Paladin Sacred Oath of the Dragon

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SACRED OATH OF THE DRAGON
Most metallic dragons do not begin interacting with the civilizations of lesser races until they reach adulthood, but a few adepts are granted the privilege of adventuring as wyrmlings. These gifted young dragons are appointed guardians, assigned with guiding, mentoring and protecting them through childhood. These guardians are often Paladins of Bahamut who have taken the Oath of the Dragon. They will sacrifice their very lives in defense of their dragon companions.

Upon taking the oath at 3^rd level, the paladin learns to speak Draconic.

TENETS OF THE DRAGON
While mystics of Bahamut are instructed in compassion, peace and atonement with all things, initiates follow a draconic code of honor known as the Ptarian Code, written millennia ago by the gold dragon Ptaris, only a small portion of which is contained below.

Justice above all. Have the courage to act with wise conviction when confronted with evil, tyranny or corruption.
Respect for Righteousness. Conduct yourself with honesty, generosity and compassion at all times and in all matters.
Act with Vigilance. Do not allow the innocent to come to harm due to your actions or inability to act. Protect those entrusted to your care as if their lives are your own.
Correction for the Wicked. Show mercy to your foes when it is wise to do so, but punish those who threaten or harm the virtuous.

OATH OF THE DRAGON SPELLS
Paladin Level Spells
3^rd divine favor, sanctuary
5^th nystul’s magic aura, warding bond
9^th haste, protection from energy
13^th death ward, freedom of movement
17^th greater restoration, hallow

CHANNEL DIVINITY
At 3^rd level, the paladin gains the following two Channel Divinity options.

Draconic Fury. When the paladin hits a creature with a melee weapon attack, the paladin may choose to make that attack a critical hit.

Draconic Visage. As an action, the paladin channels a powerful draconic presence. Each creature of the paladin’s choice within 30 feet must make a Wisdom saving throw if it can see the paladin. On a failed save, the target is frightened of the paladin for 1 minute. If a creature frightened by this effect ends its turn more than 30 feet away from the paladin, it can attempt another Wisdom saving throw to end the effect on it.

DRAGON COMPANION
At 7^th level, the paladin gains a celestial metallic wyrmling companion of the DM’s choice. Through the Find Steed spell, the paladin completes the ritual that summons and bonds them to their dragon companion. The wyrmling’s alignment must be within one step of the paladin’s alignment. The dragon companion is considered an NPC and may be played by the player or dungeon master as the situation dictates.

The dragon companion has all the statistics and abilities of a metallic wyrmling with the following exceptions:

The dragon companion uses the paladin’s proficiency bonus instead of its own.

The dragon companion’s hit point maximum equals its normal maximum or four times the paladin’s level, whichever is higher.

The dragon companion gains the ability to Change Shape 1 time per day and may magically polymorph into any beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own and a size of medium or smaller that the dragon has seen at least once. In the new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. The dragon companion adds the paladin’s proficiency bonus to the armor class of the new form. The dragon may revert back into its true form without expending a daily use of this action. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the dragon’s choice). A dragon companion will almost always be found polymorphed into a beast, especially in populated areas, to avoid attracting any unwanted attention. Dragon companions start play knowing one tiny beast form.

The dragon companion speaks Common and Draconic.

The dragon companion does not possess a lair or lair actions.

Dragon companions are innate spellcasters. The dragon can innately cast a number of spells equal to its Charisma modifier. Each spell can be cast once per day, requiring no material components, and the spell’s level can be no higher than one-third the dragon’s challenge rating (rounded down). If a dragon chooses a cantrip as one or more of its spells, it may cast this spell at will, using the dragon’s challenge rating for spell level. The dragon’s bonus to hit with spell attacks is equal to the paladin’s proficiency bonus + its Charisma modifier. The dragon’s spell save DC equals 8 + the paladin’s proficiency bonus + its Charisma modifier. A dragon companion may not cast spells with somatic components while polymorphed in beast form, but it may cast spells with verbal and material components (which are ignored).

While the dragon is within 1 mile of the paladin, the paladin and dragon can communicate telepathically.

The paladin and their dragon have an instinctive bond that allows them to fight as a seamless unit. They both act independently and simultaneously on the paladin’s initiative roll. If the dragon is within 10 feet of the paladin, any spell the paladin casts that targets only the paladin may also target their dragon companion as well. At 18^th level this range extends to 30 feet.

As long as the paladin has a dragon companion, the paladin may not use the Find Steed spell to summon a celestial mount. Instead, if the paladin and their dragon become separated by any distance or even by planes of existence, the Find Steed spell may be cast to summon the dragon companion to the paladin’s location.

The paladin’s dragon companion may not be dismissed. If a paladin’s dragon companion is ever dismissed or killed, the paladin is stripped of their Sacred Oath powers. If the paladin’s alignment changes and is no longer within one step of the dragon, the dragon abandons the paladin, and the paladin is stripped of their Sacred Oath powers. The paladin must seek atonement and choose a different Sacred Oath similar to becoming an Oathbreaker. If the dragon ever dies due to a conscious decision or evil action the paladin takes, the paladin becomes an Oathbreaker. In any case, the paladin may never again take the Oath of the Dragon short of Divine Intervention by Bahamut.

