Author Topic: Dragonborn Half-elf  (Read 2019 times)

Offline phaedrusxy

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Dragonborn Half-elf
« on: June 30, 2013, 02:04:17 PM »
What does a half-elf lose/keep for becoming a dragonborn? I think it basically loses everything (which is really nothing much...), but still counts as a half-elf for prereqs (like the bardic substitution level for Soothing Voice), right?

I think I could also use Alter Self for humanoid and dragon forms, right?

Quote
For all effects related to race, a dragonborn is considered a dragon and a member of her original race.

Working on a bard character, and would like both Soothing Voice + Dragonfire Inspiration without taking Draconic Heritage.
« Last Edit: June 30, 2013, 02:06:53 PM by phaedrusxy »
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Offline Jackinthegreen

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Re: Dragonborn Half-elf
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2013, 02:11:50 PM »
Quoting the book:

Type, Subtype, and Race: You retain your original type and
subtypes, gaining the dragonblood subtype. You still count as
a member of your original race for the purpose of any effect or
prerequisite that depends on race.

Other Racial Traits: You lose all other racial traits of your original
race, including bonus feats, skill bonuses, attack bonuses,
save bonuses, spell-like abilities, and so forth. Two specific
instances warrant clarification.

So yes, you still count as a half-elf and can take racial substitution levels for it.  However, you lose the skill and save boosts, the immunity to sleep effects, and the low-light vision.  You would retain your size, land speed, type and subtype, languages, and favored class.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Dragonborn Half-elf
« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2013, 02:14:07 PM »
That's what I thought. If I had first applied the Magic-Blooded template, I'd keep the ability score adjustments, but lose everything else, right? I think I'm liking where this is going. :D
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Offline Jackinthegreen

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Re: Dragonborn Half-elf
« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2013, 02:27:25 PM »
Keep in mind Magic-Blooded is an inherited template, while Dragonborn is effectively an acquired one.  Are you able to work around that?

Offline Demelain

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Re: Dragonborn Half-elf
« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2013, 04:06:26 PM »
That's what I thought. If I had first applied the Magic-Blooded template, I'd keep the ability score adjustments, but lose everything else, right? I think I'm liking where this is going. :D

Yes.
I once had a DM that was very uneasy about Spell-like abilities on a +0 LA creature (or Gnomes, for that matter), and so didn't care for Magic-Blooded. I used Dragonborn to assuage him, since it removes the spell-likes.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Dragonborn Half-elf
« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2013, 04:28:37 PM »
Keep in mind Magic-Blooded is an inherited template, while Dragonborn is effectively an acquired one.  Are you able to work around that?
Why couldn't I? I am planning on applying Magic-Blooded first, then Dragonborn. I know I'll lose the SLAs, but I don't care. I only want the stat adjustments, anyway. So I'll effectively have a half-elf who is born with a bit of magic in his blood who decides to become a dragonborn later. Seems perfectly legal to me.
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Offline Jackinthegreen

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Re: Dragonborn Half-elf
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2013, 09:45:23 PM »
Keep in mind Magic-Blooded is an inherited template, while Dragonborn is effectively an acquired one.  Are you able to work around that?
Why couldn't I? I am planning on applying Magic-Blooded first, then Dragonborn. I know I'll lose the SLAs, but I don't care. I only want the stat adjustments, anyway. So I'll effectively have a half-elf who is born with a bit of magic in his blood who decides to become a dragonborn later. Seems perfectly legal to me.

I was under the assumption you might want to keep the SLAs and skill boosts, though with another read I see you definitely showed you didn't care about those.  If you don't and only want the stat changes then it'd be totally fine of course.
« Last Edit: June 30, 2013, 09:51:31 PM by Jackinthegreen »