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Afromania
Acolyte
32 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 00:21:22
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Anyone who knows Drizzt's level specifics?
I know it's rude to run in and ask like that but I'm utterly curious :P
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"He's going after Obould. All by himself," Bruenor growled.
"I would not want to be Obould, then," the halfling said with a grin |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 00:23:14
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Well, which edition my friend?
That could mean a great deal toward giving you the answer you want. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Sandro
Learned Scribe
New Zealand
266 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 00:29:20
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The 3e Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting gives his 3e stats, and some of the 2e source books give his 2e stats -- though I can't remember exactly which ones do, I'll have a quick look through for you if you do want the 2e stats rather than the 3e ones.
As for 4e, I don't believe any official stats exist. |
"Gods, little fishes, and spells to turn the one to the other," Mordenkainen sighed. "It's started already..." |
Edited by - Sandro on 18 Oct 2009 00:30:33 |
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Afromania
Acolyte
32 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 00:48:22
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Wow, that was really quick!
Well, I've no greater understanding of the editions, I guess the latest one would be preferred but I wouldn't like to bother you guys too much so any kind of info would do ^_^
I did find the information for Entreri in Wikipedia (though, before his latest adventures), and I'm not looking for anything more specific than Drizzt's level and specific Class-levels (Fighter/Assassin/Ranger etc).
Anything that comes to your minds?
As I said I'm simply curious during my reading of the last Saga released (Transitions). |
"He's going after Obould. All by himself," Bruenor growled.
"I would not want to be Obould, then," the halfling said with a grin |
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Penknight
Senior Scribe
USA
538 Posts |
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Afromania
Acolyte
32 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 01:44:56
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Whoa, how odd is that.
He's go a barbarian level but no assassin - I admit he didn't learn it but i just figured any drow to have it rofl.
Thanks a lot, should have guessed i could find it by myself.
Good forum though, considering the kind people, I'm here to stay i believe :D |
"He's going after Obould. All by himself," Bruenor growled.
"I would not want to be Obould, then," the halfling said with a grin |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36875 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 04:19:46
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| Being an iconic character, Drizzt has been statted out many different times, even within editions. Every time something new comes out that might be a better fit, he gets re-statted. I've seen *a lot* of discussions on how to best stat him out, and there's not a lot of agreement on the topic. And it doesn't help that he was created as a novel character (a sidekick, actually!), and not as a D&D character -- a lot of novel characters come close to fitting into some part of the D&D class structure, but never fit in as neatly as a character created purely for the game. |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3247 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 04:59:30
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| I think the 3E stats come closest to the story of Drizzt. The fighter levels are his training in Menzoberranzan, the barbarian levels are a result of his years as "The Hunter" while trying to survive in the underdark, and the ranger levels come from his training with Montolio Debrouchee and his life after he comes to the surface. |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Wenin
Senior Scribe
585 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 05:11:50
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| Drizzt was a sidekick? |
Session Reports posted at RPG Geek.
Stem the Tide Takes place in Mistledale.
Dark Curtains - Takes place in the Savage North, starting in Nesmé. I wrapped my campaign into the Hoard of the Dragon Queen, but it takes place in 1372 DR. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 06:56:03
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Yes, Salvatore was a big fan of the Moonshae Trilogy, and Drizzt was originally designed as a sidekick to Wulfgar...who was intended initially to be the main character.
As his writing unfolded, things changed...and here we are today with people all aglow over the brooding Batmanesque (if I can coin a word) Dark Elf with few giving a great deal of thought to Wulfgar. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36875 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 07:04:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Wenin
Drizzt was a sidekick?
RAS has explained a couple of times -- once in a Dragon interview -- that Drizzt was a spur of the moment creation. During a phone call with TSR, he was asked who Wulfgar's sidekick was -- and it was at that moment that he created Drizzt. |
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Sandro
Learned Scribe
New Zealand
266 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 09:10:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Wenin
Drizzt was a sidekick?
RAS has explained a couple of times -- once in a Dragon interview -- that Drizzt was a spur of the moment creation. During a phone call with TSR, he was asked who Wulfgar's sidekick was -- and it was at that moment that he created Drizzt.
