Blink dogs with levels

[Dalebert]

This has to be one of the best special abilities in the game:
At will—quickened dimension door (self only)

When I came up with the idea for a magic item that would allow blink dogs to assume human form in a game I'm running (mostly so they can pursue class levels in things other than sorcerer), I think I overlooked the "quickened" part of that. This is obviously an NPC-only race in my game. The character I made is a divination specialist wizard and he is obnoxious. I mean, he's actually quite polite and friendly but quickened DD at will makes him obnoxious. At least it's SLA and not Su so it provokes AoO. Besides the obvious combat benefits, when you have DD at will, you can travel FAST.

Anyone ever tried to talk a DM into letting you play something like this? What's the appropriate LA for such an awesome ability?

[Red Fel]

Anyone ever tried to talk a DM into letting you play something like this? What's the appropriate LA for such an awesome ability?

Two levels of Totemist. At first level, you gain the ability to shape the Blink Shirt soulmeld, for at-will Dimension Door. At second level, you open your totem chakra; if bound to the totem chakra, Blink Shirt can be used as a move action.

It's not a free action, admittedly. But you're also forgetting an important part of Dimension Door - once you've used it, whether you're using the Blink Dog ability, the Blink Shirt soulmeld, or the spell, you can't do anything else that round. (Unless, you know, you have Shadow Pounce.) So, despite having it as a free action, Blink Dogs still only get 1/round usage out of it. You don't just get to hop around willy-nilly.

[Tulya]

Actually, Blink Dog has a specific exemption: "The ability affects only the blink dog, which never appears within a solid object and can act immediately after teleporting. "

[Cowardly Griffo]

Also, according to the SRD it actually is a Supernatural ability, so it doesn't provoke. And it's a free action, not a swift action, so it's not even quickened really; it happens in addition to whatever you happen to quicken that round.

You know, this is why the level adjustment entry makes the distinction between +2 (cohort) and just +2.

That said, the inability to use most magic items is, so I've been informed, apparently a big deal, so it probably doesn't need much of a bump. Also by a very strict reading of the bestiary entry you wouldn't carry any items with you, equipment included. So if you take that interpretation, +2 is probably just fine.

Now if you use polymorph shenanigans or whatever to turn them into a different creature, you'll need to recalculate the level adjustment. Just like you would if that happened to anyone else in-game.

[JusticeZero]

When I came up with the idea for a magic item that would allow blink dogs to assume human form in a game I'm running (mostly so they can pursue class levels in things other than sorcerer)
Why wouldn't they be able to get other class levels? And why would they want/need to turn into deformed two legged things to do it? :smallamused: I can't think of very many classes that they can't pursue in their normal shape, and since Sorcerer would normally be on that small list that they couldn't do (somatic components, y'know), if they have access to that, they're pretty much good. What are blink dogs doing in your area that's significant?

[Dalebert]

Actually it's more than that. One of them in particular is acting as a kind of diplomat to get help from certain folks in a local human city. Their territory is under attack by Barghests. This one became a wizard, apprenticed to a human wizard who fashioned the collar. They're smart enough to learn Common but unable to make the sounds without magical assistance and learning wizardy from a human required human form.

I agree though. In many cases, I don't see a problem with them advancing in certain classes but not having hands and opposable thumbs precludes learning a lot of things.

[eggynack]

Druid, man. Pick up exalted wild shape, and you can do this stuff all the time.