What do you think of Dragonfire Adepts?

[Felon]

I had a player mention that he was interested in playing a dragonfire adept (from Dragon Magic). Looking at the class posted in WotC's Dragon Magic preview, it doesn't look particularly powerful. Kinda weak, if anything. This raises my suspicions as I do not regard this player as someone who would pick a weak class. He specifically mentioned something about applying metabreath feats, but I don't know much about those either.

So, who out there has experience with this class? Please share your opinions.

 

[Voadam]

I have not seen them in play but have read them over in the preview.

It looks like a variant warlock, always available blasting, just with a draconic theme. A bit weak for NPCs/encounters where they are there for just one fight or as a PC class in games where you have few encounters per day. But they have easy to track powers and there is something to be said for being able to go full throttle for every fight even if you have 10 encounters in one game day. Sort of the opposite of the psion power issues.

 

[Nifft]

LOVE THEM! Very creative class. Nice take on the Warlock. It's niche, but so what?

The only change I make is to remove the natural armor bonus, and instead allow them to cast their Invocations in Light armor, like a Warlock.

It would be fun to play in a dragon-themed party:
- Paladin 4 / Sorc 1 / Dragon Disciple 10
- Dragonfire Adept
- Dragon Shaman
- Sorcerer with mostly [Draconic] feats

(We'd be a very good looking party. )

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nifft]

He specifically mentioned something about applying metabreath feats, but I don't know much about those either.

There are some tricks with metabreath feats. Technically, they are not legal -- the metabreath feats specify that your breath weapon must have a recharge time measured in rounds (not "1 minute" like a Behir, nor "1/day" like a Half-Dragon, and not "at will" like a Dragonfire Adept).

The main one that seems really overpowering IMHO is Entangling Breath. Basically, for the price of dealing half damage, anything that takes damage from your breath is Entangled for 1d4 rounds. This means you get a great crowd-control option, and best of all, you can exclude your party members (since there are a couple of ways to render friends immune to your breath weapon).

What other options is he requesting for metabreath feats? Ask him if he's okay knowing that, because he is taking them, every True Dragon the party encounters will probably be using them, too. (What's good for the PCs is often good for killin' the PCs... )

Cheers, -- N

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's a warlock with better flavor. I own Dragon Magic, and if there's a cheese ability in there, I've missed it, although I suppose it's possible.

 

[Crothian]

I played on till 7th level I think. It was a good and fun class.

 

[pawsplay]

I had a player mention that he was interested in playing a dragonfire adept (from Dragon Magic). Looking at the class posted in WotC's Dragon Magic preview, it doesn't look particularly powerful. Kinda weak, if anything. This raises my suspicions as I do not regard this player as someone who would pick a weak class. He specifically mentioned something about applying metabreath feats, but I don't know much about those either.

So, who out there has experience with this class? Please share your opinions.

Metabreath feats are illegal. My opinion is that your player is trying to pull a fast one.

 

[Wik]

Nah, they're a cool class. About the only real invocation I've had problems with (the Dragon Shaman in my group took one in place of his aura, a class variant found in Dragon Magic) is the invocation that allows the character to cast Detect Magic and Identify at will. Although, really, it works out well - I now know my group will get all the magical goodies, and they can figure out what they do relatively quickly.

 

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

Although metabreath feats are illegal under the RAW, I will note I have allowed them on dragonfire Adepts in my home campaign without it being a problem. that said I haven't extensively playtested that option -- I'm just saying it's worked out so far with those I allowed.

 

[Felon]

Although metabreath feats are illegal under the RAW, I will note I have allowed them on dragonfire Adepts in my home campaign without it being a problem. that said I haven't extensively playtested that option -- I'm just saying it's worked out so far with those I allowed.

Is there any official ruling on this being an illegal option? It seems that the language of the requirement is to prevent creatures with long recharges from taking the feats, not creatures with short recharges.

Although I suppose there is room for concern with a creature blasting Maximize Breath at the start of every fight...