Dragon Devotee Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragon Devotee Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
wizzzzzard
06-03-07, 08:52 AM My group has recently acquired Races of the Dragon. One of the players wants to start taking Dragon Devotee.

In looking over the class, you seem to get a lot out of it for investing, IMO, very little.

I don't want to change the rules laid down in the book, I do think that you should have at least seen a dragon before taking this class. (Which so far, our group has only seen 1 illusionary dragon. Or at least that's what the party mage said.)

At any rate, I want to add some kind of special requirement, that you've had some kind extended, or even limited, dealings with a full blown dragon. And not just a baby one, but one who's been around a good while.

The questions are:

1: What age category is sufficent?

2: How long should this period be?

3: Is this reasonable?

The age category question is easiest. I was thinking Mature Adult. It's halfway up the category list, and represents a dragon who's seen at least 2 centuries. Even the weakest dragon (White), is still a tough foe at this level of power

How long? Would a week be enough? A day? Is a month too long? Should it take a year? I was thinking of trying to wrap it around either INT, or Knowledge Arcana ranks. LIke the more you have, the less time you need. (The character in question has a 12 INT, and 1 rank of Knowledge Arcana.)

I don't want the player inconvienced, but I think for what this class gives, there should more of an investiture by the character. On a character level. I was considering labelling the class 'broken' and leave it at that. But part of why we are playing to try things out. This looks like a good example.

What are people's thoughts?

Matt
immortal_fighter
06-03-07, 09:11 AM im planning on becoming a devotee myself and I personaly love the class because its so easy to become. At the same time, I do believe it should take a little more to become one. If you do some studying you can do some crazy ass things with it, but i wont get into that, that is for the players to figure out. If i were running the group I would simply make a preres that your player either runs into a dragon or runs into a group of devotee's. I dont think the standards need to be to high for him to become a devotee because there are stronger builds in the book.
queenfange
06-03-07, 09:55 AM I think that makes sense. Mature adult sounds fine (perhaps use as young as young adult), but you could also require that it be the same color that the devotee is focused on. If one is choosing to devote one's studies to green dragons and their powers, for example, they should at least have seen one for inspiration. I think a short period of time is sufficient, as long as it's more than a passing glance at a dragon in the sky. So, all of the following could count:
Seeing the appropriate type of dragon attack the town where they are currently residing
Directly battling the dragon
Having a conversation with the dragon (even in polymorphed form, though not an illusion or from a long-distance magical communication method)
Seeing a dragon at a dragon-focused cult or group's ritual
G_Mancer
06-03-07, 09:47 PM My group has recently acquired Races of the Dragon. One of the players wants to start taking Dragon Devotee.

In looking over the class, you seem to get a lot out of it for investing, IMO, very little.

I don't want to change the rules laid down in the book, I do think that you should have at least seen a dragon before taking this class. (Which so far, our group has only seen 1 illusionary dragon. Or at least that's what the party mage said.)

At any rate, I want to add some kind of special requirement, that you've had some kind extended, or even limited, dealings with a full blown dragon. And not just a baby one, but one who's been around a good while.

The questions are:

1: What age category is sufficent?

2: How long should this period be?

3: Is this reasonable?

The age category question is easiest. I was thinking Mature Adult. It's halfway up the category list, and represents a dragon who's seen at least 2 centuries. Even the weakest dragon (White), is still a tough foe at this level of power

How long? Would a week be enough? A day? Is a month too long? Should it take a year? I was thinking of trying to wrap it around either INT, or Knowledge Arcana ranks. LIke the more you have, the less time you need. (The character in question has a 12 INT, and 1 rank of Knowledge Arcana.)

I don't want the player inconvienced, but I think for what this class gives, there should more of an investiture by the character. On a character level. I was considering labelling the class 'broken' and leave it at that. But part of why we are playing to try things out. This looks like a good example.

What are people's thoughts?

