Thoughts and hate mail are welcome.
DRAGON BROOD
“I’ve come to reclaim my birthright and take back my father’s city.”
-Aligrim, self-proclaimed son of Kalak addressing the Council of Tyr
It is not uncommon for the Sorcerer Monarchs to occasionally copulate with their subjects. Sometimes these encounters produce offspring. More often than not, these children display very little, if any, in the way of unique abilities or qualities. However, there are rare instances when a child is born with the potential to be more due to their dragon heritage. Upon learning of their draconic origins, these some characters seek to use the arcane and the way to spark their dragon blood and embrace their destinies.
Dragon brood are most often wizards who are also practiced in the arts of psionics. Fighters or barbarians with some backgrounds in the teachings of the way and magic have also found the benefits in exploring their unnatural bloodline.
NPC Dragon broods are usually found in the service of their dragon parent. Often times secretly plotting to dethrone them with the aim of taking their power for themselves. Less common are those individuals who move to undermine their progenitors schemes and goals in order to better the Tablelands.
Hit Die: d12.
Requirements
To qualify to become a dragon brood, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Race: Any nondragon.
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks, Knowledge (psionic) 8 ranks
Feats: Bloodline of Monarchs
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 1st level arcane spells.
Psionics: Ability to manifest 1st level powers.
Class Skills
The dragon brood’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int) Listen (Wis), Psicraft (Wis), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Speak Language (Int), Spellcraft (Int), and Spot (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
[HTML]Table: The Dragon Brood
Level BAB Fort Ref Wil Special
1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Natural armor increase (+1)
2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 Ability boost (Str +2), claws and bite
3rd +2 +3 +1 +3 Breath weapon (2d8)
4th +3 +4 +1 +4 Ability boost (Str +2), natural armor increase (+2)
5th +3 +4 +1 +4 Blindsense 30 ft.
6th +4 +5 +2 +5 Ability boost (Con +2)
7th +5 +5 +2 +5 Breath weapon (4d8), natural armor increase (+3)
8th +6 +6 +2 +6 Ability boost (Int +2)
9th +6 +6 +3 +6 Wings
10th +7 +7 +3 +7 Blindsense 60 ft., dragon apotheosis[/HTML]
[HTML]Level Bonus Spell Slot/ Power Points
1st 1/2
2nd 1/3
3rd 0
4th 1/4
5th 1/5
6th 1/6
7th 0
8th 1/7
9th 1/8
10th 0[/HTML]
Class Features
All of the following are Class Features of the dragon brood prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Dragon broods gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Bonus Spells/Power Points: Dragon broods gain bonus spell slots and power points as they gain levels in this prestige class as given on Table: The Dragon Brood. A bonus spell slots can be added to any level of spells the brood already has the ability to cast, and bonus power points are added to the characters power point reserve.
If a character has more than one spellcasting class, he must decide to which class he adds each bonus spell slot as it is gained. Once a bonus spell slot has been applied, it cannot be shifted.
Natural Armor Increase (Ex): At 1st, 4th, and 7th level, a gains an increase to the character’s existing natural armor (if any), as indicated on Table: The Dragon Brood (the numbers represent the total increase gained to that point). As his skin thickens, a dragon brood takes on more and more of his progenitor’s physical aspect.
Claws and Bite (Ex): At 2nd level, a dragon brood gains claw and bite attacks if he does not already have them. Use the values below or the brood’s base claw and bite damage values, whichever are greater.
[HTML]Size Bite Damage Claw Damage
Small 1d4 1d3
Medium 1d6 1d4
Large 1d8 1d6[/HTML]
A dragon brood is considered proficient with these attacks. When making a full attack, a dragon brood uses his full base attack bonus with his bite attack but takes a –5 penalty on claw attacks. The Multiattack feat reduces this penalty to only –2.
Ability Boost (Ex): As a dragon brood gains levels in this prestige class, his ability scores increase as noted on Table: The Dragon Brood.
These increases stack and are gained as if through level advancement.
