Topic: Q: Drow

[EltonJ]

I'm going to convert the drow from AD&D to RMSS.  I know the original Creatures and Treasures had conversion guidelines for AD&D monsters as well as RuneQuest monsters.

The reason is, the drow have an important spot in my world system that I'm filling out on World Anvil. And I know that Rolemaster doesn't have drow.  But I'd like to add them.  Any help would be appreciated.

[katastrophe]

In what ways do you want them to differ from other elves in your world?

[EltonJ]

They come from a different planet than other elves?  Like the other elves come from the planet Arvandor.  They have dark skin.  Males have red (cool mauve) skin, and females have blue (night blue) skin.  Hair color can range from stark white, to light blue, light purple, and light green. 

I named the original drow planet Avalonea. They are also polyamorous, and typically have more than one mate.  Some drow are monogamous -- but they are the exception, not the rule.

Here's the article I wrote on their society:
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-orcs-of-kara-kar-eltonj/a/drow-society-ethnicity

Here's the article I wrote on their origins:
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-orcs-of-kara-kar-eltonj/a/the-way-of-the-spider-myth

The idea is not an evil race.

[katastrophe]

Is there a reason that you are not using the races from the Shadow World Atlas with some changes to appearance. Dark Elves in Shadow World are very similar to High Elves but are slightly more magically inclined. But they do have some stat differences which make some difference in chargen

My Greyhawk based campaign uses the Shadow World races to represent the different men, elves. orks, etc.

[MisterK]

Is there a reason that you are not using the races from the Shadow World Atlas with some changes to appearance. Dark Elves in Shadow World are very similar to High Elves but are slightly more magically inclined. But they do have some stat differences which make some difference in chargen

Probably because the Drow are much more different from the high elves in D&D than the Dyari are from the Iylari in SW.

But since you already changed the appearance of the Drow, I don't really know. Might be better to start from scratch and design the race you want for your setting. After all, these are visually (and possibly socially) not the D&D drow either, so...

Ask yourself a few questions beyond visuals (just to avoid the Star wars humanoid alien effect - humans in disguise):
- what are their typical strengths and weaknesses (if any) compared to the baseline race ? [Attribute modifiers]
- do they have supernatural powers ? supernatural weaknesses ? [Special features]
- do they have a favoured environment ? Are they vulnerable to some kind of environmental effect ? [Special features]
- are they culturally homogeneous, or are they as varied as humans are ? [cultural templates]
- what are their main cultural trappings ? Their "everyone knows that" skills that are taught to every child from the day they can start learning something ? [cultural skills]
- what are their social structures, and do they have a significant impact on their world view ? What are their cultural ideals, the virtues that they typically strive for ? What are the things their society despises ? [social stereotypes]
- How all of this was influenced by their creation myth and their beliefs ? Are their god(s) distant and uncaring (think Conan's Crom) or everpresent and meddling (the typical olympic pantheon) ? [rigidity of belief system and permeability to divine influence]
- do they have archetypes that are distinctive from other races and set them apart and sought after or reviled ? [professional templates]