Drow Spell Resistance

Gaelethon · Post by **Gaelethon** » Thu May 03, 2007 10:50 pm

Greetings.

I am recently from 2nd Edition AD&D, where drow have magic resistance between 50 and 80%. In Monsters and Treasure, they (along with driders) have SR 3. Am I interpreting correctly that this means they have spell resistance 10% (the chances of rolling a 1 or 2) or lower, depending on the caster's intelligence?

Thank you for any help with this matter. I am enjoying my first foray into the Crusade very much so far.

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Thu May 03, 2007 11:07 pm

Sounds about right. A 2e equivalent would be more along the lines of 10-16 methinks.
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu May 03, 2007 11:12 pm

Welcome Gaelethon, I would think that your estimation is accurate. Welcome to the Crusade good sir. My your steel never dull.

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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Fri May 04, 2007 6:18 pm

Drow spell resistance like res'stan'e, for the record. Ask Drizzle Do'Urden. Otherwise, the C&C listing is accurate, as they are not the same mostly-immune bastards from other versions.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Fri May 04, 2007 6:22 pm

One thing I'd like changed in the current version of the M&T is the weird SR roll. I think SRs should be bumped up a bit across the board, and then definatively describe the way in which you make a SR roll.

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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri May 04, 2007 6:27 pm

I require the SR to be exceeded in order to be "overcome". So the 3 is a 15% equivelant with that requirement. Since they need to roll a 4 or higher (without taking INT or WIS bonus into account, which does count, IAW errata).

Plus I add 1 point of SR for every class level I give the Drow. So a 9th level wizard in the "Against the Giants" modules would be SR 12. A wicked SR to beat, even with an INT or WIS bonus of +3.

Unless the PC spellcaster has a circlet that raises their relevent stat by 5 points. Then it becomes a bit easier for them.

Makes me contemplate running a game with no stat bonus magic items, including belts/girdles of STR.

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Fri May 04, 2007 6:27 pm

Originally, it was meant to be an unmodified roll, in that, you have to roll above the number on a d20 to have any effect. This means a SR of 3 has a 15% of blocking it outright, and a SR of 18 allows a 10% of the spell working (90% resistance, effectively.) The exact numbers were not mine... as Steve told me to not include them, since they didn't know how they wanted things to be, and all the rules for C&C weren't even developed yet. So, there are some rather high, and some rather low ones, as a result. I'd give a drow an 8, at least, and if a classed spellcaster, +1/effective level thereafter (nonspellcaster drow would not get this bonus.)

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:09 pm

serleran wrote:
Originally, it was meant to be an unmodified roll, in that, you have to roll above the number on a d20 to have any effect. This means a SR of 3 has a 15% of blocking it outright, and a SR of 18 allows a 10% of the spell working (90% resistance, effectively.) The exact numbers were not mine... as Steve told me to not include them, since they didn't know how they wanted things to be, and all the rules for C&C weren't even developed yet. So, there are some rather high, and some rather low ones, as a result. I'd give a drow an 8, at least, and if a classed spellcaster, +1/effective level thereafter (nonspellcaster drow would not get this bonus.)

I actually thought about giving the drow a base SR 8. But then when I decided to go with the old rule (houserule? Don't remember.) of increasing their SR with their class level it quickly got too powerful. Plus I am going to cap SR for Drow at SR 15, irregardless of their level.

So I stay with the base SR 3 and then add their class level bonus. So far it played out well. Of course they only fought Drow in the "Against the Giants" part of my campaign at 8th and 9th level, with the spellcaster (Runemark Druid) being 7th level most of the way through. Having her WIS at god like levels was a big help to making her spells effective most of the time. Her WIs bonus was +5 due to a WIS magic item.

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:15 pm

Quote:
But then when I decided to go with the old rule (houserule? Don't remember.) of increasing their SR with their class level it quickly got too powerful. Plus I am going to cap SR for Drow at SR 15, irregardless of their level.

This is why I would only do it for those specifically designated as spellcasters (ie, wizards and clerics.) Wizards, generally, are male, and have a level limit of around 7 or 9, which is just enough to make them disgusting (SR of 15-17 and 4th or 5th level spells), but the clerics would be allowed to go beyond that, to like 12th level, which would, in effect, grant "total" immunity; in this regard, only one cleric per drow society could be that level (the "chosen" as it were) meaning all others would be able to be 11th, or less, giving a SR cap of 19. Drow warriors and thieves and assassins don't spend the effort developing their spell abilities, and don't get the benefits of increased SR.

Just my way of doing things.

