Because I consider the Dragon Shaman archetype in Ultimate Magic to be, on the whole, an underwhelming lizard shaman, I decided to re-write it to make it feel more...draconic.
I hope you enjoy.
Dragon Shaman
Your totem is the legendary dragon, fearsome and deadly yet cunning and wise, a creature born of pure magic and raw elemental fury, bound within a shell of fangs, claws, and scales that few dare to challenge.
The following are class features of the Dragon Shaman:
Draconic Bond: A dragon shaman who chooses an animal companion must select a dragon companion (presented below). If choosing a domain, the dragon shaman must choose a domain supported by their totem dragon (given below) or the scalykind domain.
Totem Dragon: At 1st level, the dragon shaman chooses a totem type of chromatic or metallic dragon. Dragon shamans have great respect for their totem dragon, and some even worship them as gods. She need not be the same alignment as her totem dragon.
Wild Empathy: Dragon Shamans do not gain wild empathy as a class ability.
Totem Transformation (Su): At 2nd level, a dragon shaman may adopt an aspect of the dragon while retaining her normal form. She gains one of the following bonuses: movement (fly speed 30 feet [average], the druid must be 5th level to select this bonus), senses (low-light vision, +4 racial bonus to Perception), toughness (+2 natural armor bonus to AC, Endurance feat), or natural weapons (bite [1d6] and 2 claws [1d4] for a Medium shaman, +2 bonus on CMB on grapple checks). While using totem transformation, the dragon shaman may speak normally. Using this ability is a standard action at 2nd level, a move action at 7th level, and a swift action at 12th level. The dragon shaman can use this ability for a number of minutes per day equal to her druid level. These minutes do not need to be consecutive, but they must be used in 1-minute increments. This is a polymorph effect and cannot be used while the druid is using another polymorph effect, such as wild shape. This ability replaces woodland stride and trackless step.
Breath Weapon (Su): At 3rd level, the druid gains the ability to unleash a breath weapon as a standard action, as their totem dragon. The breath weapon is either a 15-foot cone or a 30 foot line, and deals the same type of energy damage as their totem dragon’s breath weapon, and deals 1d4 damage per 2 levels the dragon shaman possesses. A successful reflex save halves this damage (DC 10 + ½ the dragon shaman’s HD + the dragon shaman’s constitution modifier) At 11th level, the area of the breath weapon increases to either a 30-foot cone or a 60-foot line. After using her breath weapon, the dragon shaman cannot use it again for 1d4+1 rounds. This ability replaces a thousand faces.
Wild Shape (Su): At 12th level, a dragon shaman’s wild shape ability allows her to assume the form of their totem dragon. Her wild shape ability can now function as form of the dragon I, except that the effect lasts for one hour per druid level, or until she ends the effect. At 16th level, she can assume the form of a tiny or large dragon as form of the dragon II. At 20th level, she can assume the shape of a huge dragon as form of the dragon III. A dragon shaman using wild shape to transform into a dragon must transform into their totem dragon. A dragon shaman cannot use wild shape to assume the shape of an elemental or a plant.
Draconic Resistance (Su): At 9th level, the dragon shaman gains resistance 5 to the energy type of their totem dragon’s breath weapon. At 12th level, and every 3 levels thereafter, this resistance improves by 5. This ability replaces venom immunity.
Totem Dragons
A dragon shaman’s totem dragon determines many different aspects of their class. Their dragon companion must be of the same type as their totem dragon, or their domain spells correlate with their totem dragon, as shown below. In addition, their breath weapon size and damage is determined by their totem dragon, and they can only transform into their totem dragon with their wild shape ability.
Black Dragon: Line of acid; death, destruction
Blue Dragon: Line of electricity; air, destruction
Green Dragon: Cone of acid; destruction, earth
Red Dragon: Cone of fire; destruction, fire
White Dragon: Cone of cold; destruction, water
Brass Dragon: Line of fire; fire, protection
Bronze Dragon: Line of electricity; air, protection
Copper Dragon: Line of acid; earth, protection
Gold Dragon: Cone of fire; fire, protection
Silver Dragon: Cone of cold; protection, water
Dragon Companion
If the dragon shaman chooses a dragon companion at 1st level, it must be the same type as their totem dragon. Dragon companions are the dragon type, rather than the animal type. However, they are lesser cousins of the true dragons that inhabit the world, and so use the statistics of a standard animal companion, as presented on the animal companion table.
Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (average); AC +1 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4); Ability Scores Str 15, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 10; Special Qualities darkvision 30 ft., low-light vision; Special Attacks breath weapon
7th-level Advancement: Size Medium; Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (average); AC +2 natural armor; Attack bite (1d6) and 2 claws (1d4); Ability Scores Str +4, Dex -2, Con +4
Breath Weapon (Su): The dragon companion begins with a breath weapon it can utilize as a standard action. This breath weapon is either a 15-foot cone or a 30-foot line, decided by its type (given above, in Totem Dragons) and deals 1d6 damage for every 2 HD the dragon companion possesses. A successful reflex save halves this damage (DC 10 + ½ the dragon companion’s HD + the dragon companion’s constitution modifier). After using its breath weapon, a dragon companion cannot use it again for 1d4+1 rounds.
At 7th level, the breath weapon’s size increases to either a 30-foot cone or a 60-foot line.
That looks pretty neat. I think it might be a good idea to add another progression to their companion at around level 14 or so, trading out a class feature for a large dragon.
That looks pretty neat. I think it might be a good idea to add another progression to their companion at around level 14 or so, trading out a class feature for a large dragon.
I'm hesitant to do this. The dragon is already stronger than most of the animal companions, with generally higher stats, a fly speed and a breath weapon. Adding in a third advancement (something no other animal companion has, so far as I know) might push it over the edge.
Only playtesting will tell.
-The Beast
Adding an ability:
Dragonfear resistance: At 4th level, a dragon shaman becomes immune to dragons' Frightful Presence ability. This ability replaces Resist Nature's Lure.
That looks pretty neat. I think it might be a good idea to add another progression to their companion at around level 14 or so, trading out a class feature for a large dragon.
That better be one hell of a class feature you're giving up to get a Large dragon.
It's too late at night for me to give constructive advice, so here's what stuck out to me.
Critiques of the class:
At level 20, the Druid's breath weapon will do 10d4 damage, averaging about 25 damage for a standard action. This is laughably weak and needs to be changed somehow. Maybe get rid of it and replace it with an Aura of some sort.
Your animal companion starts out Intelligent so they can take any feat, as well as probably talk to you. When they advance, they only lose 2 dex, which seems fairly small. They can start out flying and have a breath weapon. They can use UMD since they can speak. And less importantly, presumably have opposable thumbs.
The class doesn't give up enough for what it gains.
Yeah, it likely does need a lot more removed. But I think it would be worthwhile for the concept to take out what is necessary to get the large dragon.
You want to ride the thing, right? :D
That looks pretty neat. I think it might be a good idea to add another progression to their companion at around level 14 or so, trading out a class feature for a large dragon.That better be one hell of a class feature you're giving up to get a Large dragon.
It's too late at night for me to give constructive advice, so here's what stuck out to me.
Critiques of the class:
At level 20, the Druid's breath weapon will do 10d4 damage, averaging about 25 damage for a standard action. This is laughably weak and needs to be changed somehow. Maybe get rid of it and replace it with an Aura of some sort.
Your animal companion starts out Intelligent so they can take any feat, as well as probably talk to you. When they advance, they only lose 2 dex, which seems fairly small. They can start out flying and have a breath weapon. They can use UMD since they can speak. And less importantly, presumably have opposable thumbs.
The class doesn't give up enough for what it gains.
A lot of good points, and pretty much one of the things I was worried about.
Question: You are correct that the druid's breath weapon damage is laughably low, but does that partially make up for the dragon's increased strength?
I will likely be reducing the dragon's intelligence to 3.
-The Beast
Both druid and companion with at will breath weapon?
Perhaps could be better give to the druid a better breath weapon, but wit limited uses per dain on the line of the draconic sorcerer.
Delay the wild shape. This druid should never gain at will wildshape.
Overall I like it.
This is cool. I made my own before the book was released. The dragon companion is too good, and running into the same problem I just made them get a domain.
This should probably include a something that says wildhsaping into animals works at a lower druid level.
I gave him dragon form earlier too, at level 10.
Addendun to the previous comments:
Maybe the dragon form is too powerful compared to the sorc/wiz spells because is not dispellable.
Consider carefully to decrease duration and/or dump Dragon form III.
I will probably do my own re-make of the dragon shaman when i get the book (if what i 've heard are true).
