Sorcerer Bloodline: Linnorm

[Paris Crenshaw]

Hi, All. I have a player who requested an alteration to the draconic bloodline to grant him heightened senses. He mentioned possibly getting the scent ability, but dragons don't have it. In looking through the Bestiary Preview, I realized that the crag linnorm does have the scent ability and thought that the linnorms would be a great source for a new bloodline.

I had to base everything off of the crag linnorm's entry, so I'm sure I will have to update things once I get a look at the other linnorms in the Bestiary.

I don't know what spell would be used to change into a linnorm, so I left form of the dragon III on the bonus spell list until I can get a better idea about that. I used bonus feats from the draconic bloodline, so there may be better choices for those, too.

Please take a look and let me know where I'm off base, in terms of power level, etc. I like the idea of a minor version of the death curse for the bloodline arcana, but there may be mechanical issues (difficulty in tracking what opponents are cursed, whether the curse should apply to all damage or just melee attacks, etc.)

Thanks!

Linnorm
Unlike sorcerers with the blood of the dragon flowing in their veins, you have been infused with the power of Golarion's original dragons, the linnorms. Perhaps an ancestor overcame a linnorm's death curse or even became an ally of these dangerous creatures. Whatever the reason, their strength lies within you, ready to manifest as you develop your power as a sorcerer.

Class Skill: Perception.

Bonus Spells: mage armor (3rd), see invisibility (5th), arcane sight (7th), bestow curse (9th), spell resistance (11th), true seeing (13th), greater arcane sight (15th), form of the dragon III (17th), foresight (19th).

Bonus Feats: Blind-Fight, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Quicken Spell, Skill Focus (Fly), Skill Focus (Knowledge [arcana]), Toughness.

Bloodline Arcana: You curse those who harm you, just as those who kill a linnorm are subjected to a terrible curse. When an opponent damages you in combat, he must make a Will save or gain vulnerability to your energy type for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your sorcerer level (minimum 1). The DC of the save is equal to 10 + 1/2 your sorcerer level + your Charisma modifier. An opponent who succeeds at his saving throw is gains immunity to your curse ability for 24 hours.

Bloodline Powers: You are infused with the power of the linnorms. Their power manifests in a number of ways. At 1st level, you must select one of the linnorm types (see the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary). This choice cannot be changed. A number of your abilities grant resistances and deal damage based on your linnorm type, as noted on the following table.

Linnorm Type / Energy Type / Breath Shape
TBD / Acid / 60-foot line
TBD / Electricity / 60-foot line
TBD / Acid / 30-foot cone
TBD / Fire / 30-foot cone
TBD / Cold / 30-foot cone
Crag / Fire / 60-foot line of magma (Pathfinder Bestiary Preview, p 20)
TBD / Electricity / 60-foot line
TBD / Acid / 60-foot line
TBD / Fire / 30-foot cone
TBD / Cold / 30-foot cone

Linnorm Senses: Starting at 1st level, you demonstrate the amazing sensory acuity of these primal hunters. You gain keen senses, granting you a +2 racial bonus to Perception checks. You also gain darkvision, 60 ft., and the Scent ability. At 5th level, your senses become more acute, increasing your racial bonus to Perception to +4 and your darkvision increases to a range of 90 feet. At 7th level, your Perception racial bonus increases to +6 and your darkvision increases to 120 feet. At 11th level, your Perception racial bonus increases to +8, and you gain the blindsense ability.

Linnorm Resistances (Ex): At 3rd level, you gain resist 5 against your energy type and a +1 natural armor bonus. At 9th level, your energy resistance increases to 10 and natural armor bonus increases to +2. At 15th level, your natural armor bonus increases to +4.

Breath Weapon (Su): At 9th level, you gain a breath weapon. This breath weapon deals 1d6 points of damage of the type possessed by your linnorm lineage per sorcerer level. Those caught in the area of the breath receive a Reflex save for half damage. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 your sorcerer level + your Charisma modifier. The shape of the breath weapon depends on your dragon type (as indicated on the above chart). At 9th level, you can use this ability once per day. At 17th level, you can use this ability twice per day. At 20th level, you can use this ability three times per day.

Linnorms' Favor (Ex): At 15th level, you gain a fly speed of 100 ft. (average). You also gain the benefit of the favor bestowed upon linnorms by their mysterious benefactor. You gain regeneration 5. This ability improves to regeneration 7 at 17th level and regeneration 10 at 20th level. Lastly, you gain the linnorm's full death curse ability. If an opponent kills you in combat, he must make a Will save or permanently gain vulnerability to your energy type. The DC of the save is equal to 10 + 1/2 your sorcerer level + your Charisma modifier.

Wyrm of the North (Su): At 20th level, your linnorm heritage becomes fully manifest. You gain immunity to curse effects, paralysis, poison, sleep and damage of your energy type. You also gain constant true seeing as per the spell effect.

[Dragonborn3]

I like it. Allowing an alteration to an existing bloodline(and thus making a new style of play for the class) is a good idea.

Nice job!

[Paris Crenshaw]

Dragonborn3 wrote:

I like it. Allowing an alteration to an existing bloodline(and thus making a new style of play for the class) is a good idea.

Nice job!

Thanks! I really like Paizo's approach to design, which allows them to modify the basic building blocks to create new and interesting things, and I started off with that idea in mind.

However, as I went along, I realized that linnorms were different enough to allow for the creation of their own bloodline. I hope I did them justice.