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    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Alabenson's Avatar

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    Default The Dragon Priest (3.5 Divine Caster Base Class); PEACH

    The Dragon Priest

    The primordial power of dragons has a tendency to attract all manner of adoration, from respect to a desire to claim kinship to outright worship. Chief among those falling in the later category are the dragon priests. Often the leaders of draconic cults, these individuals have dedicated themselves to the veneration of dragons with such fervor that they can actually draw magical power from their devotion.

    Adventures: A dragon priest in the service of an actual dragon will often adventure to further the goals of their draconic patron, whether to gather more wealth and power for their master or to strike at their enemies.

    Characteristics: First and foremost, dragon priests are potent and versatile divine spellcasters, able to heal injuries, control minds and strike down their enemies with magical power. Beyond this, dragon priests are able to call upon a small fraction of the awesome majesty of their draconic patrons, enabling to unsettle and take control of the weak minded. Finally, every dragon priest is able to wrap themselves in a spectral husk of spiritual energy which offers them significant protection.

    Alignment: Like the dragons they worship, dragon priests can be of any alignment. That being said, dragon-worship tends to attract those who place a premium on the ability acquire personal power and control of others and as such dragon priests do have a tendency to lean more towards lawful and evil alignments.

    Religion: While the vast majority of dragon priests choose to venerate dragons directly, there are a small minority who also choose to worship draconic deities such as Tiamat or Bahamut.

    Background: Dragon priests often begin their training as acolytes within cults dedicated to the worship of dragons, where they can learn the intricacies of their craft under the tutelage of senior dragon priests. On a rare occasion, a dragon priest will instead receive training directly from a more experienced dragon priest as a singular mentor.

    Races: Most dragon priests are humans, although half-elves and even half-orcs aren’t uncommon as dragon priest cults often recruit from those who don’t fit in well with their own societies.

    Other Classes: While many classes are perfectly happy to work with dragon priests, most other divine spellcasters regard them suspicion at best. Clerics in particular tend to view dragon priests as misguided fools at best and dangerous heretics at worst.

    Role: Thanks to their spellcasting dragon priests are able to fill a number of rolls within an adventuring party, disrupting their enemies in combat while healing and magically augmenting their allies. In particular, dragon priests are especially well suited to act as a party face thanks to their skills and the power of their project awe ability

    GAME RULE INFORMATION
    Dragon priests have the following game statistics
    Abilities: Charisma is far and away the most important ability for a dragon priest as it powers not only their spellcasting but also their special abilities. Beyond this, dragon priests value Dexterity as they wear light armor, and Constitution provides them with needed hit points.
    Alignment: Any
    Hit Die: D8
    Starting Age: As bard
    Starting Gold: As cleric

    Class Skills:
    Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (history), Knowledge (religion), Profession, Spellcraft
    Skill Points at 1st level: (4 + Intelligence Modifier) x4
    Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Intelligence Modifier

    Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special 0th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
    1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Dragontouched, Project Awe, Spectral Husk (+1 natural armor) 3 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
    2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 Hoard Magic 4 3 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
    3rd +2 +3 +1 +3 Spectral Husk (energy resistance 5) 4 3 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
    4th +3 +4 +1 +4 Voice of Command (bonus to Charisma skills) 5 4 3 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
    5th +3 +4 +1 +4 Spectral Husk (+2 natural armor) 5 4 3 2 -- -- -- -- -- --
    6th +4 +5 +2 +5 Spectral Husk (energy resistance 10) 5 4 4 3 -- -- -- -- -- --
    7th +5 +5 +2 +5 Spectral Husk (wings) 6 5 4 3 2 -- -- -- -- --
    8th +6 +6 +2 +6 Voice of Command (suggestion) 6 5 4 4 3 -- -- -- -- --
    9th +6 +6 +3 +6 Spectral Husk (energy resistance 15, +3 natural armor) 6 5 5 4 3 2 -- -- -- --
    10th +7 +7 +3 +7 Project Awe (inspire resolve) 6 5 5 4 4 3 -- -- -- --
    11th +8 +7 +3 +7 Hoard Magic (spontaneous metamagic) 6 6 5 5 4 3 2 -- -- --
    12th +9 +8 +4 +8 Spectral Husk (energy resistance 20), Voice of Command (terror) 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 -- -- --
    13th +9 +8 +4 +8 Spectral Husk (natural armor +4) 6 6 6 5 5 4 3 2 -- --
    14th +10 +9 +4 +9 Spectral Husk (improved flight) 6 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 -- --
    15th +11 +9 +5 +9 Spectral Husk (energy resistance 25) 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 3 2 --
    16th +12 +10 +5 +10 Voice of Command (mind fog) 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 --
    17th +12 +10 +5 +10 Spectral Husk (natural armor +5) 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 3 2
    18th +13 +11 +6 +11 Spectral Husk (energy resistance 30) 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 4 3
    19th +14 +11 +6 +11 Project Awe (daze) 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 4
    20th +15 +12 +6 +12 Voice of Command (domination) 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5


