A new kind of Blaster... [Archive] - Wizards Community

A new kind of Blaster... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Xabre
01-20-06, 11:44 AM Here we go. Someone else asked for this on another board, and I theorized it, but I want to see what the build would be like, instead.

Race: Dragonborn Gold Dwarf of Bahamut w/ Aspect of Heart
Flaws: Take 2 or 3 of em if your GM allows it. Noncombatant and Shaky are probably both useful, as this build will never really need combat rolls.
Traits: Agressive would be good.

Note: When selecting your dragon for Draconic Heritage, choose one with a Force descriptor. While this is pretty worthless for Resistance or Power feats, it DOES let you have a Force breath weapon when using Draconic Breath... which gives you a great back-up weapon when you can't use the main breath weapon or need to nail something incorporeal. If you really can choose, find a Force Cone breath weapon (the descriptions are in Races of the Dragon). This way when you need to hit more foes than your line can nail, you can use the cone instead.

1. Dragonblood Sorcerer 1. (Draconic Heritage), Ability Focus (Breath Weapon)
2. Sorcerer 2
3. Sorcerer 3. Recover Breath
4. Dragonblood Sorcerer 4.
5. Sorcerer 5.
6. Dragonheart Mage 1. (Draconic Breath), Maximize Breath
7. Dragonheart Mage 2. (Draconic Arcane Grace)
8. Dragonheart Mage 3.
9. Dragonheart Mage 4. (Draconic Skin), Clinging Breath
10. Dragonheart Mage 5.
11. Dragonheart Mage 6.
12. Dragonheart Mage 7. Clinging Breath
13. Dragonheart Mage 8. (Any Draconic Feat)
14. Dragonheart Mage 9.
15. Dragonheart Mage 10. Lingering Breath.
16. Sorcerer 6
17. Sorcerer 7
18. Sorcerer 8. Shape Breath
19. Sorcerer 9.
20. Sorcerer 10.

*note: if you take Flaws, add Enlarge, Heighten, and Shape Breath to your feats.

*Note: you can, of course, reorganize these metabreath feats as you desire. Keep Recover Breath asap, however.

Now, if I have everything right with this build, here's how you end up. A Gold Dwarf, I believe, is +2 con -2 dex... and Dragonborn end up doubling this. So your Dexterity will suffer greatly, but that's fine... you need the higher Constitution to qualify for all of the Metabreath feats.

The build should be pretty obvious; your primary weapon is your innate breath weapon that the Dragonborn gets from 1st level on. Cracak open Draconomicon; every time you get new spells, you should be filling your slots with Metabreath Spells from that book. Augment each one with Metabreath Feats, and while you're waiting for your breath to recharge, you can instead burn a spell slot for Draconic Breath, which, through Dragonheart Mage, will end up easily surpassing the strength of your primary breath weapon (but can't be augmented by feat or spell).

Find items to increase your Charisma for both your Sorcerer spells, and the DC of your breath weapon; look into the Magic-Blooded template from Dragon Mage 306 for a Cha boost w/o a LA.

The best part of this build is that this character can still be the ultimate in utility, because he NEVER needs to waste a slot on an attack spell; the versatility of the Dragonborn's breath weapon energy type, combined with (at 6th level) a Force breath weapon means that you never really are lacking for the appropriate spell to attack with.

Optional: This build gives you 18 levels of caster progression, enough to reach 9th level spells. For anyone who'd rather just have 20 levels, a simple Sorcerer 20 build works; in this case, use Dragonblood Sorcerer 7 for a few spells that you can't normally get. You lose access to Draconic Breath as your back up weapon, and therefore you're forced to instead rely on a few extra spells for combat, but you end up with a couple more 8th and 9th level spells. Personally, I think the 3 draconic feats (I chose Arcane Grace and skin for defense) and the 3d6 Breath is more than a trade off.
Malcoren
01-22-06, 09:32 PM OK, this is cool and all, but I think I'm missing something here.

How are you getting the Force descriptor on your breath weapon?

Draconic Heritage doesn't say you gain that, merely that you gain the bonus.
The Draconic Breath feat says specifically if your Draconic Heritage descriptor isn't one of the four listed energy types, you now have to pick one of the four types. Nothing in there about gaining the descriptor.
The Dragon Breath spell lets you pick one of the four energy types with corresponding effect, at the beginning of each casting.
The Dragonborn class lists nothing about Aspect of Heart gaining any descriptors.

Is there some line of text that I am missing?

I aslo must point out that, for your build, Wings of Cover is an incredibly useful 2nd level spell, espcially if you are also using the Dragonblood Sorcerer sub levels. Being able to shield yourself or an ally from virtually any one attack is incredibly useful. Even more so if the rules allow you to ready an action to cast it normally in response to an attack and still get your immediate for a 2nd... if this is rules-legal, it could mean great things, and your party will certainly be thankful.
Xabre
01-23-06, 06:46 AM yeah, that's the one mistake I made... I thought that Draconic Breath could give you a breath weapon besides one of the core four elements.

