D&D 3E/3.5 Base Race for 3.5e Dragonborn

[Shin Okada]

Usually, other than ability modifiers, base-race does not affect much on a dragonborn character. Because most of the racial traits are lost.

But official FAQ suggests that non-humanoids can also become Dragonborn. And Warforged seems to be one of the best base-race for Dragonborn as only "Light Fortification" is lost (other good things are indeed coming from Living Construct subtype and thus retained).

Are there any other similarly good base-race for Dragonborn?

 

[emoplato]

Well it is a good and cheap way to gain the dragon blood subtype without using a feat or taking a class. It also works surprising well with many races with racial hit die, because those races usually store their major in the hit die.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I like Dragonborn Water Orcs. End up with Str +4, Con +4, Dex -2, Int/Wis/Cha all -2. And dragonborn gets rid of the light sensitivity and save penalty against fire effects, so pretty good end result for a brute type.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Any chance the progressive abilities from Raptorians or Hellborn continue to accrue as you level up?

Because if the answer is "No" for the Hellborn, because of the whole "lose the race stuff" when becoming Dragonborn, is this a way a Hellborn can get out of his debt to the field?

 

[Dandu]

Warforged. Most of their racial abilities come from their Living Construct subtype, which does not change.

At least that's how I remember it.

 

[emoplato]

Any chance the progressive abilities from Raptorians or Hellborn continue to accrue as you level up?

Because if the answer is "No" for the Hellborn, because of the whole "lose the race stuff" when becoming Dragonborn, is this a way a Hellborn can get out of his debt to the field?

I am inclined to say no, the Dragonborn specifically states it doesn't remove abilities based upon racial hit die. I would think Raptoran wing development and Hellbred benefits and defects based on upon hit die still apply.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

If one wants the absolute highest Con bonus for a 1st level character, a Dragonborn Mongrelfolk gets a +6. Tack on the Arctic template and that goes up to +8.

All told this base starting character would have -2 Dex, +8 Con, -2 Int, -6 Cha. If you really want a damage soaker, this person will have it done.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Dragonborn Water Halfling will simply be Small sized, +4 con, and dragonborn benefits, a nice package for a spellcaster.

But yeah, nothing's going to top Warforged. They're pretty broken already, giving them a bunch of bonus racial abilities with no real drawback just makes it even more so.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Dragonborn Water Halfling will simply be Small sized, +4 con, and dragonborn benefits, a nice package for a spellcaster.

But yeah, nothing's going to top Warforged. They're pretty broken already, giving them a bunch of bonus racial abilities with no real drawback just makes it even more so.

I hear if you go with Elan, you're invincible.

 

[emoplato]

I hear if you go with Elan, you're invincible.

Elans are overrated, they say that because you can pay power points to reduce damage taken. The rate at which it goes might stave away massive threshold and leave you with barely any power points for powers even as a high level psion.