drowhunting

Drowhunting is a term that has emerged within certain online communities, particularly those associated with fantasy role-playing games. It refers to the act of actively seeking out and defeating characters or players who are role-playing as drow, a fictional race of dark elves often depicted as inherently evil or villainous in popular fantasy settings like Dungeons & Dragons. The practice can stem from various motivations, including a desire to eliminate perceived antagonists within a game's narrative, a form of in-character griefing, or a meta-game strategy to disrupt other players' experiences.

The term and practice are not universally recognized or endorsed and can be viewed as controversial. Some players see drowhunting as a legitimate expression of in-game conflict and role-playing, while others consider it unsportsmanlike or disruptive behavior that detracts from collaborative storytelling. The perception and acceptance of drowhunting often depend on the specific gaming community, the agreed-upon rules of engagement, and the individual players' interpretations of fair play and role-playing ethics. Discussions around drowhunting frequently involve debates about player agency, the boundaries of in-game conflict, and the distinction between in-character actions and out-of-character harassment.