Difference between revisions of "Half-Dragon, Variant (3.5e Template)"

From Dungeons and Dragons Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m
m (Undo revision 349038 by 172.70.230.163 (talk)/the edit doesn't come from the author, apparently)
 
(6 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{author
 
{{author
|author_name=Madman From Space
+
|author_name=MadmanFromSpace
 
|date_created=06/04/2018
 
|date_created=06/04/2018
 
|status=In Progress, suggestions welcome
 
|status=In Progress, suggestions welcome
Line 24: Line 24:
 
==== Hit Dice ====
 
==== Hit Dice ====
  
A half-dragon begins play with two racial hit dice. One racial hit die is determined by the base creature’s creature type, and the other racial hit die is dragon. The dragon racial hit die is taken first. This level of dragon grants 12+CON hit points, 4 * (6 + int) skill points, +1 Base Attack Bonus, and a +2 base save bonus to each saving throw. The racial hit die taken based on the base creature type remains unchanged. The class skills for both of these racial hit dice are Balance, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Ride, Search, Spot, Swim, Survival, and Use Rope (cuz use rope is cool). A half-dragon gains a feat at first level like most creatures do, but its options are much more limited (see “Feats,” below)
+
A half-dragon begins play with two levels of Dragon: 2d12 Hit Dice, a Base Attack Bonus of +2, a base Fortitude bonus of +3, a base Reflex bonus of +3, a base Will bonus of +3, and 5 x (6 + int) skill points. Its class skills are Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Disguise, Escape Artist, Handle Animal, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (arcana), Listen, Move Silently, Perform (all skills, taken individually), Profession, Ride, Search, Sense Motive, Speak Language, Spellcraft, Spot, Survival, Swim, Tumble, and Use Magic Device. The half-dragon may opt to trade this list of class skills for the class skill list of its first character class level.
  
 
==== Speed ====
 
==== Speed ====
Line 32: Line 32:
 
==== Armor Class ====
 
==== Armor Class ====
  
A half-dragon’s natural armor bonus improves by +1. If the base creature didn’t have any natural armor, and does not have any other inherited templates which grant natural armor, the half-dragon gains a +2 natural armor bonus.  
+
A half-dragon has a natural armor bonus of +4. If the base creature had a higher natural armor bonus originally, the half-dragon's natural armor is equal to the base creature's natural armor bonus +1.  
  
 
==== Base Attack Bonus ====
 
==== Base Attack Bonus ====
Line 42: Line 42:
 
A half-dragon gains natural claw and bite attacks (if the base creature did not already have natural claw and bite attacks). It is proficient with these natural weapons. The damage for the claws and bites are the same as those for the half-dragon template in the Monster Manual.  
 
A half-dragon gains natural claw and bite attacks (if the base creature did not already have natural claw and bite attacks). It is proficient with these natural weapons. The damage for the claws and bites are the same as those for the half-dragon template in the Monster Manual.  
  
A half dragon may make off-hand attacks with its claws or with its bite attack. They are treated as light weapons and count as fighting with two weapons.
+
==== Special Attacks ====
 
 
A half-dragon that successfully maintains a grapple on an opponent may make a bite attack as a move action. If it has Improved Grapple, the half-dragon may forgo the benefits of that feat during the grapple check in exchange for making a bite attack as a swift action (if it still succeeds to maintain a grapple).
 
  
==== Special Attacks ====
+
[[Jaw Grip (Ex):]] A half-dragon that successfully maintains a grapple on an opponent may make a bite attack as a move action. If it has Improved Grapple, the half-dragon may forgo the benefits of that feat during the grapple check in exchange for making a bite attack as a swift action (if it still succeeds to maintain a grapple).
  