Mm, when RAS wrote The Crystal Shard, the only published Realms book, period, was Darkwalker on Moonshae, and the only map the map of the Moonshaes therein, leading him to the misunderstanding that the Realms were the Moonshaes, and nothing more. Of course, in such a small setting, he figured that he'd have to have his characters meet some of Douglas Niles', and so used one of the characters from Darkwalker (forget who, sorry) to introduce Wulfgar and Bruenor, I believe.
However, once the true scope of the Realms was revealed to him, and TSR told him that they didn't want to share characters like they had in DragonLance, he was left having to make up a new character on the spur of the moment.
Hence Drizzt. |
"Gods, little fishes, and spells to turn the one to the other," Mordenkainen sighed. "It's started already..." |
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Afromania
Acolyte
32 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 12:37:31
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Didn't want to share characters?
Why i found so many characters shared and I've only read Drizzt's series (Cadderly / Alustriel are shared i believe, probably more?).
I'm so intrigued by how all this came to happen.
Gonna read about the moonshades now to see what i can find out :)
When i finish reading the Transitions I'm moving on to Elminster's series
Any other suggestions for a big Drizzt/DragonLance fan?
Especially I'd like to know if there's any continuing story-line after the "Ghost King" or something of the sort (doesn't have to include Drizzt, i believe he isn't in any other book series? if anyone knows differently please do share). |
"He's going after Obould. All by himself," Bruenor growled.
"I would not want to be Obould, then," the halfling said with a grin |
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Zeffaniah
Acolyte
30 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 13:28:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Wenin
Drizzt was a sidekick?
When I later discovered the actual size and scope of the Realms and was told that TSR did not want to share characters (as they did with the DRAGONLANCE saga), I was truly relieved, and that was the end of it--for a time.
Then the proposal got accepted, and when Mary Kirchoff, then senior editor in TSR's book department, told me I'd be writing the second FORGOTTEN REALMS novel, she reminded me that now we had to set the book thousands of miles from Doug's stomping ground, I needed a new sidekick for Wulfgar. I assured her that I'd get right on it and come up with something the following week.
"No, Bob," she responded, words I seem to hear too often from editors. "You don't understand. I'm going into a meeting right not to sell this proposal. I need a sidekick."
"Now?" I, in my never-before-in-the-world-of-publishing naivete, responded.
"Right now," she answered, rather smugly.
And then it happened. I don't know how. I don't know why. I merely said, "A drow."
There came a pause, followed by, in a slightly hesitant tone, "A dark elf?"
"Yeah," I said, growing more confident as the character began to take more definite shape in my mind. "A drow ranger."
The pause was longer this time. Then, in barely a whisper, the tremor of having to go tell this one to the mucky-mucks evident in her tone, she said, "What's his name?"
"Drizzt Do'Urden, of D'aermon N'achezbaeron, Ninth House of Menzoberranzan."
"Oh." Another pause. "Can you spell that?"
"Not a chance."
"A drow ranger?"
"Yup."
"Drizzit?" she asked.
"Drizzt," I corrected, for the first of 7.3 million times.
Takeout from R.A. Salvatore's foreword in The Dark Elf Trilogy.
For those interested, the rest can be read at Bob's (Salvatore's) homepage: http://www.rasalvatore.com/sidemenu/sampleChapters/de.html
Be good :) |
We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality. |
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 13:44:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Zeffaniah
"Drizzt Do'Urden, of D'aermon N'achezbaeron, Ninth House of Menzoberranzan."
Was this also the birth of the annoying use of apostrophes in drow names too? They're just added to look different aren't they. |
Death is Life
Love is Hate
Revenge is Forgiveness
Ken: You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
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Zeffaniah
Acolyte
30 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 13:59:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
quote:
Originally posted by Zeffaniah
"Drizzt Do'Urden, of D'aermon N'achezbaeron, Ninth House of Menzoberranzan."
Was this also the birth of the annoying use of apostrophes in drow names too? They're just added to look different aren't they.
I have no idea what so ever lol.
I think they're added so people have an even harder time to pronounce their already complicated names :)
But it looks good in my opinion, I don't know that much bout elven names besides those from the Dark Elf Trilogy, but it might've been something that just came into Bob's mind when he said out Drizzt's name loud.
