How to qualify for Dragon Ascendant without being a normal true dragon?

[47948201]

I know, "true dragon" is right there in the class prerequisites. But what's the least amount of true-dragon-ness that someone could have while still gaining prestige class-granted divinity?

[Venger]

Dragonwrought kobolds qualify for things like this because they are true dragons.

[Cruiser1]

But what's the least amount of true-dragon-ness that someone could have while still gaining prestige class-granted divinity?Be whatever race you want, and just polymorph yourself into a true dragon when you take the PrC. Given the ruling that you only need to meet prerequisites at the time you take a class (assuming the class isn't in Complete Warrior (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?515936-Prerequisites)), and don't lose class abilities if you later no longer meet them, that means you only need to be a dragon temporarily.

[Crake]

Be whatever race you want, and just polymorph yourself into a true dragon when you take the PrC. Given the ruling that you only need to meet prerequisites at the time you take a class (assuming the class isn't in Complete Warrior (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?515936-Prerequisites)), and don't lose class abilities if you later no longer meet them, that means you only need to be a dragon temporarily.

Most DMs would argue that you are merely in the form of a true dragon rather than actually being a true dragon.

[ShurikVch]

Well, firstly: Dragon Ascendant also required BAB +30; you wouldn't get it without having 30 HD in Dragon, Magical Beast, Monstrous Humanoid, or Outsider

Secondly: why you need Dragon Ascendant? If it's for divinity, then there are easier ways - like Epic Destiny: Demigod (https://web.archive.org/web/20090218080723/http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drfe/20080428), or Einherjar template (Deities and Demigods)

[Doctor Despair]

If you want to start a bunch of fights, use a Changeling with Racial Emulation to emulate a Dragonwrought Kobold. You gain the Dragonblood subtype and count as a member of their race, which could mean you qualify as a true dragon if you can convince your DM that Dragonwrought Kobolds are true dragons.

[ThanatosZero]

If someone isn't against some homebrew, I have here these two homebrewed Epic Feats for you, which you and your DM can change on the fly.


Dragon Apothesis

As you continue focusing on your bloodline, you become closer to your ancestors, physically, as mentally.

Requirements:
Dragon Disciple level 20

Benefits:
You lose the half-dragon template, but keep the benefits. Your original type changes to dragon and gain any sub types of your draconic like (The Fire Subtype for Gold or Red Dragon, the Cold Subtype from Silver or White, etc). Any levels of Dragon Disciple are furthermore treated, as if they were levels of the dragon monster class. You retroactively gain BAB, iterative attacks, saves and skill points, you however lose Epic Attack Bonus and Epic Save Bonus gained by this class.

Also you age now as you were a dragon of your chosen draconic line (see Draconomicon p.12-14 or the Monster Manual I), furthermore penalities trough aging in your original race are negated. In addition 1/4 of your dragon disciple levels are treated as levels in Sorcerer (you do not gain a familiar this way) and you qualify for any feats and prestige classes dragons can take.


True Dragon Apothesis

Your training and focus on your draconic bloodline finally unleashes the true potencial of your ancestors within you.

Requirements:
Dragon Apothesis, Dragon Disciple level 30

Benefits:
You are now treated as a true dragon. You gain extraordinary features (like Frightful Presence) and Spell-like Abilities based on the amount of Dragon Disciple levels compared to the racial hit die of your draconic line, also your breath weapon becomes that of your ancestral line and can be used as often.
For example: If your line was that of a Silver Dragon and have 31 levels of Dragon Disciple, you gain the same abilities of a very old silver dragon.

In addition 1/2 of your dragon disciple levels are treated as levels in Sorcerer (you do not gain a familiar this way) and you can now qualify for any feats and prestige classes true dragons can take.
Furthermore your abilty scores improve (+1 to Strenght and Constitution per dragon disciple level, +1 to Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma by 1/2 your dragon disciple levels) and supercede those given in the first 10 levels of dragon disciple in addition with the boni given by the half-dragon template.

Another Option by RAW, is to utilise the Ritual of Vitality from Savage Species to turn into a dragon of your choice.
However, as there are no listed Level Adjustments for adult and older dragons, I recommend you and your DM a look into The LA-assignment thread, where monsters are reviewed and receive a new LA based on their abilities.

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?518086-The-LA-assignment-archive&p=21798987
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?485938-The-LA-assignment-thread/page14

[Chronos]

Also note that Dragon Ascendant only gives you divine rank 0. Most of the big benefits of divinity kick in at DR 1, and going from DR 0 to DR 1 is probably at least as hard as gaining DR 0 to begin with.

[Ruethgar]

Well, firstly: Dragon Ascendant also required BAB +30; you wouldn't get it without having 30 HD in Dragon, Magical Beast, Monstrous Humanoid, or Outsider

Secondly: why you need Dragon Ascendant? If it's for divinity, then there are easier ways - like Epic Destiny: Demigod (https://web.archive.org/web/20090218080723/http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drfe/20080428), or Einherjar template (Deities and Demigods)

So, an Awakened Titanic Dungeonbred Magebred War Lizard/Cat/Rat/Toad/Advanced Monkey technically would be ECL 0 despite the RHD, but you would get a book thrown at you probably even without the templates. Still, it is technically a path that doesn’t require you to already be an Epic character to reach the BaB requirement. From there a few buyoff-as-you-go levels of either Draconic or Half Dragon to get that ‘version of a true dragon clause’ from half-dragon could work.

Hatchling dragons also don’t ever need to take a level of dragon allowing you to just make a normal build, all they get are their types, subtypes and immunities(white and black get negative stats silver is the only positive) but they are True dragons through and through.

However I would agree, just go with Epic Destiny, the Non-Epic alternate is a little potent but generally fine compared to some of the things casters are pulling off by those levels anyway.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Do you actually want the class or just the capstone? Because you can qualify for illithid savant at level 7 (via polymorph or metamorphosis) and eat a dragon ascendant's brain at level 10. Of course, you'll need to do some serious planning and get a lot of teamwork going, or you'll need to be really persuasive to get such a dragon to let you eat its (or one of its cloned minions') brain.