I have a friend that would really like to play a dragon-type character but since it's (initially) for PFS play she is limited to the core races and a few additional ones, but nothing vaguely draconic. You can make a case for Nagaji, but its not a strong case. :)
I ran across the Dragon Disciple prestige class, and while I think that it would not be optimal to multiclass into the prestige it would sure be almost exactly what she wants to do. The idea would be to level the character through PFS play, and then once the character hits level 12 and "ages out", we would convert the party to a home game setting and allow the characters to proceed to level 20.
Question: the Dragon Disciple is tied to the ability to cast arcane spells. Which classes can cast arcane spells? I'm assuming it is more the wizard/sorcerer types, but which other classes have that ability? She would most likely be looking for hybrid option. Melee/Ranged damage dealer with the ability to cast arcane spells to qualify as a dragon disciple.
So how exactly does it work? She takes 5 levels in her arcane base class, and then she can qualify to take dragon disciple and she can add up to 10 levels of that, and then she would add her final 5 levels in her base class, or in another class up to the level 20 cap?
Any other tips? Suggestions?
The Dragon Disciple is actually one of the stronger prestige classes and totally viable. However, if the dragon flavor is what she's looking for and not specifically the mechanics of the DDisciple, she might want to consider the Bloodrager; the Draconic Bloodline is, of course, very dragon-y as well as being very powerful and straightforward to build (I'm assuming she's new-ish to the game since she's asking you to find this for her).
She is 14 years old and very new to the game. Her father and I take turns running our kids & a couple friends through PFS scenarios and they are enjoying it. She has the Core Rulebook, Advanced Players Guide, Advanced Class Guide, and Bestiary. I think the Bloodrager is exactly up her alley, and if she took the Draconic bloodline and then popped into Dragon Disciple, would those levels stack? How do I ask so it makes sense....if she is 5 levels into the Bloodrager Draconic Bloodline, and then starts advancing into DDisciple, would it somehow augment the bloodline and move it along faster?
Skald is an interesting choice as well. I am excited for her about this option. Thanks for any and all suggestions!
The official Paizo response as to if Dragon Disciple levels count for advancing the Draconic Bloodrager is "it's up to your GM". As it sounds like you are the GM here the answer would be yes. I think overall it would still be better to just stay in the Bloodrager class, though.
The key for her will be, which option will give her the ability to shift into her dragon form faster. Straight up Bloodrager, or picking up the Dragon Disciple prestige class. For my math, it appears it will be at character level 12 for the Bloodrager Dragon Disciple, where with just Bloodrager it won't be until 16th level.
The casting of spells is not a huge selling point to her...it is the draconic abilities and form.
Actually polymorphing into a dragon will be... problematic. PFS will be over by the time she gets Dragon Form or any of the other means of turning into a dragon. If that is the core component she's looking for, the best thing may be to play a Beastmorph Alchemist. Her mutagen can be flavored as making her progressively more dragon-like and she can take Beastform abilities that would give her dragon powers. The Alchemist does get Dragon's Breath as an extract.
Well, once the characters hit level 12, we will convert them to a "home game" and continue play with them.
I will look into the Beastmorph Alchemist as well. Thanks!
Why not make her a Synthasist unless you are dead set on PFS rules. I am in a campaign where our GM's girlfriend wanted to play a Dragon so he made her a Synthasist with an Eidolin that looks like a dragon and kitted it out with claws, breath attack, and etc.
Why not make her a Synthasist unless you are dead set on PFS rules. I am in a campaign where our GM's girlfriend wanted to play a Dragon so he made her a Synthasist with an Eidolin that looks like a dragon and kitted it out with claws, breath attack, and etc.
Yeah... it's a good fit, but the problem with this is that the Synthesist Summoner is really complicated to build and play. I cannot recommend it for someone who is new to the game.
Other than Wizard/Sorcerer, these are arcane:
Arcanist, Bard, Bloodrager, Magus, Skald, Summoner, and Witch.
And since Dragon Disciple requires spontaneous rather than prepared spellcasting (with the former being simpler for a newbie anyway), you are actually limited to Bard, Bloodrager, Skald, Sorcerer, and Summoner. Of these, the Bloodrager and the Sorcerer have the advantage of granting Draconic bloodline abilities from level 1.
Yes, I think the Bloodrager will work best for her. Thanks all!