    Class Features

    Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A dragon priest is proficient with all simple weapons. Dragon priests are proficient with light armor and shields (but not tower shields).

    Spells: A dragon priest casts divine spells, which are drawn from the dragon priest spell list given below. A dragon priest must choose and prepare their spells in advance (see below).
    To prepare or cast a dragon priest spell, a dragon priest must have a Charisma score of 10 + the spell’s level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a dragon priest spell is 10 + the spell’s level + the dragon priest’s Cha modifier.
    A dragon priest can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. The dragon priest’s base daily spell allotment is given on the Table. In addition, a dragon priest receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score.
    Dragon priests prepare and cast their spells the way a cleric does, though they cannot lose a prepared spell to cast a cure in its place. A dragon priest may prepare and cast any spell on the dragon priest spell list, provided they can cast spells of that level, but must choose which spells to prepare during their daily meditation.

    Dragontouched: At 1st level the dragon priest gains Dragontouched as a bonus feat.

    Project Awe (Su): A fundamental part of the dragon priest’s abilities is the power to channel the majesty of dragonkind, leaving lesser creatures in awe of their presence. As a standard action, the dragon priest can project an aura of awe that effects all enemies (except creatures of the dragon type) who are able to clearly see the dragon priest within 60 feet. Creatures who the dragon priest has concealment against are unaffected by this ability. All effected creatures must make a Will save (DC = 10 + 1/2 the dragon priest’s class level + the dragon priest’s Cha modifier) or be shaken for a number of rounds equal to the dragon priest’s class level. This ability is a mind-affecting fear effect. Creatures who successfully save against the dragon priest’s project awe ability are considered immune to it for 24 hours.
    The dragon priest may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + their Charisma modifier.

    Beginning at 10th level, the dragon priest can expend a use of their project awe ability to inspire resolve in their allies. When the dragon priest uses this ability, all of their allies within 60 feet receive a +1 morale bonus to attack rolls and saving throws for every 4 class levels the dragon priest has (rounded down). This bonus lasts for a number of rounds equal to the dragon priest’s class level.

    At 19th level, the dragon priest gains the ability to expend two uses of their project awe ability to temporarily overwhelm the minds of those nearby. Enemies (except creatures of the dragon type) within 30 feet must make a Will save (DC = 10 + 1/2 the dragon priest’s class level + the dragon priest’s Cha modifier) or be dazed for 1 round for every 3 class levels the dragon priest has (rounded down).

    Spectral Husk (Su): The dragon priest is continuously enveloped by a spectral husk which resembles a dragon, though the dragon priest can will this husk to become invisible as a free action. Even when hidden, however, the husk can be seen by any effect that would reveal ethereal creatures.
    Starting at 1st level, the dragon priest’s spectral husk grants the dragon priest a natural armor bonus of +1 (or causes their existing natural armor to increase by 1). The dragon priest benefits from this regardless of whether their spectral husk is visible, however when the husk can be seen the natural armor bonus it grants also applies to attacks made by incorporeal creatures. This bonus increases by an additional +1 for each four class levels the dragon priest has above 1st (+2 at 5th, +3 at 9th, +4 at 13th and +5 at 17th).

