[Mourn Yauntyyr]

Valid points in both posts. Mainly I wanted to make the point that the Drow are not overrated - they are potentially one of the most dangerous threats to any world they exist on.

The Drow are weaker, *on the whole* than surface races because of their constant infighting. But that infighting makes them a finely tempered weapon, one that took the combined forces of all Elvendom and all the human nations to force them underground. I don't think the Elven nations are tougher, one-on-one. Though I certainly have a healthy respect for suface elves: their archery is devastating, their guerilla tactics are second to none, and their wizardry is excellent. If the Drow fought them on the surface, I think the Elves would be at an advantage. But in the Underdark, the elves would have very serious problems dealing with the three dimensional nature of combat, the darkness and the might of the Drow in their own element.

When comparing troop strengths, keep in mind my last point in my third paragraph in the post above - the Drow have incredible access to slave cannon fodder. Drow birth rate and their infighting keeps their numbers low, but their elite troops (the Drow themselves) would be more effective than anything a human or elven force could deal with, unless it could greatly outnumber them and counter their masses of slave soldiers.

And you're right Azred, the Drow never really will conquer all, but they like to think they will. [img]smile.gif[/img] If they tried to mount a major campaign on a surface nation, they would quickly find that the devisive politics of the surface nations would be set aside for a common alliance. The general feel would be something like when Hitler invaded Russia in 1941; all past grudges would be set aside to combat a common foe.

That is why most of my Drow characters are Vhaeraun worshippers. Vhaeraun supports a policy of Drow unity contrary to Lloth's policy of continuing the current societal norms for her own amusement. Were Vhaeraun ever to succeed Lloth (granted this is highly unlikely), the Drow probably would conquer the entire Underdark. But they would recognize that fighting a prolonged campaign on the surface they would be at an incredible disadvantage in numbers and because of the light factor, and thus would set up trade agreements with the surface.

My point in these posts was not to engender any hard feelings, but I was incredulous when Azred said that the Drow are overrated. I've played them to a fair degree in AD&D Battlesystem where I've seen their armies absolutely devastate enemy forces. However winning the tactical fight (the battle) and winning the strategic fight (the war) are two very different things.

Vhaeraun zhaunil alurl!
(Drow proverb meaning "Vhaeraun knows best")
Mourn Yauntyyr
Elderboy, Qu'ellar Yauntyyr
The City of Tzach Neveril