This prestige class is an attempt to recreate the old Dracologist from the BD&D Glantri Gazetteer for third edition. I see him as a spellcaster who uses magic to protect himself from dragons and emulate their abilities. Unlike the Dragon Disciple from tome and blood, he does not actually become a half-dragon. Nor does he receive any stat bonuses.
So I wonder whether this class as given here is balanced or overpowered.
The Dragon Master
Requirements
Knowledge (arcana): 8 ranks
Energy Substitution (energy used in chosen dragon's breath weapon)
Languages: Draconic
Spells: Must be able to cast 3rd level arcane spells
Features
You must choose a dragon color when choosing this class. Some of your abilities will emulate those of that dragon subspecies.
Hit Die: 1d6
Base Attack Bonus: Poor
Fort save: Good
Ref save: Poor
Will save: Good
Class Skills: Concentration (con), Craft (int), Intimidate (cha), Knowledge (all) (int), Profession (wis), Scry (int), Spellcraft (int).
Skill Points: 2+ int modifier.
Weapons & Armor: None gained.
Spells: Dracologists gain a level of spellcasting ability in an existing arcane spellcasting class every even level.
Dragon Might:
At 1st level, you may add +1 to your caster level to determine whether your spells penetrate the spell resistance of a dragon. This stacks with any other effect providing spell penetration such as the Spell Penetration feat. This bonus increases by +1 at 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th level.
Protection from Dragons:
This ability is gained at 1st level and may be used a maximum of three times per day. It creates a field of force around you, which cannot be penetrated by the melee attacks or breath weapons of any dragon, unless its spell resistance successfully breaks through. The caster level for this effect is equal to your highest spellcasting level. Your Dragon Might bonus applies to this check. This force field lasts for 10 minutes per Dragon Master level. It may be dispelled, and is automatically cancelled if you attack the dragon (even with a spell) or try to steal its treasure, eggs or young.
Dragon Resistance:
At 1st level, you gain 5 points of elemental resistance against the element corresponding to the breath weapon of your chosen dragon type. This ability overlaps with (does not stack with) Endure elements, Resist Elements, and Protection from elements. The elemental resistance increases to 10 at 8th level.
Dragon Scales:
At 1st level, you may cover your body in dragon scales at will. The scales give you a +2 bonus to your natural armor, but also give you a monstrous appearance. The color of the scales is your chosen dragon color. Growing or removing the scales is a standard action. The bonus provided increases to +4 at 5th level and +6 at 9th level.
Dragon Eye:
At 2nd level, you can recognize as a dragon any dragon that has been polymorphed or is under the effect of other magic that changes its shape. A dragon with hit dice greater than twice your spellcaster level may roll a will saving throw with a DC equal to 10 + your Dragon Master level + your primary ability modifier to avoid detection.
Dragon Fang:
At 3rd level, you may transform your head and arms to get the bite and claw attacks of a dragon. If you are medium-sized and you are not using any weapons, you may bite at your full attack bonus for 1d8+str damage and you may claw twice at –5 to hit for 1d6+ str/2 damage. If you are using a weapon, the weapon uses your normal to-hit bonus, and the bite is at –5 to hit and inflicts 1d8+str/2 damage.
Dragon Breath:
At 4th level, you may breathe a type of energy dependent on your chosen dragon subtype:
Black, Copper: Line of acid
Blue, Bronze: Line of electricity
Green: Cone of acid
Red, Gold: Cone of fire
White, Silver: Cone of cold
Brass: Line of fire
Lines are always 5’ high, 5’ wide and 60’ long. Cones are always 30’ long.
The breath weapon does 2d6 points of damage per Dragon Master level. The save DC is 10 + your con modifier + your Dragon Master level. At 4th level, you may use this ability once per day. You get one additional use at 6th and 8th level. If you have multiple uses, you cannot use this ability more often than once every four rounds. Using the breath weapon is a standard action.
Dragon Wing:
At 5th level, you may grow dragon-like wings on your back. This enables you to fly at twice your ground speed with poor maneuverability. Growing or removing the dragon-like wings is a standard action. You may have the dragon-like wings for an unlimited period of time.
Spell Resistance:
At 6th level, you gain a spell resistance of 12 + your Dragon Master level.
Frightful Presence:
At 7th level, you may generate an aura of fear as a free action once per day. Non-friendly creatures within a 30’ radius from you are affected by this power if they have fewer HD than you. A potentially affected creature that succeeds at a will save (DC 10 + your Dragon Master levels + your charisma bonus) becomes immune to your frightful presence for one day. On a failure, creatures with 4 or fewer HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. This power does not work on dragons. You become immune to the frightful presence of dragons. You may use this ability twice per day at 8th level and three times per day at 9th level.
Dragon Shape:
At 10th level, once a week, for 10 rounds, you may polymorph into a dragon with an age category dependent on the dragon subtype chosen, gaining all abilities except spellcasting and spell-like abilities. Your physical stats become the average for that dragon subspecies and age, but your hit points do not change.
