Someone pointed out to me that in 5E that they changed the point buy cap to 15. Now in previous BG games as well as NWN you could get that 18, but it was at a major cost to three other stats. This was back in the day when races came with negatives as well so you could rightly have I think a 3 in a stat, because I think in NWN you could lower other stats, but maybe I'm misremembering. Suffice to say, I am rather disappointed you can't at least purchase to a 16 stat. After all that would allow you to get that 18 if your race starts with a +2 stat bonus or be at a 17 for the +1. It also doesn't completely screw over a drow or another race from playing another class or force them into a class or race choice to get maximum benefit. I don't think one can truly completely move away from min/maxing just a little in order to be effective at the class you want to be in. I still think though that your race solely shouldn't be the thing holding you back from picking a class option. As far as people making fun of those that like to play Drow or Tieflings, as one that did play a drow ranger, rogue, and barbarian play who and what you like. If the GM allows it, let them balk. Drow are kickass and I daresay more interesting to play then most of the standard races. They have a deck stacked against them if they want to splinter off from Lloth regardless of reasons.
I mean can you fault drow for wanting to leave the worship of a society that literally promotes WEEDING OUT THE WEAK! And by weak I mean those that show ANY compassion at all. They are in the Underdark for a reason and it isn't because they were nice. That said that doesn't mean that all that are drow are inherently evil or even chaotic. The society in general that follows Lloth though is very much that though. The people with the power. Hence why for better or worse they are viewed as blood thirsty and with suspicion of their motives by the surface dwellers and other Underdark races. However, Drow are by far the least of your worries in the Underdark. Are they a threat? - Definitely. However, I do like how Faerun at large now doesn't just see all of the drow as the bad guys and gives them at least a chance to speak first outside of the normal evil haunts of Faerun like Westgate or other locales.
That said I am pro-drow! The only thing I am irked about is that Drow don't get the elven Perception skill at the moment. I get they get better darkvision, but that is very limited boon even with the racial unlocks. They really should have Keen Sense perk like all the other elves. That is really my only complaint about them at the moment.
