There are a million questions I would like to ask regrading this one, but I will start simple and take it from there.
I have a STR based melee half-orc Ranger2/Bard5 in Kingmaker (no spoilers please), and I was planning on making him a Dragon Disciple. For several reasons:
- Style and originality (I get the feeling there is a certain degree of coolness and variability to be attained as a Dragon Disciple, which is different from 'simply' being a Ranger/Bard). And it resonates nicely with the character, the more I think about it;
- Melee efficiency while maintaining skills, spells and social capability. Can be done like this, right?
- So far I have been a second line melee bruiser/buffer. Our Rogue/Slayer and Vigilante (Dex based Aldori sword) hit HARD, but we do lack a core 'tankish' character that can add STR to the mix. That would be me;
- I have always pondered the combo but never actually went through with it. So I am at that moment when I think to myself - why not?
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He is currently built as a melee hitter, with Arcane Strike, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Iron Will (I may still be in time to change this one out) and Power Attack. Usually wielding a reach bardiche, or 1h + shield if needed, inspiring others, using Mirror Image, you know the drill.
I like the character mix, but now am looking for more uniqueness, so was planning to take the Eldritch Heritage (Orc) feat tree until I can grab the STR boost, and couple that with Dragon Disciple to bring some serious pain into the fold. Would go up to Bard7/Ranger2, then swap to DD (for 4 levels?) and take it from there.
What do you all think? Ever played a similar build? Was it fun and interesting, while capable? Looking for advice and opinions.
Thanks!
Never played it (or seen it played) but I've thought about it. Honestly it seems pretty great to me.
I'd definitely go Bard 7 before switching, that move-action perform is so valuable - and it looks like you already though of that.
My wife GMed a 3.5 game with a bard who went dragon disciple, which worked pretty well for that group. It made her more effective in melee, though she wasn't remotely optimized for it, unlike the OP's PC.
I like the PrC, but haven't played it myself, so it's interesting to see different takes on it than your bog-standard sorcerer who likes dragons.
(If kobolds weren't so pathetic in PF1, I'd use the multiple choice race boon I have to build toward a dragon disciple, but I seriously doubt they would live long enough to get there. But I don't have better ideas for the other races on the boon yet, either.)
got a bard/paladin dragon disciple in the current game we're playing in and it's a pretty good mix. The stat bonuses and natural armor boost help shore up the physical stats allowing them to focus on the charisma for the bard and paladin side, allowing them to shine there while maintaining relevance in melee. Claws, bite and the breath weapon are neat little tricks as well.
Thank you for the feedback guys - it is making me feel encouraged to follow through with the idea! ;)
Already did a tweak on him, since we hadn't actually 'done much' after our last level up: replaced Iron Will with Skill Focus (Survival), and dropped a few ranks in Knowledge (Arcana).
The first will pave the way to Eldritch Heritage (Orc) [at level 9], and the second to the 5 ranks needed as a pre-req for DD.
Level 10 I should hit my first level in Dragon Disciple - exciting!
Any other mechanical ideas/suggestions for the character crunch itself?
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You could pick up Eldritch Heritage(Orc) and the Improved feat to gain more Strength and Natural Armor. As a half-orc it makes more sense than most others, and it stacks nicely with DD.
Lots of Strength and Natural Armor really helped my half-orc Arcanist(Spell Specialist archetype)/Dragon Disciple when he used his transmutation spells.
Consider going with Esoteric: Astral or Etheric dragon bloodlines for damage resistance against bludgeoning and the ability to add some psychic spells to your spell list.