BTW, I also do find it utterly idiotic that humans, or ANYTHING can breed with an elemental.
I think they are referencing Genasi, but in this case they are wrong. The genasi nonhuman parent is genie, and they can assume a human form like dragons
Check out the creature type of genies. They only look humanoid, they're actually comprised of animated elemental matter: efreet are made of fire, marids are made of water, dao are made of dirt.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Humans in D&D are capable of crossbreeding with dragons and elementals, so no, genetics are obviously not involved because if there were, there's no way they'd be able to make babies with archosaurs or anthropomorphic campfires.
Tell me, all these cross-species hybrids, do they have traits that they acquired from their parents, or do they arbitrarily have traits that have nothing in common with their parents, or any of their ancestors (also known as genetic line)?
Well, a fire genasi always has the ability to cast Produce Flame and Burning Hands as racial abilities, regardless of whether their elemental parent was an Azer, Efreeti, Salamander, or an actual Fire Elemental. None of which have the ability to innately cast those spells. So it makes no sense that a half-drow character would have to roll to see whether or not they inherited sunlight sensitivity from their drow parent when literally no other hybrid race in the game has any such issue. Up through 3rd Edition, orcs had Sunlight Sensitivity as well but half-orcs never did.
BTW, I also do find it utterly idiotic that humans, or ANYTHING can breed with an elemental. I did not even know any source book allowed for that. However, a dragon in humanoid form, still is a dragon. That at least, while stretching credulity, is something that can be envisioned. But no, humans don't have sex with Dragons when they are in Dragon form.
Yeah, in other words, it's magic and not genetics.
Huh??? You have no idea what you are talking about. Genetics, even in the D&D setting, are involved in everything. A Dragonborn explicitly gains abilities directly attributed to the precise sub-species that is its genetic makeup. If the clan of a Dragonborn is Blue, they don't have little Dragonborn that breathe fire.
Humans in D&D are capable of crossbreeding with dragons and elementals, so no, genetics are obviously not involved because if there were, there's no way they'd be able to make babies with archosaurs or anthropomorphic campfires.
Tell me, all these cross-species hybrids, do they have traits that they acquired from their parents, or do they arbitrarily have traits that have nothing in common with their parents, or any of their ancestors (also known as genetic line)?
Well, a fire genasi always has the ability to cast Produce Flame and Burning Hands as racial abilities, regardless of whether their elemental parent was an Azer, Efreeti, Salamander, or an actual Fire Elemental. None of which have the ability to innately cast those spells. So it makes no sense that a half-drow character would have to roll to see whether or not they inherited sunlight sensitivity from their drow parent when literally no other hybrid race in the game has any such issue. Up through 3rd Edition, orcs had Sunlight Sensitivity as well but half-orcs never did.
BTW, I also do find it utterly idiotic that humans, or ANYTHING can breed with an elemental. I did not even know any source book allowed for that. However, a dragon in humanoid form, still is a dragon. That at least, while stretching credulity, is something that can be envisioned. But no, humans don't have sex with Dragons when they are in Dragon form.
Yeah, in other words, it's magic and not genetics.
Huh??? You have no idea what you are talking about. Genetics, even in the D&D setting, are involved in everything. A Dragonborn explicitly gains abilities directly attributed to the precise sub-species that is its genetic makeup. If the clan of a Dragonborn is Blue, they don't have little Dragonborn that breathe fire.
But it isn't actually genes dictating that. Magic or the gods decides that, not chromosomes.
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A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
Humans in D&D are capable of crossbreeding with dragons and elementals, so no, genetics are obviously not involved because if there were, there's no way they'd be able to make babies with archosaurs or anthropomorphic campfires.
Tell me, all these cross-species hybrids, do they have traits that they acquired from their parents, or do they arbitrarily have traits that have nothing in common with their parents, or any of their ancestors (also known as genetic line)?
