Post/Author/DateTime	Post
locksmyth 02-24-07, 12:22 AM	I have a player that wants to play a dragon rider (ala Eragon). To that end I've written this PrC, it's an early draft based on the windrider PrC (Masters of the Wild). It's powered down a lot as the PC gains a dragon mount immediately as apposed to earning one using diplomacy feats. I've never written a PrC before and I'd like to know if this one looks balanced, over powered or underpowered. Any advice at all really. I haven't yet written up the riding dragon creature, but it'll be based on a standard dragon. Dragon Rider Hit Die: d10. Requirements To become a dragon rider a character must fulfill the following criteria. Base Attack Bonus: +5 Skills: Knowledge(nature) 6 ranks, Ride 8 ranks. Feats: Mounted Combat, Leadership Special: Must find and become bonded to a riding dragon egg. Class Skills The dragon rider's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance(Dex), Concentration(Con), Craft(any)(Int), Diplomacy(Cha), Heal(Wis), Jump(Str), Knowledge(Nature), Profession(any)(Wis) and Ride (Dex). See PHB Chapter 4: Skills for skill descriptions. Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier. Class Features The following are class features of the dragon rider prestige class. For abilities described below, a mount is the dragon which the PC has bonded to after having found it's egg. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Dragon riders obtain no additional proficiencies. Spells per Day/Spells Know: At levels 1, 4, 7, 10 the dragon rider gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which she belonged before adding the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (additional wild shape options, metamagic or item creation feats, or the like). If the character had more then one spellcasting class before becoming a verdant lord for determining spells per day and spells known. Dragon Mount: The dragon rider gains her bonded riding dragon as a special mount. The dragon is considered a cohort under the characters leadership. The dragon cannot gain HD (even under the progression of this class) until the dragon rider is capable of maintaining a cohort of the equivalent level. The dragon begins life as a willing mount and cohort, this relationship must be maintained. A riding dragon will sever it's bond if it is mistreated. If the bond is severed for any reason, loses all dragon rider spells and abilities. She may not progress any farther in levels as a dragon rider. She regains her abilities and advancement potential if she atones (see the atonement spell description, PHB page 201), and also convince the previously bonded dragon to once again accept her bond. An ex-bonded riding dragon is considered to be un-friendly for the purposes of diplomacy, but will not attack unless provoked. A dragon rider can attempt to gain the bond via magical means, but risks losing the dragon permanently. Any attempt to regain a bond suffers a -2 penalty for each time the bond has been severed, as well as other applicable penalties that would be applied under the leadership feat. Empathic Link: The dragon rider has an empathic link with her dragon mount. This ability works like the empathic link a paladin has with her mount (see Paladin in Chapter 3 of the PHB). Mount Proficiency: At 2nd level, the dragon rider gains a +2 competence bonus on any check to avoid being unseated while riding her dragon mount. Mount Feat: At 2nd level a dragon rider can grant her bonded mount one bonus feat from the Mount Feats (listed on page 79 of Masters of the Wild.) The feat does not count against the dragons normal feat capacity, though it must still meet all prerequisites for it. To grant a bonus feat, the dragon rider must train with the dragon for one month. The dragon rider can bestow an additional feat at 5th and 9th levels, however these take the same training time as the first. Bonus Feat: At 3rd and 7th levels a dragon rider may take a bonus feat from the dragon riders bonus feats (listed pg 79 MoW.) This feat does not count against the normal feat capacity, though she must still meet all prerequisites for it. Mount Assistance: At 3rd level, the dragon rider can assist her bonded dragon mount in two ways. 1) She can use the, cooperation and aid another rules (PHB Chapter 4 and Chaper 8) to provide a +4 bonus to her dragon mounts AC or any single attack roll, skill or ability check her mount attempts. 2) Or she can give the bonded mount a +10 competence bonus to speed for 1 full round. Mount Assistance can be used 1 per round and requires a standard action. Mount Healing: At 3rd level, a dragon rider gains a +4 competence bonus on any Heal check she makes on her bonded dragon. Age: A bonded dragon ages not in the normal manner but in tandum with the development of the dragon rider. At 2nd level the dragon hatches from it's egg and becomes a "Wyrmling". At 4th level the dragon ages to the stage of "Very Young". At 6th level the dragon ages again to become "Young", 8th level she becomes a "Juvenile" and at tenth level it ages to the equivalent of a "Young Adult". From this point on the bonded dragon will age in step with the dragon rider. Taking aging penalties and bonus as the dragon rider does. When the dragon rider dies so too does the riding dragon. This relationship is maintained even if the bond is severed. Mount Luck: At 9th level the dragon rider may, as a free action, confer a luck bonus equal to her Charisma bonus on the saving throw of her dragon mount. The dragon must be within 60 feet. Table: The Dragon Rider Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special 1st +1 +2 +0 +0 Dragonic Mount, Empthic Link +1 existing caster level 2nd +2 +3 +0 +0 Age (Wyrmling), Mount Proficiency, Mount Feat 1 3rd +3 +3 +1 +1 Bonus Feat, Mount Assistance, Mount Healing 4th +4 +4 +1 +1 Age (Very Young), Language(Draconic) +1 existing caster level 5th +5 +4 +1 +1 Mount Feat 2 6th +6 +5 +2 +2 Age (Young) 7th +7 +5 +2 +2 Bonus feat +1 existing caster level 8th +8 +6 +2 +2 Age (Juvenile) 9th +9 +6 +3 +3 Mount Luck, Mount Feat 3 10th +10 +7 +3 +3 Age (Young Adult) +1 existing caster level Ex Dragon Riders A dragon rider who intentionally mistreats or neglects her dragon loses all dragon rider prestige class abilities, and immediately terminates the bond to that dragon. Until she atones (see the atonment spell description in the PHB), her mount treats her with enmity which results in a -4 penalty on interations with the dragon and a -2 penalty on interactions on any creature capable of serving as her mount. To regain the bond she must atone (see above) and then convince the dragon to accept the bond. An ex-bonded riding dragon is considered to be un-friendly for the purposes of diplomacy, but will not attack unless provoked. A dragon rider can attempt to gain the bond via magical means, but risks losing the dragon permanently. Any attempt to regain a bond suffers a -2 penalty for each time the bond has been severed, as well as other applicable penalties that would be applied under the leadership feat. If a dragon rider's dragon dies the dragon rider loses all dragon rider abilities, if the riding dragon is resurrected or she finds a new dragon egg she can regain her abilities. In the case where a dragon rider finds a new dragon egg the dragon cannot age more then one step for every character level the dragon rider advances, although it will hatch immediately when the bond is established.