Aspect of Heart allows fire, cold, electricity, acid, or sonic, I thought, chosen when used each time.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xabre 01-20-06, 11:44 AM	Here we go. Someone else asked for this on another board, and I theorized it, but I want to see what the build would be like, instead. Race: Dragonborn Gold Dwarf of Bahamut w/ Aspect of Heart Flaws: Take 2 or 3 of em if your GM allows it. Noncombatant and Shaky are probably both useful, as this build will never really need combat rolls. Traits: Agressive would be good. Note: When selecting your dragon for Draconic Heritage, choose one with a Force descriptor. While this is pretty worthless for Resistance or Power feats, it DOES let you have a Force breath weapon when using Draconic Breath... which gives you a great back-up weapon when you can't use the main breath weapon or need to nail something incorporeal. If you really can choose, find a Force Cone breath weapon (the descriptions are in Races of the Dragon). This way when you need to hit more foes than your line can nail, you can use the cone instead. 1. Dragonblood Sorcerer 1. (Draconic Heritage), Ability Focus (Breath Weapon) 2. Sorcerer 2 3. Sorcerer 3. Recover Breath 4. Dragonblood Sorcerer 4. 5. Sorcerer 5. 6. Dragonheart Mage 1. (Draconic Breath), Maximize Breath 7. Dragonheart Mage 2. (Draconic Arcane Grace) 8. Dragonheart Mage 3. 9. Dragonheart Mage 4. (Draconic Skin), Clinging Breath 10. Dragonheart Mage 5. 11. Dragonheart Mage 6. 12. Dragonheart Mage 7. Clinging Breath 13. Dragonheart Mage 8. (Any Draconic Feat) 14. Dragonheart Mage 9. 15. Dragonheart Mage 10. Lingering Breath. 16. Sorcerer 6 17. Sorcerer 7 18. Sorcerer 8. Shape Breath 19. Sorcerer 9. 20. Sorcerer 10. note: if you take Flaws, add Enlarge, Heighten, and Shape Breath to your feats. Note: you can, of course, reorganize these metabreath feats as you desire. Keep Recover Breath asap, however. Now, if I have everything right with this build, here's how you end up. A Gold Dwarf, I believe, is +2 con -2 dex... and Dragonborn end up doubling this. So your Dexterity will suffer greatly, but that's fine... you need the higher Constitution to qualify for all of the Metabreath feats. The build should be pretty obvious; your primary weapon is your innate breath weapon that the Dragonborn gets from 1st level on. Cracak open Draconomicon; every time you get new spells, you should be filling your slots with Metabreath Spells from that book. Augment each one with Metabreath Feats, and while you're waiting for your breath to recharge, you can instead burn a spell slot for Draconic Breath, which, through Dragonheart Mage, will end up easily surpassing the strength of your primary breath weapon (but can't be augmented by feat or spell). Find items to increase your Charisma for both your Sorcerer spells, and the DC of your breath weapon; look into the Magic-Blooded template from Dragon Mage 306 for a Cha boost w/o a LA. The best part of this build is that this character can still be the ultimate in utility, because he NEVER needs to waste a slot on an attack spell; the versatility of the Dragonborn's breath weapon energy type, combined with (at 6th level) a Force breath weapon means that you never really are lacking for the appropriate spell to attack with. Optional: This build gives you 18 levels of caster progression, enough to reach 9th level spells. For anyone who'd rather just have 20 levels, a simple Sorcerer 20 build works; in this case, use Dragonblood Sorcerer 7 for a few spells that you can't normally get. You lose access to Draconic Breath as your back up weapon, and therefore you're forced to instead rely on a few extra spells for combat, but you end up with a couple more 8th and 9th level spells. Personally, I think the 3 draconic feats (I chose Arcane Grace and skin for defense) and the 3d6 Breath is more than a trade off.
Malcoren 01-22-06, 09:32 PM	OK, this is cool and all, but I think I'm missing something here. How are you getting the Force descriptor on your breath weapon? Draconic Heritage doesn't say you gain that, merely that you gain the bonus. The Draconic Breath feat says specifically if your Draconic Heritage descriptor isn't one of the four listed energy types, you now have to pick one of the four types. Nothing in there about gaining the descriptor. The Dragon Breath spell lets you pick one of the four energy types with corresponding effect, at the beginning of each casting. The Dragonborn class lists nothing about Aspect of Heart gaining any descriptors. Is there some line of text that I am missing? I aslo must point out that, for your build, Wings of Cover is an incredibly useful 2nd level spell, espcially if you are also using the Dragonblood Sorcerer sub levels. Being able to shield yourself or an ally from virtually any one attack is incredibly useful. Even more so if the rules allow you to ready an action to cast it normally in response to an attack and still get your immediate for a 2nd... if this is rules-legal, it could mean great things, and your party will certainly be thankful.
Xabre 01-23-06, 06:46 AM	yeah, that's the one mistake I made... I thought that Draconic Breath could give you a breath weapon besides one of the core four elements. Aspect of Heart allows fire, cold, electricity, acid, or sonic, I thought, chosen when used each time.