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My complaint isn't that the damage is unbalancing, it's really only about 1 extra point of damage on average. I'm guessing they made them 1d6 instead of 1d4 so they would compare with the 1d6 ranged touch attacks some other bloodlines get. My complaint is more about consistency. I just don't think claws on a medium creature should be 1d6, they should be 1d4 at best. That would be consistent with what monsters have and more consistent with similar weapon damage.
The claw damage seems a bit strong to me. With two claws you've got a sorcerer who can naturally attack with the equivalent of two short swords! A 1d4 attack for medium seems more consistent to me. That's the equivalent of a black bear's claw attack. You could instead make it 1d3 for small, 1d6 for large.
Some quick differences. From the old DD we lose +4 Str, +2 Cha, Bite, Full attack of claw, claw bite, immunity to energy type, immunity sleep and paralysis, darkvision 60', low-light vision, type change to dragon. You can get your immunities if you have 10 sorcerer levels in addition to DD, otherwise not... so I expect for most its a loss. The new DD has over the old, 4 bonus bloodline feats, 1 more AC bonus, more powerful and magical claws, 7 additional caster levels (with some bonus spells known (probably 3), a stronger breath weapon usable twice per day instead of once, and Form of the Dragon II 2/day. I would instead add a bite at 2nd, introduce Power of Wyrm at 10th, along with +4 Str, +2 Cha, Dark vision, light vision and type change to dragon. Now you are essentially a half dragon + some. In exchange I would drop 2 spell level increases, two bloodline feats, and the form of the dragon. You end up with a little less potent spell caster, but you have put the Dragon back into the Dragon Disciple.
I'm playing a character now I intend to take down the Dragon Disciple path. (A paladin/sorcerer/dragon disciple) Although I haven't played it through yet, I have some thoughts after examining the class. I too miss apotheosis as a keystone. In the old class you finally get to become the monster you were meant to be. Getting the template what Dragon Disciple was all about. A final +4 Str, +2 Cha, type change, Power of Wyrm immunities, dark vision. Roar! Form of the dragon II is powerful, but just isn't the same. I do like that the new DD is more magical. That opens up some creative possibilities people were unlikely to explore before. The old DD was so melee oriented that most builds I know of only took one level of sorcerer to qualify. While I appreciate the additional casting levels, I would sacrifice a couple and Form of the Dragon to bring back apotheosis. If you can't work apotheosis back in, consider a +2 Cha boost instead of the +2 Int? In the old DD you got your charisma boost at apotheosis, here you don't get it at all, which bites since most likely your primary casting stat is Cha. (Speaking of bites... this DD has no bite?) Please consider making this more dragon-like and less sorcerer like. |