I think that Sage might have far more experience than I when it comes to elven realms lore :) |
We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36875 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 14:36:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Kiaransalyn
quote:
Originally posted by Zeffaniah
"Drizzt Do'Urden, of D'aermon N'achezbaeron, Ninth House of Menzoberranzan."
Was this also the birth of the annoying use of apostrophes in drow names too? They're just added to look different aren't they.
I've always wondered exactly how "D'aermon N'achezbaeron" was shortened to "Do'Urden". It's like the way Jack is a diminutive of John -- a diminutive that's the same length and has no apparent connection to the original name. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36875 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 14:55:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Afromania
Didn't want to share characters?
Why i found so many characters shared and I've only read Drizzt's series (Cadderly / Alustriel are shared i believe, probably more?).
Cadderly is his own character, so it's not really sharing.
Alustriel and Khelben are both very prominent characters, presented all the way back in the Old Grey Box. For most authors, they're more like features of the setting than shared characters.
Most of the authors of the Realms create their own characters, and focus exclusively on them. There is very little sharing of characters created by another author. I can only think of two exceptions off the top of my head: Steven Schend's extensive use of Khelben Arunsun, and Elaine Cunningham's use of Elaith Craulnobur.
Khelben had been used by more than one author as a bit character, and Elaine used him as a supporting character -- but it was Steven who moved him to the front and made him a main character. Elaith Craulnobur was an NPC presented in FR1 Waterdeep and the North; no one had done anything with him until Elaine grabbed him. She's made a lot of very good use out of him, to the point that most people assume he's her creation.
But other than a reference or two here and there, those are the only characters I can think of that have been shared. You could say some of the drow -- particularly Gromph -- were shared in the War of the Spider Queen, but since it's listed as "R. A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen" I don't really consider it to be the same thing. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 18 Oct 2009 14:59:32 |
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Zeffaniah
Acolyte
30 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 14:55:44
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quote:
I've always wondered exactly how "D'aermon N'achezbaeron" was shortened to "Do'Urden". It's like the way Jack is a diminutive of John -- a diminutive that's the same length and has no apparent connection to the original name.
I thought that his name was Drizzt Do'Urden and that D'aermon N'achezbaeron was the family name/house name. |
We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36875 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 15:01:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Zeffaniah
quote:
I've always wondered exactly how "D'aermon N'achezbaeron" was shortened to "Do'Urden". It's like the way Jack is a diminutive of John -- a diminutive that's the same length and has no apparent connection to the original name.
I thought that his name was Drizzt Do'Urden and that D'aermon N'achezbaeron was the family name/house name.
Unless I am mistaken (and I could be, it's been years since I read any of those books), Do'Urden is the shortened form of D'aermon N'achezbaeron. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 15:05:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Zeffaniah
But it looks good in my opinion,
They look horrible in my opinion. I don't like names where it's obvious the writer has just made things up. I like Tolkien's approach as it adds verisimilitude. If things appear obviously made up then it takes away from the escapism that many enjoy in fantasy and role-playing.
Still, each to his or her own.  |
Death is Life
Love is Hate
Revenge is Forgiveness
Ken: You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 15:10:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I've always wondered exactly how "D'aermon N'achezbaeron" was shortened to "Do'Urden".
They're chaotic evil, apparently, so why should there be any logic to it.  That'll be the Planescape explanation anyway.
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
It's like the way Jack is a diminutive of John -- a diminutive that's the same length and has no apparent connection to the original name.
Jack is from Old English, and is the English version of John, which is more akin to the Latin. |
Death is Life
Love is Hate
Revenge is Forgiveness
Ken: You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3247 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 15:52:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Afromania
Didn't want to share characters?
Why i found so many characters shared and I've only read Drizzt's series (Cadderly / Alustriel are shared i believe, probably more?).
Cadderly is his own character, so it's not really sharing.
For Afromania:
Cadderly Bonaduce is the main protagonist of the Cleric Quintet series written by RAS. It's also the series that birthed Danica Maupoissant and the Bouldershoulder brothers, Ivan and Pikel. |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 15:54:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Zeffaniah
quote:
I've always wondered exactly how "D'aermon N'achezbaeron" was shortened to "Do'Urden". It's like the way Jack is a diminutive of John -- a diminutive that's the same length and has no apparent connection to the original name.
