Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TieraStarr 05-07-04, 09:27 AM	I've been doing up savage species style level progressions for the dragons, and discovered that the LA's for the different dragons don't match. Firstly, lets compare the Black Wyrmling (LA+3) and the Brass Wyrmling (LA+2). The brass has faster flight (150 ft vs 100 ft) and better ability adjustments (Black has -2 Int, -2 Cha), and everything else is the same or comparable. So why does the black have a higher LA? A copper wyrmling also has LA+2 and only one more HD (5), of which it gains +2 Int, +2 Wis, +2 Cha over the brass, and a slightly better breath weapon (2d4 like the black vs the d6 of the brass, however it also has the added form which is the versatility that I took into account to say the brass' was comparable to the black's.) The copper's flight speed is also the same as the blacks, and thus slower than the brass'. So why does the copper have only LA+2 and the black LA+3? Even worse is when we consider the chromatic 5 HD dragon (green) and see the wyrmling has LA+5. It differs from the copper by +2 Str vs +2 Int, +2 Wis, +2 Con, and small size vs tiny (and thus a die increase in natural attacks). However I cannot see this being worth a difference of two LA. It should only be one.
teclis 05-11-04, 12:41 PM	what can I say? game designers arn't perfect. best not to look at these things too closely, but if you do, feel free to balance them out yourself. I certainly do sometimes.
foxylady 05-19-04, 05:15 AM	Being evil is worth +1 LA? Other than that I have no idea.
CrimsonPhoenix 05-23-04, 11:04 PM	Dragons as a whole are evenly matched and I'm honestly not sure about the chromatic dragons in comparison, but looking at the SS style classes in Dragon mag #320 all the different dragons seem balanced with each other. The reason dragons seem underpowered to some people is that those people look at them with a direct comparison with, lets say, a fighter. True, the fighter will have better attacks, more HP, better saves (more than likely anyway), and the breath weapon is somewhat negligable. But in the case of metallic dragons...look at the secondary breath. The Brass in particular is powerful for this. Lets say Con of 22 (16 base stat + 4 for Young age stat modifiers +2 stat increases at 4th and 8th HD): with this, the Heighten Breath feat, and the Enlarge Breath feat, you can have a 45ft cone that basically reads "make your DC 27 will save or be asleep for 1d6+3 rounds and have your throat slit". Sorry if this is posted in the wrong thread...I needed some place to say this...but basically what I'm saying is: if you look very closely at abilities you will likely find some that are extremely synergetic and therefore powerful. Ok, rant is over...
TieraStarr 05-24-04, 12:16 AM	I did up Savage Species progressions for the metallic dragons (before I discovered Dragon #320 was doing the same thing), and compared to each other thought the bronze and silver were a little too hard hit with the LA. Then I did the gold, and since it has much better ability bonuses than the gold, I think it's LA is fine, but it adds more weight to the bronze and silver being rated too high. It was only after noticing this that I checked the chromatics, and found even worse discrepancies there. PS: As for comparing to PC classes, I compared my version of the brass dragon and found it compared fairly well. It was a little tougher, but the penalty of a non-humanoid form (and thus unable to use weapons) brings it back down.