MageSparrowhawk
2007-10-15, 09:32 PM
Half-dragon Ascendant
Hit Die: d12
Requirements
Race: Half-Dragon
B.A.B.: +5
Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) 10 ranks, Intimidate 5 ranks, Sense motive 5 ranks
Feats: Dragon Breath and/or Draconic Wings and/or Draconic Tail
Spells: Spontaneously cast 2nd level arcane spells
Special: You must find and spend one full day communing with one of your dragon relatives (parent is best); or at least a dragon of your variety of adult age or older
Class Skills
Concentration, Diplomacy, Escape artist, Intimidate, Knowledge (any), Listen, Search, Sense motive, Spellcraft, Spot, Use magic device; plus any noted in your dragon's type.
Skill points per level: (6+int)
The Half-Dragon Ascendant must have at least half of its spells known of the same subtype as its dragon type (e.g. a half red dragon must know more fire spells than any other type).
Half-Dragon Ascendant
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells
1st|
+0|
+1|
+1|
+1|Dragon Essence, Draconic Familiar, Frightful Interaction|
2nd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+1|Scaled Armor, Improved Natural-Weapons|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd|
+2|
+2|
+2|
+2|Draconic Form (1/day), Alternate Form|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+2|Damage Reduction, Blindsense|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+3|Spell Resistance, Frightful Presence|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th|
+4|
+3|
+3|
+3|Draconic Form (2/day)|
7th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+3|Improved Breath Weapon|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th|
+6|
+4|
+4|
+4|Attack Form Improvement|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th|
+6|
+4|
+4|
+4|Draconic Form (3/day)|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th|
+7|
+5|
+5|
+5|Draconic Ascension|+1 level of existing spellcasting class [/table]
Dragon Essence: Each level of Half-dragon Ascendant you gain is also treated as a racial hit die. This increases your HD based abilities accordingly. Also, after every five levels you must return to the dragon relative you qualified for this class with for a number of consecutive days equal to your class level. Until this is completed, no more levels in Half-dragon Ascendant may be gained.
Draconic Familiar: Your familiar gains the draconic template. You are treated as a character of half of your Half-dragon Ascendant level in addition to any other sources of familiar advancement from other classes.
Frightful interaction: As long as you’re in your half dragon form, add half your class level to intimidate checks, but subtract half your class level from diplomacy, and gather information checks. You can scare people into doing what you want, but you have a harder time relating to them.
Scaled Armor: When you reach second level, your skin starts growing heavy scales over the course of the next eight hours you sleep, but then the scales separate from your body, creating a suit of skin-tight perfectly form-fitting armor (that you are proficient with). The armor provides an armor bonus equal to your class level, has a -2 armor check penalty, a +6 max Dex bonus, no arcane spell failure chance, and is considered light armor. You may sleep in this armor despite the check penalty. The removal of this armor is much like sloughing it off (a full round action), however donning it again takes another full eight hours of rest to regrow it. During that time it provides only ½ its normal bonus, grants a 50% arcane spell failure chance and a -5 armor check penalty. It cannot be enchanted.
Improved Natural Weapons: All your natural weapons are treated as one size category larger. This ability is only effective in your true form (and half-dragon form if applicable). This does not grant you any extra attack forms.
Draconic form: Once a day for every 3 levels (starting at 3rd), the Half-dragon Ascendant can take the form of a dragon of your type. The form's HD can be no higher than your ECL+5. You gain the size, type, subtype, speed, AC, attacks, space/reach, special attacks, special qualities, Str, Dex, and Con of the form. You do not gain any aditional spell casting, hit points, hit dice, or saves from the change. This lasts for 1 round/2 levels + your Cha bonus.
Alternate Form: In addition to taking the form of your dragon heritage, you also can take the form of your non-dragon parent as a free action for as long as you desire any number of times per day. You appear–for all intents and purposes–a creature of your non-dragon heritage, though demonstrating superhuman(oid) feats of strength or using your breath weapon may dissuade people from believing your disguise.
Damage Reduction: You gain damage reduction equal to the damage reduction of the dragon form you take with Draconic Form.
Blindsense: You gain blindsense out to 20'. This improves by another 20' every 3 levels.
Frightful Presence: You gain the frightful presence of the dragon form you take with Draconic Form. The save is figured the same as a dragon.
Spell Resistance: You gain spell resistance equal to the spell resistance of the dragon form you take with Draconic Form.
Improved Breath Weapon: Your breath weapon now deals damage one die larger (6d8 to 6d10) and the save increases by 3. This only affects your half-dragon form.
Attack Form Improvement: If you have wings, a tail, or a breath weapon usable in rounds you gain an additional ability based off of which ability(s) you have: Tail sweep, wing slam, or great breath. Your tail sweep affects a half circle around you, out to 5 feet every 5 levels. Wing slam grants you 2 bludgeoning attacks for 1d4+1/2 Str. Great breath allows you to fully manifest your dragon parent’s breath weapon. Once per day you may use the breath weapon of your true dragon form, using that save or your own, whichever is better. Your standard breath weapon also affects +10 feet (if a cone) or +20 (if a line). All of these abilities are only effective in your natural form (and half-dragon form if applicable).
Draconic Ascension: Once you reach 10th level, the dragon form you take becomes your 'true form', though you still can only take this form the predefined number of times per day (note: the Half-Dragon form is also your true form, so you can't force yourself into your "true form" with magic, etc.). This means you can start taking feats, prestige classes, etc. that your new true form meets the requirements for. You may also no longer take any form or appearance other than that of a creature with the dragon type or dragon-blooded subtype besides your Alternate Form ability.