Breath Weapon (Su): At 3rd level, a dragon brood gains the ability to use a minor breath weapon. The character can exhale a 30 foot long cone of super heated sand which deals 2d8 points of damage. This damage is half fire damage and half standard damage due to the abrasion of the super heated sand.
At 7th level, the damage increases to 4d8, and when a brood attains dragon apotheosis at 10th level it reaches its full power at 6d8. Regardless of its strength, the breath weapon can be used only once per day. Use all the rules for dragon breath weapons except as specified here. The save DC of the breath weapon is 10 + class level + Con modifier.
Blindsense (Ex): At 5th level, the dragon brood gains blindsense with a range of 30 feet. Using nonvisual senses the dragon brood notices things it cannot see. He usually does not need to make Spot or Listen checks to notice and pinpoint the location of creatures within range of his blindsense ability, provided that he has line of effect to that creature.
Any opponent the dragon brood cannot see still has total concealment against him, and the dragon disciple still has the normal miss chance when attacking foes that have concealment. Visibility still affects the movement of a creature with blindsense. A creature with blindsense is still denied its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class against attacks from creatures it cannot see. At 10th level, the range of this ability increases to 60 feet.
Wings (Ex): At 9th level, a dragon brood grows a set of draconic wings. He may now fly at a speed equal to his normal land speed, with average maneuverability.
Dragon Apotheosis: At 10th level, a dragon brood takes on the half-dragon template. His breath weapon reaches full strength (as noted above), and he gains +4 to Strength and +2 to Charisma. His natural armor bonus increases to +4, and he acquires low-light vision, 60-foot darkvision, immunity to sleep and paralysis effects.
New Feat
Bloodline of Monarchs [General]
You are a descendant of one of the Sorcerer Monarchs.
Prerequisite: Chr 15.
Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to all Charisma based skill checks.
Special: This feat can only be selected at character creation.
[dramatic voice] And so a new cycle begins... [/dramatic voice]
Yeah I know. But that thread got the creative juices flowing. Sorry
Here is my initial review, also known as Mr. Quicky :D
Aside from mirroring athasian dragons, I see no need to require magic and/or psionics as prerequisites. Who is even to say that the bloodline transfers any magic and/or psionics, i.e. giving a +1 manifesting or spellcasting level? The falvor of the class seems to indicate the change in the character is - failing for a better word - genetic, and that its stems from genes transfered from his dragon parent.
Also, the dragon disciple PrC is one of those classes that sucks the most in the DMG, just read out the comments on the PrC boards. What people majorly hate about it is that its design dates from 3.0 and that it still keeps some artifact from that time, mainly the ridiculous spell progression it offers. 99% of all other spellcasting PrCs offer +1 to spellcasting level while the dragon disciple PrC offers a laughable progression.
Mmm, the blindsense...is it an ability athasian dragons receive? Because its inclusion in the dragon disciple PrC is meant to mirror other world dragons...
The feat, albeit a good idea, is worthless in its current guise. I've seen maybe a dozen such feats in WotC books, but right now I can't recall the location of any. If I do I'll tell you and you'll see what kind of feat you can expect to be able to craft. Mmm, maybe if you check in Complete Arcane you could find a PrC that has a Complete Arcane feat as prerequisite, one of those feats meant to unluck further abilities.
In short I'm somewhat interested in the class, but certainly not in its current guise as a port of the DMG dragon disciple.
No need to apologize, I was being [dramatic], er...I meant [overly dramatic]
Yeah I know. I would just hate to see a dozen PrC threads start up again.
Aside from mirroring athasian dragons, I see no need to require magic and/or psionics as prerequisites.
My thought was that it took magic and psionics to start their parents tranformation into a full blown dragon so it stood to reason that it would take some (at a lesser extent) for their children to change as well. Yes its genetic, but it would take the use of magic and the way to jump start that transformation.
Who is even to say that the bloodline transfers any magic and/or psionics, i.e. giving a +1 manifesting or spellcasting level? The flavor of the class seems to indicate the change in the character is - failing for a better word - genetic, and that its stems from genes transfered from his dragon parent
Being creatures born of a magical/psionic being (like a Dragon in standard worlds) I would think that they would gain some advantages in those departments. I originally had it that the PrC made them naturally psionic at 1st which granted the bonus of 3 power points but wasn't to crazy about that. I was also tinkering with giving them their own spells per day/powers like an assassin or warmind.
