D&D 5E Unearthed Arcana: Draconic Options

The latest Unearthed Arcana from WotC is called Draconic Options. It includes three variant Dragonborn races and a new kobold race, as well as a handful of new spells and feats. Dragonlance fans might do a double-take when they see Fizban's platinum shield (two Forgotten Realms dragons are referenced in the spells, too -- Icingdeath and Raulothim -- as is the FR god of fey dragons, Nathair).

Harness the power of dragons in this installment of Unearthed Arcana! This playtest document presents race, feat, and spell options related to dragons in Dungeons & Dragons.

First is a trio of draconic race options presented as an alternative to the dragonborn race in the Player’s Handbook, as well as a fresh look at the kobold race. Then comes a handful of feat options that reflect a connection to draconic power. Finally, an assortment of spells—many of them bearing the names of famous or infamous dragons—offer a variety of approaches to manifesting dragon magic.

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[Sithlord]

I hope they don’t water down the badassbess of draconian in dragonlance. That seems to be a theme, make them a pc race then strip them of the things that made them badass. (Drow for example).

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Technically, there's a steel dragon in Dungeon of the Mad Mage, but it's basically "use the silver dragon stat block with these changes"...

Yep, I know. My party is yet to encounter that dragon, though they're on the same level as it, actually. I wish the stat block was more in depth, and it doesn't involve any of the lore of the Steel Dragons that I love, but it is technically there.

 

[Morrus]

Enworld posters: "Clearly, it's a Dragonlance book instead of another Forgotten Realms book."

You're an 'Enworld poster'.

 

[jmartkdr2]

My quick hot take. Page 1 Ability Increases. +1 to three stats. More stuff to keep up with when checking pc sheets. Sigh.
Page 2 Chromatic Breath Weapon should be cone also.
page 4 Draconic Roar should have a spell dc wisdom. 8 + con mod + proficiency mod.
page 6 Flame stride should have a spell dc con 8 + con mod + proficiency mod. for half damage.

Why wouldn't the spell flame stride use your spell save dc?

I feel like breath weapon shapes should match the dragon type - a cone of lightning is a little odd, but so is a line of poison.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Icingdeath - Forgotten Realms
Nathair - Forgotten Realms
Raulothim - Forgotten Realms
Fabian - Dragonlance

Enworld posters: "Clearly, it's a Dragonlance book instead of another Forgotten Realms book."

It happened on D&D Beyond, too. (Granted, Fizban is a bigger name than any of the 3 from FR, but still, it's funny that they don't at least look it up.)

 

[Morrus]

I'm kinda weird in that I like dragons to be rare and a bit mysterious. Even 10 colours of dragons feels a bit too much to me (like my worlds don't even have 10 dragons, let alone 10 types). Adding in yellows and purples and gems and astrals and stuff, just makes dragons less special in my mind. When there's more types of dragons than I feel there should be actual individual dragons in a world, it's kinda drifted quite a long way from my personal tastes. But different strokes for different folks, and all that.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I'd rather they have an ability to make traps (like how rock gnomes can make trinkets) than resist them. There's always the Dungeon Delver feat for the latter.

Exactly. Maybe:

''By scavenging various stuff, you can create your choice of an hunter's trap, a pair of manacles, a flask of acid or a vial of alchemist fire when you finish a short rest. Furthermore, when you make an attack using the vials, you can add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll and all attempt to spot, break or escape your trap and manacles are made against a DC of 8+Prof. Bonus+ your choice of Int or Dex.

 

[jmartkdr2]

I'm kinda weird in that I like dragons to be rare and a bit mysterious. Even 10 colours of dragons feels a bit too much to me (like my worlds don't even have 10 dragons, let alone 10 types). Adding in yellows and purples and gems and astrals and stuff, just makes dragons less special in my mind. When there's more types of dragons than I feel there should be actual individual dragons in a world, it's kinda drifted quite a long way from my personal tastes. But different strokes for different folks, and all that.

Heartily agreed. It's not as bad as clear, distinct categories of demons, but each individual dragon should be special.

If I wanted to use the whole list of 30+ types of dragons, they wouldn't be types. You would never refer to a blue dragon. You would be talking about Typhoon, The Blue Dragon.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I know many do have this image of Kobolds resembling dogs like they might have before, but they've been Draconic since 3e and I actually approve of this new version more.

For Kobolds they did say that roar can be attached to all sorts of emotions including fear which would sound more like a yelp, and it's almost the exact same mechanics as Grovel.

From the old Kobold entry Pack tactics could probably go into an option where Draconic Legacy is, though that wouldn't be that Draconic.

The cantrip option, actually brings the Kobold closer to their folklore origins as household fey creatures.

One thing I wish they added was something to make the Kobold an Urd (winged Kobold), if one wanted to, with something like a feat. So far the only way of becoming an Urd is to be a high-level Dragon Sorcerer.

 

[CleverNickName]

My bet is on FIzban's Tome of Dragons.