..I know it's too strong right now (I think) so I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to balance it while still keeping the flavor...
Hit Die: d12
Requirements
Race: Half-Dragon
B.A.B.: +5
Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) 10 ranks, Intimidate 5 ranks, Sense motive 5 ranks
Feats: Dragon Breath and/or Draconic Wings and/or Draconic Tail
Spells: Spontaneously cast 2nd level arcane spells
Special: You must find and spend one full day communing with one of your dragon relatives (parent is best); or at least a dragon of your variety of adult age or older
Class Skills
Concentration, Diplomacy, Escape artist, Intimidate, Knowledge (any), Listen, Search, Sense motive, Spellcraft, Spot, Use magic device; plus any noted in your dragon's type.
Skill points per level: (6+int)
The Half-Dragon Ascendant must have at least half of its spells known of the same subtype as its dragon type (e.g. a half red dragon must know more fire spells than any other type).
Half-Dragon Ascendant
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells
1st|
+0|
+1|
+1|
+1|Dragon Essence, Draconic Familiar, Frightful Interaction|
2nd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+1|Scaled Armor, Improved Natural-Weapons|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd|
+2|
+2|
+2|
+2|Draconic Form (1/day), Alternate Form|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+2|Damage Reduction, Blindsense|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+3|Spell Resistance, Frightful Presence|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th|
+4|
+3|
+3|
+3|Draconic Form (2/day)|
7th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+3|Improved Breath Weapon|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th|
+6|
+4|
+4|
+4|Attack Form Improvement|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th|
+6|
+4|
+4|
+4|Draconic Form (3/day)|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th|
+7|
+5|
+5|
+5|Draconic Ascension|+1 level of existing spellcasting class [/table]
Dragon Essence: Each level of Half-dragon Ascendant you gain is also treated as a racial hit die. This increases your HD based abilities accordingly. Also, after every five levels you must return to the dragon relative you qualified for this class with for a number of consecutive days equal to your class level. Until this is completed, no more levels in Half-dragon Ascendant may be gained.
Draconic Familiar: Your familiar gains the draconic template. You are treated as a character of half of your Half-dragon Ascendant level in addition to any other sources of familiar advancement from other classes.
Frightful interaction: As long as you’re in your half dragon form, add half your class level to intimidate checks, but subtract half your class level from diplomacy, and gather information checks. You can scare people into doing what you want, but you have a harder time relating to them.
Scaled Armor: When you reach second level, your skin starts growing heavy scales over the course of the next eight hours you sleep, but then the scales separate from your body, creating a suit of skin-tight perfectly form-fitting armor (that you are proficient with). The armor provides an armor bonus equal to your class level, has a -2 armor check penalty, a +6 max Dex bonus, no arcane spell failure chance, and is considered light armor. You may sleep in this armor despite the check penalty. The removal of this armor is much like sloughing it off (a full round action), however donning it again takes another full eight hours of rest to regrow it. During that time it provides only ½ its normal bonus, grants a 50% arcane spell failure chance and a -5 armor check penalty. It cannot be enchanted.
Improved Natural Weapons: All your natural weapons are treated as one size category larger. This ability is only effective in your true form (and half-dragon form if applicable). This does not grant you any extra attack forms.
Draconic form: Once a day for every 3 levels (starting at 3rd), the Half-dragon Ascendant can take the form of a dragon of your type. The form's HD can be no higher than your ECL+5. You gain the size, type, subtype, speed, AC, attacks, space/reach, special attacks, special qualities, Str, Dex, and Con of the form. You do not gain any aditional spell casting, hit points, hit dice, or saves from the change. This lasts for 1 round/2 levels + your Cha bonus.
Alternate Form: In addition to taking the form of your dragon heritage, you also can take the form of your non-dragon parent as a free action for as long as you desire any number of times per day. You appear–for all intents and purposes–a creature of your non-dragon heritage, though demonstrating superhuman(oid) feats of strength or using your breath weapon may dissuade people from believing your disguise.
Damage Reduction: You gain damage reduction equal to the damage reduction of the dragon form you take with Draconic Form.
Blindsense: You gain blindsense out to 20'. This improves by another 20' every 3 levels.
Frightful Presence: You gain the frightful presence of the dragon form you take with Draconic Form. The save is figured the same as a dragon.
Spell Resistance: You gain spell resistance equal to the spell resistance of the dragon form you take with Draconic Form.
Improved Breath Weapon: Your breath weapon now deals damage one die larger (6d8 to 6d10) and the save increases by 3. This only affects your half-dragon form.
Attack Form Improvement: If you have wings, a tail, or a breath weapon usable in rounds you gain an additional ability based off of which ability(s) you have: Tail sweep, wing slam, or great breath. Your tail sweep affects a half circle around you, out to 5 feet every 5 levels. Wing slam grants you 2 bludgeoning attacks for 1d4+1/2 Str. Great breath allows you to fully manifest your dragon parent’s breath weapon. Once per day you may use the breath weapon of your true dragon form, using that save or your own, whichever is better. Your standard breath weapon also affects +10 feet (if a cone) or +20 (if a line). All of these abilities are only effective in your natural form (and half-dragon form if applicable).
Draconic Ascension: Once you reach 10th level, the dragon form you take becomes your 'true form', though you still can only take this form the predefined number of times per day (note: the Half-Dragon form is also your true form, so you can't force yourself into your "true form" with magic, etc.). This means you can start taking feats, prestige classes, etc. that your new true form meets the requirements for. You may also no longer take any form or appearance other than that of a creature with the dragon type or dragon-blooded subtype besides your Alternate Form ability.
..I know it's too strong right now (I think) so I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to balance it while still keeping the flavor...