Questions about Dragon Disciple

[Tar-Edhel]

The dragon disciple PrC gains a claw and bite attack with damage based on his/her size. Does it mean that you get a claw/claw/bite routine? If so, are claws primary?

If not, then claws and bite simply become available as melee weapon, to be used with your usual BAB and # of attacks. Right? If so, can you swith from a claw attack to a bite as a free action if you get more than one attack per turn?

Anyone has played a dragon disciple? What would you recommend for a character starting around 6th level? I don't want to min/max but being effective in melee would be nice. I was toying with the idea of a drow ranger. Would the drow spell-like abilities be enough as requirements for the PrC?

Thanks!

 

[Hackenslash]

I have played a Human Sorceror/Dragon Disciple.

I think our DM decided that you had to have the Multi Dexterity feat to use all of your attack forms in a round, otherwise it would be just a single Bite or Claw which ever you prefered. However if you had a higher BAB with multiple attacks anyway then you would get those attacks but only with one or the other attack forms(your choice - Bite or Claw) unless you had the Multi Dexterity feat. If you did have the multi Dexterity feat then you would have no penalty using either form of attack and could take full advantage if you had multiple attacks due to a high BAB. Hope this makes sence. I am still at work and rushing this. Sorry !!!

Regarding your 6th level character, your choice of Drow Ranger is cool but I am not sure the inate arcane abilites would count towards the prerquisite of being able to cast arcane spells for the PrC - Dragon Disciple. To be honest it would be a wya round the prerequisite but I don't think that was intended. I would say that you would need to be at least a first level in sorceror or mage to Qualify, but you can always multi class. Oh well, Hope I helped...good luck with your new character, mine met his end rather dramatically in a huge cambat against Undead...very nasty...actually he was 6th level too....bye for now

 

[yennico]

Re: I have played a Human Sorceror/Dragon Disciple.

Regarding your 6th level character, your choice of Drow Ranger is cool but I am not sure the inate arcane abilites would count towards the prerquisite of being able to cast arcane spells for the PrC - Dragon Disciple.

I agree with Hackenslash.

I would say that you would need to be at least a first level in sorceror or mage to Qualify, but you can always multi class.

A Drow Ranger/Sorcerer would gain Xp penalty because neither ranger nor sorcerer are his favorite class.

Just my 2 cents
yennico

 

[Shayuri]

I am playing a dragon disciple warrior in an epic game.

When used properly, it can be very powerful. The trick is in maximizing the synergy as much as possible. In order to make Dragon Disciple work, you kind of *have* to minmax a bit if you want to be competitive.

First of all, if you have access to some FR feats, it's a lot easier to meet the skill requirements. Educated or Cosmopolitan (Knowledge: Arcana) will let you boost the necessary skill even in non magic classes.

You will need 1 level of sorceror or bard. The spell like abilities of drow or other special races don't count. Spell like abilities are *like* spells, but aren't actually spells.

Additionally, I'd suggest staying away from ECL races. Dragon Disciples need all the class levels they can get to keep up with the Joneses.

Advance through the DD PrC as fast as possible is my advice. The main lure of the class is the class abilities...stat bonuses, flight, enlargement, etc...

For a 6th level character consider:

Sorc 1/ Fgtr 4/ DD 1

Paladin, ranger, or barbarian can work as well. Paladin is good because it synergizes nicely with your above average Cha (which you'll need at least an 11 or 12 to get the needed Sorc/Bard level). Barbarian is nice due to the fact that they have incentives not to wear heavy armor...which will mess with your spells. Rangers have the advantage of a smattering of divine spells to augment the smattering of arcane spells, resulting in a very versatile, if extremely underpowered, spellcaster. However, the paladin has the same possibility, and his spells are arguably better for "Warrior" style combat. A fully advanced Dragon Disciple is NOT designed for stealth and woodland sneaking.

Remember that Dragon Disciples can cast spells. They're not just exceptionally badass warriors. This is important, cuz without the occasional True Strike and/or Shield, you won't be using the class to its utmost. DD's get a LOT of spell slots. This translates to a lot of Shields and/or True Strikes.

The eventual goal, IMO, would be Sorc 4, Fighter 6, DD 10. The sorceror goes to 4 so you get 2nd level slots. This is vital, cuz it means you can use Still Spell on your 1st level "workhorse" spells, thus negating the problem with armor! If you take something like Bull Strength or Endurance as your 2nd level spell, you can set yourself up with a nice attribute buff well in advance to boot.

Between the sorceror levels and the Dragon Disciple levels, this build winds up with a +15 BAB at level 20...no worse than a cleric or rogue. If you plan for your immense strength boost, you can wind up with to hit bonuses rivaling or exceeding fighters of the same level.

 

[Cheiromancer]

If you have a 16+ cha, go bard 7/DD5/bard 3/DD 5

If charisma is not so high, go bard 8/DD5/bard 2/DD 5- hopefully you can get an 18 charisma by character level 15.

Even without the improvements gained by the 3.5 bard (casting in armor, more skill points), it makes sense to have bonus 3rd and 4th level spells instead of 1st and 2nd level ones.