Drow Diet?

[id795078477]

(female characters)
Drow weight 45kg. Half-elves weight 55kg. Human-like weight 65kg.

So.. why the drow are so light, is it intended? For the reference - that small observer orb in Minthara's quarters weights 50kg, 5 kg more than the female drow which is twice its size.

Intended?

[skullymex]

They're shorter than humans and most half-elves. (not sure if that's the case in the game but it is in the TTRPG). Not to mention i doubt they're maintaining the best diet.

[id795078477]

Originally posted by skullymex:

They're shorter than humans and most half-elves. (not sure if that's the case in the game but it is in the TTRPG). Not to mention i doubt they're maintaining the best diet.

They aren't, at least not in-game. Or I'm missing something. My female drow PC looks the same height and proportions as say Shadowheart or tiefling female NPCs

[War Maiden]

Originally posted by skullymex:

They're shorter than humans and most half-elves. (not sure if that's the case in the game but it is in the TTRPG). Not to mention i doubt they're maintaining the best diet.

Originally posted by Dellecross:

Originally posted by skullymex:

They're shorter than humans and most half-elves. (not sure if that's the case in the game but it is in the TTRPG). Not to mention i doubt they're maintaining the best diet.

They aren't, at least not in-game. Or I'm missing something. My female drow PC looks the same height and proportions as say Shadowheart or tiefling female NPCs

You are both right for the most part.

Drow Female: 45 kg = 99.2 lbs
Half-Elves: 55 kg = 121.2 lbs
Human Female: 65 kg = 143.3 lbs

Drow females eat quite well in the Lolthian cities, it's the males whom get the lesser quality food. On the surface, well, it is anyones guess, but since Drow and Elves in general pride themselves on their beauty, I doubt they would eat poorly.

In regard to the BG3 models, I think Larian just cloned them from the neck down for each and did not put the weight considerations aforementioned into them. Perhaps it is just for EA, and the actual differences will be reflected. It has been noticed before, and spoken about, so hopefully they will have it different than what we have now in release. The only model that isn't the same as the others is the Gith, for obvious reasons.

[id795078477]

Originally posted by War Maiden:

Originally posted by skullymex:

They're shorter than humans and most half-elves. (not sure if that's the case in the game but it is in the TTRPG). Not to mention i doubt they're maintaining the best diet.

Originally posted by Dellecross:

They aren't, at least not in-game. Or I'm missing something. My female drow PC looks the same height and proportions as say Shadowheart or tiefling female NPCs

You are both right for the most part.

Drow Female: 45 kg = 99.2 lbs
Half-Elves: 55 kg = 121.2 lbs
Human Female: 65 kg = 143.3 lbs

Drow females eat quite well in the Lolthian cities, it's the males whom get the lesser quality food. On the surface, well, it is anyones guess, but since Drow and Elves in general pride themselves on their beauty, I doubt they would eat poorly.

In regard to the BG3 models, I think Larian just cloned them from the neck down for each and did not put the weight considerations aforementioned into them. Perhaps it is just for EA, and the actual differences will be reflected. It has been noticed before, and spoken about, so hopefully they will have it different than what we have now in release. The only model that isn't the same as the others is the Gith, for obvious reasons.

I wouldn't be too pedantic about what visuals are there in-game so yes, I agree that in-game looks wouldn't matter that much. Still the question stands - why are drow so light?

[id795078477]

I think I found the answer. And the answer is.. the weight is just an arbitrary number and has little meaning. Examples:

- Lakrissa (female tiefling): 60kg
- Shadowheart (female half-elf): 55kg
- Danis (male tiefling): 50kg(!)
- Lae'zel (female gith): 45kg (?)
- Volo (male human): 60kg
- Wyll (male human): 65kg
- Halsin (male elf, no, I mean rugged bodybuilder male elf!): 50kg (??)
- Zevlor (male tiefling): 60kg
- Bex (female tiefling): 50kg (?? Lakrissa, another female tiefling is 60kg)
- Withers (supposedly male, skeleton): 50kg (?? there are mostly bones left)
- Gale (male human): 65kg
- Astarion (male elf): 50kg (?? same as Halsin, "The Chad" of BG3?)
- PC (female drow): 45kg (?? she is the same size and complexion as say Lakrissa but weights 25% less, how so?)

I mean, as for drow PC - not that I complain. To my understanding having small weight is somewhat an achievement for women (no offense meant here, just in case anyone decides to pick on this). But the assignment of that weight is somewhat random to my observation so I guess my initial question of "why female drow are so light" doesn't have any consistent answer to begin with.