Also, the dragon disciple PrC is one of those classes that sucks the most in the DMG, just read out the comments on the PrC boards. What people majorly hate about it is that its design dates from 3.0 and that it still keeps some artifact from that time, mainly the ridiculous spell progression it offers. 99% of all other spellcasting PrCs offer +1 to spellcasting level while the dragon disciple PrC offers a laughable progression.
I do agree that the disciple has a awful spell progression, but the major point of the PrC (and to a lesser extent, this one) is the physical changes brought on by the PrC due to having draconic parents not in developing their magical talents to greater levels.
Mmm, the blindsense...is it an ability athasian dragons receive? Because its inclusion in the dragon disciple PrC is meant to mirror other world dragons...
Yeah I thought about that and was on the fence about including it. I may replace it with an entirely different ability.
The feat, albeit a good idea, is worthless in its current guise. I've seen maybe a dozen such feats in WotC books, but right now I can't recall the location of any. If I do I'll tell you and you'll see what kind of feat you can expect to be able to craft. Mmm, maybe if you check in Complete Arcane you could find a PrC that has a Complete Arcane feat as prerequisite, one of those feats meant to unluck further abilities.
I was sort of basing the feat on some of the FR regional feats. Like Bloodline of Fire. It granted a +1 caster bonus to the character when using fire spells. Perhaps I could include that all chr based skills are treated as class skills rather than cross classed?
In short I'm somewhat interested in the class, but certainly not in its current guise as a port of the DMG dragon disciple.
I'll see what I can do in order to jazz it up some.
Defiler Spawn: Starting at 5th level, it becomes natural for the dragon brood to defile when spell casting. Anytime the brood would resort to defiling in order to cast a spell they receive an additional +1 bonus to caster level.
Comments welcome.
DRAGON BROOD
“I’ve come to reclaim my birthright and take back my father’s city.”
-Aligrim, self-proclaimed heir of Kalak addressing the Council of Tyr
It is not uncommon for the Sorcerer Monarchs to occasionally copulate with their subjects. Sometimes these encounters produce offspring. More often than not, these children display very little, if any, in the way of unique abilities or qualities. However, there are rare instances when a child is born with the potential to be more due to their dragon heritage. Upon learning of their draconic origins, some of these characters seek to use the arcane and the unseen way to spark their dragon blood and embrace their destinies.
Dragon broods are most often wizards who are also practiced in the arts of psionics. Fighters or barbarians with some backgrounds in the Way and magic have also found the benefits in exploring their unnatural bloodline.
NPC dragon broods are usually found in the service of their dragon parent. Often times secretly plotting to dethrone them with the aim of taking their power for themselves. Less common are those individuals who move to undermine their progenitors schemes and goals in order to better the Tablelands.
Hit Die: d12.
Requirements
To qualify to become a dragon brood, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Race: Any nondragon.
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks, Knowledge (nobility) 6 ranks, Knowledge (psionic) 8 ranks
Feat: Bloodline of Monarchs
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 2nd level arcane spells.
Psionics: Ability to manifest 1st level powers.