DRACONIC MIGHT
At 15th level, the paladin and his dragon companion, if it is within 10 feet of the paladin, gain additional divine power. Whenever the paladin or dragon hit a creature with a melee attack, the creature takes an extra 1d8 radiant damage. This damage is in addition to the damage from Improved Divine Smite. If the paladin also uses Divine Smite with an attack, the paladin adds this damage to the extra damage of the Divine Smite. At 18^th level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.

DRAGON MOUNT
At 20^th level, the paladin’s dragon companion matures to a Young Dragon, gaining all the associated statistics including Hit Dice, large size, multiattack, skills and hit points.

The dragon companion may now use Change Shape 3 times per day and may magically polymorph into any beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own and a size of large or smaller.

The dragon companion may select new innate spells based on its new Charisma and challenge rating.

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Not speaking to the 'balance', (I don't care for it too much and I like what you have), but I was hoping for a more general "Oath of the Dragon". This seems very specific to a deity. I would rework the tenants to protecting, working with, and advancing the position of dragons in the world. That way you cover more alignments and can have paladins of Tiamat taking this without having to write up an oath for every deity.

I like the idea though. Very cool.

Cool! I like it. Might not be balanced. If you'd like, I can crunch some numbers and see how it shapes out compared to the devotion paladin. Perfect balance isn't required, but you don't want it to be too good.

But being stripped of your sacred oath if the dragon dies is unusual. No other subclasses work like that. It's slightly less durable than a fighter or paladin (5 hp, not 5+con hp), so it's vulnerable to getting killed more so than the paladin. If you want to keep something like that, I suggest allowing the dragon to cast "find steed" to raise the paladin from the dead, if the dragon's life is more important than the paladin's.

Xeviat said:

Cool! I like it. Might not be balanced. If you'd like, I can crunch some numbers and see how it shapes out compared to the devotion paladin. Perfect balance isn't required, but you don't want it to be too good.

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Thanks! Devotion Paladins are much more defensive in nature, with an extra aura and permanent protection, they have more staying power. I was looking more towards Vengeance Paladins or Oathbreakers as a proper comparison. Vengeance Pally with a Celestial Warhorse and Mounted Combatant is the comparison I would use against a Dragon Pally.

Xeviat said:

But being stripped of your sacred oath if the dragon dies is unusual. No other subclasses work like that. It's slightly less durable than a fighter or paladin (5 hp, not 5+con hp), so it's vulnerable to getting killed more so than the paladin. If you want to keep something like that, I suggest allowing the dragon to cast "find steed" to raise the paladin from the dead, if the dragon's life is more important than the paladin's.

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Thank you for recognizing the vulnerability of the class. Being forced to protect the dragon at all times is a weakness. Spell resources such as Warding Bond, Sanctuary and Death Ward would be crucial, especially in the higher levels when the damage really starts flying around.

If other paladins break their oaths, they become evil Oathbreakers. I wanted to spare dragon paladins that fate if their wyrmling dies for reasons out of their control. It's going to be tough enough on them as it is.

But the other subclasses have oathbreaking as a roleplaying penalty to a roleplaying decision; not a gameplay penalty to an artifact of random chance.

Yeah, I wouldn't punish the paladin if they did everything right, but their dragon dies. I am not in favour of Pokemon styled abilities either. "My dragon died. Nevermind." POOF! "Here is another one."

I would simply suggest they have to seek out another. Being without one for a while would be punishment enough.

Connorsrpg said:

Yeah, I wouldn't punish the paladin if they did everything right, but their dragon dies. I am not in favour of Pokemon styled abilities either. "My dragon died. Nevermind." POOF! "Here is another one."

I would simply suggest they have to seek out another. Being without one for a while would be punishment enough.

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My take on it is if they lose their dragon they remain a paladin of Bahamut but they would need to switch to Devotion or Vengeance after atoning. This subclass could be considered more powerful if protecting the dragon companion and keeping their identity a secret isn’t the player’s primary concern. The risk needs to match the reward.

Connorsrpg said:

Not speaking to the 'balance', (I don't care for it too much and I like what you have), but I was hoping for a more general "Oath of the Dragon". This seems very specific to a deity. I would rework the tenants to protecting, working with, and advancing the position of dragons in the world. That way you cover more alignments and can have paladins of Tiamat taking this without having to write up an oath for every deity.

I like the idea though. Very cool.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Modifying the flavor text to make them a paladin devoted to evil dragons and Tiamat is a great idea and easy enough. None of the abilities would need to change. They could be a blackguard with a fiendish chromatic wyrmling companion instead. From a Roleplaying perspective writing tenants for a paladin that could either be good or evil is difficult to do. However, I’m open to suggestions. I’m pretty sure being the guardian of an adventuring wyrmling and raising them to adulthood qualifies as advancing the position of dragons in the world.

The reason I specifically targeted metallic dragons with this subclass instead of all dragons is chromatic dragons don’t have the ability to change shape.