I thought that his name was Drizzt Do'Urden and that D'aermon N'achezbaeron was the family name/house name.
Unless I am mistaken (and I could be, it's been years since I read any of those books), Do'Urden is the shortened form of D'aermon N'achezbaeron.
Actually, though it has been a while since I've looked through it, I'm fairly certain this is explained in the Menzoberranzan boxed set. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 16:09:54
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Actually, though it has been a while since I've looked through it, I'm fairly certain this is explained in the Menzoberranzan boxed set.
It's been a while since I looked through the boxed set too, but I don't recall seeing it there. I'll have a look through this evening, if I have enough time after working. |
Death is Life
Love is Hate
Revenge is Forgiveness
Ken: You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Afromania
Acolyte
32 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2009 : 20:29:47
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The family name is shortened into Do'urden. Of that I'm certain.
Anyways, good discussion going around -
Is there like a "summary" of the whole history of the realms?
This way i might be able to pick certain time spots and characters i wish to explore ^_^ |
"He's going after Obould. All by himself," Bruenor growled.
"I would not want to be Obould, then," the halfling said with a grin |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3247 Posts |
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2009 : 00:53:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I've always wondered exactly how "D'aermon N'achezbaeron" was shortened to "Do'Urden". It's like the way Jack is a diminutive of John -- a diminutive that's the same length and has no apparent connection to the original name.
It would appear to me that "Daermon N'a'shezbaernon" was the ancient, formal name for the house, whereas "House Do'Urden" was the more modern, common, conversational way of expressing it.
quote:
Dinin [...] took out his neck-purse. From this Dinin produced the insignia of House Do'Urden, [...] emblazoned with the letters "DN" for Daermon N'a'shezbaernon, the ancient and formal name of House Do'Urden. (italics added; Homeland, P1:C1)
quote:
"Daermon N'a'shezbaernon," Dinin muttered under his breath, using the formal and ancestral reference to House Do'Urden. "Ninth House of Menzoberranzan!" He liked the sound of it. (italics added; Home., P1:C1)
quote:
"So thought House DeVir of House Do'Urden," explained SiNafay. "In our world, we must be as concerned with the lower houses as with the higher ones. All of the great houses would be wise now to watch closely the moves of Daermon N'a'shezbaernon, the ninth house that is known as Do'Urden. [...]" (italics added; Home., P2:C9)
quote:
Again a few interminable moments of silence passed. Firble could guess easily enough the identity of this hunted drow[...]. He pulled ten more gemstones from his belt pouch. "Name the house," he said.
"Daermon N'a'shezbaernon," replied Jarlaxle, casually dropping the gems into his deep pocket.
Firble crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. The unscrupulous drow had caught him once again.
"Not the ancestral name!" the councilor growled, grudgingly pulling out another ten gems. (italics added; Exile, P2:C11)
quote:
The insignia of House Do'Urden (the family whence came the hero Drizzt), for example, has [...] its abdomen emblazoned with the letters "DN," for "Daermon N'a'shezbaernon," the ancient and formal name of House Do'Urden. (italics added; The Drow of the Underdark 2E, C2:p.18)
quote:
Drizzt was born into the ninth house of Menzoberranzan,
called Daermon N'a'shezbaernon, more commonly known as Do'Urden[...]. (italics added; Heroes' Lorebook, p.45)
Perhaps "Daermon N'a'shezbaernon" is actually a phrase from an older form of the Drowic language--say, Ye Auld Drowe--with "House Do'Urden" being a phrase from a modern form of the language, akin to Auld English versus contemporary American English. There's lot of variation there, too.  |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
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Afromania
Acolyte
32 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2009 : 01:15:32
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| Thanks again :) |
"He's going after Obould. All by himself," Bruenor growled.
"I would not want to be Obould, then," the halfling said with a grin |
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Kiaransalyn
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
762 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2009 : 09:42:16
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
It could be that I've got my drow-sources mixed up. I'll admit, it's not a section of the Realmslore I visit often, so I could be kinda out of touch on this.
I skimmed the boxed set last night, but didn't find anything. Then again it's set after the fall of House Do'Urden. |
Death is Life
Love is Hate
Revenge is Forgiveness
Ken: You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass. |
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A question :)
