Draconic Type Race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Draconic Type Race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bobfred21
03-02-08, 06:24 AM I know there are many different official draconic races out there, there are a few reasons which I wont list that I don't want to use these, so please don't point to one of those.

But I'm designing a campaign world in which I'm giving a serious revamp to a couple of races (Half-Orcs become Orcs and get a few changes, Halflings are removed and Goblins are altered slightly)

In any case the point is I want an LA +0 dragon-man type race. I see them being prone to melee classes and want to encourage that, but I'm not sure how to do that without just slapping on a Strength bonus (and probably a dexterity penalty). I had thought to give them a +2 natural armor bonus instead of a bonus to any one stat, but I'm not sure this really displays what a dragon-man should be and it also doesn't really encourage melee roles over other roles.

Is there some alteration I can make to either half orcs (remove the strength bonus, find something else appropriate to give them) or the dragon-men (some melee related bonus without giving them a bonus to strength)?
The_Shaman
03-02-08, 07:07 AM Maybe you could adapt the Dragonborn from Races of the Dragon? They are currently alignment-based due to their relation to Bahamut, but you could easily change that. Likewise, you can make them a full race rather than a pseudo-template.
Malchius
03-02-08, 07:43 AM I second the Dragonborn adaption suggestion, seems like exactly what you want and Kobolds and Spellscales are the antithesis to what you desire.
Bobfred21
03-02-08, 03:58 PM Unfortunately I haven't got access to Races of the Dragon. :(
Sakaki22
03-02-08, 05:11 PM I have a simple one that I whipped up for my own homebrew use, here's the bare bones:

Dragonmen

Size Medium
No ability score adjustments
Base Land Speed 30ft
Alignment usually within one step of their Dragon color.
Darkvision out of 60ft
Low Light Vision
Immunity to Paralysis and magical sleep effects
Natural Attacks: 2 claw attacks
Natural Armor +1
Favored Class: Fighter

Dragonmen then have racial traits based on their color:

Color +2 Racial Skill Bonus Resistance 5 Special Ability
Black Hide, Move Silently, Swim Acid Acid Splash 3/d
Blue Bluff, Hide, Spellcraft Electricity Obscuring Mist 1/d
Brass Bluff, Gather Information, Survival Fire Daze 3/d
Bronze Disguise, Swim, Survival Electricity Charm Person 1/d
Copper Bluff, Hide, Jump Acid Silent Image 1/d
Green Bluff, Hide, Move Silently Acid Ghost Sound 3/d
Gold Disguise, Heal, Swim Fire Command 1/d
Red Appraise, Bluff, Jump Fire Produce Flame 1/d
Silver Bluff, Disguise, Jump Cold Featherfall 1/d
White Hide, Move Silently, Swim Cold Ray of Frost 3/d
calronmoonflower
03-02-08, 05:21 PM +0 without Races of the Dragon, that's a hard one.

Try asking the DM if you could add the draconic temple to a standard kobold from the Monster Manuel without the standard level adjustment.

It should even out the natural penalties for kobolds to a solid +0 range.
Malchius
03-03-08, 03:02 AM @Calronmoonflower, wouldn't that overpower them -2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Cha?

Plus he wants his Dragonmen to be strong, which Kobold aren't. He may also not have access to the Template.

Sakaki22's Races look like their on the powerful side, especially with elemental Resistances and Natural Armour and the Draconic Immunities.

How about you use Humans, give them +2 Str, -2 Dex, Natural Armour 1 and take away their Bonus Feat. Make their favoured class Dragoney, Sorceror, Dragon Shaman or Dragonfire Adept maybe?
Sakaki22
03-03-08, 03:13 AM What I submitted was really a prototype more than anything, but the ECL Calculator gives it a 1.3 or a 1.5, depending on what you think of Darkvision. It's really just the Dragonlance Draconians and Noble Draconians, smashed together and weakened down to a LA +0.
Malchius
03-03-08, 11:39 AM To me the power of your races isn't the Darkvision it's the other features, Natural Armour(very valuable), bonuses to 3 skills(powerful ability but not overpowered), Resistance 5 to an element and a spell like ability.