BTW, I also do find it utterly idiotic that humans, or ANYTHING can breed with an elemental. I did not even know any source book allowed for that. However, a dragon in humanoid form, still is a dragon. That at least, while stretching credulity, is something that can be envisioned. But no, humans don't have sex with Dragons when they are in Dragon form.
It presumably wouldn't be possible in the real world - species interbreeding exists, but not with humans - so I'd suggest real world science isn't sufficient or even suitable to describe how cross-species hybrids work in D&D. As far as D&D cosmology is concerned, gods are real and created the various races inhabiting the material plane. How traits are passed on is anybody's guess.
That aside, real genetics and hybridization are pretty complex, and species is if I recall only the ninth step in an animal's categorization. Humans and elves would probably be in the same class (step 3), but not the same order. Humans and elementals wouldn't even be in the same kingdom - we'd need an even broader category for them both to fit in. None of these D&D hybrids are "cross-species", really. I mean, they are, but that's only scratching surface of the cross part.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Humans in D&D are capable of crossbreeding with dragons and elementals, so no, genetics are obviously not involved because if there were, there's no way they'd be able to make babies with archosaurs or anthropomorphic campfires.
Tell me, all these cross-species hybrids, do they have traits that they acquired from their parents, or do they arbitrarily have traits that have nothing in common with their parents, or any of their ancestors (also known as genetic line)?
Well, a fire genasi always has the ability to cast Produce Flame and Burning Hands as racial abilities, regardless of whether their elemental parent was an Azer, Efreeti, Salamander, or an actual Fire Elemental. None of which have the ability to innately cast those spells. So it makes no sense that a half-drow character would have to roll to see whether or not they inherited sunlight sensitivity from their drow parent when literally no other hybrid race in the game has any such issue. Up through 3rd Edition, orcs had Sunlight Sensitivity as well but half-orcs never did.
BTW, I also do find it utterly idiotic that humans, or ANYTHING can breed with an elemental. I did not even know any source book allowed for that. However, a dragon in humanoid form, still is a dragon. That at least, while stretching credulity, is something that can be envisioned. But no, humans don't have sex with Dragons when they are in Dragon form.
Yeah, in other words, it's magic and not genetics.
Huh??? You have no idea what you are talking about. Genetics, even in the D&D setting, are involved in everything. A Dragonborn explicitly gains abilities directly attributed to the precise sub-species that is its genetic makeup. If the clan of a Dragonborn is Blue, they don't have little Dragonborn that breathe fire.
I was a biology major in college. The way heritability works in D&D resembles actual genetics even less closely than the way the creature on page 39 of the Monster Manual resembles a member of genus Chimaera.
Humans in D&D are capable of crossbreeding with dragons and elementals, so no, genetics are obviously not involved because if there were, there's no way they'd be able to make babies with archosaurs or anthropomorphic campfires.
Tell me, all these cross-species hybrids, do they have traits that they acquired from their parents, or do they arbitrarily have traits that have nothing in common with their parents, or any of their ancestors (also known as genetic line)?
BTW, I also do find it utterly idiotic that humans, or ANYTHING can breed with an elemental. I did not even know any source book allowed for that. However, a dragon in humanoid form, still is a dragon. That at least, while stretching credulity, is something that can be envisioned. But no, humans don't have sex with Dragons when they are in Dragon form.
It presumably wouldn't be possible in the real world - species interbreeding exists, but not with humans - so I'd suggest real world science isn't sufficient or even suitable to describe how cross-species hybrids work in D&D. As far as D&D cosmology is concerned, gods are real and created the various races inhabiting the material plane. How traits are passed on is anybody's guess.
That aside, real genetics and hybridization are pretty complex, and species is if I recall only the ninth step in an animal's categorization. Humans and elves would probably be in the same class (step 3), but not the same order. Humans and elementals wouldn't even be in the same kingdom - we'd need an even broader category for them both to fit in. None of these D&D hybrids are "cross-species", really. I mean, they are, but that's only scratching surface of the cross part.
