the two concepts could not mesh . In the real world if a bad actor wants a highly centralized, totalitarian authoritarian regime the fastest way to achieve this is with anarcho-tyranny .

[@jarlupathingy7260]

Never let a Drow walk behind you then. Or handle the food or equipment.

[@TheMapleTable]

If you can't see them, assume they are trying to kill you :p

[@MisterZimbabwe]

If a Drow stands by as their hired goon kills your father without directly or indirectly personally killing or aiding in the killing of your father, then by Drow law they were practically defending your father.

[@steved2719]

I think of the Drow more like the Yakusa than the Mafia

[@MisterZimbabwe]

Drow: "You've been accused of the crime of being disgusting hideous non-drow during daylight hours, your sentence is death." Non-Drow PCs: "Wait, we're legally guaranteed representation by the Pact! Also, theres never any daylight on Apostae!" (Rolls nat 20 on diplomacy) Drow: An excellent point, but unfortunately LIES are not permissable as evidence. Guards, commute their sentence behind the chemical shed.'

[@fredx2570]

What a great channel. Good stuff!

[@TheMapleTable]

Thanks, glad to hear that you enjoyed it

[@nukamangaming8172]

Would you be able to make a video on how to set up appropriate CR encounters and skill checks? Also maybe one on making location maps (layout of ships and settlements and buildings?)?

[@TheMapleTable]

Sure i can add it to my GM series

[@dorobooya4721]

How does a society like the SF drow even persist? That's the kind of society that will collapse eventually I would think.

[@TheMapleTable]

Their planet is pretty much dead now :p

[@DashingSteel]

It's a food chain, plain and simple. Everyone is a predator and everyone knows that. Those at the top happen to balance each other out AND have different powerful demonic patrons. Those at the bottom and in the middle are constantly replaced by new slaves and endangered servants as well as thugs of all kinds. Maybe Drow still persist exclusively because of demonic meddling. Who knows.

[@dorobooya4721]

@@DashingSteel That would eventually lead to a lot of infighting and backstabbing until the society eventually collapses. And deities tend to be fairly exclusionary and selective when it comes to their followers, and since most creatures still have free will in SF, the outcome will still be pretty much the same.

[@DashingSteel]

You'd think that, but consider Game Theory. Not the cheesy KZbin chhannel, the actual science of Game Theory. Essentially in the game of Drow Survival everyone knows that everyone is shady, or at least ASSUMES so. That forces them to think preemptively, form unlikely alliances, wait for the others to move on them first and generally live and let die. Remember: Drow are elves. They live for centuries. Some of those guys were alive when The Gap ended. They know how to pace themselves and keep their vassals in check. Also, can't forget the key factor number 2: Racism. Drow believe in Drow Supremacy and therefore do anything in their power to keep the Drow Agenda rolling. I'm talking about the Top Dogs in this context, the wealthy elites. The heads of mega corporations might hate each other and occasionally steal tech or resources from each other, but they all agree on one thing: Drow ain't going extinct before anyone else does. Because Drow are the best and therefore entitled to it. So Drow society is highly organized when it needs to be but basically lets people in the ghetto do whatever they want. Plus the elites literally control all the water, food and air because no natural atmosphere or sources of food. Pretty easy to keep citizens in check when you can turn off breathing in their apartment if they fuck around. Basically, society built on backstabbing ruled by nigh immortal beings backed up by evil deities that specialise in backstabbing can handle any amount of scheming. Because whoever seizes control of any sort of power by killing the previous guy is forced do act within the interest of Drow Society at large or run the risk or being overpowered by the other powerful players that will install someone else who wouldn't rock the boat. Not to mention you can just revive the previous bastard because magic. If he didn't have contingencies like clones prepped for the occasion already.

[@louisbabycos106]

Look around . You will see this happening all the time everywhere around in the real world you but in a far more low key way than the embellished version of the over the top example of the drow .

[@lynngreen7978]

The Minor Psychic Ability (Limning Light) Feat is annoying. The race says you can take it at 4th level. But you don't *get* a feat at 4th. And the rules won't let you take the feat at 3rd, but not use it until 4th, because prerequisites. So what they really mean is, "you can take it at 5th, but we want you to think it is better."

[@Zeithri]

Yuck, Drow. The shittiest of Elves, no matter what setting they appear in. Not to be confused with actual Dark Elves which are normally good, or Mystara's Shadow Elves which are amazing.