Anyway before i carefully read your take on the archetype i will just say that the animal companion isn't the best you can get (so don't worry about balance), the tiger is a lot better.
PS. I was also thinking of limiting the dragon shaman to a non-best animal companion, i might even use yours if that's ok with you)
PS 2. What book is the scalykind domain? UM?
Dragon Shaman stuff
Will you be putting this up as a Google Document? That might be a nice option for rewrites and easy access. Thanks for your work.
Instead of using dragons as animal companions, why not drakes(Bestiary 2)? Fluff-wise, they are lesser cousins of dragons. You have flame(fire), frost(cold), forest(acid), and sea(electricity). They still need to be modified to decrease their power level, but their breath weapons are more favorable (IMHO). It also cuts down on number of animal companions, you just get the one which matches the damage type of your Totem Dragon.
There is also the Primal Dragons, which are actually my favorite type. You may want to think over which domain they grant. One is, ofc, elemental, but neither destruction nor protection fit quite right.
Form of the dragon 3 might be too much, even for a capstone ability.
Instead of using dragons as animal companions, why not drakes(Bestiary 2)? Fluff-wise, they are lesser cousins of dragons. You have flame(fire), frost(cold), forest(acid), and sea(electricity). They still need to be modified to decrease their power level, but their breath weapons are more favorable (IMHO). It also cuts down on number of animal companions, you just get the one which matches the damage type of your Totem Dragon.
There is also the Primal Dragons, which are actually my favorite type. You may want to think over which domain they grant. One is, ofc, elemental, but neither destruction nor protection fit quite right.
At this point, by giving the "dragon companion" an int of 3, you could easily just call it a drake. The companion is so far divorced from all other dragonkind at this point (low stats, no blindsense, no SLAs, lower-than-standard HD and BAB, etc) that calling it a drake might actually be a confidence booster.
-The Beast
Form of the dragon 3 might be too much, even for a capstone ability.
You may be right, but I don't really have a problem with it since it is a capstone, and I've never met anyone/seen an AP that goes beyond 18th level.
To each his own, however. Maybe if you, instead of gaining Wild Shape at will, gained Form of the Dragon 3 and just one more use of wild shape?
-The Beast
I think that even without elemental form and plant shape and without the at will part even then it's a huge power boost.
Anyway what you think that is going to work in your game is a good thing.
Me and my ST are thinking of (after running the numbers) giving up elemental body (and maybe plant shape) and probably timeless body for adding the 3 form of the dragon spells in the druid's spell list BUT you can use the natural spell and get your wild armor and shield. What do you think about those? And of course i might be stealing your dragon companion.
I think that even without elemental form and plant shape and without the at will part even then it's a huge power boost.
Anyway what you think that is going to work in your game is a good thing.
Me and my ST are thinking of (after running the numbers) giving up elemental body (and maybe plant shape) and probably timeless body for adding the 3 form of the dragon spells in the druid's spell list BUT you can use the natural spell and get your wild armor and shield. What do you think about those? And of course i might be stealing your dragon companion.
Sounds fine. I was wondering about Timeless body. It felt universal enough that a dragon shaman could have it. Knocking out E. body, Plant shape, and timeless body for the 3 dragon forms seems fair enough in my book. I haven't run the numbers, of course, so I'll have to trust you on that front, but overall, my goal was just to build a dragon shaman that felt like a Dragon shaman.
I'll throw together a write-up today and see if I can't set it up as a pdf or a google doc.
-The Beast
The numbers were rough but in the endgame the form of the dragon 3 (as wildshape) outdamages (a lot) anything else the druid can do (that's because of the many attacks).
My goal is also to make a dragon shaman that is a dragon shaman and not a lizard one.
Also your idea of resist nature's lure being being traded with immunity to a dragon's fearful presence is a very good one (although the trade is bad), consider it stolen.
Form of the dragon 3 might be too much, even for a capstone ability.You may be right, but I don't really have a problem with it since it is a capstone, and I've never met anyone/seen an AP that goes beyond 18th level.
To each his own, however. Maybe if you, instead of gaining Wild Shape at will, gained Form of the Dragon 3 and just one more use of wild shape?
-The Beast
IMHO "nobody will never get there is BAD design, no offense intended.
Somebody will get it, PC or NPC. Make the high end "fake" narrows the ways the game can be enjoyed.
20th level abilities SHOULD be broken powerful - but always keep an eye on it.