Other than Wizard/Sorcerer, these are arcane:
Arcanist, Bard, Bloodrager, Magus, Skald, Summoner, and Witch.And since Dragon Disciple requires spontaneous rather than prepared spellcasting (with the former being simpler for a newbie anyway), you are actually limited to Bard, Bloodrager, Skald, Sorcerer, and Summoner. Of these, the Bloodrager and the Sorcerer have the advantage of granting Draconic bloodline abilities from level 1.
You can bypass the requirement with Spell-like abilities that replicate a 1st level arcane spell.
I always wondered if it were possible for an Nagaji Aberrant Bloodrager to enter into DD, technically yes, but would the bloodline turn into Draconic?
Per RAW no since DD only has the need for a Sorcerer to have the Draconic bloodline.
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Actually its stated in the dragon disciple guide that bard and summoner that both are legal entries into Dragon disciple due to their spontaneous casting, though why would both classes go into DD...I have no clue, since both classes have many things to lose doing so. Both classes don't even have any bloodline lol.
Dragon disciple requirements by RAW:
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks*.
Languages: Draconic.
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells without preparation. If the character has sorcerer levels, he must have the draconic bloodline. If the character gains levels of sorcerer after taking this class, he must take the draconic bloodline.
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I would keep it simple.
12 levels of sorcerer followed by 8 levels of dragon disciple.
Pick Gold dragon as fire is an extremely common element to grab resistance too. Also buffing up her early level burning hands and fireball damage.
I'd also pick some good not blast spells like:
glitterdust, enervation, wall of force, sirroco, and cloud spell
The bloodline grants some defense spells but a big contender is:
mirror image and stoneskin communal
(Mage armor and resist energy are freely given)
Another possibility is the Eldritch Scion magus archetype. If it were compatible with the Bladebound archetype, I would have recommended it as a good way to get an arcane bonded weapon.
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I have a 10th level dragon disciple in pfs which is barbarian 1/sorcerer 4/dragon disciple 5. If I was to level the character all the way to 20, I'd probably just take the last 5 levels as eldritch knight.
Thing is dragon disciple has two ways of looking at it. I've seen other people play it as a spellcaster, blasting things with fireballs and their breath weapon and never using their claws. I play it as a melee class with a few self buffs thrown in.
Combat power wise if you go bloodrager, you're better off sticking with bloodrager. But if what you want is to be a dragon, then dragon disciple is the class for you, and you want those sorcerer levels so you get the bloodline powers.
I was working on a Bloodrager/DD build a while back; fluff aside, taking 4 levels of Dragon Disciple nets you +4 strength, +2 natural armor, and some other goodies for the price of 1 point of BAB and 1 caster level. It's worth it for a dragon-esque melee build, in my opinion, especially if the GM allows blood of dragons to count for bloodrager bloodlines.
Honestly, just let her play a dragon. Let her pick a color of Metallic dragon straight out of the bestiary, and have her play that. Allow her to pick her feats and skills, but keep all the other numbers stock.
Keep its CR the same as the rest of the PCs Level as the party advances.
She'll be a little more powerful for the first 3-5 levels because off flight. You may want to house rule that she gets a number of flight rounds per day equal to 3+ her level and explain it away as weak wings. Take away that restriction at 5th level.
Then add an element to the game that makes her character choice difficult. I'd go with an organized group of professional dragon slayers sponsored by a powerful kingdom, who's king lost a child to a dragon attack, so now he wants them all dead. Maybe it was a well-loved prince or princess, so the king's anti-dragon crusade has the backing of the locals. The anti-dragon hate has spread to dragon-blooded sorcerers, dragon-totem barbarians, and everything else that has a draconic theme. Kobolds are suddenly unlikely allies.
Then up the stakes. Another kingdom, a little further away is collecting dragons and Dominating them for use in their army. That's why the local kingdom is killing them all. The prince or princess was killed in an act of war, and any dragon might actually be a Dominated sleeper agent for the invading regime.
Now it's difficult to be a dragon. She's young, fairly weak, and has a birth defect that makes her wings weak so she can't really escape. Her only allies are the party, who are now outlaws for helping her.
The plotline practically writes itself.
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Don't forget you can play Pathfinder Society sanctioned adventure paths past level 11! You can actually get all the way to 20 if you wanted to using only society sanctioned games. The adventure paths work great for home games if you didn't plan to make your own campaign.
Other than what people have said here I'm personally fond of the trait Outer Dragon Blood. Who doesn't want to be descended from Time Dragons?