Can a dragon gain class levels?

[cablop]

And if the answer is yes... how does it work?

[Goddity]

Yes it can. You increase its CR by one, and give it all the benefits of being a first level character of whatever class, including saves, HP, BAB, and class features. There's a section on how to do it near the bottom of this page.

[dragonhunterq]

yes, it works the same as giving any other creature class levels..

note in step 2 that sorceror spellcasting stacks.

[Scrapper]

Bestiary 1 Pg 296-297 "Monsters with Class Levels" Under Creature's Role, Dragon is under Combat(type). I am currently using a run away youngling dragon with levels of NPC Class Adept. This youngling has innate shape change, and interacts (in alternate form) with the party on occasion selling odd potions and salves, and basicly hiding it's true identity rather than be hunted.

[Fergie]

dragonhunterq wrote:

yes, it works the same as giving any other creature class levels..

note in step 2 that sorceror spellcasting stacks.

And yet, since dragons are "combat role", sorcerer levels only add half a CR/level (until they outnumber original CR). That is interesting...

[MichaelCullen]

Fergie wrote:

dragonhunterq wrote:

yes, it works the same as giving any other creature class levels..

note in step 2 that sorceror spellcasting stacks.

And yet, since dragons are "combat role", sorcerer levels only add half a CR/level (until they outnumber original CR). That is interesting...

As always apply common sense. There are plenty of ways to make very "out of CR" monsters this way.

[master_marshmallow]

Right, when progressing as a sorcerer you progress the caster level like you would of you took a prestige class.

[Paladin of Baha-who?]

You could also apply a class template to the dragon.

[cablop]

Nice... but then weird things do occur... If i add a sorcerer class to a dragon... could that mean i can take a different than dragon sorcerous bloodline for it? If i add a monk class to a dragon... how would i manage the Flurry of Blows?

Scrapper wrote:

Bestiary 1 Pg 296-297 "Monsters with Class Levels" Under Creature's Role, Dragon is under Combat(type). I am currently using a run away youngling dragon with levels of NPC Class Adept. This youngling has innate shape change, and interacts (in alternate form) with the party on occasion selling odd potions and salves, and basicly hiding it's true identity rather than be hunted.

I was thinking in a similar character, it is a dragon who decided to go monk and instead of killing the party he left them live because they told him about a quiet place to go and meditate for weeks without being disturbed. He is going to be around after that, but it wants to be able to use the monk techniques at some point, like "so you think you can fight? Come on, let's spar!" But the flurry of blows concept in such multi-attack creature is going to kill me.

[Azten]

You don't have to pick Draconic bloodline, and Monk would do the same as anyone else with Flurry. Two unarmed(not natural attacks) attacks at -2/-2.

[Crimeo]

ANYTHING can get class levels as far as I can tell. There are a couple of places where the rules mention that "such and such can now take class levels" such as when you awaken an animal. However, AFAIK, there was never any restriction in the first place, so these comments appear to be redundant.

Indeed, Paizo has also published multiple lists of NPCs of all kinds that have class levels of all sorts, and mentions NPCs with class levels repeatedly, including with regard to not normally playable creatures, so it's obviously intended as possible.

It's also, of course, not factored into the CR though of any monster written without those levels. Usually you add about 1 CR per class level added to whatever else you see written. But that's only really very precise or useful in my experience if the NPC is getting pretty much all its features from those class levels. If adding to a monster with a bunch of racial abilities, the balance is way off from that and you probably just have to wing it. Either playtest with yourself in a mock battle ahead of time, or under-CR it and then build in optional reinforcement waves etc. so that you have a lot of latitude in quickly changing challenge mid battle to be safe.

[Avoron]

Fergie wrote:

And yet, since dragons are "combat role", sorcerer levels only add half a CR/level (until they outnumber original CR). That is interesting...

Actually, most dragons are both combat and spell role. Because dragons.

Except for imperial dragons, for whatever reason.

[cablop]

Avoron wrote:

Actually, most dragons are both combat and spell role. Because dragons.

Except for imperial dragons, for whatever reason.

I think it is a mistake, cause the equivalent dragons in 3e had no caster levels. Maybe they forgot they are casters now.

How can you suggest for something like that to be an errata.

[KestrelZ]

Yes

There was even a D&D 3.5 product called Draconomicon that had outlines of how dragons "should" progress using a mix of age levels and class levels, should you add class levels to a dragon. Of course, it was off the rails since it assumed that you were giving players the chance to actually play as a dragon PC.

[SheepishEidolon]

An alternative to adding class levels would be class templates from Monster Codex. Keep in mind even a dragon has only one standard action per round, and often it will fall after some rounds. So you don't need a bazillion options - the standard abilities and e.g. 5 spells from sorcerer template can cover a lot.

While a nondraconic bloodline is technically possible, it might be good to make up a bit of a backstory about it. In case a player wonders... Some bloodline powers will turn out useless though - you don't need resistances where you already got an immunity or an additional weak standard action option.