I think its important to think about how Underdark is supposed to be an entierly different climate to live in. I hope I don't step on any toes when I go on about this
ECL has never really worked well, and it is indeed tempting to allow for "drow-lite". Primarily for the reason that perhaps more players might try out the race. Also the pain of going through 2000 more xp compared to most other characters makes it even more pleasant to think about. Most wouldmprobably agree that more players is a good thing, I do so myself at least.
But as I said I think it important to think of the whole drow concept ->
As I see it, Drow would be best of to (read supposed to) start in a drow environment, they gain their first few levels down in the dark, adjusting to life as it is down there. This means that ECL "life" is standard in the underdark, and hence, the areas/spawns/tasks are modelled thereafter. (Or should be!)
What I am getting at, is simply that, life in the underdark is supposed to be harder. And harder = more xp, which levels out the fact that it takes more XP to level. the downside is of course that it is even more difficult to survive in the underdark... Which is what the underdark is all about anyway.. isn't it? So it's win-win.
So if the underdark, and ECL drow were a fact, and the "drow-lite" were introduced, we do indeed get the problem Mikayla mentioned above. Regardless how the xp rates would be set, non-ecl drow would fit in like a gun in a knifefight.
Of course one might say that other non-ECL races might reach the underdark too and upset the balance. Well to that I say they are meant to! There is supposed to be an imbalance between the two "worlds", the crucial point is that they would be outsiders.
I would imagine that the gameplay reason for the light sensitvity adjustment to the drow was becasue of this issue, that when a drow ventured to the surface they got nerfed since they would otherwise overpower almost anything they met.
For surfacers going down in the underdark, they are instead overwhelmed by the resistance and toughness by life there, this is not so much a problem if you go down there, you face higher risks. The problem only occurs for Drow going up to the "easy-life", that's why they have surface penalties, as I already mentioned
With this in mind, I echo Mikayla's opinion. non-ecl drow would stray from the concept of the underdark, and upset the balance within drow society. The supposed benefit of more easily played drow would come at the cost of upsetting game mechanics that have their roots in canon... Or so I'm bold enough to say at least.
If players want to play drow the easy way, There could be an answer however. I've seen various way to nerf drows coming to the surface, for above mentioned reasons. It would seem fitting then that, a section of surface drow might be applicable, or rather Renegade drow. While this category is the very one which is KOS in many instances, they have at least a precense in ALFA history and a much hated canon figure with dual scimitars
Anyway what I would suggest is a full removal of the drow powers, and perhaps that new "light adjustment" feat which removes the light penalties, this would essentially make them fall into the surfacers category. They would start on the topside world, and suffer the stigma of their racial background, without upsetting the balance.
Furthermore, in order to balance things out I would suggest that ECL-drow, or rather underdark drow, be free to play. while the ecl- free surface drow should be applied for. This fits in well since the primary reason why drow is not approved at the moment is simply becase the servers have no underdark sections and no drow support. This question would then instead be twofold. do they have an underdark? if yes, then drow is a free choice. If not, they may apply for a surface drow.
The downside to this, would be in the drow reputation as, weaker versions would create an image that "all" drow are this weak. If that is okay is a question I'd rather put to vote.
With all that said, I kind of lost the original point of having "drow-lite" to gain more players. if drow-lite would require an additional application porcess it's a fair guess that new players will be held off anyway. So perhaps the whole issue is moot.
If there are not a fair number of players who want to play drow-lite then I say this is all a waste of time. although I stand by all my suggetions herein and I think that they would serve the community well.
