[Mourn Yauntyyr]

Well, I think the Drow in the city were realistic, but that they were not tailored (at least in my case) for the BG II party that they were going to be facing.

However, if you think the Drow are overrated, consider again from the perspective of the average human community. Let's compare a human town of 5,000 and a Drow town of 5,000. In the human city, AT MOST only 5% of the population will be 1st level, and then most likely fighters, perhaps with a few clerics, paladins or rangers. 1% of the population will be expectional - above 1st level. That gives us 250 regulars and 50 elite troops (which would include high level Mages, Clerics, and Fighter-types). They could be augmented by their entire male population of fighting age, or roughly 35% of their total population - so that gives the human town an additional 800 0-level fighters with 4 hp each, and no training with weapons. So the human town, if severely pressed, can field roughly 1100 troops of differing quality.

However, in Drow society everyone must be able to fight - and well. At MINIMUM a Drow would be a 2nd level fighter (or some other class) or they would not have survived the treachery and trials of Drow life. They would be wearing chain +1, wielding 2 weapons (ambidextrously) that would also be +1 each. He/she would be specialized in one of those weapons, and would use a hand crossbow +1 firing bolts +1. All weapons would be coated in sleep poison. Their magic resistance will be 50% or higher. All Drow innately cast levitate and darkness once per day, and are trained to use these spells to maximum advantage. Drow cavalry will be mounted on giant lizards that would charge through densely packed infantry with ease, and will put the heaviest of human cavalry to rout. Also, EVERY Drow (accepting children) in a city can fight. This means that while a human city can really only draw about 20% of its population for battle, a Drow city can draw 90%. So the 1100 humans above would be facing 4500 Drow of better training, possessing better quality weapons, and supported by a greater percentage mages and clerics. They would also have a veritable horde of slave cannon-fodder. (Menzoberranzan, a city of 10,000 could draw well over 100,000 goblinoid slaves.)

If you are basing your comment after your experience in playing BGII, I can assure you that you thought the Drow were "overrated" because your own party was so powerful. Indeed, the level of characters played in BGII are beyond the level most characters EVER reach, and would be considered legendary heroes (on the level of Heracles, Achilles, Cuchulainn, Siegfried, King Arthur, etc).

There are reasons behind why surface races hate and fear the Drow so much. I say without a doubt in my mind that the Drow are the most powerful humanoid race in the AD&D game, perhaps closely followed by the Githyanki. If you doubt it, I am hosting an all-Drow server when Neverwinter Nights comes out. If you get the game, I welcome you to build a party of the best characters you can assemble and visit my city. My 50 players will give you a welcome that will quell any doubts you may have.

BTW, this is all straight out of the hardback 1st & 2nd ed books, so feel free to check my sources.

L'elamshin d'lil Ilythiiri zhah ulu har'luth jal!
(Drow proverb meaning "The destiny of the Drow is to conquer all")
Mourn Yauntyyr
Elderboy, Qu'ellar Yauntyyr
The City of Tzach Neveril