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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[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Kobold doesn't fit my image of the kobold, I probably won't use it, or at least, I won't use it as a kobold. Also not sure if these replace traits on the kobold or if this is a new kobold altogether since there aren't any ability boosts there.

See the front of the document. Ability score increases are now independent from race.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

No mention of Io either...

This could all be material for Council of Wyrms

DRAGON MOUNTAIN CONFIRMED!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I never use kobolds as written. If I do use them they are more like the ones in German folklore. It kinda irritates me how d&d just takes the name of an important archetype in folklore and uses it in a very poor way.

In EGG's defense, back in the mid 1970s, it was hard to get a lot of this information easily. I don't know how much of a world mythology section the Lake Geneva library had. A lot of times, you were limited to what novelists had done, Bullfinch's Mythology and the D'aulaire's books of Greek and Norse myth.

But given that he also put his groups up against Nazi tanks, doing an accurate simulation of mythology likely wasn't on the top of his list.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

5e’s got shifty goblins instead. You could easily trade out the kobold’s Pack Tactics for the goblin’s Nimble Escape. Or give them something akin to the scout rogue’s ability to move away from someone as a reaction.

Could just allow them to shift. Nothing wrong with the mechanic. Let them move without OA but the movement uses 4 ft for every foot moved, ie 5ft uses 20ft of movement, which is nearly all a Kobold’s movement.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I for one like these Kobolds. Especially for Eberron.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Saying there are enough dragon species is like saying there are enough number of pokemon or Barbie has got enough clothing and we haven't to add more.

And always there is some player who wants a different and special character.

Faerie dragons are too cute to be not sold as toys or figures.

Does nobody miss the spellcales PC race from Races of Dragon?

Dragonborns aren't Krynnian draconians. If there is a new Draconomicon will be not linked to Dragonlance. We have got no idea about possible retcon of Dragonlance. What happened in the Krynnsphere after the Cataclysm? A total reboot of Taladas?

Are spynewyrms(Dark Sun) true dragons?

What if any dark lord of the demiplane of the dread are cursed becoming infernal or catastrophic dragons? Powerful, but totally alone, hunting undeads+dark faes and destroying dread elementals to save their "farms" of mandrakes.

Good dragons hiring kobold tribes as minions is possible, if Kurtulmak allowed this but I doubt it. Other option kobolds from an "orphanage" by Bahamut clerics, maybe they were slaves rescued when their "toxic boss" was killed by the adventurers.

WotC shouldn't reject the possibilities of the return of forgotten dragon species from previous editions, for example the minidragon from Dragon magazine #146, as a possible pokemon/monster pet, or the draken (three-headed dragonic digimon). If these dragons are canon again, then they need "space" in the D&D multiverse.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Draconic Resistance
Now here is an interesting conflict. Chromatic and Metallic Dragonborn have the better elemental types for defense (based upon the number of creatures that attack with those elements), while Gem Dragonborn have the better elemental types for offence. Even trade? Depends on the campaign.

Necrotic and Psychic are strong defensive options (bear totem emerald dragonborn is quite literally resistant to everything). Overall I would say gem dragons are flat better in terms of damage type. Will these be officially added to draconic sorcerer options, or will it have to be houseruled?

Kobold: Sorcerer cantrips with wisdom as your casting stat is the great thing here. Green Flame Blade + Shillelagh kobold Wildfire Druid!

Summon Draconic Spirit

Thing of note about this spell is it is on the sorcerer list. Sorcerers have very restricted access to summon spells.

Chromatic Warding.

AKA how to cheat when Floor is Lava.

 

[TheSword]

Also good for rogues when they can’t get SA.

Why would those names lead to people not taking him serioualy.

I swear y’all’s minds have been warped by too many action movies and decades of cynical western media in general.

They’ve studied at the Joffrey Baratheon school of naming conventions.

View attachment FF2B2AAB-ADD2-4299-98E6-8D2A1FDB7E40.webp

 

[Paul Farquhar]

They’ve studied at the Joffrey Baratheon school of naming conventions.View attachment 135558

Stormbringer!

 

[jasper]

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.

Could be spell dc. But I was trying to match what was in the article. I agree with you but again I was trying to match with what was in the articlle.