Gem Dragon Cohort Building [Archive] - Wizards Community

Gem Dragon Cohort Building [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Andramadus
07-13-07, 04:57 AM In one game I am soon to be playing we are going to be mid to high level. I have decided to get a Gem Dragon Cohort using the Psionic Dragon Comrade prestiege class. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040327a

Now the questions are which dragon, what feats, and which powers do I choose for my cohort. DM has ok'd Huge Mature Adult Gem Dragon

Suggestions anyone?
runestar
07-13-07, 06:32 AM Are my eyes playing tricks on me? 1 lv in a prc at 8th lv granting you a cohort with a cr greater than you?:confused:
Fafnir
07-13-07, 06:41 AM Are my eyes playing tricks on me? 1 lv in a prc at 8th lv granting you a cohort with a cr greater than you?:confused:

... a 3.0 PrC, I'd add.
DrStalker
07-13-07, 09:10 AM If your GM is letting you take that class (and providing a huge mature dragon companion) then your campaign is so far from the "official" power level that forum advice is really just guesswork.

My advice: talk to the GM about the desired power level, and then decide if you should min/max for the most abusive Dragon companion possible or choose interesting powers that do little for power but might be fun occasionally. Probably the best way to do this is to compare your power level with the rest of the party, because if you (and your pet) eclipse everyone else no-one will have fun and the game will fall apart.

In related news, I think this is one of the worst designed and implemented prestige classes in the history of badly designed and implemented prestige classes, but if it works for your game go for it.
runestar
07-13-07, 10:10 AM The only possible drawback I can see is that you must come up with an initial outlay to furnish the dragon's lair, and the DM ultimately controls the dragon, but this still pales in comparison to the benefits. I mean - the power of the dragon is not dependent on how many lvs of said prc you have taken or something. It was frontloaded into the 1st lv of said prc, and there seems little incentive to continue beyond the 1st lv.

I cannot imagine what the designer could possibly have been thinking when he conceived this monstrosity...
RavinRay
07-13-07, 06:08 PM Well, one way to partly salvage this imbalance is to tie the CR of the gem dragon to your base class level. A psion 8/comrade 1 should only get a juvenile amethyst or emerald dragon, while a psychic warrior 12/comrade 1 can get any species up to CR 13 (adult sapphire) for example. Still…

Was this ever discussed when it first appeared way back three years ago?
Andramadus
07-14-07, 01:11 AM Well any suggestions for which dragon and which feats for it would be great guys. Thanks:)
DrStalker
07-14-07, 03:09 AM Well any suggestions for which dragon and which feats for it would be great guys. Thanks:)

The DM should select an appropriate defender from the following list, keeping in mind alignments and the power level of her game.

Can you describe the alignments and power level of your game to us? Failing that, choose one that matches your eyes. That looks really pretty, and with a PrC this broken you don't need to min-max to be effective.

Featwise, practiced manifester might give your dragon an effective +4 manifester level to it's psychic powers.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Andramadus 07-13-07, 04:57 AM	In one game I am soon to be playing we are going to be mid to high level. I have decided to get a Gem Dragon Cohort using the Psionic Dragon Comrade prestiege class. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040327a Now the questions are which dragon, what feats, and which powers do I choose for my cohort. DM has ok'd Huge Mature Adult Gem Dragon Suggestions anyone?
runestar 07-13-07, 06:32 AM	Are my eyes playing tricks on me? 1 lv in a prc at 8th lv granting you a cohort with a cr greater than you?:confused:
Fafnir 07-13-07, 06:41 AM	Are my eyes playing tricks on me? 1 lv in a prc at 8th lv granting you a cohort with a cr greater than you?:confused: ... a 3.0 PrC, I'd add.
DrStalker 07-13-07, 09:10 AM	If your GM is letting you take that class (and providing a huge mature dragon companion) then your campaign is so far from the "official" power level that forum advice is really just guesswork. My advice: talk to the GM about the desired power level, and then decide if you should min/max for the most abusive Dragon companion possible or choose interesting powers that do little for power but might be fun occasionally. Probably the best way to do this is to compare your power level with the rest of the party, because if you (and your pet) eclipse everyone else no-one will have fun and the game will fall apart. In related news, I think this is one of the worst designed and implemented prestige classes in the history of badly designed and implemented prestige classes, but if it works for your game go for it.
runestar 07-13-07, 10:10 AM	The only possible drawback I can see is that you must come up with an initial outlay to furnish the dragon's lair, and the DM ultimately controls the dragon, but this still pales in comparison to the benefits. I mean - the power of the dragon is not dependent on how many lvs of said prc you have taken or something. It was frontloaded into the 1st lv of said prc, and there seems little incentive to continue beyond the 1st lv. I cannot imagine what the designer could possibly have been thinking when he conceived this monstrosity...
RavinRay 07-13-07, 06:08 PM	Well, one way to partly salvage this imbalance is to tie the CR of the gem dragon to your base class level. A psion 8/comrade 1 should only get a juvenile amethyst or emerald dragon, while a psychic warrior 12/comrade 1 can get any species up to CR 13 (adult sapphire) for example. Still… Was this ever discussed when it first appeared way back three years ago?
Andramadus 07-14-07, 01:11 AM	Well any suggestions for which dragon and which feats for it would be great guys. Thanks:)
DrStalker 07-14-07, 03:09 AM	Well any suggestions for which dragon and which feats for it would be great guys. Thanks:) The DM should select an appropriate defender from the following list, keeping in mind alignments and the power level of her game. Can you describe the alignments and power level of your game to us? Failing that, choose one that matches your eyes. That looks really pretty, and with a PrC this broken you don't need to min-max to be effective. Featwise, practiced manifester might give your dragon an effective +4 manifester level to it's psychic powers.