Furious Dragon: Redux

[Machaeus]

Okay, so a while back I made a Furious Dragon archetype for Barbarian. You can now be a dragon, and yes, you could allow animals (werewolf ahoy!) if you wanted.

I would like suggestions, thoughts, etc.

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Furious Dragon

Many savage or angry warriors with dragon blood end up as bloodragers. Others direct their power towards their bodies, instead of their minds. These furious dragons can thus develop the forms of their ancestors. This is a barbarian archetype.

Dracogenesis (Ex): At 1st level, the furious dragon gains the power of dracogenesis, the ability to take on the abilities and form of her dragon ancestor, though she can only do it for so long. This ability functions like a barbarian's rage, except that dracogenesis provides the benefits of dracogenetics. Her beginning dracogenetics are decided upon character creation, and gain more power as she increases in level.
This ability replaces rage.

Dracogenetics: A furious dragon has the ability to access her draconic forebearer's power and form. By calling upon her dragon blood, she gains various powers – her draconic genes, or dracogenetics.
A furious dragon has a gene pool, equivalent to the evolution points of a summoner's eidolon. However, a furious dragon's gene pool affects her own body, and only while in a state of dracogenesis. A furious dragon's gene pool is noted on Table: Furious Dragon Statistics.
When a furious dragon is created, she must choose a Subtype and Base Form, much like an eidolon, as well as a Base Energy. The base form and base energy, once chosen, cannot be changed, but their gene pool can still be changed whenever the furious dragon levels up. A quadruped base form is more of a traditional dragon, while a biped is essentially a human with a dragon's features, and a serpentine tends to be born of a linnorm or imperial dragon. Energy must be chosen from fire, cold, electricity, or acid.
This ability replaces fast movement and all rage powers.

Dragon's Glory: At 11th level, a furious dragon gains a +2 bonus to Diplomacy and Intimidate checks, and may use frightful presence, as per the eidolon evolution, but the save DC is reduced by 1. At 14th, 17th, and 20th levels, the skill bonus increases by +1. At 17th level, frightful presence gains its full save DC, and is treated as a free gene or evolution.
This ability replaces greater rage and mighty rage.

Dragon's Will: At 14th level, a furious dragon gains a +4 bonus on all Will saves while using dracogenesis.
This ability replaces indomitable will.

Dragon's Stamina: At 17th level, a furious dragon is no longer fatigued after using dracogenesis.
This ability replaces tireless rage.

Table: Furious Dragon Statistics

Genetics

A furious dragon's base forms are the same as an eidolon's (Advanced Player's Guide, pg 59-60), except that saves and ability scores do not change to the listed amounts; however, ability scores do gain a bonus based on the base form. A furious dragon also has genes gained from spending points out of their gene pool. Any abilities that rely on energy damage use the energy chosen upon creation, and cannot choose another unless noted.

Subtype

A furious dragon generally has an ancestor or totem dragon subtype. The dragon subtypes use the following notation:
Name: This is the name of the dragon subtype. The furious dragon gains this as a subtype, but unless otherwise noted, it does not gain any of the features, abilities, or weaknesses of that subtype.
Description: This is a basic overview of the dragon subtype, including general guidelines on appearance and personality.
Base Form: Some dragon subtypes are limited in their base forms. If this is so, the base forms available are listed here.
Base Genetics: This describes the base genetics possessed by all furious dragons of this subtype. Furious dragons also gain additional abilities based on their subtypes and levels, usually genetics but sometimes more universal monster rules. These will also be listed here.

Chromatic or Metallic
Description: A Chromatic or Metallic Dragon takes on basic elemental energies and empowers them with elemental fury. They are a myriad of colors, but tend towards the well-known ten colors.
Base Form: Biped, quadruped.
Base Genetics: At 1st level, a chromatic or metallic dragon gains the bite and claws evolutions. They also gain immunity to their base energy, even though they do not qualify.
At 4th level, they gain the flight evolution with wings, even though they do not qualify. They may enhance their flight speed at later levels, but they must always have the winged version.
At 8th level, they gain the tail evolution.
At 12th level, they gain the breath weapon evolution, using their base energy.
At 16th level, they gain the tail slap evolution.
At 20th level, they gain the ability increase evolution, applied to an ability score of their choice.