[War Maiden]

While I appreciate your diligence in looking into this... It is a contested thing.
I say this because, due to your question, and my diligence to find you an answer, I found the PHB(s) of years, and the originator, and other sources have terribly contradicted themselves in said books.

I have read that apparently, Drow females are much stronger and bigger than their male counterparts, somewhat like the Amazons. However, there is also conjecture in same books on how they are smaller, only slightly in build than their male counterparts. While we might try to discern their true dispositions, it is, difficult at best. I am sorry, I could not give you a better answer, OP. It seems there is a terribly odd conjecture on Drow. It seems Fem Drow are sometimes bigger than Males, IE Amazon. It seems this is a bit more normal then the latter from reddit, wiki and other dissertations. So, Larian needs to choose whether to make Drow Females Amazonian, or leave them as the cookie cutter EA model we have.

Larian... I would much rather have a model that gives me a Wonder Woman 'Drow Amazon' person, however, if we are supposed to go with an 'Amazon' and one whom is supposed to be one whom is physically superior to a male, then I would choose someone whom is a better fit. Like someone whom is a bodybuilder. I hate to do this, but a Female Halsin version would meet the standard. Food for thought.

[Runic Tunic]

Originally posted by Dellecross:

Originally posted by War Maiden:

You are both right for the most part.

Drow Female: 45 kg = 99.2 lbs
Half-Elves: 55 kg = 121.2 lbs
Human Female: 65 kg = 143.3 lbs

Drow females eat quite well in the Lolthian cities, it's the males whom get the lesser quality food. On the surface, well, it is anyones guess, but since Drow and Elves in general pride themselves on their beauty, I doubt they would eat poorly.

In regard to the BG3 models, I think Larian just cloned them from the neck down for each and did not put the weight considerations aforementioned into them. Perhaps it is just for EA, and the actual differences will be reflected. It has been noticed before, and spoken about, so hopefully they will have it different than what we have now in release. The only model that isn't the same as the others is the Gith, for obvious reasons.

I wouldn't be too pedantic about what visuals are there in-game so yes, I agree that in-game looks wouldn't matter that much. Still the question stands - why are drow so light?

I'd imagine it's partially what others said (that being lore/environment reasons), combined with the standard fantasy trope of elves in general being more lithe and thin than other races.

Since standard elves are already lithe and thin, and since Drow have quite a bit of a different living environment than others of their race, WotC probably just wanted to change some minor features and stats to reflect that, as well as avoid making every Elf subrace too physically similar.

[Meiia79]

in D&D 5e Drow are shorter and smaller than other elves by several inches on average, this leads to lower weights.

The base height for wood and high elves is 4'6, with a height modifier of 2d10. High elves then figure weight with a base of 90 lbs times your height modifier by 1d4 and wood elves start at 100 lbs times your height modifier by 1d4. Drow start at 4'5 with a height modifier of 2d6. They figure weight by starting at 75 lbs times your height modifier by 1d6.

[Edstyles]

I guess it makes sense to be small in caves. Then again U see minotaurs living in there too xD

[id795078477]

Originally posted by Edstyles:

I guess it makes sense to be small in caves. Then again U see minotaurs living in there too xD

But drow are not smaller at all, you can just see it comparing drow with other races - stand near and see that it's same height, same complexion, same everything. Yes, I know - visuals may be the same just because Larian didn't implement it another way, but for now we have what we have.

[SketchyCoffee]

Originally posted by Dellecross:

Originally posted by Edstyles:

I guess it makes sense to be small in caves. Then again U see minotaurs living in there too xD

But drow are not smaller at all, you can just see it comparing drow with other races - stand near and see that it's same height, same complexion, same everything. Yes, I know - visuals may be the same just because Larian didn't implement it another way, but for now we have what we have.

so is your complaint about the standing height of the model? That probably wont be a thing they represent here, due to game play purposes or because its cheaper on memory.

[Enigmatory]

Originally posted by Dellecross:

(female characters)
Drow weight 45kg. Half-elves weight 55kg. Human-like weight 65kg.

So.. why the drow are so light, is it intended? For the reference - that small observer orb in Minthara's quarters weights 50kg, 5 kg more than the female drow which is twice its size.

Intended?

Drow are generally more slender and thinner then normal human. Its basic buildup same as halflings are human baby sized. Larian just didn't incuded these visuals. "Normal" drow about "one head" smaller then normal human. Same goes for all other physical qualities. If adult someone eat much more then they need they won't become taller they get fat or more muscular. There is ainu tribe(one of two) in real world they are small and they stay that way.