Certain cetaceans, canines (wolf/coyote, dog/coyote) and now, polar/grizzly bears (thanks Global Warming, their territories now merge) hybrids have now been documented, as well as mules. All of them share traits with one or both of the parents. So yeah, you are right about limiting the potential hybridization that is possible. It was deemed some time ago in the D&D world that humans were pretty fecund. Other D&D species, not nearly as much. But in each hybrid, the offspring does have traits of its parents, or somewhere down its genetic line.
So it is perfectly valid that some Half-Drow/ Half-Human chars would have Sunlight Sensitivity, some would not. I don't allow such a mix in my game, as Drow would kill such a spawn at birth, and Humans hate Drow just as much. But If did, and I had some power-gamer tell me "My Half-Drow gets Drow Magic!", I would say, "No problem, your char also gets Sunlight Sensitivity...you still want to be a Half-Drow?"
Humans in D&D are capable of crossbreeding with dragons and elementals, so no, genetics are obviously not involved because if there were, there's no way they'd be able to make babies with archosaurs or anthropomorphic campfires.
Tell me, all these cross-species hybrids, do they have traits that they acquired from their parents, or do they arbitrarily have traits that have nothing in common with their parents, or any of their ancestors (also known as genetic line)?
BTW, I also do find it utterly idiotic that humans, or ANYTHING can breed with an elemental. I did not even know any source book allowed for that. However, a dragon in humanoid form, still is a dragon. That at least, while stretching credulity, is something that can be envisioned. But no, humans don't have sex with Dragons when they are in Dragon form.
It presumably wouldn't be possible in the real world - species interbreeding exists, but not with humans - so I'd suggest real world science isn't sufficient or even suitable to describe how cross-species hybrids work in D&D. As far as D&D cosmology is concerned, gods are real and created the various races inhabiting the material plane. How traits are passed on is anybody's guess.
That aside, real genetics and hybridization are pretty complex, and species is if I recall only the ninth step in an animal's categorization. Humans and elves would probably be in the same class (step 3), but not the same order. Humans and elementals wouldn't even be in the same kingdom - we'd need an even broader category for them both to fit in. None of these D&D hybrids are "cross-species", really. I mean, they are, but that's only scratching surface of the cross part.
Certain cetaceans, canines (wolf/coyote, dog/coyote) and now, polar/grizzly bears (thanks Global Warming, their territories now merge) hybrids have now been documented, as well as mules. All of them share traits with one or both of the parents. So yeah, you are right about limiting the potential hybridization that is possible. It was deemed some time ago in the D&D world that humans were pretty fecund. Other D&D species, not nearly as much. But in each hybrid, the offspring does have traits of its parents, or somewhere down its genetic line.
So it is perfectly valid that some Half-Drow/ Half-Human chars would have Sunlight Sensitivity, some would not. I don't allow such a mix in my game, as Drow would kill such a spawn at birth, and Humans hate Drow just as much. But If did, and I had some power-gamer tell me "My Half-Drow gets Drow Magic!", I would say, "No problem, your char also gets Sunlight Sensitivity...you still want to be a Half-Drow?"
Sure animal hybrids exist, a mule is still fairly similar to its parent's. In D&D, a lizard and a human can breed and you get a human with the head of a lizard. That wouldn't work too well IRL.
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A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
Humans in D&D are capable of crossbreeding with dragons and elementals, so no, genetics are obviously not involved because if there were, there's no way they'd be able to make babies with archosaurs or anthropomorphic campfires.
Tell me, all these cross-species hybrids, do they have traits that they acquired from their parents, or do they arbitrarily have traits that have nothing in common with their parents, or any of their ancestors (also known as genetic line)?
Well, a fire genasi always has the ability to cast Produce Flame and Burning Hands as racial abilities, regardless of whether their elemental parent was an Azer, Efreeti, Salamander, or an actual Fire Elemental. None of which have the ability to innately cast those spells. So it makes no sense that a half-drow character would have to roll to see whether or not they inherited sunlight sensitivity from their drow parent when literally no other hybrid race in the game has any such issue. Up through 3rd Edition, orcs had Sunlight Sensitivity as well but half-orcs never did.
