I'll be running a campaign with spellcasting classes banned, no multiclassing, only two races (humans and dragons), and is set in the modern day. I'll also add a class feature to the remaining classes: Dragon Arts.
Dragon Arts will be a supernatural discipline with three levels of expertise, dependant on class: Low, Mid, and High. The expertise level determines how many abilities dragons will have for their entire career and the level at which humans can begin using Dragon Arts.
Focus will be an important part of Dragon Arts. Focus entails a verbal command and a gesture relevant to the ability used (someone using a fireball with Focus might shout "burn" and make a throwing motion to throw the fireball).
Race-specific rules for Dragon Arts are given below:
• When they become able to use Dragon Arts, they gain 2 abilities known and learn more by witnessing them in action.
• They cannot use Dragon Arts without Focus.
• Heavy usage of Dragon Arts has a fatiguing effect on them.
• They choose a number of a abilities known determined by their expertise level at 1st level, but cannot learn additional abilities afterwards.
• They can use Dragon Arts without Focus, but doing so causes an unintended consequence.
• Heavy usage of Dragon Arts has no effect on them.
I would like advice for Dragon Arts abilities, giving expertise levels to classes, or rule implementation.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I'll give an example: A Rogue Dragon (going for a scientist-type character, but Alchemists are banned) that can shoot lightning, jump high, teleport by moving along an electrical circuit, build mechanisms through telekinesis, possess robots, and heal (6 abilities, might add more).
1.) I'm making the Dragon race as humanoids, each one having a mutation. One might become a quadruped while another has fins on their arms, legs, and tail.
2.) Yes, I have.
3.) No. If that class has a spell progression, it is banned unless there's an archetype that replaces the spells, in which case that archetype becomes the standard.
4.) I've yet to decide the number of abilities Dragons have access to at each level, which is determined by how much dedication is required by each class. The Rogue, a learn-as-you-go kind of class, would have a High expertise level while the Monk, which requires a lot of discipline and training, would have a Low expertise level.
5.) I've yet to decide. Maybe 4th level for High expertise?
6.) By robot, I meant any machine with programming.
7.) They will be humanoids. Some might even get a transformation ability or two.
8.) I plan on them improving by level.
I'll cut Kineticist even though it isn't technically a spellcasting class. The Ranger has the Skirmisher archetype, which replaces spells with the ability to lay traps.
I'll classify the arts as Kinetic (dealing with energy resistances and attacks; Core Ability: Kinetic Strike *energy type*), Body (altering physical attributes and healing; Core Ability: Shapeshift *creature*), Mind (possession and altering mental states; Core Ability: Flow), and Reality (altering rules of reality in an area and alternative forms of existence; Core Ability: Phase Shift *medium*).
The Dragon mutation will be a racial trait rather that a Dragon Arts ability.
Looks good.
Dragon Arts will progress to 20 levels. All Dragons will be able access all 20 levels, while High expertise Humans will cap off at 15, Mid at 10, and Low at 5.
Legally, all Dragon Arts users are required to attend a mental evaluation every 3 months.
I'll format abilities like so:
Varients Varients will be noted here if there are any. "Any single" means that you choose one option from the appropriate group ("Any single dog breed" would entail choosing from Pug, Welsh Corgi, or any other dog breed). Commas separate options. Each varient counts as a separate ability (Kinetic Strike (Fire) and Kinetic Strike (Electricity) are considered different abilities).
Prerequisites Any prerequisites
Effect any effects and progression
Legal Notes Any additional legal stipulations relevant to the ability will appear here
Special Any other notes will appear here
I found The Modern Path: Heroes of the Modern World. The Modern Hero is rather bare-boned, but it's the archetypes that give it flavor. How would you assign expertise levels to these archetypes:
Engineer (Craftsmen and scientists)
Infiltrator (Rogues and spies)
Investigator (Law enforcement and journalists)
Martial Artist (MMA fighters and monks)
Personality (Celebrities and political leaders)
Physician (Medics and doctors)
Soldier (Military personnel)
I'll have the expertise as so:
High: Modern Hero with no archetype
Mid: Modern Hero with one archetype
Low: Modern Hero with multiple archetypes, Ordinary
Before I start making Dragon Arts abilities, I'd like to make the Dragon race and then maybe modify the Human race to be balanced with Dragons.
I broke Dragons down to two groups: natural Dragons, born and raised under a hobo lifestyle, and altered Dragons, former humans who transformed during a traumatic event. I'll post my write-up later.
