Half-Dragon vs Dragon Bloodline

[Jigg]

Hi everyone,
I'm converting a character to Pathfinder and had some questions that I need help answering...

The character is a Half-Elf/Half-Dragon Sorcerer/Monk.
In Pathfinder, there is a draconic bloodline that grants some of the same abilities/features of being Half-Dragon...but there are also things missing plus she wouldn't get her wings until much, much later.

Has anyone converted the Half-Dragon template to Pathfinder? Or anyone have suggestions on how to best handle this character?

Thanks for the help!

[Mad Beetle]

Jigg wrote:

Hi everyone,

I'm converting a character to Pathfinder and had some questions that I need help answering...

The character is a Half-Elf/Half-Dragon Sorcerer/Monk.
In Pathfinder, there is a draconic bloodline that grants some of the same abilities/features of being Half-Dragon...but there are also things missing plus she wouldn't get her wings until much, much later.

Has anyone converted the Half-Dragon template to Pathfinder? Or anyone have suggestions on how to best handle this character?

Thanks for the help!

It is in the new bestiary, it should not in any way be given to a PC, templates arent meant for PC's anymore, as LA has been removed.

RAW wise, you should just take levels in the Dragon Desciple PrC.

edit: You can also just use the 3,5 version, it is more balanced if needed for a PC anyways.

[Jigg]

Mad Beetle wrote:

Jigg wrote:

Hi everyone,

I'm converting a character to Pathfinder and had some questions that I need help answering...

The character is a Half-Elf/Half-Dragon Sorcerer/Monk.
In Pathfinder, there is a draconic bloodline that grants some of the same abilities/features of being Half-Dragon...but there are also things missing plus she wouldn't get her wings until much, much later.

Has anyone converted the Half-Dragon template to Pathfinder? Or anyone have suggestions on how to best handle this character?

Thanks for the help!

It is in the new bestiary, it should not in any way be given to a PC, templates arent meant for PC's anymore, as LA has been removed.

RAW wise, you should just take levels in the Dragon Desciple PrC.

edit: You can also just use the 3,5 version, it is more balanced if needed for a PC anyways.

Thanks for the response!

I was thinking there was a good reason to take it out...at least she gets to keep it in the form of a bloodline for her sorcerer. I think I'll toss her the low-level 3.5 wings that grant +10 jump and glide ability at level 6 then she'll have full flight at 15 as normal.

Thank you again for the input.

[Chris Mortika]

Mad Beetle wrote:

[The Half-dragon template] is in the new bestiary, it should not in any way be given to a PC, templates arent meant for PC's anymore, as LA has been removed. RAW wise, you should just take levels in the Dragon Desciple PrC.

With respect, Mad Beetle, I'm not sure that's the case. James Jacobs has commented often that the prescribed Level Adjustments were taken away so that GMs could use their judgement as to what kind of exotic races they wanted to see in their worlds, rather than requiring them to deny players' requests.

So it's not the case that half-dragons "should not in any way" be used for a PC, but that the GM should use her judgement in deciding what kind of impact it might have in her campaign, and what kind of LA would be appropriate.

Regarding Pathfinder's sorcerer bloodline and the Dragon Disciple prestige class, I agree that it might be a good choice, depending on the character's level. (Dragon Disciple has a requirement of 5 ranks of Knowledge (arcane), so can't be taken before the character is 6th Level.) The other concern: Dragon Disciple is for non-dragons, to gradually grow into their draconic heritage. It may not be right for a character who is half-dragon. (Indeed, dragons cannot enter the prestige class.)

I also agree with your edit, that the D&D version of the template may be the best bet.

[Jigg]

Chris Mortika wrote:

Mad Beetle wrote:

[The Half-dragon template] is in the new bestiary, it should not in any way be given to a PC, templates arent meant for PC's anymore, as LA has been removed. RAW wise, you should just take levels in the Dragon Desciple PrC.

With respect, Mad Beetle, I'm not sure that's the case. James Jacobs has commented often that the prescribed Level Adjustments were taken away so that GMs could use their judgement as to what kind of exotic races they wanted to see in their worlds, rather than requiring them to deny players' requests.

So it's not the case that half-dragons "should not in any way" be used for a PC, but that the GM should use her judgement in deciding what kind of impact it might have in her campaign, and what kind of LA would be appropriate.

Regarding Pathfinder's sorcerer bloodline and the Dragon Disciple prestige class, I agree that it might be a good choice, depending on the character's level. (Dragon Disciple has a requirement of 5 ranks of Knowledge (arcane), so can't be taken before the character is 6th Level.) The other concern: Dragon Disciple is for non-dragons, to gradually grow into their draconic heritage. It may not be right for a character who is half-dragon. (Indeed, dragons cannot enter the prestige class.)

I also agree with your edit, that the D&D version of the template may be the best bet.

Thank you for the input. I see I've got a few places to look to help me with this. I'm not too strong with non-standard races, these characters are being brought over from someone else's now dead game and I'm having them start over for my game. I'll be doing my homework tonight to get something worked out. Thanks again for the info.

[Anthony Kane]

For me this would be one of those issues that needs to be handled on a case by case, player to GM/DM basis. The odds of this coming up frequently enough to merit any type of official ruling should be few and far between.

Personally if you were in my game, and I allowed it in the first place, I would say, taking the Sorcerer class with the Draconic bloodline, means any pre-existing abilities you have due to the template increase by one step, or are replaced as with the better of the two abilities. Each power, gained class feature, ect would be handled on a case by case basis, and yes I'd be making notes so that if I ever had to deal with it again, I would have guidelines for myself to follow.

Same said for Dragon Disciple if you chose to PRC into it.

The long and the short, there really shouldn't be an official answer, as this should be something you work through with your GM/DM.

[Jigg]

Anthony Kane wrote:

For me this would be one of those issues that needs to be handled on a case by case, player to GM/DM basis. The odds of this coming up frequently enough to merit any type of official ruling should be few and far between.

Personally if you were in my game, and I allowed it in the first place, I would say, taking the Sorcerer class with the Draconic bloodline, means any pre-existing abilities you have due to the template increase by one step, or are replaced as with the better of the two abilities. Each power, gained class feature, ect would be handled on a case by case basis, and yes I'd be making notes so that if I ever had to deal with it again, I would have guidelines for myself to follow.

Same said for Dragon Disciple if you chose to PRC into it.

The long and the short, there really shouldn't be an official answer, as this should be something you work through with your GM/DM.

I'm most likely going to write up a house rule to override the draconic bloodline in the book. I've got a thing for making house rules *shrug*