Dragon + Class levels = ?

[questing gm]

In preparation for running an adventure for my group, the BBEG turns out to be a mature adult blue dragon with 5 levels of sorcerer.

I couldn't find the rules of dragons taking class levels in the SRD nor the Draconomicon. So other that making the dragon an effective caster level 11, what else is affected by the 5 levles of sorcerer ?

 

[Vuron]

Use the rules for advancing a monster with class levels. Technically Sorceror should be an associated class in terms of determining CR but for the most part any class level is inferior to advancing dragon HD so I tend to houserule all PC classes as nonassociated for dragons.


A Mature Adult Blue Dragon Sorcerer 5 would actually be a 12th level sorcerer for spell casting reason so will likely try to use greater magic dispel frequently if he's beset by buffed foes and maybe something like Forceful Hand to help control the battlefield.

Other than that he gets some additional hitdice (mainly good for additional con bonus HP) and slightly better will saves.

 

[Evilhalfling]

The dragon also gets a familiar with 1/2 his hp. consider improved familiar feat
ie imp with 130 hp
be sure to take practiced spellcaster to bump the casterlevel to 16
- many of my dragons have 1-3 class levels, some wear armor.
+2 chain shirt barding does ugly things to dragonic AC. not for the BBEG - but if he has any children...

 

[delericho]

for the most part any class level is inferior to advancing dragon HD so I tend to houserule all PC classes as nonassociated for dragons.

I dunno. Adding a single level of Barbarian to any reasonably-sized Dragon always struck me as a particularly nasty thing to do...

 

[AbeTheGnome]

IMG, dragons have no inherent spellcasting ability. they also only gain intelligece with age- they start out as beasts, with beastly intelligence. the only way for them to gain spells is by taking classes.

 

[Vuron]

I dunno. Adding a single level of Barbarian to any reasonably-sized Dragon always struck me as a particularly nasty thing to do...

I'm assuming that you are talking about the ability to rage, rather than the increased movement . The problem I see with a dragon using rage is that it prevents the dragon from using spells during the duration of the battle. So for an increase in melee effectiveness you are basically negating your flexibility.

In contrast advancing a dragon HD gives the same Hit Points as a Barbarian and advances all three saves plus it technically only advances the CR by 1 for every 2 HD.

So one level of barbarian is definitely useful but I can't honestly say it's twice as useful as 1 level of dragon HD.

 

[satori01]

Realistically most Dragons should have class levels. If you live for centuries you probably picked up some knowledge here or there.

I've used a Medium Shadow Dragon Assassin to plague a party before. Nice thing about Dragon bad guys is:

A: they are Dragons. Something about Red Dragon Archmage, or Shadow Dragon Assassin sounds scary.

B: long life spans, means you can plausibly create slow forming intricately, dastardly plans against the PCs. What does the Dragon care if it takes 3 years of game time before the first part of it's plan takes effect.

C: For Recurring bad guys, you can either level up the class level, or increase the age category. Just make sure if the players research the Dragon, to have the approximate age be close to the next age category, again so you can believably advance the age.

 

[delericho]

The problem I see with a dragon using rage is that it prevents the dragon from using spells during the duration of the battle. So for an increase in melee effectiveness you are basically negating your flexibility.

With very few exceptions, dragon spellcasting in combat doesn't strike me as a terribly potent ability. At the level at which these creatures are encountered, the party Wizard will generally outclass the creature anyway.

Better, IMO, for the dragon to buff, then rage for the combat.