Class Skills
The dragon brood’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int) Listen (Wis), Psicraft (Wis), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Speak Language (Int), Spellcraft (Int), and Spot (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
[HTML]Table: The Dragon Brood
Level BAB Fort Ref Wil Special
1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Natural armor increase (+1)
2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 Ability boost (Str +2), claws and bite
3rd +2 +3 +1 +3 Breath weapon (2d8)
4th +3 +4 +1 +4 Ability boost (Str +2), natural armor increase (+2)
5th +3 +4 +1 +4 Defiler spawn
6th +4 +5 +2 +5 Ability boost (Con +2)
7th +5 +5 +2 +5 Breath weapon (4d8), natural armor increase (+3)
8th +6 +6 +2 +6 Ability boost (Int +2)
9th +6 +6 +3 +6 Wings
10th +7 +7 +3 +7 Dragon apotheosis[/HTML]
[HTML]Level Spells per Day/Powers Known
1st -
2nd +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class or +1 level of existing manifesting class
3rd -
4th +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class or +1 level of existing manifesting class
5th -
6th +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class or +1 level of existing manifesting class
7th -
8th +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class or +1 level of existing manifesting class
9th -
10th +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class or +1 level of existing manifesting class[/HTML]
Class Features
All of the following are Class Features of the dragon brood prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Dragon broods gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Spells per Day/Powers Known: At every even-numbered level, a dragon brood decides whether to gain a level in any one arcane spellcasting class or gain additional power points per day and access to new powers that he belonged to before he added the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (bonus metamagic, metapsionic, or item creation feats, psicrystal special abilities, and so on). This essentially means that he adds the level of dragon brood to the level of whatever other arcane spellcasting class or manifesting class the character has, then determines spells per day, caster level, power points per day, powers known, and manifester level accordingly.
If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class or more than one manifesting class before he became dragon brood, he must decide to which class he adds each level of dragon brood for purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, power points per day, powers known, and manifester level.
Natural Armor Increase (Ex): At 1st, 4th, and 7th level, a gains an increase to the character’s existing natural armor (if any), as indicated on Table: The Dragon Brood (the numbers represent the total increase gained to that point). As his skin thickens, a dragon brood takes on more and more of his progenitor’s physical aspect.
Claws and Bite (Ex): At 2nd level, a dragon brood gains claw and bite attacks if he does not already have them. Use the values below or the brood’s base claw and bite damage values, whichever are greater.
[HTML]Size Bite Damage Claw Damage
Small 1d4 1d3
Medium 1d6 1d4
Large 1d8 1d6[/HTML]
A dragon brood is considered proficient with these attacks. When making a full attack, a dragon brood uses his full base attack bonus with his bite attack but takes a –5 penalty on claw attacks. The Multiattack feat reduces this penalty to only –2.
Ability Boost (Ex): As a dragon brood gains levels in this prestige class, his ability scores increase as noted on Table: The Dragon Brood.
These increases stack and are gained as if through level advancement.
Breath Weapon (Su): At 3rd level, a dragon brood gains the ability to use a minor breath weapon. The character can exhale a 30 foot long cone of super heated sand which deals 2d8 points of damage. This damage is half fire damage and half standard damage due to the abrasion of the super heated sand.
At 7th level, the damage increases to 4d8, and when a brood attains dragon apotheosis at 10th level it reaches its full power at 6d8. Regardless of its strength, the breath weapon can be used only once per day. Use all the rules for dragon breath weapons except as specified here. The save DC of the breath weapon is 10 + class level + Con modifier.
Defiler Spawn (Ex): At 5th level, it becomes natural for the dragon brood to defile when spell casting. The brood can defile as a move equivalent action instead of a full round action. He also receives an additional +1 (for a total of +2) bonus to his caster level when defiling.
Wings (Ex): At 9th level, a dragon brood grows a set of draconic wings. He may now fly at a speed equal to his normal land speed, with average maneuverability.
Dragon Apotheosis: At 10th level, a dragon brood takes on the half-dragon template. His breath weapon reaches full strength (as noted above), and he gains +4 to Strength and +2 to Charisma. His natural armor bonus increases to +4, and he acquires low-light vision, 60-foot darkvision, immunity to sleep and paralysis effects.
New Feat
Bloodline of Monarchs [General]
You are a descendant of one of the Sorcerer Monarchs.
Prerequisite: Chr 15.
Benefit: All Charisma based skills are treated as class skills and you gain a +1 bonus when using Charisma based skills and checks.
Special: This feat can only be selected at character creation.
Interesting idea. Personally, I'm sticking to my thought to use Sorcerers as the possible offspring from SK's -- I'd rather there is no direct link to anything that would suggest that the SK's really are Dragons. People who know the Sorcerer information from the PHB might make that connection, but as far as their character knowledge goes, it should just be the powerful Sorcerer-Kings seem to be able to "gift" some of their offspring with the ability to innately use Arcane Magic (which otherwise is an unnatural abomination that nothing should be able to "naturally" be able to use in my view).