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:29 pm

serleran wrote:
This is why I would only do it for those specifically designated as spellcasters (ie, wizards and clerics.) Wizards, generally, are male, and have a level limit of around 7 or 9, which is just enough to make them disgusting (SR of 15-17 and 4th or 5th level spells), but the clerics would be allowed to go beyond that, to like 12th level, which would, in effect, grant "total" immunity; in this regard, only one cleric per drow society could be that level (the "chosen" as it were) meaning all others would be able to be 11th, or less, giving a SR cap of 19. Drow warriors and thieves and assassins don't spend the effort developing their spell abilities, and don't get the benefits of increased SR.

Just my way of doing things.

I actually like that logic about non-spellcasters. Plus it leaves the door open for drow specialists. Those specially trained to take down/assassinate spellcasters. Part of their class benefit can be getting the SR.

I don't do class level caps, so I have to go with an SR cap. Doesn't mean a "Chosen one" can't break the rules, but in general the 15 cap will be followed. If I even use Drow again later on in my campaign and have to worry about how it plays out at that level.

Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:43 pm

Gaelethon wrote:
Greetings.

Hail and well met, Gaelethon. Welcome!
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:36 pm

Quote:
I don't do class level caps, so I have to go with an SR cap.

For me, its not so much a level cap as it is a desire to keep drow somewhat like AD&D githyanki... if a drow were to become too powerful in the eyes of their tyrannical deity they are destroyed. One very powerful matron is allowed, though, hence the 12th level cleric allowance. Obviously, this is a personal rule, and in no way is it meant to be official.

BASH MAN · Post by **BASH MAN** » Sun May 06, 2007 6:45 am

Hmmm. I think I'd give Drow a base of 3 (as the M&T says) but +1/2 HD of advancement. So a level 8 Drow Priestess would have an SR of 7, and a level 17 Drow Fighter would have a SR of 11. The cap for this would be SR 13, at 20th level.
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simontmn · Post by **simontmn** » Sun May 06, 2007 6:57 am

I treat SR like AC and other Siege mechanics - caster rolls d20+level, equal or exceed SR to beat.

My drow have SR 23 in the Deep Underdark, 1e-2e style, SR 13 in the Upper Dark, and no SR on the surface.

Traveller · Post by **Traveller** » Sun May 06, 2007 2:28 pm

I have to admit simontmn, I like that. Nice and simple. I bet you've not come across anyone complaining that the mantle of spell resistance is broken because it has a SR of 21.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Sun May 06, 2007 5:16 pm

Traveller wrote:
I have to admit simontmn, I like that. Nice and simple. I bet you've not come across anyone complaining that the mantle of spell resistance is broken because it has a SR of 21.

SR should be looked at as open ended. Even an SR 30 can be overcome if your at least a 10th level caster with no stat bonus (likely to be at least +2 at that level). A 50/50 chance for a 20th level caster. Its just that for an SR starting to go above 15 in my campaign the creatures are going to be demons/devils/quasi-deific/etc...

Thats how I look at SR anyways. There were/are a number of things that I do like about 3E's design decisions. Open ended save modifiers and spell resistance are just a couple of them.

Maliki · Post by **Maliki** » Mon May 07, 2007 2:02 am

BASH MAN wrote:
Hmmm. I think I'd give Drow a base of 3 (as the M&T says) but +1/2 HD of advancement. So a level 8 Drow Priestess would have an SR of 7, and a level 17 Drow Fighter would have a SR of 11. The cap for this would be SR 13, at 20th level.

This is what I was thinking as well, now after reading serleran's post, I might give this only to the spell casters, SR 3 + 1 for every two levels.
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Gaelethon · Post by **Gaelethon** » Mon May 07, 2007 4:57 pm

My sincere thanks to everyone for the responses, welcome, and ideas. It has been a long time since I've seen a gaming-related message board with a friendly and helpful spirit like this one. Again, many thanks!

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:04 pm

I just converted the AD&D Monster manual forumula for magic resistance and adapted it for SR. It gives a fluid variable.
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simontmn · Post by **simontmn** » Mon May 07, 2007 9:39 pm

gideon_thorne wrote:
I just converted the AD&D Monster manual forumula for magic resistance and adapted it for SR. It gives a fluid variable.

Me too - I divide MR % by 5 and add 10 to get Spell Resistance (to a d20+Level roll). This effectively reduces MR by 10%, a straight conversion would add 12. 1e AD&D MR is based off an 11th level caster, which I reckon is equal to 9th level in my C&C game, ie it evens out.

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