BTW, I also do find it utterly idiotic that humans, or ANYTHING can breed with an elemental. I did not even know any source book allowed for that. However, a dragon in humanoid form, still is a dragon. That at least, while stretching credulity, is something that can be envisioned. But no, humans don't have sex with Dragons when they are in Dragon form.
Yeah, in other words, it's magic and not genetics.
Huh??? You have no idea what you are talking about. Genetics, even in the D&D setting, are involved in everything. A Dragonborn explicitly gains abilities directly attributed to the precise sub-species that is its genetic makeup. If the clan of a Dragonborn is Blue, they don't have little Dragonborn that breathe fire.
I was a biology major in college. The way heritability works in D&D resembles actual genetics even less closely than the way the creature on page 39 of the Monster Manual resembles a member of genus Chimaera.
Sure, and I was a Biology Professor in college. And if you want to play word games about how a Monstrosity or Aberrtation is a playable species, sorry, not going there. The original Chimera was created by a Demon Lord. But they subsequent ones that exist because of of their mutated genes, that are now a unique species, are created when a Mommy Chimera and Daddy Chimera love each other very much. There is no Demogorgon with a "Stork" cap flying around, sprinkling Demon dust on human babies, turning them into Chimera's.
Half Drow must get their traits from their genetic lines. And that means some of them WILL have Sunlight Sensitivity.
Humans in D&D are capable of crossbreeding with dragons and elementals, so no, genetics are obviously not involved because if there were, there's no way they'd be able to make babies with archosaurs or anthropomorphic campfires.
Tell me, all these cross-species hybrids, do they have traits that they acquired from their parents, or do they arbitrarily have traits that have nothing in common with their parents, or any of their ancestors (also known as genetic line)?
BTW, I also do find it utterly idiotic that humans, or ANYTHING can breed with an elemental. I did not even know any source book allowed for that. However, a dragon in humanoid form, still is a dragon. That at least, while stretching credulity, is something that can be envisioned. But no, humans don't have sex with Dragons when they are in Dragon form.
It presumably wouldn't be possible in the real world - species interbreeding exists, but not with humans - so I'd suggest real world science isn't sufficient or even suitable to describe how cross-species hybrids work in D&D. As far as D&D cosmology is concerned, gods are real and created the various races inhabiting the material plane. How traits are passed on is anybody's guess.
That aside, real genetics and hybridization are pretty complex, and species is if I recall only the ninth step in an animal's categorization. Humans and elves would probably be in the same class (step 3), but not the same order. Humans and elementals wouldn't even be in the same kingdom - we'd need an even broader category for them both to fit in. None of these D&D hybrids are "cross-species", really. I mean, they are, but that's only scratching surface of the cross part.
Certain cetaceans, canines (wolf/coyote, dog/coyote) and now, polar/grizzly bears (thanks Global Warming, their territories now merge) hybrids have now been documented, as well as mules. All of them share traits with one or both of the parents. So yeah, you are right about limiting the potential hybridization that is possible. It was deemed some time ago in the D&D world that humans were pretty fecund. Other D&D species, not nearly as much. But in each hybrid, the offspring does have traits of its parents, or somewhere down its genetic line.
So it is perfectly valid that some Half-Drow/ Half-Human chars would have Sunlight Sensitivity, some would not. I don't allow such a mix in my game, as Drow would kill such a spawn at birth, and Humans hate Drow just as much. But If did, and I had some power-gamer tell me "My Half-Drow gets Drow Magic!", I would say, "No problem, your char also gets Sunlight Sensitivity...you still want to be a Half-Drow?"
