Dragonkin Dragon Disciple [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragonkin Dragon Disciple [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Xabre
12-14-05, 09:18 AM I posted this guy on the Optimization Board, and then realized, honestly, that this board is much more my speed, no matter how much my GM says I loophole and try to squeeze everything out of my characters...

Anyway, I have an intense fascination with dragons, and I probably like spellcasters as my favorite classes... but I wanted something different this time.

When I went through Draconomicon, and then Complete Arcane, it hit me.

I created a 9-level monster class (ala Savage Species) for the Dragon here. (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=551898)

After this, I was going to take one level of Warmage, as it gives me a whole bunch of spells to play with, albeit low level ones, mostly for slinging around utility elemental-based magics, and the occasional true strike for his huge strength.

After that, he qualifies for Dragon Disciple, and I'm gonna take that to the bitter end.

So obviously, what we have here is a Dragonkin who has somehow tapped into the heritage of his ancient ancestors, besides the impressive wingspan and the powerful abilities.

While not having any levels in Sorcerer, I believe this can qualify for the Draconic Heritage feat... and from there, taking Draconic Skin, Resistance, Power, and Breath. Finally, I MIGHT take Legacy, but that might simply end up wasted.

On top of this, the Practiced Spellcaster feat.

basically, all of this signifies that even though he has to spend 9 levels 'evolving' as a Dragonkin, all of his feats are going towards his 'behind the scenes' studying towards a magical class, as well as evolving the more arcane draconic side of himself. By the time he finally emerges with magical power as a Warmage (since before that the best he'll ahve is good strength and claws), he can immediately grow as a Half-Dragon through Disciple.

I also usually take Flaws... I created my own called 'Poor Communicator', which gives a -2 to Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Gather Info... Even though Dragons are Charisma based, this is a creature of action, more than words. A second flaw would probably be Shaky (renamed to something more suitable). Lastly, I like traits also. Agressive would point towards that warrior nature some more.

Finally, I have to decide on the style of Dragon. After everything I've said, he works best as a half-Battle dragon... a strange take on the legendary heroes of Norse mythology... (since Battles come from Ysgard). His Heritage Feat would give him Sonic energy/resistance, and I'd have to think of a skill to go with it.

Alternatively, Styx is just a powerful dragon, with two full immunities, and an acid breath. But Battle just FEELS better.

What do people think of all of this? And what would you call him? A string of words out of Draconomicon feels best, but I don't have it in front of me.
erbmjw
12-14-05, 01:58 PM Ummm I think this discussion board is supposed to be about the roleplaying aspects of a character - your post has not focused on that but rather on character optimization, but you did mention a few roleplaying bits.

So tell us how/why he has tapped into the draconic heratige so well and then you are onto a topic that is more applicable to this board.

Tell us which ancestor {ie great grandmother or great-great-great-great granfather} was the dragon - or if the character even knows?

Tell us if your character wants to find their dragon ancestor { they still may be alive } or discover more about the ancestor.

When he is starting out is he proud of being DragonKin, or resigned to making the best of a bad situation?

Are his parent's alive? does any other family member have similar characteristics or is he a lone throwback to the dragon ancestor?That helps you decide what sort of name he should start out with.
Xabre
12-14-05, 02:21 PM Well, Dragonkin, be definition, are Reptilian dragonspawn... something that a Kobold might say 'I wanna be that when I grow up!'.

They are bred as warriors, their very nature and strength lending themselves to that. So it seems clear, that perhaps three hundred years ago/10 generations back, a Battle Dragon began 'fiddling' with the breeding of these beasts, using it's magics and even it's own blood to adjust the strengths of the race. Starting with Lizardmen, the Dragonkin, over many, many generations, became the evolution of his experiments (note: this means that Dragonkin, much like in the Dragonlance setting, are creations of individual Dragons, kind of like Spawn).