Matt

i've played one in my last campaign. it takes a play 5 lvls to gain what a person can have in 1 LA. beside the bonus feats...that are sub-par to fighter.

but flavor-wise i dont think it's too much t orequire previous dealings with dragons.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
wizzzzzard 06-03-07, 08:52 AM	My group has recently acquired Races of the Dragon. One of the players wants to start taking Dragon Devotee. In looking over the class, you seem to get a lot out of it for investing, IMO, very little. I don't want to change the rules laid down in the book, I do think that you should have at least seen a dragon before taking this class. (Which so far, our group has only seen 1 illusionary dragon. Or at least that's what the party mage said.) At any rate, I want to add some kind of special requirement, that you've had some kind extended, or even limited, dealings with a full blown dragon. And not just a baby one, but one who's been around a good while. The questions are: 1: What age category is sufficent? 2: How long should this period be? 3: Is this reasonable? The age category question is easiest. I was thinking Mature Adult. It's halfway up the category list, and represents a dragon who's seen at least 2 centuries. Even the weakest dragon (White), is still a tough foe at this level of power How long? Would a week be enough? A day? Is a month too long? Should it take a year? I was thinking of trying to wrap it around either INT, or Knowledge Arcana ranks. LIke the more you have, the less time you need. (The character in question has a 12 INT, and 1 rank of Knowledge Arcana.) I don't want the player inconvienced, but I think for what this class gives, there should more of an investiture by the character. On a character level. I was considering labelling the class 'broken' and leave it at that. But part of why we are playing to try things out. This looks like a good example. What are people's thoughts? Matt
immortal_fighter 06-03-07, 09:11 AM	im planning on becoming a devotee myself and I personaly love the class because its so easy to become. At the same time, I do believe it should take a little more to become one. If you do some studying you can do some crazy ass things with it, but i wont get into that, that is for the players to figure out. If i were running the group I would simply make a preres that your player either runs into a dragon or runs into a group of devotee's. I dont think the standards need to be to high for him to become a devotee because there are stronger builds in the book.
queenfange 06-03-07, 09:55 AM	I think that makes sense. Mature adult sounds fine (perhaps use as young as young adult), but you could also require that it be the same color that the devotee is focused on. If one is choosing to devote one's studies to green dragons and their powers, for example, they should at least have seen one for inspiration. I think a short period of time is sufficient, as long as it's more than a passing glance at a dragon in the sky. So, all of the following could count: Seeing the appropriate type of dragon attack the town where they are currently residing Directly battling the dragon Having a conversation with the dragon (even in polymorphed form, though not an illusion or from a long-distance magical communication method) Seeing a dragon at a dragon-focused cult or group's ritual
G_Mancer 06-03-07, 09:47 PM	My group has recently acquired Races of the Dragon. One of the players wants to start taking Dragon Devotee. In looking over the class, you seem to get a lot out of it for investing, IMO, very little. I don't want to change the rules laid down in the book, I do think that you should have at least seen a dragon before taking this class. (Which so far, our group has only seen 1 illusionary dragon. Or at least that's what the party mage said.) At any rate, I want to add some kind of special requirement, that you've had some kind extended, or even limited, dealings with a full blown dragon. And not just a baby one, but one who's been around a good while. The questions are: 1: What age category is sufficent? 2: How long should this period be? 3: Is this reasonable? The age category question is easiest. I was thinking Mature Adult. It's halfway up the category list, and represents a dragon who's seen at least 2 centuries. Even the weakest dragon (White), is still a tough foe at this level of power How long? Would a week be enough? A day? Is a month too long? Should it take a year? I was thinking of trying to wrap it around either INT, or Knowledge Arcana ranks. LIke the more you have, the less time you need. (The character in question has a 12 INT, and 1 rank of Knowledge Arcana.) I don't want the player inconvienced, but I think for what this class gives, there should more of an investiture by the character. On a character level. I was considering labelling the class 'broken' and leave it at that. But part of why we are playing to try things out. This looks like a good example. What are people's thoughts? Matt i've played one in my last campaign. it takes a play 5 lvls to gain what a person can have in 1 LA. beside the bonus feats...that are sub-par to fighter. but flavor-wise i dont think it's too much t orequire previous dealings with dragons.