Dragon PC

[kirerellim]

Ok I know one of the dragons book says you can play a dragon as a level 8 player or something, but I can't find which one. Anyone know where exactly?

[Forrestfire]

Most true dragons have a level adjustment listed for the younger age categories, and it depends on the type of dragon.

The Draconomicon has a list of which dragons hit which level at whatever age category, iirc. Dragon Magazine #320 turns the Metallic Dragons into Savage Species-style monster classes, and #332 does the same for the Chromatic ones.

Do note that most of these are going to end up weaker than a normal character with the same amount of levels, if only because of the way LA works. For instance, a wyrmling Red Dragon is a level 11 character... and would lose in a fight against almost any level 11 character, isn't going to be as useful as almost any level 11 character, etc...

[Coidzor]

Depends on the dragon you want to play and its Level Adjustment and Racial Hit Dice.

Or possibly the nature of the Monstrous Class (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=270.0).

This should help you understand your options as far as what dragons are playable and what roles they best serve. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303204)

And this should help with LA and the like. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207928)

[Xervous]

If you want an optimal (I might even venture to say playable if the rest of the party is of a sufficient optimization level), your choice lies between the steel or the mercury dragon.

Steel: 4HD 2LA, alternate form, 1 level of sorc casting. Makes for amazing gishing and/or casting.

Mercury: 3HD 2LA, 200 perfect flight.


Pick up a sovereign archetype:
Loredrake: HD go to d10s, +2 sorc casting (basically only steel)
Wyrm of War: proficiency with all simple and martial weapons and armor, bonus feats every 4 levels (dragon or fighter feats)

[Ruethgar]

The Book of Dragon's by Mongoose has a template set out so you can make your own true style dragon there-by letting you pick a route with less LA and power while also being able to customize how awesome your character looks. However this would require Savage Species to determine LA.

[kirerellim]

That mercury looks beautiful lol I'm gonna have to go with that. Thanks for all the advice, I thought there was just a simple passage somewhere about playing a dragon in one of the many dragon books ><

[Zweisteine]

A wyrmling white dragon has ECL 5, which lets you have three class levels if you're at level 8.

A wyrmling black dragon has ECL 7, which allows one class level. I'd recommend the white over this by a long shot.

And if you plan on playing a dragon, you MUST read this guide (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207928). It will prevent a lot of the mistakes you'll probably make trying to play a dragon.

[Ruethgar]

Of course you can make a far more playable dragon with a kobold.

[kirerellim]

Where did you find steel and mercury dragons at?

Edit: found it! New question, does gaseous form offer any increased defense beside 10/ damage reduction

[Yogibear41]

The passage you are looking for is in draconomicon, starting on page 141.

[kirerellim]

Ah! That's it thank you!

[Particle_Man]

Don't forget this little guy. Telepathy and nice Spell Resistance at ECL 5. :smallcool:

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/pseudodragon.htm

[kirerellim]

Naw, gotta go with mercury or steel over that cause I can buy off the level adjustment by 10 lol

[Flickerdart]

Naw, gotta go with mercury or steel over that cause I can buy off the level adjustment by 10 lol
You'll need to be level 12 (for mercury) or 13 (steel) to buy off all the LA, because LA buyoff only counts class levels, not RHD.

[ZamielVanWeber]

Deshada dragon is la+1 and 1 RHD, so you can (in theory) trade.it off. Beware... They kinda stink otherwise.

[kirerellim]

I have never even heard of that dragon. What is dangerous denizens lol

EDIT: Well. That dragon... is truly terrible on a level I didn't know dragons had lol