PrC - Martial Artist & Dragons

[Toj]

In my setting, the elves are the race that came up with martial arts. Their affinity with nature resorted in them 'mimicking' the fighting styles of animals. Well one idea that I have is a sect of Sylvan elves called the Dragon Clan. Young elves who show promise in fighting are seeked out by the Dragon Clan masters. They are asked to join the clan and begin training. The master trains around 10 students at a time. The training involves martial arts and specifically fighting as a dragon would. Once the training is complete, the master sends the students on their final test, which is to slay a dragon that the master has selected. The dragon isn't too old and all the students fight it together. Those that survive become masters and split the treasure with the other survivors. Then the dead dragon is used to make clothing, weapons, armor, etc for the new masters.

What I want to know is some abilities or powers you guys can think of that would fit this PrC?

 

[Wolf72]

who cares about the PrC ... this is a pretty cool backdrop.

Imagine the LE group and the dragons they decide to hunt ... what happens when that copper dragon asks for the PC's help in saving it's life?

What if an Evil polymorphed dragon is a group of good monks ...

 

[wolfpunk]

Indeed this is a pretty stable prestige class idea, and also an excellent brackdrop.

Other ideas for plots how about the character that wants to be accepted into the group, what crazy ideas would they come up with in order to impress the teachers enough to accept them into the school?

As for abilities, do you want combat abilities that are of dragon type influence, are you wanting monk martial arts combat abilities, how about spell like abilities, what sort of things do you want?

How about the ability to make potions of fire breathing that they use as a "breath weapon"

 

[Toj]

Once you have become a Dragon Clan Member and you go "Adventuring", one of your duties is to look for any potential members of the Dragon Clan. It's a very honorable clan, looked up to by all the elves. (Even though some of the elven groups tend to think the Dragon Clan members are a little crazed in the head) If, while out adventuring you find a potential candidate, it's your duty to escort them to the appropriate area.

In my personal campaign, the Dragon Clan always hunts evil dragons, but it could be easily changed to hunt all dragons.

Abilities I was looking for would be monk style abilities and abilities that would come from mimicking a dragon's style of fighting. Kind of like "Dragon Style Kung Fu."

One ability they would have would be immunity to Dragon Fear. Another idea is to have the style use "claws", which could actually be made from the dragon that was killed the hunt.

 

[Umberhulk]

You could try crossing the Monk with the Dragon Disciple PrC from the Blood and Tome source book. So eventually, the elven monks become dragonish themselves. This could lead to an even deeper back drop storyline that dragons are in fact elves or elves are the remote offspring of dragons ...

 

[Blacksad]

Looking at the feats section for the dragon in the MM could give some ideas, plus some fear related feats from OA (perhaps needing that you rename them), and some combats bonus as dragon add to that the dragon "class" skills

A beginning might be something like this:

Requirment: elf, BaB +5, special
HD d8
Skill Points 4+int
Class Skills: Listen, Spot, Search, Bluff, Concentration, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Knoweldge (any), Scry, Spellcraft, Jump

Base Attack Bonus and saves as monk

Level 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 Bonus Feat from the following list:
Alertness, Cleave, Improved initiative, Power attack, Sunder, Weapon Focus (unarmed), Fearsome and fearless (OA), Ki shout (OA), great ki shout (OA).

Level 2 ki strike +1

Level 4 ki strike +2

Level 6 ki strike +3

Level 8 3/day as a free action use a 0 level spell as a sorcerer of the same level as the master dragon PrC. The character need to select which spell he will use when he gain this ability and can't change it thereafter, he may select any 0 level spell.

Level 10 Improved reach: reach increase by 5ft.

edit: I'm not a good PrC designer, so the result is a bit dull

 

[Dagredhel]

Here are a couple ideas:

1) Dragon Claw: the character's unarmed strikes do Slashing
damage (which perhaps increases with level.)

2) Tail Slap: the character lashes out with a kick at flanking
opponents without changing his facing? The character
threatens attacks of opportunity to his flanks and rear?

3) Tail Sweep: a regular (or maybe a trip attack) vs. all
opponents to the character's rear and flanks?

4) Ki Breath Weapon: usable a few times per day at most,
gained at mid to high level.

5) Frightful Presence (less powerful than the dragon ability,
obviuosly, unless acquired at high level and usable only a
limited number of times per day.)

6) Dragon Immunities: immunity to sleep and paralysis effects.

7) Dragon Senses: Uncanny Dodge is a really good choice. The
Blind-Fight feat would work, or even Blindsight (with a limited
range) at higher level.

8) Dragon Hide: Rather than focus their training upon dodging
blows, like the traditional monk, this PrC could focus on
toughening themselves in emulation of their draconic ideal.
This would be reflected by a natural armor bonus equal to
the listed AC bonus for Dwarven Defenders in the DMG.

 

[zorlag]

zorlag

Wow. Some pretty good ideas here...

>1) Dragon Claw: the character's unarmed strikes do Slashing
damage (which perhaps increases with level.)<

You could also let character choose piercing or slashing and then at level 5 he would get the other damage type as well.

>2) Tail Slap: the character lashes out with a kick at flanking
opponents without changing his facing? The character
threatens attacks of opportunity to his flanks and rear?<

Since there is no facing in 3e, this would really do nothing.

>3) Tail Sweep: a regular (or maybe a trip attack) vs. all
opponents to the character's rear and flanks? <

Limited Whirlwind attack type maneuver, allows regular trip action against all opponents within 5-ft of you. Uses up only one regular attack, but can't be used in conjunction of improved trip.

>4) Ki Breath Weapon: usable a few times per day at most,
gained at mid to high level.<

I thing Dragon Discipline prestige class had some info on abilities like this.

>5) Frightful Presence (less powerful than the dragon ability,
obviuosly, unless acquired at high level and usable only a
limited number of times per day.)<

This is easy, 3/day, 30 ft radius around activator, DC 10 + class level + Cha modifier to activate, those failing the saving throw are shaken for 1d6 minutes.

>6) Dragon Immunities: immunity to sleep and paralysis effects. <

Yup.

>7) Dragon Senses: Uncanny Dodge is a really good choice. The
Blind-Fight feat would work, or even Blindsight (with a limited
range) at higher level. <

Limited range Blindsight at higher levels sound good.

>8) Dragon Hide: Rather than focus their training upon dodging
blows, like the traditional monk, this PrC could focus on
toughening themselves in emulation of their draconic ideal.
This would be reflected by a natural armor bonus equal to
the listed AC bonus for Dwarven Defenders in the DMG.<

He would gain same AC bonus as regular monk gets from his class levels, but this would be natural armour instead of dodge bonus.

Z.

 

[Dagredhel]

*BUMP*