RakiReborn
2016-02-01, 10:33 AM
Hi GiantITP,
Since the SCAG came out, we have some nice variant options for the tiefling. So my thought was; why not some options for the dragonborn? :D
The options are still a work in progress, and i would like as much feedback and ideas as possible. Here they come:
Variant Dragonborn
When choosing the Dragonborn race, you can forgo your breath weapon feature for one of the following options:
You have claws on both of your hands. You can use your action to make the multiattack action, attacking once with each of your claws. These claws use your strength modifier fot the to hit roll, and deal 1d4 damage. At 6th level, you add your strength modifier to the damage rolls, at 11th level, the attacks count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage, and at 16th level the damage increases to 2d4 damage.
Designer Notes: I wanted to make the claws possible, but not as strong as two weapon fighting (even without the fighting style) at low levels, and i wanted to let it become stronger when leveling at the same levels as the breath attack. I have no idea if this is balanced or not, or wat else i should/could with it.
You have dragon wings sprouting from your shoulder blades. You gain a flying speed of 30ft. At 11th level, this speed increases to your walking speed if it is higher. Any clothes or armor must be specifically made for you to accomodate your wings, which doubles the price of the clothes or armor.
Designer Notes: I wanted to give the wings option, but i really think the flat 30ft speed (that the aarokocra and variant tiefling also get) at first level is too much. Level 11 is in my opinion a nice spot to gain the 30ft speed. But i could be wrong. Or right. Or wrong. I dunno... Also, with the 30ft speed the monk and barbarian are slower flying than walking, so i might want to either add increase to full speed at 16th, or change the original to half speed that increases to full speed at level 11. What are your ideas?
EDITs: Changed it to 30ft, with increase to walking speed at 11th (so the barbarians, monks, etc gain a higher speed). Added a sentence about armor and clothes.
Your body is stronger than that of your peers, giving you an AC of 12+dexterity modifier when unarmoured. At 11th level, this increases to 13+dexterity modifier.
Designer Notes: I didnt want to make it as strong as the Draconic Sorcerer gains right off the bat, but chose to make it better at 11th level again, to keep the increase in power fluff from the breath weapon and the other variant features
You have a strong tail that helps you balance. You have advantage on checks for balancing (like dexterity(acrobatics)). At 6th level, the tail is strong enough to attack with. You may attack with your tail as a bonus action on your turn when you used the attack or multiattack action, dealing 1d6 bludgeoning damage with it. At 11th level, you may add your strength modifier to the damage rolls. At 16th level, the attack counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
Designers Notes: A dragon(born) without a tail just seems wrong to me, so i wanted to give the option at least. It might be way too strong with both the BA attack and the advantage on checks to balance, but i'm not sure. That's why i chose to make the BA attack available at 6th, with increases later on. I have no idea if that makes it less or more balanced, but it is a start. Defenitaly could use some feedback here too... :P
You know one sorcerer cantrip with a damage type associated with your draconic heritage. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Chromatic Orb spell once per day as a 2nd-level spell, which deals damage of the type associated with your draconic heritage. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Levitate spell once per day. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Designer Notes: The MM gives the variant option for spellcasting dragons, so why wouldnt I?! I specifically chose these spells to not make the breath attack a lesser option. The breath attack makes a nice AOE, which can be quite effective against lots of mooks. The cantrips from the sorcerer are almost all single target, and only one two-targeted. Chromatic Orb is also only single target, but gives a nice ranged option to otherwise melee builds i see with dragonborn. To keep it in line with the tiefling that also gains resistance and spellcasting, i had to choose a third spell. Levitate seemed the only fitting non-damaging, not-fly-spell level 2 spell option.
You can channel your draconic presence, striking fear to those around you. As an action, you can attempt to frighten all creatures in a 30ft radius around you. Each hostile creature in that radius must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8+ proficiency bonus + Charisma modifier) or be frightened until the end of your next turn. You can use this feature once per long rest. At 6th level, the radius increases to 45ft. At 11th level, each creature that fails the saving throw is frightened for 1 minute, and must make a Wisdom saving throw on the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. At 16th level, the radius increases to 60ft, and you can use the feature once per short or long rest.
This one is probably too strong. Maybe take out the radius increases? I do wish to keep the increase to once per short or long rest at some point, and the increase to a longer duration too... but if it will still be too strong with those, i may exclude them.
Your senses are more as a dragon than those of your kin. You gain darkvision (you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray). Additionally, you gain proficiency in Perception.
Thanks to Dark Sun Gnome, i saw all ancient dragons in the MM had darkvision 120ft and expertise in perception, so i made a weaker option for the dragonborn combining them.
Any ideas of additional options are welcome. I am thinking of a once per long rest use of a smaller Intimidating Presence, but am still working on it so it isn't here yet ;) -> added the option above!
I also made a racial feat for Dragonborn, so they could grow more dragon-like if they wish.
Prerequisite: Dragonborn RaceYou explore the racial benefits from your draconic heritage, gaining additional features. Choose one of the following options:
Your breath attack increases by an additional 1d6 at levels 6th, 11th, and 16th, and you gain one of the variant options of the Dragonborn race.
You gain two of the variant options of the Dragonborn race
You gain the breath attack feature and one variant option of the Dragonborn race.
Please give me all your throughts and opinions, break them down if you must! I will probably give my opinions on any suggestions or reactions, but that is only to discuss things, so i can be sure that changing it is for the better! (this is for a future campain of mine, so i want to be sure of the balance of everything ^^)
EDIT 4-2-2016: Changed the Dragon Wings option a bit, and added the Frightful Presence and Dragon Senses options.
EDIT 5-2-2016: Added a sentence about clothes and armor to the Dragon Wings option.
