Dragonborn Info

[Bishmon]

Great work, Kwalish Kid!

I'm glad to see they got +2 Cha, because that's presumably going to be the key stat for sorcerers.

I really like the breath weapon. It doesn't do much damage, which helps keep it in line with other racial powers, but it's a minor action, so a player doesn't really give much up in using it. That means even though it won't be huge damage, it'll still probably be used often each encounter.

Overall, I'm a big fan of the mechanics. I can't wait to play a dragonborn fighter.

 

[lvl20dm]

I don't know, the Halfling Paladin still gets a bonus to Cha, which is probably the most important attribute for that class, and has an amazing racial power. Having seen some of 4e played with the quickstart rules, I'm inclined to believe that Second Chance and Elven accuracy are two of the most universally useful racial abilities in the game! It seems like any race/class combination should work fairly well - it's not like we have the problem of dwarf sorcerors or half-orc wizards like we did in 3e.

 

[Keefe the Thief]

Now dragonborn remind me of the dragon men race in the later wizardry games. I always had a dracon? bard with me, and his breath weapon could be quite useful. Me like.

 

[Xethreau]

OP, does this look right to you? Where are there discrepancies? (I want to get as close as I can for those addicted to the Pre-Release Rules.)

Dragonborn
Str +2, Cha +2

Size Medium
Speed 6 squares
Vision Normal
Languages Common, Draconic

Skill Bonuses: +2 History, +2 Intimidate
Dragonborn Fury: When you're bloodied you gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls.
Draconic Heritage: When a power or skill uses your Constitution modifier, you may use your Charisma modifier instead.

Dragon Breath (Dragonborn Racial Power)
Encounter * Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning or Poison
Minor Action Close Blast 3
Target: All creatures in blast
Attack: Strength +2 vs. Reflex, Constitution +2 vs. Reflex, or Charisma +2 vs. Reflex
Hit: 1d8 + Constitution modifier of acid, cold, fire, lightning or poison damage.

 

[Gargazon]

OP, does this look right to you? Where are there discrepancies? (I want to get as close as I can for those addicted to the Pre-Release Rules.)

Dragonborn
Str +2, Cha +2

Size Medium
Speed 6 squares
Vision Normal
Languages Common, Draconic

Skill Bonuses +2 History, +2 Intimidate
Dragonborn Fury: When you're bloodied you gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls.
Draconic Heritage: When a power or skill uses your Constitution modifier, you may use your Charisma modifier instead.

Dragon Breath (Dragonborn Racial Power)
Encounter * Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning or Poison
Minor Action Close Blast 3
Target: All creatures in blast
Attack: Strength +2 vs. Reflex, Constitution +2 vs. Reflex, or Charisma +2 vs. Reflex
Hit: 1d8 + Constitution modifier of acid, cold, fire, lightning or poison damage.

I would bet it's more likely that the third entry on attack for the Dragon Breath is Dexterity +2 vs Reflex, so that the Rogues don't all feel left out. It also makes more sense given the other two stats are physical ones.

 

[Xethreau]

I would bet it's more likely that the third entry on attack for the Dragon Breath is Dexterity +2 vs Reflex, so that the Rogues don't all feel left out. It also makes more sense given the other two stats are physical ones.

True enough, but since when have dragons been associated with dexterity? Also, what bearing does Dexterity have on a breath weapon? If Charisma represents force of will and personality, then I would find Charisma to be a much better fit for a Breath Weapon than Dexterity. (Though, I find any choice other than Constitution an odd one...)

Also, Charisma and Strength are both secondary abilities for Rogues. They are likely to have one at a decent, usable level.

 

[Gargazon]

True enough, but since when have dragons been associated with dexterity? Also, what bearing does Dexterity have on a breath weapon? If Charisma represents force of will and personality, then I would find Charisma to be a much better fit for a Breath Weapon than Dexterity. (Though, I find any choice other than Constitution an odd one...)

Also, Charisma and Strength are both secondary abilities for Rogues. They are likely to have one at a decent, usable level.

Actually, given that a breath weapon is, in some respect, a RANGED attack, Dexterity makes much more sense than Strength does for Dragon Breath, and even more so than Charisma. I also don't see how force of personality could ever be considered as helpful attribute for breathing fire from your lungs. That just doesn't sit well with me at all.

 

[Xethreau]

Actually, given that a breath weapon is, in some respect, a RANGED attack, Dexterity makes much more sense than Strength does for Dragon Breath, and even more so than Charisma. I also don't see how force of personality could ever be considered as helpful attribute for breathing fire from your lungs. That just doesn't sit well with me at all.

IMO, anything but Con is wonky for a breath weapon. I don't see how a breath weapon is ranged in the least (that is to say, ranged in the same sense as a magic missile or a bow's arrow), nor how Dexterity would apply to it. I think charisma is a wonky ability score period, but if it is usable to represent a Warlock's or Sorcerer's power, I could see it also applying to a dragon (if I had to make a stretch.) Also, the dragonborn gets a racial Charisma bonus (as well as strength, which it already uses for its breath weapon), so I find it likely that a race would try to play to it's own strengths.

My best guess is that we are going to have to agree to disagree, however.

 

[Gargazon]

My best guess is that we are going to have to agree to disagree, however.

Aww, man, that line always kills the arguments!

I'm interested to see if anyone has put together and playtested a Dragonborn character yet? (I imagine it is a bit soon).

 

[Xethreau]

Aww, man, that line always kills the arguments!

I'm interested to see if anyone has put together and playtested a Dragonborn character yet? (I imagine it is a bit soon).

Other than the discrepancy regarding the breath weapon, any other comments on my guesstimated writeup?