To The OP, you best choice is to probably adapt a current race, Orc could work quite well although in my opinion they are very underpowered.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bobfred21 03-02-08, 06:24 AM	I know there are many different official draconic races out there, there are a few reasons which I wont list that I don't want to use these, so please don't point to one of those. But I'm designing a campaign world in which I'm giving a serious revamp to a couple of races (Half-Orcs become Orcs and get a few changes, Halflings are removed and Goblins are altered slightly) In any case the point is I want an LA +0 dragon-man type race. I see them being prone to melee classes and want to encourage that, but I'm not sure how to do that without just slapping on a Strength bonus (and probably a dexterity penalty). I had thought to give them a +2 natural armor bonus instead of a bonus to any one stat, but I'm not sure this really displays what a dragon-man should be and it also doesn't really encourage melee roles over other roles. Is there some alteration I can make to either half orcs (remove the strength bonus, find something else appropriate to give them) or the dragon-men (some melee related bonus without giving them a bonus to strength)?
The_Shaman 03-02-08, 07:07 AM	Maybe you could adapt the Dragonborn from Races of the Dragon? They are currently alignment-based due to their relation to Bahamut, but you could easily change that. Likewise, you can make them a full race rather than a pseudo-template.
Malchius 03-02-08, 07:43 AM	I second the Dragonborn adaption suggestion, seems like exactly what you want and Kobolds and Spellscales are the antithesis to what you desire.
Bobfred21 03-02-08, 03:58 PM	Unfortunately I haven't got access to Races of the Dragon. :(
Sakaki22 03-02-08, 05:11 PM	I have a simple one that I whipped up for my own homebrew use, here's the bare bones: Dragonmen Size Medium No ability score adjustments Base Land Speed 30ft Alignment usually within one step of their Dragon color. Darkvision out of 60ft Low Light Vision Immunity to Paralysis and magical sleep effects Natural Attacks: 2 claw attacks Natural Armor +1 Favored Class: Fighter Dragonmen then have racial traits based on their color: Color +2 Racial Skill Bonus Resistance 5 Special Ability Black Hide, Move Silently, Swim Acid Acid Splash 3/d Blue Bluff, Hide, Spellcraft Electricity Obscuring Mist 1/d Brass Bluff, Gather Information, Survival Fire Daze 3/d Bronze Disguise, Swim, Survival Electricity Charm Person 1/d Copper Bluff, Hide, Jump Acid Silent Image 1/d Green Bluff, Hide, Move Silently Acid Ghost Sound 3/d Gold Disguise, Heal, Swim Fire Command 1/d Red Appraise, Bluff, Jump Fire Produce Flame 1/d Silver Bluff, Disguise, Jump Cold Featherfall 1/d White Hide, Move Silently, Swim Cold Ray of Frost 3/d
calronmoonflower 03-02-08, 05:21 PM	+0 without Races of the Dragon, that's a hard one. Try asking the DM if you could add the draconic temple to a standard kobold from the Monster Manuel without the standard level adjustment. It should even out the natural penalties for kobolds to a solid +0 range.
Malchius 03-03-08, 03:02 AM	@Calronmoonflower, wouldn't that overpower them -2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Cha? Plus he wants his Dragonmen to be strong, which Kobold aren't. He may also not have access to the Template. Sakaki22's Races look like their on the powerful side, especially with elemental Resistances and Natural Armour and the Draconic Immunities. How about you use Humans, give them +2 Str, -2 Dex, Natural Armour 1 and take away their Bonus Feat. Make their favoured class Dragoney, Sorceror, Dragon Shaman or Dragonfire Adept maybe?
Sakaki22 03-03-08, 03:13 AM	What I submitted was really a prototype more than anything, but the ECL Calculator gives it a 1.3 or a 1.5, depending on what you think of Darkvision. It's really just the Dragonlance Draconians and Noble Draconians, smashed together and weakened down to a LA +0.
Malchius 03-03-08, 11:39 AM	To me the power of your races isn't the Darkvision it's the other features, Natural Armour(very valuable), bonuses to 3 skills(powerful ability but not overpowered), Resistance 5 to an element and a spell like ability. To The OP, you best choice is to probably adapt a current race, Orc could work quite well although in my opinion they are very underpowered.