The Perfect Fit: Which Class is
Best for Drow?

By Ralsu

Now that the href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=265">drow
are here and swarming the streets of Stormreach, it's time to assess
their place in Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach. Drow get some
nice benefits from Level 1: +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, +2 Charisma,
Magical Defense (natural spell resistance of 11), and +2 bonus to
Listen, Search and Spot checks. Their only drawbacks are a nearly
inconsequential -2 Constitution and the favor a player must gain to
unlock them (see our href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=267">Patron
System guide for that). Well, maybe there is style="font-style: italic;">one more drawback...picking the
right class for my new drow!



The Case for Bard

I love playing a bard, but the racial traits of a drow really justify
that choice, too! +2 DEX will make my drow bard harder to hit by giving
him an extra point to armor class (AC). Also, it will improve his
checks on some important skills: Tumble, Hide, and Move Silently. It
will also help with ranged combat. The +2 INT will allow me to purchase
more Skills with my drow bard. I could even open up those runes that
have come to be labeled as "wizard runes." Finally, +2 CHA is perfect
for a bard. Bards get extra spell points and more powerful spells from
a high CHA score. Since so many of a bard's spells are enchantments
involving mind-control, the extra difficulty my bard gains from CHA
will be bolstered with the selection of drow on the character creation
screen.



The Case for Rogue

Rogue is the perfect class to take advantage of all a drow has to
offer. DEX and INT are the primary Abilities for rogues, and drow get
bonuses in both! Disable Device and Open Lock, exclusive rogue Skills,
benefit from DEX and INT, respectively. In fact, a bunch of Skills most
rogues love benefit from DEX or INT. +2 CHA will help my drow rogue
successfully use Bluff and Diplomacy more often. The former will lead
to some terrific damage from the subsequent Sneak Attack, and the
latter will help keep enemies off of my rogue when his Sneak Attack
does too much damage. Additionally, the drow racial bonuses to Listen,
Search, and Spot will make my drow rogue better at his job.



The Case for Sorcerer

Casting arcane spells in heavy armor is a huge gamble, so most
sorcerers never learn to wear it. The extra +1 AC that comes from the
+2 DEX drow Ability modifier will come in especially handy to
sorcerers. The +2 CHA will produce 38 additional spell points over the
life of my drow sorcerer. Those 38 points are enough to cast Lightning
Bolt once or Hypnotize three extra times. That's the kind of thing that
can turn a battle doomed to defeat into a tavern tale of triumphant
valor.



The Case for Wizard

My drow wizard appreciates the extra AC afforded by the DEX bonus. The
INT bonus leads to stronger spells and more spell points. The extra CHA
means my drow wizard will have greater success with the Diplomacy
skill. Magical Defense and the natural drow resistance to mind-altering
spells will help protect my drow wizard from mind control even if I
neglect the Wisdom score.

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It's Drow Week here at class="caps">DDO ;@ Ten Ton Hammer, and I'm making a new drow
character. What class should I play?
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The class that best suits a drow character is:

• Bard
• Rogue
• Sorcerer
• Wizard
• One of the other classes