Ellington
2009-09-26, 07:27 AM
I've always liked the idea behind the Dragon Disciple, but as most people know, it's horribly executed. I also never thought the class deserved ten levels. I'm not satisfied with the entry requirements as of yet as I think they're too low, but I'm not really sure what could replace them and still fit the fluff.
I need some help balancing this as I think the new ability scores might be a bit imbalanced and if someone could help me come up with better requirements, that would be great. I think this class is available at too low a level right now and I might just boost up the knowledge requirement to 10 or 12, but that seems cheap.
In short:
-5 level Dragon Disciple
-Breath Weapon every 1d4 rounds
-A choice between the abilities granted
-No bonus spells
Hit Die
d12.
Requirements
Race:
Any nondragon (cannot already be a half-dragon).
Skills:
Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks.
Languages
Draconic.
Special
The player chooses a dragon variety when taking the first level in this prestige class.
Dragon Disciple
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+0|
+2|
+0|
+2|Natural armor increase +1, Claws and Bite, Physical Ability Boost +2
2nd|
+1|
+3|
+0|
+3|Breath weapon 2d8, Mental ability boost +2
3rd|
+2|
+3|
+1|
+3|Natural armor increase +1, Physical ability boost +2
4th|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Breath weapon 4d8, Mental ability boost +2, Blindsense 60 ft
5th|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Dragon apotheosis, Wings,[/table]
Class Skills
The dragon disciple’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), and Spot (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level
2 + int modifier.
Class Features
Natural Armor Increase
At 1st, 3rd, and 5th level, a dragon disciple gains an increase to the character’s existing natural armor (if any), as indicated on Table. As his skin thickens, a dragon disciple takes on more and more of his progenitor’s physical aspect.
Claws and Bite
At 1st level, a dragon disciple gains claw and bite attacks if he does not already have them. Use the values below or the disciple’s base claw and bite damage values, whichever are greater.
A dragon disciple is considered proficient with these attacks. When making a full attack, a dragon disciple uses his full base attack bonus with his bite attack but takes a -5 penalty on claw attacks. The Multiattack feat reduces this penalty to only -2.
{table=head]Size|Bite Damage|Claw Damage
Small|
1d4|
1d3 |
Medium|
1d6|
1d4 |
Large|
1d8|
1d6|[/table]
Physical ability boost
At 1st and 3rd level, a dragon disciple increases either his strength, dexterity or constitution by +2. These abilities stack and are gained as through level advancement.
Breath Weapon
At 3rd level, a dragon disciple gains a breath weapon. The type and shape depend on the dragon variety whose heritage he enjoys (see below). Regardless of the ancestor, the breath weapon deals 2d8 points of damage of the appropriate energy type. When the dragon disciple attains dragon apotheosis at 5th level the damage increases to 4d8 points of damage. The breath weapon may be used once every 1d4 rounds. Use all the rules for dragon breath weapons except as specified here.
The DC of the breath weapon is 10 + class level + Con modifier.
A line-shaped breath weapon is 5 feet high, 5 feet wide, and 60 feet long. A cone-shaped breath weapon is 30 feet long.
Mental ability boost
At 2nd and 4th level, a dragon disciple increases either his intelligence, wisdom or charisma by +2. These abilities stack and are gained as through level advancement.
Blindsense
At 4th level, the dragon disciple gains blindsense with a range of 60 feet. Using nonvisual senses the dragon disciple notices things it cannot see. He usually does not need to make Spot or Listen checks to notice and pinpoint the location of creatures within range of his blindsense ability, provided that he has line of effect to that creature.
Any opponent the dragon disciple cannot see still has total concealment against him, and the dragon disciple still has the normal miss chance when attacking foes that have concealment. Visibility still affects the movement of a creature with blindsense. A creature with blindsense is still denied its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class against attacks from creatures it cannot see.
Dragon apotheosis
At 5th level, a dragon disciple takes on the half-dragon template. His breath weapon reaches full strength (as noted above), and he gains +2 to a physical and mental ability. His natural armor bonus increases to +3, and he acquires low-light vision, 60-foot darkvision, immunity to sleep and paralysis effects, and immunity to the energy type used by his breath weapon.