Since the SCAG came out, we have some nice variant options for the tiefling. So my thought was; why not some options for the dragonborn? :D
The options are still a work in progress, and i would like as much feedback and ideas as possible. Here they come:
Variant Dragonborn
When choosing the Dragonborn race, you can forgo your breath weapon feature for one of the following options:
You have claws on both of your hands. You can use your action to make the multiattack action, attacking once with each of your claws. These claws use your strength modifier fot the to hit roll, and deal 1d4 damage. At 6th level, you add your strength modifier to the damage rolls, at 11th level, the attacks count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage, and at 16th level the damage increases to 2d4 damage.
Designer Notes: I wanted to make the claws possible, but not as strong as two weapon fighting (even without the fighting style) at low levels, and i wanted to let it become stronger when leveling at the same levels as the breath attack. I have no idea if this is balanced or not, or wat else i should/could with it.
You have dragon wings sprouting from your shoulder blades. You gain a flying speed of 30ft. At 11th level, this speed increases to your walking speed if it is higher. Any clothes or armor must be specifically made for you to accomodate your wings, which doubles the price of the clothes or armor.
Designer Notes: I wanted to give the wings option, but i really think the flat 30ft speed (that the aarokocra and variant tiefling also get) at first level is too much. Level 11 is in my opinion a nice spot to gain the 30ft speed. But i could be wrong. Or right. Or wrong. I dunno... Also, with the 30ft speed the monk and barbarian are slower flying than walking, so i might want to either add increase to full speed at 16th, or change the original to half speed that increases to full speed at level 11. What are your ideas?
EDITs: Changed it to 30ft, with increase to walking speed at 11th (so the barbarians, monks, etc gain a higher speed). Added a sentence about armor and clothes.
Your body is stronger than that of your peers, giving you an AC of 12+dexterity modifier when unarmoured. At 11th level, this increases to 13+dexterity modifier.
Designer Notes: I didnt want to make it as strong as the Draconic Sorcerer gains right off the bat, but chose to make it better at 11th level again, to keep the increase in power fluff from the breath weapon and the other variant features
You have a strong tail that helps you balance. You have advantage on checks for balancing (like dexterity(acrobatics)). At 6th level, the tail is strong enough to attack with. You may attack with your tail as a bonus action on your turn when you used the attack or multiattack action, dealing 1d6 bludgeoning damage with it. At 11th level, you may add your strength modifier to the damage rolls. At 16th level, the attack counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
Designers Notes: A dragon(born) without a tail just seems wrong to me, so i wanted to give the option at least. It might be way too strong with both the BA attack and the advantage on checks to balance, but i'm not sure. That's why i chose to make the BA attack available at 6th, with increases later on. I have no idea if that makes it less or more balanced, but it is a start. Defenitaly could use some feedback here too... :P
You know one sorcerer cantrip with a damage type associated with your draconic heritage. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Chromatic Orb spell once per day as a 2nd-level spell, which deals damage of the type associated with your draconic heritage. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Levitate spell once per day. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Designer Notes: The MM gives the variant option for spellcasting dragons, so why wouldnt I?! I specifically chose these spells to not make the breath attack a lesser option. The breath attack makes a nice AOE, which can be quite effective against lots of mooks. The cantrips from the sorcerer are almost all single target, and only one two-targeted. Chromatic Orb is also only single target, but gives a nice ranged option to otherwise melee builds i see with dragonborn. To keep it in line with the tiefling that also gains resistance and spellcasting, i had to choose a third spell. Levitate seemed the only fitting non-damaging, not-fly-spell level 2 spell option.
You can channel your draconic presence, striking fear to those around you. As an action, you can attempt to frighten all creatures in a 30ft radius around you. Each hostile creature in that radius must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8+ proficiency bonus + Charisma modifier) or be frightened until the end of your next turn. You can use this feature once per long rest. At 6th level, the radius increases to 45ft. At 11th level, each creature that fails the saving throw is frightened for 1 minute, and must make a Wisdom saving throw on the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. At 16th level, the radius increases to 60ft, and you can use the feature once per short or long rest.
This one is probably too strong. Maybe take out the radius increases? I do wish to keep the increase to once per short or long rest at some point, and the increase to a longer duration too... but if it will still be too strong with those, i may exclude them.
Your senses are more as a dragon than those of your kin. You gain darkvision (you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray). Additionally, you gain proficiency in Perception.
Thanks to Dark Sun Gnome, i saw all ancient dragons in the MM had darkvision 120ft and expertise in perception, so i made a weaker option for the dragonborn combining them.
Any ideas of additional options are welcome. I am thinking of a once per long rest use of a smaller Intimidating Presence, but am still working on it so it isn't here yet ;) -> added the option above!
I also made a racial feat for Dragonborn, so they could grow more dragon-like if they wish.
Prerequisite: Dragonborn RaceYou explore the racial benefits from your draconic heritage, gaining additional features. Choose one of the following options:
Your breath attack increases by an additional 1d6 at levels 6th, 11th, and 16th, and you gain one of the variant options of the Dragonborn race.
You gain two of the variant options of the Dragonborn race
You gain the breath attack feature and one variant option of the Dragonborn race.
Please give me all your throughts and opinions, break them down if you must! I will probably give my opinions on any suggestions or reactions, but that is only to discuss things, so i can be sure that changing it is for the better! (this is for a future campain of mine, so i want to be sure of the balance of everything ^^)
EDIT 4-2-2016: Changed the Dragon Wings option a bit, and added the Frightful Presence and Dragon Senses options.
EDIT 5-2-2016: Added a sentence about clothes and armor to the Dragon Wings option.