Size Medium
Speed Normal Speed
Ability Score Modifier +2 Dex, +2 Wis, -2 Int
Language Draconic (Common, Local Language)
Defensive Traits +1 Natural Armor
Feat and Skill Traits Scavenger; Silent Hunter; Skill Bonus: Stealth +2; Skill Training: Perception and Stealth
Senses Traits Darkvision 60 ft.; Low-Light Vision
Special Trait Mutation (Roll d12 on the Mutation Table, to be completed later, and gain the corresponding trait, which overrides any racial qualities it comes into conflict with)
So far, I've come up with the Aquatic Mutation, which grants a 30 ft. swim speed and the ability to breathe both air and water. I'm using Aquatic Mutation as the base line for the other 11 possibilities.
Any suggestions for the other Mutations?
Here's the Mutations I have so far:
Aquatic: Fins have grown on your arms, legs, and tail, granting a swim speed of 30 feet. You also grow gills, allowing you to breathe both air and water.
Feral: Your claws grow larger than other Dragons, granting two claw attacks and receiving a +4 racial bonus to CMD against bull rush and trip attempts while standing on the ground. You also grow harder scale plates rather than scaly hide, increasing your natural armor bonus to +2.
Insulated: Patches of thick fur grow in various areas on your body, granting a +4 racial bonus on Fortitude saves to resist exposure to cold and hot environments as well as cold and fire resistance 5. Your nose also becomes more sensitive, granting the Scent ability, but you emit a strong odor as well, doubling the range at which creatures can detect you through scent.
I want to add a Quadruped mutation, but I'm not sure how to balance it alongside the other Mutations. Any suggestions?
Dragontaur: You grow an enlongated body with a second pair of legs. You become a Large creature with a -2 Dex penalty, a -1 size penalty to attack rolls and to AC, and use weapons and armor as though you are a Medium sized creature. You do not gain the size bonus to CMB or CMD, but you get a base speed of 40 feet and are treated as a Large Quadruped with a strength score that is 4 higher than normal when calculating carrying capacity.
Does this seem in line with the power level of the other Mutations?
Yes, I meant to add the trip resistance bonus. I came up with one more "mutation":
No Mutation: You have a fairly standard body, which is actually stranger than if you had a mutation. You spend the time normally needed to acclimate to a mutation studying, getting Skill Focus as a bonus feat at 1st, 8th, and 16th level.
That's all I can come up with at the moment, but I'm looking for more Mutations. Do you have any suggestions?
I've come up with three more Mutations:
Healthy: You enjoy an enhanced immune system and larger lungs, gaining a +4 racial bonus on Fortitude saves against poisons and disease and are able to hold your breath for a number of rounds equal to four times your Constitution score before you risk drowning or suffocating. You also grow scale plates rather than scaly hide, increasing your natural armor bonus by +1.
Heavy Build: You are remarkably stocky and densely built, easily weighing upwards of 400 pounds. You are considered one size larger than normal when determining your carrying capacity and the weapons you use. You are also quite to trip or physically move, gaining a +4 racial bonus to CMD against trip attempts and any combat maneuver attempts to physically move you, but all of your movement speeds are reduced by 10 feet.
Double Mutation: Your genetics are even more volitile than most. Roll again twice on the Mutation Table, rerolling all No Mutation and duplicate results. If you get Double Mutation again, roll again two more times. You gain the effects of all Mutations. Your exceedingly unstable genetics also left your immune system in ruins, reducing all Hit Dice you gain by 2 steps (d12 becomes d8, d10 beomes d6, d8 becomes d4, d6 becomes d3, d4 becomes d2, d3 becomes 1, and both d2 and 1 becomes -) and gaining a -4 penalty on all Fortitude saves for each time you get Double Mutation. If a class's Hit Dice would become -, you cannot gain levels in that class.
Keep in mind that all Mutations will be physiological in nature. Any ideas for the final four?
Limber: Your body is more flexible and compressible than normal, increasing all of your movement speeds by 10 feet, a +4 racial bonus to Acrobatics, and don't make Escape Artist checks when moving through spaces at least half your size. You may move through spaces at least one quarter your size by squeezing.
Flight: You either grow wings or develop a talent for levitation, gaining the Flight art ability as a bonus ability. You don't need to meet the prerequisites for this ability. However, your carrying capacity is reduced by 1/4.
Four-Armed: You grow an extra pair of arms, allowing you to wield more items at once. Only one of your hands is the main hand.
Strong Tail: Your tail grows thicker and longer than most, gaining a tail slap natural attack appropriate for a creature of your size. Your tail slap also gains the trip and disarm special qualities.
Should I add special Mutation interactions, like being able to use the Healthy Mutation to negate the HD reduction and Fortitude penalty of two Double Mutations instead of gaining the normal benfit?
This thread is dead. If you have any suggestions, please leave them on my Dual-Edge Genesis Campaign thread.