    The spectral husk of a dragon priest of 3rd level or higher is able to grant the dragon priest resistance 5 to the energy type of the dragon priest’s choice as long as it is visible. The spectral husk can only grant this resistance to one type of energy at a time, however the dragon priest can change which type of resistance it grants once per round as a free action. The resistance granted by the spectral husk increases by 5 points for every three class levels the dragon priest has above 3rd (10 at 6th, 15 at 9th, 20 at 12th, 25 at 15th, and 30 at 18th)

    Starting at 7th level, the dragon priest gains the ability to utilize the wings of their spectral husk to fly at their land speed with average maneuverability as long as the spectral husk is visible. At 14th level, the dragon priest’s flight speed increases to double their land speed with good maneuverability.

    Hoard Magic (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, a dragon priest gains the ability to store the spell energy of their prepared spells so that they can be used at a later time by performing a special ritual. This ritual takes 1 hour to perform and requires the burning of special incense and other reagents with a total cost equal to 10 gp x the level of the spell being stored x the dragon priest’s caster level. At the end of the ritual the spell to be hoarded is expended as though the dragon priest had cast it. At any time thereafter, the dragon priest can expend the hoarded spell as though casting it from a scroll, at which point the hoarded spell energy dissipates. The dragon priest may have as many hoarded spells as they like at any given time, however they must perform the ritual separately for each one.

    A dragon priest of level 11 or higher gains the ability to apply a metamagic feat they know to a hoarded spell. To use this ability, the dragon priest must make a successful Spellcraft check with a DC equal to 20 + (3 x the modified level of the spell). The dragon priest can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + their Charisma modifier.

    Voice of Command (Su): Starting at 4th level, the dragon priest gains the ability to more easily sway and manipulate the minds of those who have been affected by their project awe ability. The dragon priest gains a circumstance bonus to any Charisma-based skills against creatures who have failed their saves against their project awe ability equal to 1/2 their class level for 24 hours.

    At 8th level, the dragon priest gains the ability to force individuals who fail their saves against their project awe ability to obey a single spoken command, as per the suggestion spell. The target can negate this effect with a successful Will save (DC = 10 + 1/2 the dragon priest’s class level + the dragon priest’s Cha modifier). Regardless of whether or not the target makes their save the dragon priest may not target an individual with this ability more often than once every 24 hours, even if they fail their saves against the dragon priest’s project awe ability multiple times.

    Beginning at 12th level a dragon priest can swell the lingering effects of their project awe ability into overwhelming terror. As a standard action, the dragon priest can force all creatures within 30 ft who are currently shaken by the dragon priest’s project awe ability to make a Will save (DC = 10 + 1/2 the dragon priest’s class level + the dragon priest’s Cha modifier) or become panicked for the remainder of the project awe’s duration. The dragon priest may use this ability 3 times per day.

    A dragon priest of at least 16th level can force individuals who fail their saves against their project awe ability to make a second Will save (DC = 10 + 1/2 the dragon priest’s class level + the dragon priest’s Cha modifier) as a swift action in the same round they use their project awe ability. Creatures who fail this second save take a -10 competence penalty to any Will saves they make against the dragon priest’s spells or abilities for the duration of the project awe ability, as per the mind fog spell. The dragon priest may use this ability 3 times per day.

    At level 20, a dragon priest can attempt to completely subjugate the minds of those who are affected by their project awe ability. Once per day as a swift action in the same round the dragon priest uses their project awe ability, the dragon priest can force any creature who has failed their save against their project awe ability to make a second Will save (DC = 10 + 1/2 the dragon priest’s class level + the dragon priest’s Cha modifier). Creatures who fail this second saving throw are dominated for the duration of the dragon priest’s project awe ability.

