Post/Author/DateTime	Post
darkone7141981 08-17-05, 01:52 AM	Everyone should check out Dragon #335. The variant Druid class presented in "Class Acts" is awesome. Great flavor, good abilities, and most of the totems line up perfectly with the Totem Barbarian options found in Unearthed Arcana. However, I have run into a problem. One option avaliable to Totem Barbarians is to have the Dragon as their totem animal. I really like this idea (for flavor purposes and the DMing opportunity to have a primitive tribe of humanoids worshipping a living Dragon like a god). A Dragon-Totem Druid has some issues though. Totem Druids gain the abilities to shapechange at first level, but only into a normal version of their totem animal. Later on they gain the option to use a Dire version, planar (celestial/fiendish), or Dire planar version. Each of these is great for most animals, but Dragons don't exactly fit into these categories. In addition, Totem Druids' animal companions must be of their totem animal, and dragons are totally inappropriate as animal companions (they are too intelligent for one, not of the animal type, too powerful, etc...). So, what do I do? I have been thinking about applying the Draconic template (found in Draconomicon) to some animals and making it work, using monitor lizards (or some other Dragon-like reptile), or just scrapping the idea entirely. Basically, what sort of Wildshaping options should a Dragon-Totem Druid have, and what are appropriate "Dragon" companions? Thanks! DarkOne7141981
Rotipher 08-17-05, 10:56 AM	The totemic druid from Dragon's latest issue was designed to work only with animal totems, not dragons or other monster-types. The class shouldn't be used for other creature-types as totems, at all; if you want a dragon-druid class, you'll need to design it yourself from scratch, because the totem druid wouldn't even come close to being balanced if you assigned it a dragon totem. If you want to use the dragon as a totem for a culture IYC, you might look at the Eberron rules. IIRC, there are dragon-worshipping barbarian tribes in that setting, and the feats which are available to such tribes might be useful to a dragon-totem druid in another game setting.
darkone7141981 08-17-05, 05:47 PM	:ahem: I hate to be rude, but your post was of absolutely no help at all. I already know that the Totem Druid would be overpowered if I allowed shapechanging into a dragon (of any type) at first level, and likewise I recognized that dragons are inappropriate as animal companions. The point is not to just arbitrarily make a "Dragon Druid," but to set up totems for both Druids and Barbarians that can be used for both classes. Since Unearthed Arcana provides a nice Dragon-Totem Barbarian I want a (balanced) Dragon-Totem Druid. As such, if it is a bad idea to make a Dragon-Totem Druid give me a good reason (preferably one I don't already know and haven't already mentioned in the original post). If there is simply nothing of a draconic nature that is appropriate, fine, but say that. Don't assume I am some simpleton who thinks that level 1 shapechange into a dragon is balanced... ----- Does anyone have something to say (that will actually help me) on this idea? Thanks... DarkOne7141981
bookwurmneo 08-20-05, 04:16 PM	I'm thinking for animal companion and shape-changing I would have the pseudodragon. If the idea of using a pseudodragon is un appealing. You might want to create a variant druid. So instead of getting a companion or wildshape, the dragon totme druid could inherit aspects of the dragon. I'm thinking of abilities similiar to the shifters in the Eberron Campaign, so the druid could get bonus to AC or a bite attack. You could make it that the player gradually gains aspects of the dragon, untill a certain point where he can shapeshift into a dragon. Also remember that when dealing with dragons you could change the age category for the dragon, so if you wanted a weak dragon make it a wyrmling.
Siberys 08-20-05, 10:07 PM	You could use a non-true dragon. Perhaps ambush drakes from MMIII? use an advanced version instead of a Dire Version. I'll work on this myself, right now infact... All conjecture. I'm not sure an ambush drake would actually work in this case... The Dragon worshippers from Eberron are known as the Serens. This would work for them.
Siberys 08-21-05, 12:02 AM	Draconic Totem Druid Totem Draconic Companion Psuedodragon OR Crested Felldrake, Chosen at First Level Dire Draconic Totems ~Psuedodragon -----Plains Landwyrm ~Crested Felldrake -----9 HD Spitting Felldrake OR -----10 HD Horned Felldrake OR -----9 HD Spined Felldrake, Chosen at 6th level Advanced Druid Companions 10th Level (Druid Level -9) Plains Landwyrm 9 HD Spitting Felldrake 10 HD Horned Felldrake 9 HD Spined Felldrake How's That?
Siberys 08-21-05, 12:24 AM	Double post :blush:
darkone7141981 08-21-05, 10:46 PM	Siberys, Thanks alot for the ideas. I had looked at the Psuedodragon only briefly, but the Crested Felldrake is another great idea. Now, on to the hard question - What do I do about the Druid's Totem Shape (Wildshape variant)? Thanks again! DarkOne7141981
Siberys 08-22-05, 12:16 AM	Works just as stated in Dragon. Normal totem shape is PD or C FD, as chosen by Char at 1st level. At 6th, the Dire Dragon ou chose is the Dire form you may take. Planar works the same way, unless the DM allows templates other than Celestial or Fiendish. § Siberys P.S. Don't call me dude. Nothing personal, just dislike the word ;)
darkone7141981 08-22-05, 09:22 PM	Removed the offending word. ;-) Thanks for the help. Two more questions - 1. Do you know of a good source for creating a Dire Pseudodragon or Crested Felldrake? Like, where can I find a "dire" template? 2. Is it fair to offer the Dragon-Totem Druid the opportunities to have higher CR draconic creatures as upper level Animal Companions? (The other Totem Druids don't get them, but it would be easy to use some of the other draconic creatures as Animal Companions...it would be cool, but not really fair to the others...maybe I should allow them to change their companion when the others would get dire creatures?) Thanks again! DarkOne7141981
Siberys 08-22-05, 09:49 PM	Dire Template? No Idea. That's why I used larger dragons. I made the table to get the Dire Draconic Totems as companions: Advanced Druid Companions 10th Level (Druid Level -9) Plains Landwyrm 9 HD Spitting Felldrake 10 HD Horned Felldrake 9 HD Spined Felldrake It's also in the above post. Really, all you need to do is compare the CR of creatures on the lists, and find an Average. To get larger or more powerful versions of creatures, you could also advance them - hence the 9 HD spitting Felldrake.