Dragonfire Adept or Dragon Shaman?

[BASHMAN]

Could someone please do a side-by-side comparison of these two classes? The Dragonfire Adept (Dragon Magic) and the Dragon Shaman (PH2) seem to have very nearly the same abilities, except that the Dragon Shaman has better HD, better BtH, worse skill points. As for their special effects, they seem to be the same, but for the Dragon Shaman, they are set by auras, while the Dragonfire Adept's are set by level.

For instance, at level 6, the Adept gets DR2/Magic, while the Dragon Shaman could have DR2/Magic by using the Toughness aura.

They also both get breath weapons, that are nearly the same damage. The adepts improves faster (at odd levels), but caps at 9 dice, while the dragon shaman's is 1 die per 2 levels, capping at 10 dice. The Adept's also has something called "breath effect" allowing them to change whether their breath is fire (the default) or cold, cone or line, or extra effects like weakening the target (in lieu of damage). These "breath effects" cannot be used consecutively, however...

The Dragonfire Adept gets "invocations" and the Shaman gets "auras". From what I see, many of these Invocations mimic class abilities granted to dragon shamans depending on their totem dragon. For instance, there is a Adept invocation that grants waterbreathing, just as a Gold, Green, Black, or Bronze dragon shaman would get at 3rd level. The higher level invocations seem to emulate higher level Dragon Shaman abilities, like Energy Immunity.

From what I see, there is not a whole heck of a lot of difference between these two classes. Am I right here?

 

[EyeontheMountain]

I find them to be very different playstyle wise. The dragon shaman can be a tank, and has far less versatility than the DA. He gets all seven auras, but then again so does every other DS (unless you get rmeo somehow) He can choose a dragon totem, and since almost all of them grant water breathing, not much there excpet three different skill focuses in overlapping skills. A different energy to set you apart from your fellows.

However, I do like th class, it is solid, though probably not good enough for a paryy of less than 6 people.

The DA is basically a caster, so the play is totally differnt NO armor, Arcane failure chances, and low hit points nad the worst BAB, make the play totally different. Unfortunatley the invocations and breat heffects are so much either no-brainers or total crud that there is not a lot of variation , though there is some, just some.

They are both sides of the same coin, but not the same class.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I find them very different in play as well. The Dragon Shaman is intended for melee, I believe. That doesn't mean that it can't do other stuff. But it has a better BAB and a better HP rating. The Dragonfire Adept is more of a support-from-the-back-of-the-fight character, due to its lower HP rating, its lack of armor, and lowest BAB.

As for hopw they help the party, that can occasionally be the same. But it is from where they help the party that makes the difference.

 

[BASHMAN]

Here is what I think I am going to do for the campaign:

Dragon Shamans are Neutral or Good, and Dragonfire Adepts are evil. The reason for this, is that I want the player to use a Dragon Shaman (which I have renamed Dragon Knight, or Dragoon because it sounds much cooler) and not the Dragonfire Adept.

The reason for this? The whole point of me running this campaign, is that I want the people in my group to start allowing the PH2, Book of 9 Swords, and Miniatures Handbook in their own campaigns. To do this, I stated, that in my campaign, you may not choose a base class from the Player's Handbook or the Complete Series. I only want people to choose from the PH2, Bo9S, and Minis Book-- because each of these books offers several base classes that thus far, have not been allowed in any of the other people's campaigns simply because they don't feel like reading the books. If they are forced to use the books in my campaign, and can see how cool they are, then I have a chance of getting to play a Crusader in someone elses game!

Now, one of the players mentioned above is a complete Dragonphile. He has the draconomicron, dragon magic, and races of dragon. I said he could use all these books, to create his Dragon Shaman, however, I think he'd rather be the Dragonfire Adept... So I am looking to steer him towards Dragon Shaman while still acknowledging that the DF Adepts exist in the campaign...

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Well, I wouldn't call them Dragoons, because that immediately brings to mind a really well trained horseman. (Well, soldier who gets to battle on a horse, at least.) See Wiki note here Unless, of course, you are going to give the Dragon Shamanfree ranks in Ride.

As for the alignment thing, Why place all those restrictions on a campaign? Just go to the guy and say "The purpose of this campaign is to get you all to use the miniature handbook, PHBII, and Bo9S. I know the Dragonfire Adept may look cool, but I'd personally rather have you start out as a Dragon Shaman (or some other class from the three books) rather than a Dragonfire Adept."

I've found the direct approach is not only better, but honest and respectful as well. Don't make rules to hide your scheming. Scheme out in the open!

 

[BASHMAN]

Oh, I know what a real-world dragoon is, but this was going to be the Final Fantasy II and Final Fantasy Tactics Dragoon,

 

[evilbob]

So they jump a lot and use lances?