Player Dragons?

[Aisede]

So I recently came up with this character concept centering around a dragon who takes on the form of a humanoid and becomes a dragon hunter to get revenge on... Well... Dragons, that killed somebody precious to them.

I've been told the concept is viable, but I'm wondering how it would work. Like, would they be a sorcerer class, since dragons are innately sorcerous?

[Auron3991]

Depends on how you want to lean with it. A dragon can be a master of the arcane. Or a powerful warrior as a fighter (while maybe reskinning some abilities). Or a skilled hunter as a ranger. Even more options open up depending on version and dragon type. Just taking 5e for example, a red dragon may become an Oath of Conquest Paladin or a Brass would make sense as a College of Eloquence Bard.

That's the advantage of dragons: there's so many aspects to work with, a lot of options make sense. Especially since a lot of people follow the idea of flavor being free. As long as the mechanics don't change, a lot of people are fine with a new coat of paint.

[Aisede]

I was imagining a real buster sword kinda dude. Grim, wears a trench coat, carries a huge sword. I was thinking more warlock, but his "patron" is himself XD it'd kinda make sense, since he's technically drawing power from his secret identity

[Admin Bhelogan]

To expand on the backstory a bit, and make it work mechanically (making a lot of assumptions here): Maybe a rival dragon cast True Polymorph on the character, forcing them to permanently become the most average peasant ever, doomed to spend out their days living in fear. The character is now motivated, more than ever, to make something of this useless form, and get revenge. He works out every day, eats 10 dozen eggs for breakfast, and works as a blacksmith. He makes his own sword, then hires on as an adventurer to begin his career, of eventually getting revenge and restoring his true form.

You could make just about any class work with something like that. I would focus more on the story of what drives the character, and let then go with whatever class makes sense to fit the story. That will make a more enjoyable character to play in the end, if this character is going to be in a narratively driven game. Not so important, if it will be a mechanical hack-and-slash game.

[Aisede]

True Polymorph is an interesting idea... But I like the idea of a significant secret more. It wouldn't be the first time I created a character with hidden potential. And I feel like, if he's part of a party committed to slaying dragons, that's enough incentive to keep himself hidden anyways.

Can True Polymorph be reversed? Like, through a Wish spell or something

[Admin Bhelogan]

Probably up to the DM on how to reverse it. Could involve an epic quest for a diety, or perhaps paying another wizard to cast the spell again when the character is high enough level to match the CR of his old form.

As a DM, I wouldn't allow the player to actually be something significantly stronger than the rest of the party, and only pretend to be something else. I don't think they would be fair to the other players, but that's just me.

[zevonian]

What if your dragon was killed by rivals, and then after the battle, an ally arrived a bit too late to help fight...but just in time to cast Reincarnate? Then your dragon returns as whatever race you want the character to have, and pick whatever class you want?

You just mention to the DM that it's not intended to be Rules As Written for any spell, just backstory.

[Admin Dirk]

track down player Kaylara: playing dragons is one of her specialities, I believe.

[kaylara]

hiya all hmm specialty? not sure about that, though I have played as a dragon in several various campaigns.

Depending on the campaign style, its really up to the rule set/dm and player imagination.

Example: In pathfinder rule set, there is an option for monsters as PC's .. basically scale the party level with the monster CR. making dragon un available for a first level game, but a higher level one, it worked out great.

The trick is, are you playing the dragon as a dragon and adding personality to it? (example: a silver dragon has an alternate form to be able to change into any animal or humanoid 3x a day. So the player could play many roles.. a cat sneaking into somewhere, running into the evil bad guy alone in their room, then changed back into dragon form and eats them for dinner... or perhaps be the mount, either as dragon or shift into a horse etc.. then when the going gets tough, the horse morphs into a dragon and wins..) thats just using the dragon abilities...

Adding Class levels to a monster is tough and powerful combination. Also hard to keep balance without shadowing over players. If wanting to play a dragon with class levels, perhaps use a template or race like half-dragon that gives some dragon abilities costing the player a few levels, but then allows freedom to pick up a class. As a half dragon you dont really turn into a full dragon, but there are many other means to become a dragon via polymorph, wild shape etc, so its not really off the table, just different way to achieve it.

Personally I like the gold and silver dragons because they can take on humanoid or animal form. Dragons get spells at higher level with golds and silvers being able to choose divine or arcane spells and casts like a sorcerer.. thus you could pose as a healer or sorc type in humanoid form.

What level is the campaign, does the dm allow players as monsters? what rule set is in play, 3.x, pf, etc...

As far as a dragon being a dragon hunter.. golds and silvers root out evil.. thus you could say they specifically hunt other dragons that wreak havoc on others etc..

If your looking to turn a character into a dragon, again depends on ruleset, in 3.x there was a "phylactery of change" where you could change into a large sized dragon for an unlimited duration 3x a day that cost 11,200 gp. Unless your looking for class abilities like a druid wild shape for dragon forms, or in other systems like PF - Form of the Dragon ... you could get an item that casts it... like an intelligent sword a warrior uses etc.. again up to imagination and if things allowed by dm.

Suppose best advise.. talk with dm and see what they will accept if at all. Some will just outright say no because it wont fit the campaign.

[Aisede]

[kaylara]

[Aisede]

[kaylara]