[[Breath Weapon (Sp):]] A half-dragon has a breath weapon. To determine the range and type of damage, consult the table in the Monster Manual for half-dragons. This breath weapon deals 1d12 damage and can be used once every 1d6 rounds as a standard action. Any creature caught within the range of the breath weapon may make a Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 half-dragon’s hit dice + Constitution modifier) to take half damage from the half-dragon’s breath weapon.  
+
[[Breath Weapon (Sp):]] A half-dragon has a breath weapon. To determine the range and type of damage, consult the table in the Monster Manual for half-dragons. This breath weapon deals 3d6 damage and can be used once every 1d6 rounds as a standard action. Any creature caught within the range of the breath weapon may make a Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 half-dragon’s hit dice + Constitution modifier) to take half damage from the half-dragon’s breath weapon.  
  
[[Improving the Half-Dragon’s breath weapon]] - At every third character level (and specifically not at first level), a half dragon may choose to forgo gaining a character feat in exchange for increasing the save DC for its breath weapon by 1 and to add an extra 1d12 damage on the breath weapon.  
+
[[Improving the Half-Dragon’s breath weapon]] - At every third character level (and specifically not at first level), a half dragon may choose to forgo gaining a character feat in exchange for increasing the save DC for its breath weapon by 2 and adding an extra 2d6 damage on the breath weapon.  
  
For example, a human Half-Dragon at level 3 with a Constitution of 16 could either gain a character feat (such as Combat Expertise), or he could improve his breath weapon to deal 2d12 damage instead of 1d12 and improve his breath weapon’s Difficulty Class by 1 to make it a DC 15 Reflex save instead of a DC 14 Reflex save.  
+
For example, a human Half-Dragon at level 3 with a Constitution of 16 could either gain a character feat (such as Combat Expertise), or he could improve his breath weapon to deal 5d6 damage instead of 3d6, and improve his breath weapon’s Difficulty Class by 2 to make it a DC 16 Reflex save instead of a DC 14 Reflex save.  
  
 
[[Multiple Breath Weapons]] - If the half-dragon gains access to a second breath weapon (such as from gaining levels in Dragon Shaman), they are treated as separate breath weapons for the purposes of damage and recharge rates, but the half-dragon cannot use one breath weapon while the other breath weapon is recharging.
 
[[Multiple Breath Weapons]] - If the half-dragon gains access to a second breath weapon (such as from gaining levels in Dragon Shaman), they are treated as separate breath weapons for the purposes of damage and recharge rates, but the half-dragon cannot use one breath weapon while the other breath weapon is recharging.
Line 58: Line 56:
 
==== Special Qualities ====
 
==== Special Qualities ====
  
A half-dragon has a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against paralysis, sleep effects, and from damage/effects of the same energy type as its breath weapon. A half-dragon also applies this +2 racial bonus on saves against effects that target the creature type of the base creature.  
+
[[Draconic Resistances (Ex):]] Whenever a half-dragon attempts a saving throw against a dragon's frightful presence, a sleep effect, a paralysis effect, or the same type of damage or effect as its breath weapon, it rolls 2d20 and takes the higher roll result.
 +
 
 +
[[Intimidating Presence (Ex):]] A half-dragon's presence can unsettle foes in a way very similar to true dragons. Whenever a half-dragon does something that could be frightening, as well as fail a Disguise check (and the Spot/Sense Motive check maker was not expecting to see a half-dragon), the half-dragon can make an Intimidate check as a free action against all within 30 feet or against those who tried to see through its disguise (and succeeded).  This is resolved in the same way an attempt to demoralize an opponent would be during a round of combat, except this affects all within 30 feet, and those who fail to overcome the half-dragon's check result become frightened, not shaken. Intimidating Presence can only be used once per round.
 +
 
 +
Any creature who succeeds against a half-dragon's Intimidating Presence ability becomes immune to the half-dragon's Intimidating Presence ability for the next 24 hours, akin to a true dragon's frightful presence. However, a half-dragon can still attempt to demoralize the opponent normally (which would result in making the opponent shaken).
  
