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thoroughlyS
2018-10-27, 11:51 AM
I've always found Dragonborn to be disappointing, because they lack any ribbons, have only two traits to speak of, and their main ability is underwhelming (to say nothing of its weird scaling). I read a lot of 3.5 before moving to 5e, and took inspiration from the mechanics (not the fluff) in that edition. Changes to the base dragonborn traits in red.

DRAGONBORN
Your draconic heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with other dragonborn.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age. Young dragonborn grow quickly. They walk hours after hatching, attain the size and development of a 10-year-old human child by the age of 3, and reach adulthood by 15. They live to be around 80.
Alignment. Dragonborn tend to extremes, making a conscious choice for one side or the other in the cosmic war between good and evil. Most dragonborn are good, but those who side with evil can be terrible villains.
Size. Dragonborn are taller and heavier than humans, standing well over 6 feet tall and averaging almost 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. 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.
Draconic Ancestry. You have draconic ancestry. Choose one type of dragon from the Draconic Ancestry table.
Damage Resistance. You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic. Draconic is thought to be one of the oldest languages and is often used in the study of magic. The language sounds harsh to most other creatures and includes numerous hard consonants and sibilants.
Draconic Aspect. Your draconic ancestry can manifest in a variety of ways, usually pointing towards your destiny. Choose one of these aspects.

HEART
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Breath Weapon. When you take the Attack action, you can forgo one attack to exhale destructive energy. Your draconic ancestry determines the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation.
When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your draconic ancestry. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d8 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d8 at 5th level, 4d8 at 11th level, and 5d8 at 17th level.
After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.

MAGIC
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by an additional 1 (for a total of 2).
Draconic Magic. You know the cantrip associated with your draconic ancestry. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the 1st-level spell associated with your draconic ancestry once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the 2nd-level spell associated with your draconic ancestry once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. You don't need material components for either spell. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

WINGS
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by an additional 1 (for a total of 2).
Flight. You have a flying speed of 30 feet. You can’t use your flying speed while you wear medium or heavy armor. (If your campaign uses the variant rule for encumbrance, you can’t use your flying speed if you are encumbered.)



Dragon
Damage Type
Breath Shape
Cantrip
1st-level
2nd-level


Black
Acid
5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
infestation (XGtE p.158)
detect poison and disease
darkness


Blue
Lightning
5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
lightning lure (SCAG p.143)
create or destroy water
dust devil (EEPC p.17, XGtE p.154)


Brass
Fire
5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
vicious mockery
silent image
warding wind (EEPC p.23, XGtE p.170)


Bronze
Lightning
5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
thunderclap (EEPC p.22, XGtE p.168)
fog cloud
detect thoughts


Copper
Acid
5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
mold earth (EEPC p.21, XGtE p.162)
speak with animals
spike growth*


Gold
Fire
15 ft. cone (Dex. save)
true strike
bless
suggestion


Green
Poison
15 ft. cone (Con. save)
friends
entangle
spike growth


Red
Fire
15 ft. cone (Dex. save)
create bonfire (EEPC p.16, XGtE p.152)
earth tremor (EEPC p.17, XGtE p155)
locate object


Silver
Cold
15 ft. cone (Con. save)
gust (EEPC p.15, XGtE p.157)
feather fall
levitate


White
Cold
15 ft. cone (Con. save)
primal savagery† (XGtE p.163)
fog cloud
gust of wind



*This spell creates stone spikes instead of thorns
†This spell deals piercing damage

thoroughlyS
2021-04-15, 04:04 PM
I have updated the breath weapon damage to match the new breath weapon from Unearthed Arcana: Draconic Options (https://media.wizards.com/2021/downloads/Unearthed-Arcana-2021-Draconic-Options.pdf). I will probably add the gem dragons to the table at some point.