Author Topic: Dragon Descendant Pamphlet  (Read 8153 times)

Offline Arz

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Dragon Descendant Pamphlet
« on: July 13, 2013, 04:19:35 PM »
Swinging with your Ancestors, exposing the Dragon Descendant

   Leveling in uncool places you achieved the stillness of mind to realize, “My parents were swingers!” Hip to this revelation you concentrated on combating squares improving upon your reflexes to strike those unarmed of your technique. Having swung across vast tracts of land you thought this journey at an end. Then a conquered philistine revealed in form, “Those horny dragons are swingers too!” Now you rampage the lucubration of your ancestors as a true swinger, Dragon Descendant.

Class Features:

The Numbers  – I won’t dodge your love, so swing with me. Poor reflex which should not worry you.
The SkillsA swinger can always perform. History-ex will surely not repeat itself. Lose arcana, perform, and gain history.
Monk Abilities – I can swing with items on any table. Sadly lacks improvement to flurry. Par for the monk course.
Rampaging Ancestor – I shall not fear the unsexy nor tap with too furious anger. Minor atk/dmg bonus, ki strike, and immunity to fear. Unfortunately this bonus does not advance swiftly enough to be useful in later levels unless the class is uncapped.
Ancestral LoreBet you haven’t tried…Bardic knowledge based on a concentration check. So potent you can only use it once per week. What!?! Might as well throw your psionic focus at it.
Subtle AncestorTapping your blind spot. Sneak attack as a rogue of your DD level! Also some quick hide benefits. Read this carefully as the developers did not. You are not limited to 2d6. Only monk class that gains sneak attack.
Slippery Mind – Lubed for your pleasure. Slightly above the average level where this ability appears. Dims the importance of having immunity to fear active via your rampaging ancestor.
Eldritch Ancestor – Sexy beam! Almost an eldritch blast of your DD level. Use that monk speed to keep them away as long as it’s working for your party. Watch out for foes with SR! Not sure why they didn’t include a variation of shapes or essences.
Rapid Calling – Bomp chika wow wow. This is how you should have been able to switch ancestors from the start. However this is faster than other mode changing class features.
Enduring AncestorGetting finer with age. Cold iron damage reduction and boost to all saves. If you are tanking this is likely to save your hide.
Detect DragonbloodSensing something scrumptious. Crap level. This is a first level ability!
Ancient AncestorCan you take it? AC boost and AoO anyone that tries to strike you.
Double Synthesis – Wincest is the best. Pick two ancestors, mix and match. Much like rapid call this comes a bit late. Also means that you can only bring to bear 2/5 of your power at one time.

This class is more flexible than most monk classes. The ease of entry is a real nice surprise since you can manage it with a zero feat tax by multi-classing. Other than a slow start the class features are actually useful and sometimes synergistic. This means the only good breakpoints in this class are 3 and 7. If you wanted your monk to have useful knowledge, incarnate benefits, sneak attack, or a ray attack this is your class. Also take care when multi-classing as any bonus gained is of the insight type.

A note on Adaptation: This is one of the few times a PrC is mentioned as going beyond 10 levels pre-Epic. Too bad they want to move double synthesis along with the cap. Adding more ancestors is great only if you can use them. It should mention when triple synthesis occurs. Interested homebrewers should go here.


Entry Classes:

Archivist (4) – Best way to get still mind in a gestalt game.
Monk (3) – Still mind and necessary bonus feats. Decisive strike and Invisible fist are the best alternate features to pick. Avoid taking too many more levels.
Fighter (1/2) – Bonus feats will meet the prerequisites.
Psychic Warrior (1/2) – Wisdom dependant powers and bonus feats.
Rogue (1/2) – The martial (feat) alternate does get the prerequisites and evasion alternates are nice.
Samurai (2) – OA Dragon clan has the right bonus feats and its cheap crafting for two weapons.
Shaman (1) – Another odd caster entry to match with archivist. Mainly nice for the flanking buddy.
Swordsage (1) – Unarmed adaptation for guess what feat? Good match with archivist. Counters!
Dragonfire Adept (1) – Dragontouched, invocation, UMD, and breathe weapon.
Dragon Shaman (1) – Auras, and dragon ancestor which counts as Draconic Heritage (DM p18 sidebar).
Favored Soul (3) – Bahamut/Tiamat allows the worst way to gain the Dragontouched feat.
Sorceror (1) – Dragonblood races can gain Draconic Heritage, UMD, and may be stalwart in battle.

Warlock – Eldritch blast and invocations might improve eldritch ancestor subject to DM fiat. Still a trap.

Abilities:

   Your subtle, eldritch, and enduring ancestors require a higher investment in dexterity than your previous classes. Raise it up at least one rank and try to base your melee style around it.

Races:

Silverbrow Human – The psionic houses give them an interesting entry into Fist of Zuoken. Dragonblood is just thematic and gains nice sorceror options. Say no to bonus skills.
Strongheart Halfling – Small size, bonus feat, and access to Hin Disciple substitution levels. Glimmerskin and Water subraces are far short of a bonus feat.
Anthropomorphic Rat – Small size, scent, finesse, good stats, and three movement types plus skill boosts.
Skarn – Monk substitution levels blend nicely with the Ascetic Stalker feat. Essentia will be problematic.
Muckdweller – Tiny knee biters w/ finesse that can spit in your face. Wisdom penalty and shorter reach somewhat hinders them.
Frostblood Half-Orc – Only if you want to enter Tattooed Monk w/ some sorceror options.
Illumian – Uurkrau can be useful for those advancing casting classes and Vauluur has some potential.
Jungle Kobold – Requires a feat tax to be useful but if the right options are available …quite potent.
Snow Elf – Best of the worst race for Companion Guard Style. Switch to aquatic for those campaigns.

