Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Beau 02-23-07, 08:36 PM	Any thoughts on a good build for Dragon Disciple, I kind of like the idea of a character mutating into a half dragon over time but the whole sorceror pre-req makes for a pretty weak character combat wise and not that great of a spell caster if you actually switch to Dragon Disc. in time to fully morph before epic level. One thought I have had is to use battle sorceror from unearthed arcana as a base and maybe a level or two of fighter or barabarian...worse spell casting but tougher. Any ideas or recommendations???
JulesCARV 02-23-07, 08:51 PM	If you can use the Hexblade from Complete Warrior or the Duskblade from PHB II, that's the preferred way of becoming a dragon disciple. Otherwise, battle sorcerer is fine. Personally, I'd personally go with a few levels of bard -- at most four levels, to keep the BAB loss at 1. Generally, try to have as much mêlée combatant and as little spellcaster as possible in dragon disciple builds.
StevenO 02-23-07, 11:22 PM	For Spellcasting I'd normally go with the Duskblade (PHB2) as you also get full BAB. The Hexblade also works although it has a different feel to it. Unless I'm trying to get that level 2 spell slot I'd normally take a few levels in a melee class. The Barbarian's rage can give you an incredible strength score after you've maxed out DD. Depending on your flavor of DD a bard can also work although I usually avoid leaving any class at level 5.
Barloch 02-24-07, 08:20 PM	You could always just go fighter 4/sorc 1 so you have the essentials to qualify as well as handful of useful spells. Duskblade is pry the best path though.
Jaxgaret 02-25-07, 01:18 AM	Keep in mind that the Dragon Disciple is a purely melee-oriented PrC, with a tiny bit of arcane focus. You're best off concentrating on your melee class for entry; most of the suggestions above are good ones. Duskblade or Hexblade are great entry classes. Melee1/Bard4 or BattleSorc4 is not bad either. Personally, my favorite entry is Human Barbarian1/Bard4. Take Lingering Song and Song of the Heart as your first level feats, the feat Chaos Music from Dragon as your third level feat [it acts as Practiced Spellcaster for Bardic Music], use the Perform(Horn) bonus from S&S, and the spell Inspirational Boost, and you're looking at a total of +5 to attack and damage for every attack for the whole party, including yourself, for the first ten rounds of every encounter. Combine that with your Rage for another +2 to attack and damage, and if you really want to go nuts, go for Improved Unarmed Strike and Superior Unarmed Strike as your 6th and 9th level feats (Or maybe Extra Rage at 6th and IUS/SUS at 9th/12th). At 8th level you'll be tearing things apart with four or even five attacks (Unarmed Strike x2, Claw Claw Bite) each with +7 to attack and damage from Rage + Inspire Courage, plus whatever Strength bonus you have, including the +2 from DD, plus +6 BAB. That's just about the peak of this build, but you do get some nice benefits later on from DD.
runestar 02-25-07, 01:24 AM	A cleric/dragon disciple is not too a bad combo, use the extra slots for divine power and righteous might and you can be quite the effective combatant.:)
Jaxgaret 02-25-07, 01:32 AM	A cleric/dragon disciple is not too a bad combo, use the extra slots for divine power and righteous might and you can be quite the effective combatant.:) DDs are arcane-only for entry requirements. Is this a houserule, a misread, or an Arcane1/ClericX type build? If it's the latter, that's actually a pretty neat idea... wish I had thought of it.
TevolRia 02-25-07, 11:55 AM	go with full BAB class 5/ dragon devotee (from races of dragon) 3-5/ dragon disciple.
runestar 02-25-07, 09:53 PM	DDs are arcane-only for entry requirements. Is this a houserule, a misread, or an Arcane1/ClericX type build? If it's the latter, that's actually a pretty neat idea... wish I had thought of it. Neither really. I remember a feat which lets your character cast a few arcane cantrips each day as a wiz or sorc. It would allow a cleric to qualify for dragon disciple.:) Ah yes - magical training from the PGTF.:embarrass
Jaxgaret 02-26-07, 12:20 AM	Neither really. I remember a feat which lets your character cast a few arcane cantrips each day as a wiz or sorc. It would allow a cleric to qualify for dragon disciple.:) Ah yes - magical training from the PGTF.:embarrass That's a Regional Elf- or Human-only feat. Not allowable in many campaigns. Great idea for entry, though. It basically allows one to take any class they want to qualify for DD, as long as they can get those 8 ranks in Knowledge(Arcana).
cowdragon 02-26-07, 12:25 AM	hey folks! it's been a while since I've posted anything here, but couldn't resist the old DD build question. Here's a favorite of mine that really is fun and actually rocks! 1-5) Battle Sorcerer (mostly for the BAB requirements) 6-7) Prestige Bard 8-10) Dragon Disciple (to fill levels until...) 11-13) Sublime Chord 14-20) Dragon Disciple For feats you will need Skill Knowlegde(Perform) to qualify for prestige bard. Also I highly recommend Practised Spellcaster and many Draconic Feats to boost your formidable draconic abilities. This build is a little late in blooming, but you will have access to 6th lvl sorc and bard spells.... that means healing magic... and alot of it. You will also have a few nice attack spells and buff spells. Sweet build though and alot of "overpowered" accusations will fly your way. :) The Cowdragon
Jaxgaret 02-26-07, 01:11 AM	For feats you will need Skill Knowlegde(Perform) to qualify for prestige bard. AFAIK, this does not work without a houserule. Having +8 to Perform checks is not equivalent to having 8 ranks in a Perform skill. Sorry to rain on your parade, Cowdragon. I like the build.
DarknessEternal 02-26-07, 01:16 AM	Skill Knowledge makes skills into class skills. It doesn't provide bonuses.
Jaxgaret 02-26-07, 02:03 AM	Skill Knowledge makes skills into class skills. It doesn't provide bonuses. Oh, right, duh. I read it as Skill Focus, not Skill Knowledge. My apologies, Cowdragon! :)
JulesCARV 02-26-07, 02:19 AM	My preferred build: Orc Barbarian 2/Orc Paragon 3/Duskblade or Hexblade 5/Dragon Disciple 10 ... now, if only the Hexblade's level 5 feat were actually worth anything!
Beau 02-26-07, 09:05 PM	Thanks for all the input....I was hung up on the arcane knowledge 8 requirement and not spending skill points cross class to get the right skill levels, also no phbll, the barbarian + bard idea actually fits my character a little better....fluff: barbarian youth has his whole village destroyed by a dragon, only he mysteriously survives, knocked unconscious early in the attack..hates and fears and respects dragons and magic .....starts to manifest sorcerous powers and scales during the course of adventuring....what a revolting development....revenge and studying dragons is a motive..........
Beau 02-26-07, 09:17 PM	Also DD's only get bonus spells...like from a stat bonus (int,wis,cha..), so I don't see how the Cowdragon build above could get to casting 6th level spells..........I'm new back to gaming so I could be missing sumthin', so many supplements to pull from these days...
JulesCARV 02-26-07, 11:16 PM	Three levels of sublime chord is enough to get level 6 bard/sorcerer spells.
FabulousRex 02-26-07, 11:45 PM	I like this progression- Fighter (or whatever Melee class) 4/ Sorcerer 1/ DD 2/ Abjurant Champion 5/ DD +8 Not very high level spells, but that's not the focus anyhow. Level 3 spells just barely qualifies you for Arcane Strike, and with all of those MANY spell slots to burn, you can open up with everything you have. AbjCh is great to grant you many defensive bonuses and useful abilities. Auto-Extend-Quicken certain Abj spells? Yes Please!