I also perfer this idea. The "gifiting" of an innate ability to draw and shape plant life energy.
It also might be interesting if they could draw on amnimal life but unlike the dragon not to a drgree that it would harm the subject. Kind of like a mini drain maybe they can only draw enough to power 3rd level spells or lower from animal life.
just thinking....
I also perfer this idea. The "gifiting" of an innate ability to draw and shape plant life energy.
Thats fine. Even with the inclusion of sorcerers they could further develop there dragon heritage with this PrC. :D
I also perfer this idea. The "gifiting" of an innate ability to draw and shape plant life energy.
It also might be interesting if they could draw on amnimal life but unlike the dragon not to a drgree that it would harm the subject. Kind of like a mini drain maybe they can only draw enough to power 3rd level spells or lower from animal life.
just thinking....
I don't like the idea of them being able to tap into animal life energy. The ability to use Animal life energy is tied not only into the Arcane, but also potentially Psionic, and definitely with an external focus -- Obsidian. That's not really something I can see Dragons being able to gift to their offspring. It's enough that the idea can help bring Sorcerers into the Dark Sun setting without horribly contradicting the setting itself (because otherwise, Arcane Magic is rather unnatural, and not something I can ever see being an innate thing for a person to know).
I don't like the idea of them being able to tap into animal life energy. The ability to use Animal life energy is tied not only into the Arcane, but also potentially Psionic, and definitely with an external focus -- Obsidian.
Plus, the Leech PrC does not even power its spells from animal life energy, it just damages animal life when its present within the normal defiling radius. That's an important benchmark since the Leech is, I think, meant as the closest to dragonhood a nondragon can get.
It's enough that the idea can help bring Sorcerers into the Dark Sun setting without horribly contradicting the setting itself (because otherwise, Arcane Magic is rather unnatural, and not something I can ever see being an innate thing for a person to know).
See, this is the thing that bugs me.
There is NOTHING innate about the Sorcerer's use of arcane magic. Sure, the core settings flavor paints it that way, but it doesn't have to be.
It's just a permanant way of preparing spells. The sorcerer learns a new spell, and burns it into his mind, while a wizard has to create temporary structures. There's no reason that it has to be innate to the sorcerer's being.
And, of course, defiling and preserverving applies to Arcane magic, not just Wizards. Meaning that Sorcerers are faced with the same choices on that front.
You know....the actual subject and point of this thread? :P ;)
See, this is the thing that bugs me.
There is NOTHING innate about the Sorcerer's use of arcane magic. Sure, the core settings flavor paints it that way, but it doesn't have to be.
It's just a permanant way of preparing spells. The sorcerer learns a new spell, and burns it into his mind, while a wizard has to create temporary structures. There's no reason that it has to be innate to the sorcerer's being.
And, of course, defiling and preserverving applies to Arcane magic, not just Wizards. Meaning that Sorcerers are faced with the same choices on that front.
You could go that way with it. Personally, I like the idea that the Sorcerers can manipulate magic innately/instinctively. And by making that be something which the SK's are inadvertantly "gifting" their offspring with, produces a certain twist to the Dark Sun setting, and I use as my way to explain Sorcerers. Individual, independant, they figure out magic on their own, and without the helping hand of a mentor, many quickly slip into the realm of Defilers -- there's nothing really guiding them to avoid Defiling. They are mainly distrusted by Wizards -- because they can use magic in a way the Wizards don't really understand (nor really do the Sorcerers). My wist/dynamic makes it so that most Preservers are Wizards, while most Sorcerers are Defilers (but I'm not saying that most Defilers are Sorcerers, nor am I saying that most Wizards are Preservers!) I still don't have a great number of Arcane spellcasters in my campaigns, and I don't force Sorcerers to be Defilers (or Wizards to be Preservers!), but it is something I use to color the setting more.
