My tuesday GM wants to run a campaign where we play monsters out of the bestiary, but are aligned good.
We get to start with 3 CR worth of a monster. fractional CR monsters count as 0. So we can play a 0CR monster with 3 class levels, or a CR 2 monster with class levels. or any combination therein (including templates).
What I want to know is, with the HD/CR progression, is it possible to play a hatchling dragon? And instead of taking levels, I can progress in HD and 'grow up' so to speak.
If I could get some ideas about this, advice, or information about prior experiences with this, please let me know.
Dragon #320 has a 20 level progression for playing each of the 5 metallic dragons (Gold, Silver, Brass, Bronze and Copper)
There's also an issue with the 5 chromatics, but I don't remember which issue right at the moment.
If you look for a specific article in Dragon, try and see if the Dragondex is still there - I can´t check right now, but if you google Dragondex, you should find out in a minute. It is a very thorough index of the Dragon mag, from issue 1 to the last print issue.
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Rough attempt to pull a gold dragon down to CR3.
The Base statistics for a Gold Dragon put it at CR7.
Unfortunately if you apply the young template four times it disappears.
A rough guess at pulling it down to CR3 would be.
Hatchling Gold Dragon
LG dragon (fire)
Base Statistics
CR 3; Size Tiny; Hit Dice 4d12
Speed 40 ft., swim 40 ft.
Natural Armor +5; Breath Weapon cone, 1d8 fire
Str 13, Dex 18, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 12
Fire subtype
Give it an extra hit dice when you level, natural armour = hit dice+1 until you hit higher levels, when it increases by more to compensate for size.
Make it rise to small at 6 or 7 hit dice and medium at 9 or 10, large at 12...
Stats should rise toward the CR7 scores and remember that your dex will adjust when you go up in size.
Speed will also increase as you grow.
Weakening Breath will come around CR5 and change shape and detect evil at about CR 8.
This is all very crude and I think it will be important to talk to your GM and look at other players and see what they're doing.
I would look at doing it differently.
Start with a pseudodragon, replace the sting with a breath weapon (1d4) and remove telepathy, replace with speech.
Remove blindsense and SR.
Apply fire subtype.
Add 2 levels of 'dragon' (d12 hit die, fast BAB, all good saves, skill points = 6+int. mod.) and advance breath weapon (1d6 or 1d8).
Keep going but advance breath weapon every few levels and decide with GM what levels are 'Wyrmling' and 'Very Young' so that you can get the special abilities.
Do this until you get to 8hit dice/CR7.
Once this happens replace with the base stats for a CR7 gold dragon as found on page 108 of the bestiary.
After that do the same again but building from this new base: add levels of dragon and boost the breath weapon every few levels.
You and your GM will also have to agree when you get medium size. You might also get cantrips at CR9 or 10.
When you get to CR11/12hitdice you can replace stats with the young gold dragon stats (again on page 108).
After that do the same again but building from this new base: add levels of dragon and boost the breath weapon every few levels.
Repeat the cycle with the other gold dragons in the bestiary entry (adult & ancient) and talk to your GM about the levels at which you reach different age categories.
Interestingly you will start off as a rogue/monk type of character before turning into a melee brute. If you ever get to Ancient then you're a good caster and an absolute wrecking ball in melee.
Remember that as an adventurer you are going to acquire magic items, you might be a bit too awesome for the rest of your party and mid and high levels, although presumably they'll take levels in adventuring classes.
I can't remember who did it but the council of wyrms was updated for 3.5, that would very easily fix your problem
I can't remember who did it but the council of wyrms was updated for 3.5, that would very easily fix your problem
I found this link for this.
I can't remember who did it but the council of wyrms was updated for 3.5, that would very easily fix your problemI found this link for this.
Yeah there it is : ) gracias!
That should help!
Dragon #320 has a 20 level progression for playing each of the 5 metallic dragons (Gold, Silver, Brass, Bronze and Copper)
+1.
I used this article with just a few minor tweaks to successfully play my favourite character in a multi-year campaign; a gold dragon hatchling. As someone who's researched this idea from every direction this is the simplest and most straightforward way to go about it that I've found.
Dragon #320 has a 20 level progression for playing each of the 5 metallic dragons (Gold, Silver, Brass, Bronze and Copper)+1.
I used this article with just a few minor tweaks to successfully play my favourite character in a multi-year campaign; a gold dragon hatchling. As someone who's researched this idea from every direction this is the simplest and most straightforward way to go about it that I've found.
How hard would it be to convert it to PF progression? I mean dragons are a little different and have slightly different abilities than the 3.5 ones did. I think they no longer have two different breath weapons, for example.
I like!
Now to find a GM who'd accept it :p
Never mind, my delusional pseudo who THINKS he's a full blown chromatic is doing great :)