    Dragon Priest Spell List
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    0: amanuensis, create water, cure minor wounds, daze, detect magic, detect poison, guidance, light, mending, purify food or drink, read magic, resistance

    1: bane, bless, cause fear, charm person, cheat, command, comprehend languages, cure light wounds, deathwatch, detect chaos/evil/good/law, detect dragonblood, doom, endure elements, entropic shield, ghostly tail, hoard gullet, magic fang, obscuring mist, path of frost, protection chaos/evil/good/law, remove fear, rot of ages, sanctuary, shield of faith, wings of bounding

    2: aid, augury, bear’s endurance, bull’s strength, calm emotions, cure moderate wounds, darkness, delay poison, dragoneye rune, eagle’s splendor, enthrall, entice gift, essence of the dragon, hold person, lesser restoration, local tremor, make whole, mesmerizing glare, owl’s wisdom, peaceful serenity of Io, primal hunter, razor fangs, remove paralysis, resist energy, shatter, silence, status, tail slap, undetectable alignment, unfettered grasp, wings of cover, zone of truth

    3: adoration of the faithful, bestow curse, cloak of bravery, continual flame, create food and water, cure serious wounds, daylight, deeper darkness, dispel magic, dragon breath, dragonskin, greater magic fang, invisibility purge, least dragonshape, locate object, magic circle against chaos/evil/good/law, miser’s envy, obscure object, prayer, primal instinct, protection from energy, remove blindness/deafness, remove curse, remove disease, sense of the dragon, suggestion, vision of the omniscient eye, water breathing, water walk, wind wall, wingblast, wreath of flames

    4: air walk, charm monster, contingent energy resistance, control water, cure critical wounds, death ward, dimensional anchor, discern lies, dismissal, divination, firestride exhalation, freedom of movement, neutralize poison, passage of the shifting sands, primal senses, restoration, sending, sharptooth, tail slap, tongues, trance of the verdant domain, voice of the dragon, wall of scales, wings of flurry

    5: break enchantment, commune, dominate person, draconic might, draconic polymorph, dragonsight, flame strike, flight of the dragon, form of the desert hunter, greater command, lesser dragon ally, lord of the sky, manifest dragon heritage, mark of justice, mass charm person, mass cure light wounds, plane shift, raise dead, scrying, slay living, spell resistance, superior magic fang, true seeing, wall of stone

    6: animate objects, antilife shell, aura of terror, banishment, call of the twilight defender, energy immunity, eyes of the oracle, find the path, forbiddance, geas/quest, greater dispel magic, haze of smoldering stone, heal, heroe’s feast, imperious glare, legend lore, lesser dragonshape, mass bear’s endurance, mass bull’s strength, mass cure moderate wounds, mass eagle’s splendor, mass owl’s wisdom, mass suggestion, primal speed, stoneskin, wind walk, word of recall

    7: antimagic ray, control weather, death dragon, destruction, dragon ally, ethereal jaunt, glorious master of the elements, greater restoration, greater scrying, hiss of sleep, hold monster, kiss of draonic defiance, mass cure serious wounds, refuge, regenerate, repulsion, resurrection

    8: antimagic field, antipathy, demand, dimension lock, discern location, earthquake, firestorm, greater manifest dragon heritage, maddening whispers, mass charm monster, mass cure critical wounds, mind of the labyrinth, mind blank, moment of prescience, phantasmal thief, sequester, sympathy

    9: astral projection, burst of glacial wrath, dominate monster, etherealness, foresight, greater dragon ally, implosion, mass heal, mass hold monster, storm of vengeance, true resurrection
    Last edited by Alabenson; 2023-03-31 at 03:26 PM.
    If brute force isn't working, that just means you're not using enough of it.

    When in doubt, set something on fire. If not in doubt, set something on fire anyway.

    My Homebrew

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  2. - Top - End - #2
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    nonsi's Avatar

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    Default Re: The Dragon Priest (3.5 Divine Caster Base Class); PEACH

    .

    This one's very well designed at all levels.
    One draconic aspect that's missing here is everything that involves draconic senses.
    Because dragons are naturally magical, I'd grant this class one spontaneous spell per level.
    That's about it.

  3. - Top - End - #3
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Alabenson's Avatar

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    Default Re: The Dragon Priest (3.5 Divine Caster Base Class); PEACH

    I've made two minor adjustments to the Dragon Priest; The fear and daze functions of the dragon priest's project awe ability now specify that they only effect enemies rather than all creatures in range, which should make them much more useable. I've also changed the spectral husk ability to just be Su rather than Su or Ex.
    If brute force isn't working, that just means you're not using enough of it.

    When in doubt, set something on fire. If not in doubt, set something on fire anyway.

    My Homebrew

    Spoiler: PbP Characters
    Show

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