 
==== Armor and Weapon Proficiencies ====
 
==== Armor and Weapon Proficiencies ====
  
A half-dragon has the same armor and weapon proficiencies in the class description of the class level it takes for level 3. For example, if a half-dragon’s first character class is fighter, the half-dragon is proficient in simple weapons, martial weapons, all types of armor, and all shields (including tower shields).  
+
A half-dragon has the same armor and weapon proficiencies in the class description of its first character class level (aka, whatever class is taken at level 3). For example, if a half-dragon’s first character class is fighter, the half-dragon is proficient in simple weapons, martial weapons, all types of armor, and all shields (including tower shields).
 +
 
 +
If a half-dragon takes another level of dragon at level 3, the half-dragon is proficient with all simple weapons, along with two martial weapons of the half-dragon's choice, as well as light and medium armor and all shields (excluding tower shields).
  
 
==== Abilities ====
 
==== Abilities ====
  
+2 Strength. For the purposes of arcane spellcasting, a half-dragon’s effective charisma score is increased by +2.  
+
In addition to the base creature's racial ability adjustments, a half-dragon has +6 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, and +2 Charisma.
  
 
==== Skills ====
 
==== Skills ====
  
Half-dragons have a +2 racial bonus on Search and Intimidate checks, a -10 penalty on Disguise checks, and a -2 penalty on Sleight of Hand checks. Half-dragons must make Use Magic Device/Use Psionic Device checks on devices designed for any creature type other than dragon, including the creature type of the base creature.  
+
Half-dragons have a +2 racial bonus on Search and Intimidate checks, a -5 penalty on Disguise checks, and a -2 penalty on Sleight of Hand checks. Half-dragons must make Use Magic Device/Use Psionic Device checks on devices designed for any creature type other than dragon, including the creature type of the base creature.  
  
A half-dragon also has extra class skills based on its dragon type, identical to the extra class skills a Dragon Shaman receives from her dragon totem.
+
If the dragon has a psionic dragon heritage, replace the class skills Knowledge (arcana), Spellcraft, and Use Magic Device with Autohypnosis, Knowledge (psionics), Psicraft, and Use Psionic Device.
  
 
==== Feats ====  
 
==== Feats ====  
  
A half-dragon’s first level feat can only be one of the following feats: Ability Focus (breath weapon), Acrobatic, Agile, Athletic, Combat Casting, Combat Expertise, Deft Hands, Diligent, Dodge, Dragon Hunter (Draconomicon), Dragoncrafter (Draconomicon), Dragonfoe (Draconomicon), Dragonfriend (Draconomicon), Dragonthrall (Draconomicon), Heighten Breath Weapon (Draconomicon), Magic Talent, Psionic Affinity, Recover Breath (Draconomicon), Self-Sufficient, Skill Focus (for one of the extra class skills it has due to its dragon type), Stealthy, Weapon Focus (any natural weapon), Weapon Proficiency, Wild Talent
+
A half-dragon’s racial hit dice grant it one character feat.
  
 
==== Environment ====
 
==== Environment ====
Line 85: Line 89:
  
 
Half-Dragon societies are hard to come by, but they’re usually silver dragon communities or gold dragon communities due to the exclusive natures of gold dragons and the highly social natures of silver dragons.  
 
Half-Dragon societies are hard to come by, but they’re usually silver dragon communities or gold dragon communities due to the exclusive natures of gold dragons and the highly social natures of silver dragons.  
 +
 +
A half-dragon usually travels with members of the base creature's kind if it has a following.
  
 
==== Challenge Rating ====
 
==== Challenge Rating ====
Line 96: Line 102:
 
==== Alignment ====
 
==== Alignment ====
  
As the base creature, but half-dragons are affected by spells targeting any alignment that its dragon type would have (in addition to any effects that target the half-dragon’s actual alignment).
+
As the half-dragon's associated dragon type, or as the base creature.
  
 
==== Advancement ====
 
==== Advancement ====
  
By Hit Dice or by character class. If increasing by hit dice, use the hit dice of the base creature, but gain skill points as a dragon (unless if the base creature’s skill points would otherwise be better). The first non-dragon racial hit die a half-dragon takes gains skill points as the base creature, not as a dragon.  
+
By Hit Dice or by character class.
  