benstundze 03-25-07, 04:19 PM	hay, i made a Dragon Class for the same reason, its 6 months in the making and has 40 pages of stuff on it. its in my sig steel/ use anything you would like off it. ben
Angelflesh 03-25-07, 04:51 PM	What's wrong with the WOTC Dragon Rider in the Draconomicon?
benstundze 03-25-07, 05:09 PM	it dosent give the dragon well......
Derren S. 03-25-07, 05:14 PM	Its a interesting class, but imo it would be better to create a entirely new species of dragon for such a PRC instead of taking a MM dragon which were never made for PC use.
Angelflesh 03-25-07, 05:15 PM	I guess i'm just old fashioned like that. Typically, you don't get a free dragon like a toy out of a box of cereal.
benstundze 03-25-07, 05:20 PM	well you have to take lvls in the class, and if it balenced its no diffrent then a normal class but with realy cool fluff
AllWillFall2Me 03-25-07, 06:33 PM	I just watched Eragon today, and was struck by a similar idea. I agree with the above poster about utilizing a different creature instead of your typical Dragon a la MM. However, the perfect substitute is right there in the MM as well: the Griffon. Now of course, you reflavor the creature into a species of Dragon, but a quadrupedal, winged, flying animal with claw attacks and a bite seems to be a perfect base. Simply give the Griffon bonuses as you level, like a paladin's mount. More HD, Better Natural Armor, etc. Also, have it acquire a breath weapon, and increase to Huge in the build, and really, I think the abilities almost perfectly reflect the story. (Except I was going to have the class have spells, like Eragon.)
benstundze 03-25-07, 06:50 PM	like i sead i made a class but didnt go with eather sulution, instead i removed some un flavored abilitys of the dragon, and gave it new spells. ben
locksmyth 03-26-07, 10:42 AM	What's wrong with the WOTC Dragon Rider in the Draconomicon? I didn't have the Draconomicon. I have access to a copy now and I think I might make the player take windrider and dragonrider PrC's and continue writing up a specific 'riding' dragon. That said I'm still interested in how balanced I made this PrC. It was my first attempt and I'd like to know how well I did, even if I don't actually end up using this class. I guess i'm just old fashioned like that. Typically, you don't get a free dragon like a toy out of a box of cereal. I tend to agree, but having to make the bargain with a true dragon goes strongly against the 'flavour' of the eragon book. For that matter using a true dragon goes against the flavour of the book. I personally can't stand the book, the movie was... unoffensive. I promised this class (if I can get one that is balanced) to a player that loves the book. Its a interesting class, but imo it would be better to create a entirely new species of dragon for such a PRC instead of taking a MM dragon which were never made for PC use. I haven't finished writing up the dragon yet, while it is based on the standard dragon it will be no where near as powerful. It will only grow inline with the above class meaning it will never get beyond young adult (after that point it only take penalties and bonus for aging as the dragon rider does, no HD advancement.) It cannot take human form, it gets no spells, damage from it's breath weapon is reduced one size category. I might make the dragons flying abilities improve one step but I might not, I haven't decided yet. It will be forbidden to take class levels of any kind even though it is intelligent enough. There will be a heavy maintenance cost and even though it has a bonded soul it will leave if it is badly treated. ************* Original post edited: Age: A bonded dragon ages not in the normal manner but in tandum with the development of the dragon rider. At 2nd level the dragon hatches from it's egg and becomes a "Wyrmling". At 4th level the dragon ages to the stage of "Very Young". At 6th level the dragon ages again to become "Young", 8th level she becomes a "Juvenile" and at tenth level it ages to the equivalent of a "Young Adult". From this point on the bonded dragon will age in with the dragon rider. Taking aging penalties and bonus as the dragon rider does. When the dragon rider dies so too does the riding dragon. This relationship is maintained even if the bond is severed.changed toAge: A bonded dragon ages not in the normal manner but in tandum with the development of the dragon rider. At 2nd level the dragon hatches from it's egg and becomes a "Wyrmling". At 4th level the dragon ages to the stage of "Very Young". At 6th level the dragon ages again to become "Young", 8th level she becomes a "Juvenile" and at tenth level it ages to the equivalent of a "Young Adult". From this point on the bonded dragon will age in step with the dragon rider. Taking aging penalties and bonus as the dragon rider does. When the dragon rider dies so too does the riding dragon. This relationship is maintained even if the bond is severed.Changes are in bold for emphasis.
benstundze 03-29-07, 02:22 PM	i found that rating the dragon age by challenge rating balances out the power of differing classes, although this seems to be the same as my class. ben