White, Brass: 12
Black, Copper: 12
Green, Bronze: 11
Blue, Silver: 11
Red, Gold: 10
-- Retan
So I wonder whether this class as given here is balanced or overpowered.
The Dragon Master
Requirements
Knowledge (arcana): 8 ranks
Energy Substitution (energy used in chosen dragon's breath weapon)
Languages: Draconic
Spells: Must be able to cast 3rd level arcane spells
Features
You must choose a dragon color when choosing this class. Some of your abilities will emulate those of that dragon subspecies.
Hit Die: 1d6
Base Attack Bonus: Poor
Fort save: Good
Ref save: Poor
Will save: Good
Class Skills: Concentration (con), Craft (int), Intimidate (cha), Knowledge (all) (int), Profession (wis), Scry (int), Spellcraft (int).
Skill Points: 2+ int modifier.
Weapons & Armor: None gained.
Spells: Dracologists gain a level of spellcasting ability in an existing arcane spellcasting class every even level.
Dragon Might:
At 1st level, you may add +1 to your caster level to determine whether your spells penetrate the spell resistance of a dragon. This stacks with any other effect providing spell penetration such as the Spell Penetration feat. This bonus increases by +1 at 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th level.
Protection from Dragons:
This ability is gained at 1st level and may be used a maximum of three times per day. It creates a field of force around you, which cannot be penetrated by the melee attacks or breath weapons of any dragon, unless its spell resistance successfully breaks through. The caster level for this effect is equal to your highest spellcasting level. Your Dragon Might bonus applies to this check. This force field lasts for 10 minutes per Dragon Master level. It may be dispelled, and is automatically cancelled if you attack the dragon (even with a spell) or try to steal its treasure, eggs or young.
Dragon Resistance:
At 1st level, you gain 5 points of elemental resistance against the element corresponding to the breath weapon of your chosen dragon type. This ability overlaps with (does not stack with) Endure elements, Resist Elements, and Protection from elements. The elemental resistance increases to 10 at 8th level.
Dragon Scales:
At 1st level, you may cover your body in dragon scales at will. The scales give you a +2 bonus to your natural armor, but also give you a monstrous appearance. The color of the scales is your chosen dragon color. Growing or removing the scales is a standard action. The bonus provided increases to +4 at 5th level and +6 at 9th level.
Dragon Eye:
At 2nd level, you can recognize as a dragon any dragon that has been polymorphed or is under the effect of other magic that changes its shape. A dragon with hit dice greater than twice your spellcaster level may roll a will saving throw with a DC equal to 10 + your Dragon Master level + your primary ability modifier to avoid detection.
Dragon Fang:
At 3rd level, you may transform your head and arms to get the bite and claw attacks of a dragon. If you are medium-sized and you are not using any weapons, you may bite at your full attack bonus for 1d8+str damage and you may claw twice at –5 to hit for 1d6+ str/2 damage. If you are using a weapon, the weapon uses your normal to-hit bonus, and the bite is at –5 to hit and inflicts 1d8+str/2 damage.
Dragon Breath:
At 4th level, you may breathe a type of energy dependent on your chosen dragon subtype:
Black, Copper: Line of acid
Blue, Bronze: Line of electricity
Green: Cone of acid
Red, Gold: Cone of fire
White, Silver: Cone of cold
Brass: Line of fire
Lines are always 5’ high, 5’ wide and 60’ long. Cones are always 30’ long.
The breath weapon does 2d6 points of damage per Dragon Master level. The save DC is 10 + your con modifier + your Dragon Master level. At 4th level, you may use this ability once per day. You get one additional use at 6th and 8th level. If you have multiple uses, you cannot use this ability more often than once every four rounds. Using the breath weapon is a standard action.
Dragon Wing:
At 5th level, you may grow dragon-like wings on your back. This enables you to fly at twice your ground speed with poor maneuverability. Growing or removing the dragon-like wings is a standard action. You may have the dragon-like wings for an unlimited period of time.
Spell Resistance:
At 6th level, you gain a spell resistance of 12 + your Dragon Master level.
Frightful Presence:
At 7th level, you may generate an aura of fear as a free action once per day. Non-friendly creatures within a 30’ radius from you are affected by this power if they have fewer HD than you. A potentially affected creature that succeeds at a will save (DC 10 + your Dragon Master levels + your charisma bonus) becomes immune to your frightful presence for one day. On a failure, creatures with 4 or fewer HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. This power does not work on dragons. You become immune to the frightful presence of dragons. You may use this ability twice per day at 8th level and three times per day at 9th level.
Dragon Shape:
At 10th level, once a week, for 10 rounds, you may polymorph into a dragon with an age category dependent on the dragon subtype chosen, gaining all abilities except spellcasting and spell-like abilities. Your physical stats become the average for that dragon subspecies and age, but your hit points do not change.
White, Brass: 12
Black, Copper: 12
Green, Bronze: 11
Blue, Silver: 11
Red, Gold: 10
-- Retan