And Sysane, yea.. I know I hijacked your thread. It wasn't my original plan, but it happened. I'll try to not hijack it too much any more. I've had threads about Sorcerers before, and they never really gained that much interest. Apparently your Dragon Brood PrC has more interest in my Sorcerers than my Sorcerer threads did :P For the record, I don't thinkt he Dragon Brood PrC will end up in my campaigns. I think it provides too much information to people, suggests that the SK's are Dragons when I would rather that be a surprised I spring on my players at my own leasure, and borders on making Half-Dragon-like characters which I'm not comfortable with, as it would tend to imply that the Dragons are somehow a natural creature (able to breed true), while the setting itself tends to imply that the SK's produce human offspring (ie: don't "breed true" to the species they are becoming).
And Sysane, yea.. I know I hijacked your thread. It wasn't my original plan, but it happened. I'll try to not hijack it too much any more. I've had threads about Sorcerers before, and they never really gained that much interest. Apparently your Dragon Brood PrC has more interest in my Sorcerers than my Sorcerer threads did :P
No biggie. It happens. I guess they are related in a way.
What if the dragon brood draws it's spell energy from the same source as the templars of it's dragon parent? Instead of being able to draw energy from animals...if the dragon brood is a defiler. Which brings me the idea that a dragon brood should not be allowed to be a preserver, because of it's parents "nature" of pure evil. And be the DS edition of a Sorcerer?
I was thinking...
What if the dragon brood draws it's spell energy from the same source as the templars of it's dragon parent?
I was theorizing something similar to this on my drive home from work a couple of nights ago. Not so much for this PrC, but something entirely different. I was thinking about the connection of the living vortices to the female Sorcerer Monarchs their pregnancy.
For nine months the mother and child are essential bonded and what effects one would effect the other. What if in rare instances when a Sorcerer Queen gives birth their child somehow retains that link to the vortice that it sharing with its mother?
Instead of being able to draw energy from animals...if the dragon brood is a defiler. Which brings me the idea that a dragon brood should not be allowed to be a preserver, because of it's parents "nature" of pure evil. And be the DS edition of a Sorcerer?
My though with this PrC was that the brood would be more adept at defiling due to being born of a creature who was created to be the ultimate defiler which I tried to capture with the defiler spawn ability. However, I don't necessarily feel that they have to be defilers by default. Half-fiends don't have to always follow the path of evil correct?. Its all about choice.
I was theorizing something similar to this on my drive home from work a couple of nights ago. Not so much for this PrC, but something entirely different. I was thinking about the connection of the living vortices to the female Sorcerer Monarchs their pregnancy.
For nine months the mother and child are essential bonded and what effects one would effect the other. What if in rare instances when a Sorcerer Queen gives birth their child somehow retains that link to the vortice that it sharing with its mother?
Yeah, that makes more sense than with the Sorcerer King, unless they have a different idea of childbirth.
My though with this PrC was that the brood would be more adept at defiling due to being born of a creature who was created to be the ultimate defiler which I tried to capture with the defiler spawn ability. However, I don't necessarily feel that they have to be defilers by default. Half-fiends don't have to always follow the path of evil correct?. Its all about choice.
Like serious drug adicts/alcoholics can sway from the path of self-centeredness/selfishness/corruption. Of course everyone has a choice, you're right. But they could become more powerful defilers than preservers, right?
Yeah, that makes more sense than with the Sorcerer King, unless they have a different idea of childbirth.
It could be that the child of a Sorcerer Queen who retains the bond with the vortices (like 1 out of a 100 children) could tap that energy themselves (unlike their mother). I'm thinking something along the lines of a Favored Soul or the Sha'ir (my second Al-Qadim reference for today!).
Like serious drug adicts/alcoholics can sway from the path of self-centeredness/selfishness/corruption. Of course everyone has a choice, you're right. But they could become more powerful defilers than preservers, right?
They would make better defilers than preservers, but would still have the option of following either path.
so would they be templars- only without having to prey to a SK they would draw the energy themselves? That would be cool- and a good reason for an SK to hunt them down to make sure they do not live!
I think they would be more akin to favored souls from Complete Divine. They're basically divine sorcerers. I am like the Sha'ir option though.