Dragon Disciple (Apath)
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As some of the most ancient, powerful, and capricious creatures in existence, dragons occasionally enter into trysts with unsuspecting mortals or sire offspring with exceptional individuals. Likewise, the great power wielded by these creatures has long intrigued wizards and alchemists who have sought various magical methods to infuse their bodies with draconic power. As a result, the blood of dragons runs through the veins of many races. For most draconic scions, this heritage manifests as a sorcerous bloodline; for some the power of their draconic ancestors is so strong they become dragon disciples, something close to true dragons.
Class Information
This is a prestige archetype. A dragon disciple grows more and more like a dragon.
Publisher: Purple Duck Games.
Prestige Class: Dragon disciple.
Build Classes: Magus, sorcerer.
Role: With the magic at their disposal, dragon disciples can assume the typical role of a magic-user, hampering the movement of the enemy and hurling damage-dealing spells at their opponents. The dragon disciples' draconic abilities make these versatile spellcasters even more formidable, as they use their breath, natural weapons, and flight to destroy their foes directly.
Alignment: Dragon disciples can be of any alignment, although they tend to be more chaotic than lawful. Those dragon disciples that assume the traits of chromatic dragons, such as bestial white and fearsome red dragons, have a proclivity for evil. Conversely, those that take after the metallic dragons, such as stoic brass and chivalric gold dragons, are often of good alignments.
Hit Die: d10.
Class Skills
The dragon disciple's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Ranks at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
These are all the class features of the dragon disciple.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Dragon disciples are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with light armor. They are not proficient with shields. Many dragon disciples prefer to rely entirely on natural weapons. A dragon disciple can cast magus spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, a dragon disciple wearing medium armor, heavy armor, or a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component. A multiclass dragon disciple still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.
| Level | Spells Known | ||||||
| Zero | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | |
| 1st | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | 6 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | 6 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 8th | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 9th | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
| 10th | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
| 11th | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
| 12th | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| 13th | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 14th | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — |
| 15th | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — |
| 16th | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| 17th | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 18th | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 19th | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 20th | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Spells
A dragon disciple casts arcane spells drawn from the magus spell list. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time, assuming he has not yet used up his allotment of spells per day for the spell’s level.
To learn or cast a spell, a dragon disciple must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a dragon disciple’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the dragon disciple’s Charisma modifier.
A dragon disciple can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level each day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Dragon Disciple. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells).
A dragon disciple’s selection of spells is extremely limited. A dragon disciple begins play knowing four 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells of the dragon disciple’s choice. At each new dragon disciple level, he gains one or more new spells as indicated on Table: Dragon Disciple Spells Known. (Unlike spells per day, the number of spells a dragon disciple knows is not affected by his Charisma score. The numbers on Table: Dragon disciple Spells Known are fixed.)
Upon reaching 4th level, and at every third dragon disciple level thereafter (7th, 10th, and so on), a dragon disciple can choose to learn a new spell in place of one he already knows. In effect, the dragon disciple “loses” the old spell in exchange for the new one. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of the spell being exchanged. A dragon disciple may swap out only a single spell at any given level and must choose whether or not to swap the spell at the same time that he gains new spells known for the level.
Automatic Language
A dragon disciple learns draconic at first level. This is in addition to any other languages known and does not count against the character's bonus languages.
Cantrips
Dragon disciples learn a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, as noted on Table: Dragon disciple Spells Known. These spells are cast like any other spell, but they do not consume any slots and may be used again.
Claws (Su)
At 1st level, the dragon disciple grows claws. These claws are primary natural attacks, allowing him to use the full attack action to make two claw attacks (and at level two a bite, see below) using his full base attack bonus. Each claw attack deals 1d4 points of damage plus his Strength modifier (1d3 if Small). At 5th level, these claws are considered magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming DR. At 7th level, the damage increases by one step to 1d6 points of damage (1d4 if Small). At 14th level, these claws deal an additional 1d6 points of damage of his energy type on a successful hit. He can use this power at will, and can use his claws as hands normally, but he cannot make claw attacks when holding something in his claws.
