Entangling Exhalation as per the norm, so make sure you have access to it. Apart from the HD update I don't think there's really anything you need to do except make savvy choices when you build/grow your character. Maybe ask for increased invocation progression like the Warlock? Or maybe even a staggered progression like the partial casters but starting at 1st level instead of 4th?
I'm not sure about higher levels, but I ran a low-level adventure and a player rolled up a Dragonfire Adept. I'm not sure of what he chose options-wise(feats, etc), but he did lag behind the rest of the party considerably.
He wasn't useless, but was definitely the weaker of the links in the party. Stay out of melee!
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One thing about the DFA is they have a lot of potential but you have to build accordingly. I actually have a tank DFA in a campaign and I am always getting into melee.
For him I went small, had a bonus to Con and had a good dex and ok cha.
Picked him up heaviest armor he could carry and used a heavy shield, he wasn't proficient in either but it didn't matter. He used his Breathe Weapon primarily with Entangling Exhalation, and Enduring Exposure.
I think he started with a 20 Con, 14 or 16 Dex and 14 Cha.
I did grab Ability Focus (breathe weapon), iron will and Steadfast Determination though so you may want to see if you GM will allow Steadfast, its great for a high Con build.
He ended up running around with the second highest AC of the party, by far the highest HP and had awesome saves. Even at mid levels he would just run in, Slow the bad guys, entangling them and keep them mired down while the rest of the party waded in. Once he got Chilling Fog he could lockdown much larger groups.