I got the idea stuck in my head when commenting on The Rider thread, and cant get it out, so started working on it a bit. I am of the opinion that in most dragon stories, the protagonist who usually rides the Dragon is an unexpected individual, never the person who has trained, is a veteran, etc... Its the street rat, or the orphan boy, or something other that would never have either studied magic nor martial training.
So was trying to build the class with a Summoner base, but realized I would have to give up spells, which is too big a thing to give up... Then it hit me to replace the spells with Rogue Talents, and the inkling of anidea formed. Here is what I have so far...
Medium BAB, as per the rogue class.
Good reflex saves, but low Will and Fort saves.
Allow all simple weapons, plus rapier, short sword, short bow and light crossbow.
Allow ligt armour, but no shield.
Skills as rogue, without Knowledge skills?
Rogue talents beginning at 3rd level, though they may forego a single rogue talent to pick up either Evasion or Uncanny Dodge. Continued talent progression every other level after third, treating his dragonborne level as rogue level to qualify for talents.
Their dragon would of course start out as a hatchling, medium sized quadruped, at first level. Unlike the Eidolen, dead is dead... If the dragon dies, and is not resurrected, the players level in Dragonborn become rogue levels.
Beginning at first level, the dragon gains evolutions that are predetermined. First level, he has claws, tail, and tail swipe.
Third level he gaines a breath weapon, element chosen by the player, and basic magic.
Fifth level he gains immunity to the element of his breath, and minor magic.
Seventh level his attacks are magic, and he gains major magic.
Ninth level he gains Flight and is Large.
Eleventh level he gains Wing Buffet and Ultimat Magic
thirteenth level he gains frightful presence
Fifteenth level he gains Spell Resistance
Seventeenth level he gains Blind Sens
Ninteenth level he gains damage resistance.
Life linked, as per the summoner feature is gained at 2nd level,.
Bond Sense is gained at 4th level, but only if the dragon is within LoS
Shield Ally is gained at 6th level
The Test... I have this bizarre idea that forces the player to be without his Dragon for a whle level at 8th level. The dragon disappears to go feed and grow, his wings are starting to work, and he needs time off, not only for himself, but to make sure his friend/partner isnt dependent on him.
Anyhows, still a work in progress, both in ideas and formatting of course... But wanted to post it up in case anyone had some interesting ideas I could mesh into this...
He feels weak so far, heavily dependent on the dragon which admittedly, has far more evolutions than an eidolen of equivalent levels, but no control over those evolution. He will need something to up his bab a bit, not figured that out yet...
It looks like it might work as a Rogue archetype. Especially since if your dragon dies you become a Rogue. You're basically dropping trapfinding and sneak attack for an eidolon in the form of a dragon.
I don't think Bond Sense should be Line of Sight related, but perhaps within so many feet.
I like the idea of The Test, but losing your best class feature for a level seems pretty harsh.