Dragon Arcana
Whenever a dragon disciple casts a spell with an energy descriptor that matches his draconic bloodline's energy type, that spell deals +1 point of damage per die rolled.
Draconic Nature
The dragon disciple functions as both a humanoid and a dragon in regard to effects that target certain creature types, such as charm person or a ranger's favored enemy.
As he advances in level, the dragon disciple grows more and more draconic in form. Any Disguise that seeks to conceal his draconic nature takes a penalty of -1 per class level, but he gets a +10 modifier if all he is doing is hiding his draconic nature without otherwise disguising his identity.
Eschew Materials
A dragon disciple gains Eschew Materials as a bonus feat at 1st level.
Bite (Su)
At 2nd level, the dragon disciple gains a bite primary natural attack. This deals 1d6 points of damage (1d4 if the dragon disciple is Small), plus 1½ times the dragon disciple’s Strength modifier, and is considered a magic attack for penetrating damage reduction. Upon reaching 11th level, this bite also deals 1d6 points of energy damage of the same type as the dragon disciple's breath weapon.
A dragon disciple can choose to cast a spell in lieu of making a bite attack. On a full attack he either makes two claw attacks or whatever weapon attacks he can normally make, and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action. If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Charisma bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check, this decision must be made when declaring the full attack action. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but he can still make his other attacks and the attacks still take the penalty.
A dragon disciple can choose to cast the spell first or make the attacks first, but he cannot cast the spell between physical attacks. He can both attack and perform somatic components with claws in the same round. If he makes a weapon attack, all attack rolls this round suffer a -2 penalty and also needs one hand free if the spell has a somatic component.
Dragon Spells
At 3rd level, and every three levels thereafter until level 18, a dragon disciple learns an additional spell. These spells are added to the dragon disciple's spell list and also added to his list of known spells and are in addition to the number of spells given on Table: Dragon Disciple Spells Known. He can cast these spells without the chance of spell failure for armor just as he can with magus spells. These spells cannot be exchanged for different spells at higher levels.
This is the list of spells and the level at which they are learned: magic fang (3rd), resist energy (6th), greater magic fang (9th), fear (12th), spell resistance (15th), true seeing (18th).
Resistance (Ex)
At 3rd level, the dragon disciple gain resist 5 against the energy type his breath weapon inflicts (see below). At 9th level, his energy resistance increases to 10. At 15th level, his energy resistance increases to 15.
Natural Armor (Ex)
As his skin thickens, a dragon disciple takes on more and more of his progenitor's physical aspect. At 3rd level, and every three levels thereafter, a dragon disciple gains a +1 increase to the character's existing natural armor.
Breath Weapon (Su)
| Dragon Type | Energy Type | Breath Shape |
| Black | Acid | 60-foot line |
| Blue | Electricity | 60-foot line |
| Green | Acid | 30-foot cone |
| Red | Fire | 30-foot cone |
| White | Cold | 30-foot cone |
| Brass | Fire | 60-foot line |
| Bronze | Electricity | 60-foot line |
| Copper | Acid | 60-foot line |
| Gold | Fire | 30-foot cone |
| Silver | Cold | 30-foot cone |
At 4th level, the dragon disciple gains a breath weapon. This breath weapon deals 1d6 points of damage of his energy type per dragon disciple level. Those caught in the area of the breath receive a Reflex save for half damage. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + ½ his dragon disciple level + his Charisma modifier. The shape of the breath weapon depends on his dragon type (as indicated on the chart). At 4th level, the dragon disciple can use this ability once per day. For every three levels after level 4, he can use this ability an additional time per day, to a maximum of 6 times per day at 19th level. After use, he cannot employ his breath again for 1d4 rounds.
Ability Boost (Ex)
As a dragon disciple gains levels in this prestige class, his ability scores increase as noted on Table: Dragon Disciple. These increases stack and are gained as if through level advancement.
- At 5th level and again at level 11 and 17, the dragon disciple gains a +2 bonus to Strength.
- At 8th level the dragon disciple gains a +2 bonus to Constitution.
- At 14th level the dragon disciple gains a +2 bonus to Intelligence.
- At 20th level the dragon disciple gains a +2 bonus to Charisma.