While a Battle Dragon usually would remain in the planes of Ysgard, occasionally this one would check in on his creatures. This particular one, the character (Name still pending) was the only one alive at the time... simply put, the brood went their own ways, thanks to some aspect of the solitary nature of the dragon appearing in their genes. Of course, seeing this, the Battle Dragon realized that this could effectively mean the end of his 'experiment'... without other 'kin to continue the breeding results, they were solitary, and doomed to either die, or worse, dilute the bloodstream.

The Dragon decided that it would have to push its timeline foward, and try to harness a prototype earlier than it wanted to. With the use of it's magic, it started leaving suggestions and dreams in its draconic sleep. The race had always been crude, barbaric in nature, but as generations passed, the draconic blood began to seep out, hinting at sorcerous power. Any creature touched by a dragon might eventually head that way; a Battle Dragon's blood called towards more martial magics in the 'kin. As the Battle Dragon continued 'nudging' it towards certain choices, thoughts, skills, even powers, it began to develop greater strengths, usually in the arcane nature. It never realized that the Battle Dragon was influencing it. As it grew to its full strength, it turned to the powers that haunted it's thoughts, innately learning how to reach into its mind for the destructive forces of magic. At this point, the Battle Dragon felt that it had reached the pinicle of creating his 'prototype', already pushing evolution by generations to bend a 'kin this far. The Battle Dragon was resolute to leave the 'kin to its natural progession from there.

But there was a side effect to all of the 'tinkering'. Instead of continuing along the path of the Warmage, the 'kin was drawn to the draconic powers that had constantly influenced him. While it grew laterally with the magic that it had learned, it was the evolution of its body that continued, instead. It began feeding on the residual magics that the Battle Dragon had used, and continued along that thread, growing more and more like its proginator. The 'kin has no real idea why such changes are happening... its only clue is the dreams that it has at night of the great beast, radiating power, and somehow sheltering it and teaching it... but it's never met the dragon.