Imperial
Description: An Imperial Dragon has a regal presence that intimidates its foes. A furious dragon enjoys their sheer charisma.
Base Form: Quadruped, serpentine.
Base Genetics: At 1st level, an imperial dragon gains the bite and skilled (Diplomacy or Intimidate) evolutions.
At 4th level, they gain the flight evolution without wings, even though they do not qualify. They may enhance their flight speed at later levels.
At 8th level, they gain the tail and tail slap evolutions.
At 12th level, they gain the ability increase (Charisma) evolution.
At 16th level, they gain immunity to their base energy.
At 20th level, they gain the ability increase (Wisdom) evolution.

Linnorm
Description: A Linnorm is a fierce foe, a great serpent with deadly poison, crushing coils and great size. Their furious dragons are no exception.
Base Form: Serpentine.
Base Genetics: At 1st level, a linnorm gains the bite and limbs (arms) evolutions. They also gain resistance to their base energy.
At 4th level, they gain the skilled (Intimidate or Stealth) and tail slap evolutions.
At 8th level, they gain the improved damage (bite) and skilled (Intimidate or Steatlh) evolutions.
At 12th level, they gain the constrict evolution. They also gain access to the fast healing evolution, even though most furious dragons cannot use it.
At 16th level, they gain the basic magic and improved natural armor evolutions.
At 20th level, they gain the minor magic evolution.

Primal
Description: A Primal Dragon is imbued with elemental power, even greater than that of the chromatic and metallic dragons.
Base Form: Biped, quadruped.
Base Genetics: At 1st level, a primal dragon gains the bite, claws, and basic magic evolutions. They also gain resistance to their base energy.
At 4th level, they gain the tail evolution. They also gain resistance to another energy type.
At 8th level, they gain the flight with wings evolution. They may enhance their flight speed at later levels, but they must always have the winged version.
At 12th level, they gain the minor magic evolution.
At 16th level, they lose their resistance to their base energy and gain immunity to it, instead.
At 20th level, they gain the major magic evolution.

Base Forms

Biped
Size: Medium; Speed: 30 ft.; AC: +2 natural armor; Ability Scores: +2 Str; Limbs: head, arms, legs.

Quadruped
Size: Medium; Speed: 40 ft.; AC: +2 natural armor; Ability Scores: +2 Con; Limbs: head, 4 legs.

Serpentine
Size: Medium; Speed: 20 ft.; AC: +3 natural armor; Ability Scores: +2 Dex; Limbs: head, tail.

Genetics List

The following 1-point evolutions are most suited to a furious dragon.
APG: Bite, Claws, Climb, Gills, Improved Damage, Improved Natural Armor, Magic Attacks, Mount, Pull, Push, Reach, Resistance*, Sting, Swim, Tail, Tail Slap, Wing Buffett.
UM: Basic Magic, Low-Light Vision.
PFUC: Scent, Skilled.
* Resistance increases to resist 10, +10 every 5 levels, with a maximum of 30 at 10th level.

The following 2-point evolutions are most suited to a furious dragon.
APG: Ability Increase, Constrict, Energy Attacks, Flight, Gore, Grab, Immunity, Limbs, Poison, Rake, Rend, Trample, Trip.
UM: Head, Minor Magic.
PFUC: Tremorsense.

The following 3-point evolutions are most suited to a furious dragon.
APG: Burrow, Frightful Presence, Swallow Whole.
UM: Major Magic.
PFUC: Damage Reduction*, Pounce.
* The first time Damage Reduction is taken, the furious dragon gains DR 5/magic. The furious dragon may take this evolution twice.

The following 4-point evolutions are most suited to a furious dragon.
APG: Breath Weapon, Large, Spell Resistance.
UM: Ultimate Magic.
PFUC: Blindsight.

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I'd say PEACH if I thought I could take it, but I'm too thin-skinned for that I think. Still, tell me your thoughts please!