 
==== Level Adjustment ====
 
==== Level Adjustment ====
  
+[[Level Adjustment::0]] or +1, depending on your DM’s jurisdiction. I recommend a +0 level adjustment if the class the player wants to be doesn’t exactly synergise well with the half-dragon template (especially a class like the rogue or the beguiler). If something like sorcerer or barbarian, a +1 level adjustment is fine. Base creature race should also be considered. A human, for example, strictly benefits from the half-dragon template, and the bonus feat helps to overcome the level 1 feat limitations, so a +1 LA is very reasonable in that case. A half-dragon half-elf, however, is a different story.
+
+[[Level Adjustment::1]]
  
  

Latest revision as of 08:02, 21 March 2022

Homebrew.png
Author: MadmanFromSpace (talk)
Date Created: 06/04/2018
Status: In Progress, suggestions welcome
  1. set:Summary=This summary is visible only on the navigation pages.
Editing: Clarity edits only please
ArticleUnrated.png
Rate this article
Discuss this article

Half-Dragon, Variant[edit]

Creating a Half-Dragon[edit]

Half-dragon is an inherited template which can be applied to any living, corporeal creature, as long as the creature is not an ooze, plant, construct, or dragon. If the base creature is already any of these creature types, it cannot have the half-dragon template.

Size and Type[edit]

Size - Size remains unchanged. If the half-dragon is Large or larger, it does not gain wings. However, a half-dragon does qualify for the Draconic Wings feat.

Type - The creature’s type changes to dragon. Any spells that target the creature type of the base creature still affect half-dragons, albeit not as effectively (see below).

Hit Dice[edit]

A half-dragon begins play with two levels of Dragon: 2d12 Hit Dice, a Base Attack Bonus of +2, a base Fortitude bonus of +3, a base Reflex bonus of +3, a base Will bonus of +3, and 5 x (6 + int) skill points. Its class skills are Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Disguise, Escape Artist, Handle Animal, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (arcana), Listen, Move Silently, Perform (all skills, taken individually), Profession, Ride, Search, Sense Motive, Speak Language, Spellcraft, Spot, Survival, Swim, Tumble, and Use Magic Device. The half-dragon may opt to trade this list of class skills for the class skill list of its first character class level.

Speed[edit]

A half-dragon does not inherently gain a fly speed, but if the base creature has a fly speed due to wings, the wings become Draconic wings, resulting in a +10 foot bonus to flight speed, and lowering flight maneuverability by one step.

Armor Class[edit]

A half-dragon has a natural armor bonus of +4. If the base creature had a higher natural armor bonus originally, the half-dragon's natural armor is equal to the base creature's natural armor bonus +1.

Base Attack Bonus[edit]

The base attack bonus of the base creature remains unchanged, not including the base attack bonus from its two racial hit dice.

Attacks[edit]

A half-dragon gains natural claw and bite attacks (if the base creature did not already have natural claw and bite attacks). It is proficient with these natural weapons. The damage for the claws and bites are the same as those for the half-dragon template in the Monster Manual.

Special Attacks[edit]

Jaw Grip (Ex): A half-dragon that successfully maintains a grapple on an opponent may make a bite attack as a move action. If it has Improved Grapple, the half-dragon may forgo the benefits of that feat during the grapple check in exchange for making a bite attack as a swift action (if it still succeeds to maintain a grapple).

Breath Weapon (Sp): A half-dragon has a breath weapon. To determine the range and type of damage, consult the table in the Monster Manual for half-dragons. This breath weapon deals 3d6 damage and can be used once every 1d6 rounds as a standard action. Any creature caught within the range of the breath weapon may make a Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 half-dragon’s hit dice + Constitution modifier) to take half damage from the half-dragon’s breath weapon.