Bonus Feat
At 5th level, and every six levels thereafter, a dragon disciple gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be selected from this list: Blind-Fight, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Quicken Spell, Skill Focus (Fly), Skill Focus (Knowledge [arcana]), Toughness. He must meet the prerequisites for these feats as normal.
Spellbite (Su)
At 6th level, whenever a dragon disciple casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the his dragon disciple spell list, he can deliver the spell as part of a bite attack. Instead of the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a dragon disciple can make one free bite attack as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. This bite attack uses it's normal critical range (20, modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects) and both the bite and spell cause double damage on a confirmed critical hit.
Blindsense (Ex)
At 10th level, the dragon disciple gains blindsense with a range of 30 feet. Using non-visual senses the dragon disciple notices things he cannot see. He usually does not need to make Perception checks to notice and pinpoint the location of creatures within range of his blindsense ability, provided that he has line of effect to that creature. He still suffers from the normal concealment miss chance. At 17th level, the range of this ability increases to 60 feet.
Form of the Dragon (Sp)
At 13th level, a dragon disciple can assume the form of a dragon. This ability works like form of the dragon I. At 16th level, this ability functions as form of the dragon II and the dragon disciple can use this ability twice per day. At 19th level, this ability functions as form of the dragon III and the dragon disciple can use this ability three times per day. His caster level for this effect is equal to his class level. The breath weapon given by this ability is separate from the dragon disciple's innate breath weapon (above). Both types of breath weapon can be used in form of the dragon. Whenever he uses this ability, the dragon disciple must assume the form of a dragon of the same type as his bloodline.
Wings (Su)
At 15th level, leathery dragon wings grow from his back, giving him a fly speed of 60 feet with average maneuverability. These wings can be used in armor and fold up so they are not in the way, but they are hard to conceal, which is subsumed in dragon aura ability above. At 20th level, the flight speed improves to 90 feet.
Power Of Wyrms (Su)
At 20th level, his draconic heritage becomes manifest. He gains immunity to paralysis, sleep, and damage of his energy type. Also, his blindsense becomes blindsight.
Table: Dragon Disciple
| Class Level |
Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Special | Spells per Day | ||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Cantrips, claws, dragon arcana, Eschew materials | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Bite | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Natural armor (+1), resistance (5) | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Breath (1/day) | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Ability boost (Str +2), bonus feat, claws (magic) | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +4 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Natural armor (+2), spellbite | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +5 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Breath (2/day), claws (1d6) | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 8th | +6/+1 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Ability boost (Con +2) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 9th | +6/+1 | +6 | +3 | +6 | Natural armor (+3), resistance (10) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 10th | +7/+2 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Blindsense 30 ft., breath (3/day) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 11th | +8/+3 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Ability boost (Str +2), bonus feat, bite (energy damage) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
| 12th | +9/+4 | +8 | +4 | +8 | Natural armor (+4) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
| 13th | +9/+4 | +8 | +4 | +8 | Breath (4/day), form of the dragon I (1/day) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 14th | +10/+5 | +9 | +4 | +9 | Ability boost (Int +2), claws (energy damage) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 15th | +11/+6/+1 | +9 | +5 | +9 | Natural armor (+5), resistance (15), wings (60 ft.) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — |
| 16th | +12/+7/+2 | +10 | +5 | +10 | Breath (5/day), form of the dragon II(2/day) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 17th | +12/+7/+2 | +10 | +5 | +10 | Ability boost (Str +2), blindsense (60 ft.), bonus feat | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 18th | +13/+8/+3 | +11 | +6 | +11 | Natural armor (+6) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 19th | +14/+9/+4 | +11 | +6 | +11 | Breath (6/day), form of the dragon III(3/day) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 20th | +15/+10/+5 | +12 | +6 | +12 | Ability boost (Cha +2), power of wyrms, wings (90 ft.) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Summary of Lost Class Abilities
These abilities of the original class are lost or modified in this archetype:
- Arcane Pool
- Spell Combat
- Magus Arcana
- Medium Armor
- Improved Spell Combat
- Fighter Training
- Heavy Armor
- Greater Spell Combat
- Counterstrike
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