[Machaeus]

Wow, no one? :/

[AwesomenessDog]

It might be because I'm unfamiliar with the eidolon mutations but it seems to not have a flat or close to flat rate of advancement: there are levels that are clearly huge jumps in power ability and there isn't anything that limits what you can take as a evolution (which I know people complain is an issue of eidolons) as for when or major perquisites. Also if you are choosing to give the base barbarian this in exchange for spells and bloodlines, you shouldn't offer him another way to get spells again.

I like the ideas behind each dragon type and where it takes you, but it also seems you gain nothing without being in those forms so you have to be a raging dragon to be stealthy as a linnorm or charismatic as an imperial dragon. Since the barbarian is also going through a drastic change, not just going super saiyne (even then it still took goku 27 episodes), I would make the action a standard that provokes and maybe even a full round action; this is also clearly much more powerful than even a double dragon disciple which means that it should take some amount of time to activate. Maybe a strategy of "once its up, you'll want to keep it up and be extra careful once it drops" could be implied by a longer startup time where you are completely vulnerable (for a couple rounds, but it doesn't eat your round usage until you have fully transformed) and once you drop it, you are exhausted for double the rounds you used it, with the level 17 ability making it only fatigued.

[Machaeus]

Barbarian doesn't have spells.

The rest of this post is appreciated, however - I'll run through point-by-point on suggestions.

AwesomenessDog wrote:

It might be because I'm unfamiliar with the eidolon mutations but it seems to not have a flat or close to flat rate of advancement: there are levels that are clearly huge jumps in power ability

That was an issue I didn't know how to solve, unfortunately. Although now that I look again, I might have some ideas that would fix this, and I think I missed a major point from the archetype's base features.

Oops.

Quote:

and there isn't anything that limits what you can take as a evolution (which I know people complain is an issue of eidolons) as for when or major perquisites.

Hmm, so I should just rewrite the whole evolution list for genetics? Time-consuming, but easily doable.

Quote:

I like the ideas behind each dragon type and where it takes you, but it also seems you gain nothing without being in those forms so you have to be a raging dragon to be stealthy as a linnorm or charismatic as an imperial dragon.

Yeah, didn't think about that. Hmph, back to the drawing board I guess!

Quote:

Since the barbarian is also going through a drastic change, not just going super saiyne (even then it still took goku 27 episodes), I would make the action a standard that provokes and maybe even a full round action; this is also clearly much more powerful than even a double dragon disciple which means that it should take some amount of time to activate.

I'm not sure it should take THAT much time, but maybe I could make a ruling on armor needing an enchantment to stay on. (There's an enchantment that allows a druid to keep their armor while wild shaping, right?)

Quote:

Maybe a strategy of "once its up, you'll want to keep it up and be extra careful once it drops" could be implied by a longer startup time where you are completely vulnerable (for a couple rounds, but it doesn't eat your round usage until you have fully transformed) and once you drop it, you are exhausted for double the rounds you used it, with the level 17 ability making it only fatigued.

That seems a little extreme, but I'll look into that. I don't want to gimp this thing, but I don't want it too overpowered either.

Again, thank you!

[AwesomenessDog]

Machaeus wrote:

Barbarian doesn't have spells.

I know, that's why I am saying you shouldn't offer them a way to get spells in the archetype (via the ultimate magic evolution and such).

[My Self]

Have you tried building off the Bloodrager chassis instead of the Barbarian chassis?

[AwesomenessDog]

Otherwise I would recommend skill bonuses could apply at half strength outside of the form (and similar bonuses). A wording that either says X, Y, and Z evolutions aren't allowed or a better wording that explains it without listing should work.

There is an enchantment for druid armor and that could easily just apply to this as well; it wouldn't be as much of a gimp if there was an extention to the number of rounds that it last by like 50% (so 6+CON mod at lvl one rounds per day, +3 every level.) since at later levels you have a ridiculous number of rounds. plus if they stop for a significant amount of time its not a issue to begin with. If done carefully it wont gimp it.