Different species with the same genus can sometimes produce hybrid offspring, yes, but only because their genomes are compatible. In that case genetic material is passed on from both parents. That compatibility requires the genetic material from both parents to be almost identical though. A chihuahua could in theory breed with a great dane, despite their many differences, because they are both from the same (sub)species and their genetic makeup is really very, very similar.
But none of that applies in D&D. Humans and elves would likely be in the same class, but probably not the same order and certainly not the same family. If genetics were the mechanism that determined the traits of human-elven offspring there couldn't be such offspring in the first place.
Whether Sunlight Sensitivity not being a fixed trait of half-drow is valid or not is an issue for your table to decide. There's nothing wrong with either possibility. The notion that there's a genetical mechanism behind it on the other hand, that seems silly to me. Especially since traits that are not always passed on within a species are the result of dominant and recessive genes, and those don't seem to apply to racial traits literally every specimen of a race shares. A liger may or may not have rosettes, but that's because rosettes may or may not be a trait of the lion parent. A liger always has stripes, because the tiger parent always has stripes (although the liger's are much fainter).
Half Drow must get their traits from their genetic lines. And that means some of them WILL have Sunlight Sensitivity.
If genetics were the mechanism behind it that would almost certainly mean either all half-drow would have sunlight sensitivity or none of them would, rather than some of them inheriting it while it would be recessive in others.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Drow magic isn't from genetics (per se) but because of "the strange radiations of the Underworld where they live". Its why their magic weapons, cloak and boots rot when exposed to sunlight but gradually lose their potency no matter what....
Some drow are not 100% evil and they can probably be very charming to the opposite sex if they have a high CHA. Also on Faerun there’s a whole nation of half-drow (Dambrath).
Some drow are not 100% evil and they can probably be very charming to the opposite sex if they have a high CHA. Also on Faerun there’s a whole nation of half-drow (Dambrath).
As written in the module that detailed their homeland in Greyhawk (D3: Vault of the Drow) there is a tiny minority that are not degenerate nor Evil and in fact hate the society that they are forced to live in. The likelihood is higher among half-castes (one surface Elf parent) and outcasts (Half-Elf Drow). They will even help you overthrow Lolth (and maybe even travel with your party to kick Lolth's teeth in on her home plane in The Abyss).
Some drow are not 100% evil and they can probably be very charming to the opposite sex if they have a high CHA. Also on Faerun there’s a whole nation of half-drow (Dambrath).
As written in the module that detailed their homeland in Greyhawk (D3: Vault of the Drow) there is a tiny minority that are not degenerate nor Evil and in fact hate the society that they are forced to live in. The likelihood is higher among half-castes (one surface Elf parent) and outcasts (Half-Elf Drow). They will even help you overthrow Lolth (and maybe even travel with your party to kick Lolth's teeth in on her home plane in The Abyss).
Isn't Penelope talking about Fearun, not Greyhawk?
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A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
Some drow are not 100% evil and they can probably be very charming to the opposite sex if they have a high CHA. Also on Faerun there’s a whole nation of half-drow (Dambrath).
As written in the module that detailed their homeland in Greyhawk (D3: Vault of the Drow) there is a tiny minority that are not degenerate nor Evil and in fact hate the society that they are forced to live in. The likelihood is higher among half-castes (one surface Elf parent) and outcasts (Half-Elf Drow). They will even help you overthrow Lolth (and maybe even travel with your party to kick Lolth's teeth in on her home plane in The Abyss).
Isn't Penelope talking about Fearun, not Greyhawk?
The D-series of modules is set in Greyhawk. Products for the FR weren't released until the late '80s, the D series is from the '70s.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Some drow are not 100% evil and they can probably be very charming to the opposite sex if they have a high CHA. Also on Faerun there’s a whole nation of half-drow (Dambrath).
As written in the module that detailed their homeland in Greyhawk (D3: Vault of the Drow) there is a tiny minority that are not degenerate nor Evil and in fact hate the society that they are forced to live in. The likelihood is higher among half-castes (one surface Elf parent) and outcasts (Half-Elf Drow). They will even help you overthrow Lolth (and maybe even travel with your party to kick Lolth's teeth in on her home plane in The Abyss).
