[Savage Species] Silver Dragon PC Class!

[UniversalMonster]

Young Silver Dragon Monster Class



Choosing a young Silver Dragon as a class requires the player to sacrifice multi-classing for no less than 18 levels. Multiclassing only becomes available once the dragon has reached its full potential.

Silver Dragons are size small until 8th level. As small creatures, very young silver dragons gain a +1 size bonus to AC, a +1 size bonus to Attack rolls, and a +4 size bonus on Hide checks. If the dragon chooses to use man-made weapons and armor while in a polymorphed form, she will have to use specially made 3/4 size weapons and armor. Upon reaching 8th level, the dragon grows to medium size and loses all of these abilities.

Silver Dragons gain the Jump skill for free at +1 per hit dice. They also gain the Spellcraft skill for free at +1 per hit dice provided they have an intelligence of 12 or higher.

Silver Dragons are not proficient with any weapons or armor other than their natural weaponry (and of course they do not suffer any attacks of opportunity from using natural weaponry). If they want to pick up man-made armor or weaponry, they’ll need to use a feat.

Silver Dragons begin with +2 Int, +2 Wis, +2 Cha

Alignment: Any (usually good)

Hit Dice: d12
Click below for level progression table and full details:

http://nevernet.echoechoplus.com/MyPHPsite/index.php?art=Young+Silver+Dragon

The following skills are considered class skills for Silver Dragons: Listen, Spot, Search, Bluff, Diplomacy, Concentration, Escape Artist, Knowledge (any), Scry


Dragon characters are eligible for monster feats, as well as dragon feats.

Young Silver Dragon Monster Class

Visit the URL at my website for the level progression table and full details. I was going to post it here but this BB doesn't accept HTML!

* - Cloudwalking (Su) The dragon can tread on clouds or fog as though they were solid ground. This ability functions continuously but can be negated or resumed at will.


** - 0-level Sorcerer Spells: Upon reaching 15th level, the dragon can choose up to 4 0-level sorcerer spells. These can be cast up to 4 times per day, just as if the dragon were also a 1st level sorcerer.


*** -1st level Sorcerer Spells: Upon reaching 17th level, the dragon can choose up to 3 1st level spells (+bonus spells for high Charisma). These can be cast as if the Dragon were also a 1st level sorcerer.

 

[gfunk]

Good job with the progression.

However, I'm not sure how this PC would stack up against "normal" characters over 18 levels. The main problem is the dragon's shape which cannot accomodate arms/armor made for human wearers. Also, many other types of magic items would not be available (like wands and such) unless the dragon was polymorphed.

I would love to see a playtest with this badboy.

 

[UniversalMonster]

Do you think it would be underpowered or overpowered? I worried it would be overpowered but I didn't see any examples laying around, so this is what I came up with. I chose the silver dragon because it remains only medium sized even at the 'young' level.

The dragon can polymorph self (with an odd caveat for dragons- they get just one form until they revert back to their true form) by 7th level. I made it 7th so that by the time it has 7 hit dice it will be about on par with a 7-hd Wyrmling which can also polymorph.
Unfortunately, that still doesn't imply any kind of weapon or armor proficiency. They'll have to buy simple weapon proficiencies or martial weapon proficiencies to avoid the -4 penalty. Same with armor.

The bads: no weapon or armor proficiencies, no multiclassing, better fighter than a cleric, not quite as good as a real fighting class. irregular feats and skills (you don't get feats every 3 levels, and you don't get skills every level).

The goods: lots of weird little progression bonuses to ability scores, natural armor, natural attacks, breath weapon, access to monster feats and dragon feats.

I think it would be ok. I wouldn't want to build it to completely overshadow the other members of an adventuring party. But I like this better than using say.. an ECL.

I also did a playable Gargoyle PC at my website, but I'll spare everyone from plugging that. I will eventually do a Red Dragon as a gift for a friend.

Any requests? Something perverse in me wants to bust out a playable Unicorn. You know, for the chicks.

 

[gfunk]

Do you think it would be underpowered or overpowered?

It is viable, but I think it needs some serious support from other party members, especially a Druid.

The main problem (or benefit) is that it must rely solely on natural weapons in combat, and unless it is polymorphed it's ranged capability is kind of weak.

Of course it has good BAB and hp.

Personally I don't think a 18th level Silver Dragon can take an 18th level Fighter or Wizard, so I would say it is underpowered.

 

[Darklone]

Silver dragons... couldn't they polymorph into humans? There was this novel around (Dragonlance I think) with a young girl who was actually a silver dragon... Just keep him as human for the first 7 levels till he notices he's dragon.

 

[UniversalMonster]

This is an actual Racial character class that is playable from level 1 (so a 1st level Dragon wouldn't be out of place alongside a 1st level party- ther isn't any ECL to deal with). There's no need to rely on a convenient polymorph backstory (which is kinda gimmicky, I think-- no offense)- the characters stand as equals. Well theoretically. I just did it this morning.

Savage Species is really neat.