Improving the Half-Dragon’s breath weapon - At every third character level (and specifically not at first level), a half dragon may choose to forgo gaining a character feat in exchange for increasing the save DC for its breath weapon by 2 and adding an extra 2d6 damage on the breath weapon.

For example, a human Half-Dragon at level 3 with a Constitution of 16 could either gain a character feat (such as Combat Expertise), or he could improve his breath weapon to deal 5d6 damage instead of 3d6, and improve his breath weapon’s Difficulty Class by 2 to make it a DC 16 Reflex save instead of a DC 14 Reflex save.

Multiple Breath Weapons - If the half-dragon gains access to a second breath weapon (such as from gaining levels in Dragon Shaman), they are treated as separate breath weapons for the purposes of damage and recharge rates, but the half-dragon cannot use one breath weapon while the other breath weapon is recharging.

Special Qualities[edit]

Draconic Resistances (Ex): Whenever a half-dragon attempts a saving throw against a dragon's frightful presence, a sleep effect, a paralysis effect, or the same type of damage or effect as its breath weapon, it rolls 2d20 and takes the higher roll result.

Intimidating Presence (Ex): A half-dragon's presence can unsettle foes in a way very similar to true dragons. Whenever a half-dragon does something that could be frightening, as well as fail a Disguise check (and the Spot/Sense Motive check maker was not expecting to see a half-dragon), the half-dragon can make an Intimidate check as a free action against all within 30 feet or against those who tried to see through its disguise (and succeeded). This is resolved in the same way an attempt to demoralize an opponent would be during a round of combat, except this affects all within 30 feet, and those who fail to overcome the half-dragon's check result become frightened, not shaken. Intimidating Presence can only be used once per round.

Any creature who succeeds against a half-dragon's Intimidating Presence ability becomes immune to the half-dragon's Intimidating Presence ability for the next 24 hours, akin to a true dragon's frightful presence. However, a half-dragon can still attempt to demoralize the opponent normally (which would result in making the opponent shaken).

Armor and Weapon Proficiencies[edit]

A half-dragon has the same armor and weapon proficiencies in the class description of its first character class level (aka, whatever class is taken at level 3). For example, if a half-dragon’s first character class is fighter, the half-dragon is proficient in simple weapons, martial weapons, all types of armor, and all shields (including tower shields).

If a half-dragon takes another level of dragon at level 3, the half-dragon is proficient with all simple weapons, along with two martial weapons of the half-dragon's choice, as well as light and medium armor and all shields (excluding tower shields).

Abilities[edit]

In addition to the base creature's racial ability adjustments, a half-dragon has +6 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, and +2 Charisma.

Skills[edit]

Half-dragons have a +2 racial bonus on Search and Intimidate checks, a -5 penalty on Disguise checks, and a -2 penalty on Sleight of Hand checks. Half-dragons must make Use Magic Device/Use Psionic Device checks on devices designed for any creature type other than dragon, including the creature type of the base creature.

If the dragon has a psionic dragon heritage, replace the class skills Knowledge (arcana), Spellcraft, and Use Magic Device with Autohypnosis, Knowledge (psionics), Psicraft, and Use Psionic Device.

Feats[edit]

A half-dragon’s racial hit dice grant it one character feat.

Environment[edit]

As base creature or as their ancestor dragon type, depending on upbringing.

Organization[edit]

Half-Dragon societies are hard to come by, but they’re usually silver dragon communities or gold dragon communities due to the exclusive natures of gold dragons and the highly social natures of silver dragons.

A half-dragon usually travels with members of the base creature's kind if it has a following.

Challenge Rating[edit]

+1

Treasure[edit]

Standard

Alignment[edit]

As the half-dragon's associated dragon type, or as the base creature.

Advancement[edit]

By Hit Dice or by character class.

Level Adjustment[edit]

+1



Back to Main Page3.5e HomebrewMonstersTemplates

AuthorMadmanFromSpace +
CR1 +
Identifier3.5e Template +
Level Adjustment1 +
RatingUnrated +
TitleHalf-Dragon, Variant +