Rule Update: Adjustments to Drow Skin Tone
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 12:57 am
Rule Update: Adjustments to Drow Skin Tone
After some discussion, the DM team has reached a decision regarding drow skin tone and there are adjustments that will be accordingly. This will not only better assist in the visual distinction of moon elves and half-drow, but bring the appearance of full-blooded drow in line with multiple lore sources:
A grace period of one month will be afforded current drow characters to align with these changes using the makeover tool. Failure to do so may result in DM intervention.
The rules have been updated to reflect this change and can be read here. Thank you for your understanding.
After some discussion, the DM team has reached a decision regarding drow skin tone and there are adjustments that will be accordingly. This will not only better assist in the visual distinction of moon elves and half-drow, but bring the appearance of full-blooded drow in line with multiple lore sources:
"Also called dark elves, the drow have black skin that resembles polished obsidian and stark white or pale yellow hair." - Races of Faerun, page 34.
"The skin of a drow can be any shade from dark gray to polished obsidian." - Underdark, page 10
"Obsidian-skinned kin to elves, this fell race has won mastery of magic—and a cruel reputation." - The Drow of the Underdark (AD&D), page 3.
"Drow vary in shape, features, and hair color as greatly as humans do. The only exception to this rule is their uniformly jet-black skin." - The Drow of the Underdark (AD&D), page 5.
These changes (ranging from dark gray to black and obsidian tints) will be made and implemented in the base game selection next update and all base game colors will be updated. However, due to UI limitations, players using the United Colors mod may only select from the following options:"All drow have black skin. This is not the dark hue common to some humans, but true black, the color of onyx or pure darkness. Skin tone varies only slightly from individual to individual, perhaps appearing a shade lighter on one, or faintly violet-tinged on another when viewed under very bright light; in any case, these distinctions are both subtle and rare." - Drow of the Underdark, page 36.
*Slight variances in how the colors are displayed might depend on the chosen head model and/or the user's screen and settings.
A grace period of one month will be afforded current drow characters to align with these changes using the makeover tool. Failure to do so may result in DM intervention.
The rules have been updated to reflect this change and can be read here. Thank you for your understanding.