Isn't Penelope talking about Fearun, not Greyhawk?
Yes, but I'm also pointing out that in the very series where the Drow are fleshed out, there existed a tiny minority that weren't evil.....
Some drow are not 100% evil and they can probably be very charming to the opposite sex if they have a high CHA. Also on Faerun there’s a whole nation of half-drow (Dambrath).
As written in the module that detailed their homeland in Greyhawk (D3: Vault of the Drow) there is a tiny minority that are not degenerate nor Evil and in fact hate the society that they are forced to live in. The likelihood is higher among half-castes (one surface Elf parent) and outcasts (Half-Elf Drow). They will even help you overthrow Lolth (and maybe even travel with your party to kick Lolth's teeth in on her home plane in The Abyss).
Isn't Penelope talking about Fearun, not Greyhawk?
Yes, but I'm also pointing out that in the very series where the Drow are fleshed out, there existed a tiny minority that weren't evil.....
There have been multiple threads on this, where the experienced players with decades of game time, are shouted out by those that have played D&D a scant few years. Of course the Drow are an evil race. Of course any Drow that deviates from the norm will STILL encounter suspicion, prejudice, or outright homicidal actions. Any surface dwelling sentient settlement that has had contact with Drow raiding parties would automatically KOS a Drow. To play one means that the entire campaign must be turned upside down from decades of lore. Now, that was done with stuff like Eberron. But as I have stated before, the entire Eberron planet is incompatible with much classic D&D with its handling or species relations, magic, and magical technology, let alone classes like the Artificer.
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Check out the creature type of genies. They only look humanoid, they're actually comprised of animated elemental matter: efreet are made of fire, marids are made of water, dao are made of dirt.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Huh??? You have no idea what you are talking about. Genetics, even in the D&D setting, are involved in everything. A Dragonborn explicitly gains abilities directly attributed to the precise sub-species that is its genetic makeup. If the clan of a Dragonborn is Blue, they don't have little Dragonborn that breathe fire.
But it isn't actually genes dictating that. Magic or the gods decides that, not chromosomes.
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
It presumably wouldn't be possible in the real world - species interbreeding exists, but not with humans - so I'd suggest real world science isn't sufficient or even suitable to describe how cross-species hybrids work in D&D. As far as D&D cosmology is concerned, gods are real and created the various races inhabiting the material plane. How traits are passed on is anybody's guess.
That aside, real genetics and hybridization are pretty complex, and species is if I recall only the ninth step in an animal's categorization. Humans and elves would probably be in the same class (step 3), but not the same order. Humans and elementals wouldn't even be in the same kingdom - we'd need an even broader category for them both to fit in. None of these D&D hybrids are "cross-species", really. I mean, they are, but that's only scratching surface of the cross part.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I was a biology major in college. The way heritability works in D&D resembles actual genetics even less closely than the way the creature on page 39 of the Monster Manual resembles a member of genus Chimaera.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Certain cetaceans, canines (wolf/coyote, dog/coyote) and now, polar/grizzly bears (thanks Global Warming, their territories now merge) hybrids have now been documented, as well as mules. All of them share traits with one or both of the parents. So yeah, you are right about limiting the potential hybridization that is possible. It was deemed some time ago in the D&D world that humans were pretty fecund. Other D&D species, not nearly as much. But in each hybrid, the offspring does have traits of its parents, or somewhere down its genetic line.
So it is perfectly valid that some Half-Drow/ Half-Human chars would have Sunlight Sensitivity, some would not. I don't allow such a mix in my game, as Drow would kill such a spawn at birth, and Humans hate Drow just as much. But If did, and I had some power-gamer tell me "My Half-Drow gets Drow Magic!", I would say, "No problem, your char also gets Sunlight Sensitivity...you still want to be a Half-Drow?"
