Draconic Template

[Wolf72]

my GF got me the Draconomicon for my B-day (20 July, Nemm's too iirc).

anyway I loved the monster section, especially the update for 1/2-dragons (very cool).

... the other thing that got to me was the draconic template ... I love it! very simple but it kinda has character too.

soooo ... I started thinking of Feist's Shadow of a Dark Queen, one my favorites of all time (the last book of that series was severely lacking imo, oooh watch Pug, watch Pug fail, watch Pug win)

anyway the lizardmen soldiers and their steeds got my attention. The lizardmen I saw as well, regular lizardmen (some fluff change), but the horses I couldn't place ...

but now with the Draconic template, a heavy warhorse is perfect!!! ... and I would even think of making the lizardmen draconic hobgoblins.


ooooh and more babbling, want to play a draconic half-orc and still be lvl1? ... pick an NPC class, the CR (not LA, I know ... but I'd let ya do it) and the draconic template: -1 CR, +1 CR = 0! ... the net result would be +4 Str, -2 int, and +1 Nat AC.

*wolf also likes the Dragon Rider PrC*

 

[Wolf72]

Ahem!!

a draconic half-orc would have:

+1 Nat AC
+4 Str
+2 Con
-2 Int

(forgot about the con boost)

 

[Knight Otu]

ooooh and more babbling, want to play a draconic half-orc and still be lvl1? ... pick an NPC class, the CR (not LA, I know ... but I'd let ya do it) and the draconic template: -1 CR, +1 CR = 0! ... the net result would be +4 Str, -2 int, and +1 Nat AC.

So, in effect, you're saying - "Want to play a more powerful character at level 1? Break the rules!"?
Seriously, for the Effective Character Level, the actual level is important, not the CR. I might be willing to allow that for commoner levels only.

 

[Wolf72]

So, in effect, you're saying - "Want to play a more powerful character at level 1? Break the rules!"?
Seriously, for the Effective Character Level, the actual level is important, not the CR. I might be willing to allow that for commoner levels only.

I don't think you'd really be playing that much more of a powerful charcter, ... I've seen games where you were allowed to start at 2nd lvl but your first lvl had to be in a an NPC class ...

but now that you mention it, at 1st lvl Ari, Exp, and War aren't all that weak compared to your standard classes ...

that d4 for being a commoner is just harsh ... I like it!


edit: ... a draconic half-orc commoner ... with base scores (10/11's)

str 15, dex 10, con 12, int 8, wis 10, cha 10 ... ya know for a low powered campaign ... those stats would make a fair fighter too (@ 2nd lvl, take a fighting class, be nice and give max hp again (5hp for 1st lvl, then rolling poorly might be too mean)