Dragonling (5A)

This is a Bogeyman subclass.

The assassin silently opens the second-story window, easing silently into the room. Sliding across the floor to the bed to find no head on the pillow, only a curled form under the blanket. Pulling the blanket away ready to stab, but there is no youth curled up on the bad. Not a human at all, but a young dragon!

As a dragonling you have mysteriously changed into a dragon, or you were never a humanoid to begin with. You are a young dragon, slowly growing into your full might. You are not one of the normal types of true dragon, you are unique, seeking your own path to draconic perfection.

Source: Original.

Dragon Born

Your creature type is dragon. Your natural shape is a lizard-like dragon, but you have the ability to assume the form of a creature of the race you chose for yourself during character creation. You can change between these two forms as a bonus action, but when you become unconscious you assume your dragon form.

In humanoid form you cannot use the Dark Strike, Dark Ward, Monster Scare, or Supernatural Movement class features and the Dragon Breath ability of the Dragonling affinity.

Your draconic form is Small. Its appearance depends on your preference and what abilities you have. Your Dark Strike can be a claw (slashing damage), bite (piercing damage), or tail lash (bludgeoning damage), selected when you make the attack. Your prehensile claws work as hands and you can use most gear except armor. Magical items worn adjust themselves to your new form. You can use most items not restricted by class or spell list, but not armor.

Draconic Element

At 3rd level you chose a damage type representing the power of your draconic form. Select Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Poison, or Thunder. The first time you hit a creature with a Dark Strike attack each turn, you inflict additional damage of the chosen type equal to your Dark Strike die. You also gain resistance to the chosen damage type.

Dragonling Breath

At 3rd level you can take an action to breathe a gout of your chosen Draconic Element. This is either a 10 foot cone or a 20 foot line, chosen when you gain the ability. Creatures in the area take two of your Dark Strike die in damage, of the damage type chosen for Draconic Element. A Dexterity save is allowed for half damage. You can use this ability once, regaining it on a long rest.

At 7th level this becomes a 20 foot cone or 40 foot line doing three Dark Strike dice of energy damage. You can use this ability twice before resting, but not on consecutive turns.

At 15th level this becomes a 30 foot cone or a 60 foot line 10 feet wide doing four Dark Strike dice of energy damage. You can use this ability three times before resting, but not on consecutive turns.

At 20th level this becomes a 40 foot cone or a 120 foot line 15 feet wide doing five Dark Strike dice of energy damage. You can use this ability at will, but not on consecutive turns.

Hybrid Form

At 6th level, you can assume a third form as a bonus action, a hybrid of your humanoid and draconic forms. In this form you have your basic humanoid shape, with claws, draconic scales, a tail, and optionally wings. You need a hooded cloak to conceal your draconic nature when in this form. You can use all bogeyman class features in this form, and those dragonling abilities not restricted to draconic form only. While in hybrid form you suffer disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks against Humanoids. Your Dark Strike in hybrid form can be a claw (slashing damage), bite (piercing damage), or tail lash (bludgeoning damage), as selected with each use. You can use Dragonling Breath, but the area is only half normal.

You also gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from non-magical weapons in your hybrid and draconic forms.

Medium Dragon

At 7th level your draconic form grows to Medium size. In dragon form (but not in hybrid form) your Dark Strike attacks with your tail now has a reach of 10 feet and you can shove and grapple with your tail.

Large Dragon

At 11th level your draconic form becomes Large, taking up a 10 foot space. This is a powerful ability, but impractical in many circumstances. It works as Medium Dragon, except as noted here. In Large Dragon form you double the dimensions of your Dragon Breath and all your Dark Strike attacks now have a reach of 10 feet and you add the damage from Draconic Element to all your Dark Strike attacks. You can carry a Medium or smaller rider.

Draconic Senses

At 15th level, you gain blindsight with a range of 50 feet in your draconic and hybrid forms. This uses a combination of scent and hearing, if you lose either of these senses you lose your blindsight. You also gain immunity to the damage type chosen for Draconic Element.

Huge Dragon

When you reach 20th level, your draconic form becomes Huge, taking up 15 feet of space. This works like Large Dragon, except as noted here. Triple the dimensions of your Dragon Breath and all your Dark Strike attacks gain a reach of 15 feet. Your Dark Strike attacks do two Dark Strike of the damage type of that attack plus one Dark Strike die of the type you choose as your Draconic Element at level 3.

Designer's Comments

Who would have thought Dragonling would turn out to be one of the simpler subclasses? Huge Dragon, and to a lesser extent Large Dragon, are actually hindrances, the real power gained at these levels is the improvement to Dragon Breath.