Sure animal hybrids exist, a mule is still fairly similar to its parent's. In D&D, a lizard and a human can breed and you get a human with the head of a lizard. That wouldn't work too well IRL.
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
Sure, and I was a Biology Professor in college. And if you want to play word games about how a Monstrosity or Aberrtation is a playable species, sorry, not going there. The original Chimera was created by a Demon Lord. But they subsequent ones that exist because of of their mutated genes, that are now a unique species, are created when a Mommy Chimera and Daddy Chimera love each other very much. There is no Demogorgon with a "Stork" cap flying around, sprinkling Demon dust on human babies, turning them into Chimera's.
Half Drow must get their traits from their genetic lines. And that means some of them WILL have Sunlight Sensitivity.
Different species with the same genus can sometimes produce hybrid offspring, yes, but only because their genomes are compatible. In that case genetic material is passed on from both parents. That compatibility requires the genetic material from both parents to be almost identical though. A chihuahua could in theory breed with a great dane, despite their many differences, because they are both from the same (sub)species and their genetic makeup is really very, very similar.
But none of that applies in D&D. Humans and elves would likely be in the same class, but probably not the same order and certainly not the same family. If genetics were the mechanism that determined the traits of human-elven offspring there couldn't be such offspring in the first place.
Whether Sunlight Sensitivity not being a fixed trait of half-drow is valid or not is an issue for your table to decide. There's nothing wrong with either possibility. The notion that there's a genetical mechanism behind it on the other hand, that seems silly to me. Especially since traits that are not always passed on within a species are the result of dominant and recessive genes, and those don't seem to apply to racial traits literally every specimen of a race shares. A liger may or may not have rosettes, but that's because rosettes may or may not be a trait of the lion parent. A liger always has stripes, because the tiger parent always has stripes (although the liger's are much fainter).
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
If genetics were the mechanism behind it that would almost certainly mean either all half-drow would have sunlight sensitivity or none of them would, rather than some of them inheriting it while it would be recessive in others.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Drow magic isn't from genetics (per se) but because of "the strange radiations of the Underworld where they live". Its why their magic weapons, cloak and boots rot when exposed to sunlight but gradually lose their potency no matter what....
dear gods what have I started
what are you even fighting about
Er ek geng, þat er í þeim skóm er ek valda.
UwU
The "correct" way to derive stats from the hybridization of two imaginary creatures.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Some drow are not 100% evil and they can probably be very charming to the opposite sex if they have a high CHA. Also on Faerun there’s a whole nation of half-drow (Dambrath).
As written in the module that detailed their homeland in Greyhawk (D3: Vault of the Drow) there is a tiny minority that are not degenerate nor Evil and in fact hate the society that they are forced to live in. The likelihood is higher among half-castes (one surface Elf parent) and outcasts (Half-Elf Drow). They will even help you overthrow Lolth (and maybe even travel with your party to kick Lolth's teeth in on her home plane in The Abyss).
Isn't Penelope talking about Fearun, not Greyhawk?
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
Like all good fantasy, it started off with plot and story, and led to genetics, genomes, and the practicalities of hybridization.
The D-series of modules is set in Greyhawk. Products for the FR weren't released until the late '80s, the D series is from the '70s.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Yes, but I'm also pointing out that in the very series where the Drow are fleshed out, there existed a tiny minority that weren't evil.....
There have been multiple threads on this, where the experienced players with decades of game time, are shouted out by those that have played D&D a scant few years. Of course the Drow are an evil race. Of course any Drow that deviates from the norm will STILL encounter suspicion, prejudice, or outright homicidal actions. Any surface dwelling sentient settlement that has had contact with Drow raiding parties would automatically KOS a Drow. To play one means that the entire campaign must be turned upside down from decades of lore. Now, that was done with stuff like Eberron. But as I have stated before, the entire Eberron planet is incompatible with much classic D&D with its handling or species relations, magic, and magical technology, let alone classes like the Artificer.