--

There... how's that? I think that covers just about all of it. I didn't mean to focus on optimization, mostly because I know the creature ISNT optomized, certainly not as the people on that board might use.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xabre 12-14-05, 09:18 AM	I posted this guy on the Optimization Board, and then realized, honestly, that this board is much more my speed, no matter how much my GM says I loophole and try to squeeze everything out of my characters... Anyway, I have an intense fascination with dragons, and I probably like spellcasters as my favorite classes... but I wanted something different this time. When I went through Draconomicon, and then Complete Arcane, it hit me. I created a 9-level monster class (ala Savage Species) for the Dragon here. (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=551898) After this, I was going to take one level of Warmage, as it gives me a whole bunch of spells to play with, albeit low level ones, mostly for slinging around utility elemental-based magics, and the occasional true strike for his huge strength. After that, he qualifies for Dragon Disciple, and I'm gonna take that to the bitter end. So obviously, what we have here is a Dragonkin who has somehow tapped into the heritage of his ancient ancestors, besides the impressive wingspan and the powerful abilities. While not having any levels in Sorcerer, I believe this can qualify for the Draconic Heritage feat... and from there, taking Draconic Skin, Resistance, Power, and Breath. Finally, I MIGHT take Legacy, but that might simply end up wasted. On top of this, the Practiced Spellcaster feat. basically, all of this signifies that even though he has to spend 9 levels 'evolving' as a Dragonkin, all of his feats are going towards his 'behind the scenes' studying towards a magical class, as well as evolving the more arcane draconic side of himself. By the time he finally emerges with magical power as a Warmage (since before that the best he'll ahve is good strength and claws), he can immediately grow as a Half-Dragon through Disciple. I also usually take Flaws... I created my own called 'Poor Communicator', which gives a -2 to Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Gather Info... Even though Dragons are Charisma based, this is a creature of action, more than words. A second flaw would probably be Shaky (renamed to something more suitable). Lastly, I like traits also. Agressive would point towards that warrior nature some more. Finally, I have to decide on the style of Dragon. After everything I've said, he works best as a half-Battle dragon... a strange take on the legendary heroes of Norse mythology... (since Battles come from Ysgard). His Heritage Feat would give him Sonic energy/resistance, and I'd have to think of a skill to go with it. Alternatively, Styx is just a powerful dragon, with two full immunities, and an acid breath. But Battle just FEELS better. What do people think of all of this? And what would you call him? A string of words out of Draconomicon feels best, but I don't have it in front of me.
erbmjw 12-14-05, 01:58 PM	Ummm I think this discussion board is supposed to be about the roleplaying aspects of a character - your post has not focused on that but rather on character optimization, but you did mention a few roleplaying bits. So tell us how/why he has tapped into the draconic heratige so well and then you are onto a topic that is more applicable to this board. Tell us which ancestor {ie great grandmother or great-great-great-great granfather} was the dragon - or if the character even knows? Tell us if your character wants to find their dragon ancestor { they still may be alive } or discover more about the ancestor. When he is starting out is he proud of being DragonKin, or resigned to making the best of a bad situation? Are his parent's alive? does any other family member have similar characteristics or is he a lone throwback to the dragon ancestor?That helps you decide what sort of name he should start out with.
Xabre 12-14-05, 02:21 PM	Well, Dragonkin, be definition, are Reptilian dragonspawn... something that a Kobold might say 'I wanna be that when I grow up!'. They are bred as warriors, their very nature and strength lending themselves to that. So it seems clear, that perhaps three hundred years ago/10 generations back, a Battle Dragon began 'fiddling' with the breeding of these beasts, using it's magics and even it's own blood to adjust the strengths of the race. Starting with Lizardmen, the Dragonkin, over many, many generations, became the evolution of his experiments (note: this means that Dragonkin, much like in the Dragonlance setting, are creations of individual Dragons, kind of like Spawn). While a Battle Dragon usually would remain in the planes of Ysgard, occasionally this one would check in on his creatures. This particular one, the character (Name still pending) was the only one alive at the time... simply put, the brood went their own ways, thanks to some aspect of the solitary nature of the dragon appearing in their genes. Of course, seeing this, the Battle Dragon realized that this could effectively mean the end of his 'experiment'... without other 'kin to continue the breeding results, they were solitary, and doomed to either die, or worse, dilute the bloodstream. The Dragon decided that it would have to push its timeline foward, and try to harness a prototype earlier than it wanted to. With the use of it's magic, it started leaving suggestions and dreams in its draconic sleep. The race had always been crude, barbaric in nature, but as generations passed, the draconic blood began to seep out, hinting at sorcerous power. Any creature touched by a dragon might eventually head that way; a Battle Dragon's blood called towards more martial magics in the 'kin. As the Battle Dragon continued 'nudging' it towards certain choices, thoughts, skills, even powers, it began to develop greater strengths, usually in the arcane nature. It never realized that the Battle Dragon was influencing it. As it grew to its full strength, it turned to the powers that haunted it's thoughts, innately learning how to reach into its mind for the destructive forces of magic. At this point, the Battle Dragon felt that it had reached the pinicle of creating his 'prototype', already pushing evolution by generations to bend a 'kin this far. The Battle Dragon was resolute to leave the 'kin to its natural progession from there. But there was a side effect to all of the 'tinkering'. Instead of continuing along the path of the Warmage, the 'kin was drawn to the draconic powers that had constantly influenced him. While it grew laterally with the magic that it had learned, it was the evolution of its body that continued, instead. It began feeding on the residual magics that the Battle Dragon had used, and continued along that thread, growing more and more like its proginator. The 'kin has no real idea why such changes are happening... its only clue is the dreams that it has at night of the great beast, radiating power, and somehow sheltering it and teaching it... but it's never met the dragon. -- There... how's that? I think that covers just about all of it. I didn't mean to focus on optimization, mostly because I know the creature ISNT optomized, certainly not as the people on that board might use.