Wings
At 5th level, a dragon disciple grows a set of draconic wings. He may now fly at a speed equal to his normal land speed, with average maneuverability.
I need some help balancing this as I think the new ability scores might be a bit imbalanced and if someone could help me come up with better requirements, that would be great. I think this class is available at too low a level right now and I might just boost up the knowledge requirement to 10 or 12, but that seems cheap.
In short:
-5 level Dragon Disciple
-Breath Weapon every 1d4 rounds
-A choice between the abilities granted
-No bonus spells
Hit Die
d12.
Requirements
Race:
Any nondragon (cannot already be a half-dragon).
Skills:
Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks.
Languages
Draconic.
Special
The player chooses a dragon variety when taking the first level in this prestige class.
Dragon Disciple
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+0|
+2|
+0|
+2|Natural armor increase +1, Claws and Bite, Physical Ability Boost +2
2nd|
+1|
+3|
+0|
+3|Breath weapon 2d8, Mental ability boost +2
3rd|
+2|
+3|
+1|
+3|Natural armor increase +1, Physical ability boost +2
4th|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Breath weapon 4d8, Mental ability boost +2, Blindsense 60 ft
5th|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Dragon apotheosis, Wings,[/table]
Class Skills
The dragon disciple’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), and Spot (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level
2 + int modifier.
Class Features
Natural Armor Increase
At 1st, 3rd, and 5th level, a dragon disciple gains an increase to the character’s existing natural armor (if any), as indicated on Table. As his skin thickens, a dragon disciple takes on more and more of his progenitor’s physical aspect.
Claws and Bite
At 1st level, a dragon disciple gains claw and bite attacks if he does not already have them. Use the values below or the disciple’s base claw and bite damage values, whichever are greater.
A dragon disciple is considered proficient with these attacks. When making a full attack, a dragon disciple uses his full base attack bonus with his bite attack but takes a -5 penalty on claw attacks. The Multiattack feat reduces this penalty to only -2.
{table=head]Size|Bite Damage|Claw Damage
Small|
1d4|
1d3 |
Medium|
1d6|
1d4 |
Large|
1d8|
1d6|[/table]
Physical ability boost
At 1st and 3rd level, a dragon disciple increases either his strength, dexterity or constitution by +2. These abilities stack and are gained as through level advancement.
Breath Weapon
At 3rd level, a dragon disciple gains a breath weapon. The type and shape depend on the dragon variety whose heritage he enjoys (see below). Regardless of the ancestor, the breath weapon deals 2d8 points of damage of the appropriate energy type. When the dragon disciple attains dragon apotheosis at 5th level the damage increases to 4d8 points of damage. The breath weapon may be used once every 1d4 rounds. Use all the rules for dragon breath weapons except as specified here.
The DC of the breath weapon is 10 + class level + Con modifier.
A line-shaped breath weapon is 5 feet high, 5 feet wide, and 60 feet long. A cone-shaped breath weapon is 30 feet long.
Mental ability boost
At 2nd and 4th level, a dragon disciple increases either his intelligence, wisdom or charisma by +2. These abilities stack and are gained as through level advancement.
Blindsense
At 4th level, the dragon disciple gains blindsense with a range of 60 feet. Using nonvisual senses the dragon disciple notices things it cannot see. He usually does not need to make Spot or Listen checks to notice and pinpoint the location of creatures within range of his blindsense ability, provided that he has line of effect to that creature.
Any opponent the dragon disciple cannot see still has total concealment against him, and the dragon disciple still has the normal miss chance when attacking foes that have concealment. Visibility still affects the movement of a creature with blindsense. A creature with blindsense is still denied its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class against attacks from creatures it cannot see.
Dragon apotheosis
At 5th level, a dragon disciple takes on the half-dragon template. His breath weapon reaches full strength (as noted above), and he gains +2 to a physical and mental ability. His natural armor bonus increases to +3, and he acquires low-light vision, 60-foot darkvision, immunity to sleep and paralysis effects, and immunity to the energy type used by his breath weapon.
Wings
At 5th level, a dragon disciple grows a set of draconic wings. He may now fly at a speed equal to his normal land speed, with average maneuverability.