Feats:

Combat Reflexes – The gold standard for AoO techniques.
Evasive Reflexes – Replacement for Combat Reflexes. Works best with subtle ancestor or low dex types.
Draconic Heritage – Based mostly around cumulative benefits.
Dragontouched – Flat benefits in areas you commonly need.
Improved Unarmed Strike – Go see another guide for improving your monk damage.

Double Draconic Aura – Every dragon shaman should be taking this when available.
Eldritch Claws (Dr358) – Combines unarmed strike with eldritch ancestor as a claw attack.
Entangling Breath – Lay a sticky carpet under your enemies. Might want to trade this out later.
Exotic Shield (Battle Cloak) – One of the few shield-types useable by monks. Purely for the fighter dips.
Grappling Blast (Dr358) – Combine eldritch ancestor with unarmed strike and a boost to grapple checks.
Planar Touchstone – Generally good but for the knowledge requirement. Oxyrhynchus grants extra sneak attacks.
Snap Kick – Extra attack, even on a standard action. High BAB requirement.

Carmendine Monk – This makes you intelligence based monk, which is very useful for Archivist entry.
Companion Guard Style – Use dexterity on longspear melee attacks you dirty elf!
Intuitive Strike – Less useful than for most monks as dex is so important. Combines well w/ Serpent Strike.
Shadow Blade – Base your melee damage off dexterity. Limited weapons and requirements cut its use a lot.
Weapon Finesse – Now you can feycraft those hooked swords.

Deformity (tall) – Worship an elder evil to pick this up as a bonus.
Flying Tiger – Treat hook swords as a one-handed reach weapon. Adds the greatest amount of options for a reach weapon using monk and cumulative weapon properties. See scorpion kama below.
Inhuman Reach – Less weird restrictions than being deformed.
Lunging Strike – Useful way to add reach with decisive strike. Surprisingly high BAB requirement.
Pole Master – Hafted reach weapon becomes monk weapon. See scorpion kama below. Good choices are: Guisarme (trip), Lucerne Hammer (crit), and Ranseur (disarm).
Serpent Strike – Longspear becomes monk weapon. See scorpion kama below.
Spear of Doom – If you constantly ready your longspear, steadfast boots, it cuts off all approaches and possibly another doubling of damage.

Close Quarters Fighting – Deny grapplers with an AoO. Not many grapplers can see invisible though.
Defensive Sweep – Static foes earn an AoO. Doubt you’ll get the BAB to earn it though.
Deft Opportunity – Improve your attacks with AoO only. Might be necessary if AC is high.
Double Hit – Off hand AoO. Difficult prerequisites outside of magical items.
Mage Slayer – No combat casting in your threatened area. SR enemies are going to laugh.
Pierce Magical Protection – Deny AC boosts from spells. Pretty much ends your eldritch ancestor utility.
Robilar’s Gambit – Allow free shot to earn AoO against those who take it.
Spectral Skirmisher – Get the boss to attack you and Invisible Fist (immediate) to trigger this feat. High BAB.
Standstill – You are faster and have ranged options. Let them run or use other abilities to hamper them.
Supernatural Instincts – Shh, don’t tell them but this allows AoO against creatures using supernatural ability. Although this doesn’t stop the ability activating, stunning fist might make it hard to utilize.

Magic Items:

Finesse – +3 ability for a feat I’ll probably want if feycraft isn’t enough.
Intercepting – +1 ability to ruin charge maneuvers and double damage.
Scorpion Kama – As pointed out in the MIC reflavor this to another monk weapon with reach and decisively stab your way to happiness. Longspear and hooked swords are my favorites but any polearm works.
Long Arm (graft) – Sell my soul for 5’ reach? Hey we’re all lawful under this blood pact.
Sparring Dummy of the Master – Turns 5’ steps into 10’ steps. Good way to turn the corner on a critter.
Steadfast Boots – Always ready, triple damage against charges? Lovely.
Gloves of the Balanced Hand – Nice way to get some extra attacks for all monks.
Rod of Eldritch Power – Add essence/shape to your eldritch blast. Chains are sexy.

 Finishers:

Atavist – Aggressive kalashtar can acquire reach.
Argent Fist – Cleric and Exorcist of the Silver Flame entry for holy armor, ki focus, and more monk synergy.
Shadow Sun Ninja – Odd but potent abilities. Axis powers are go!
Shintao Monk – Bonus feats without a feat tax or cross-class skills. Nice immunities.
Tattooed Monk – Bat, Chameleon, Crane, Monkey, or Mountain provide benefits to your ancestors.
Enlightened Fist – Weak arcane advancement and mostly useless class abilities.
Fist of Zuoken – Five levels earns a 3rd level power which is ahead of Xerth.
Sacred Fist – Good BAB, divine spellcasting, and weaponless code of conduct.
Xerth Cenobite – Any psionic race picks up powers and free actions.

Drunken Master – Improved improvised weapons can have reach based on length. Got rope?
Fist of Dal Quor – Resilient mind is a very near (better) substitute for still mind.
Enlightened Spirit – Crappy class that gives you access to greater invocations than you could normally access.
Warshaper – Reach and ability improvements for minimal monk level loss.
Warmind – Good BAB, powers, and sweeping strike are more than worth the prerequisites.

Builds:

DD20 Basic
Monk 3/Dragonfire Adept 1/Dragon Descendant 10/X 6
Abilities: Decisive strike, Invisible fist, See the unseen
Bonus Feats: Stunning Fist, Combat Reflexes, Dragontouched
Feats: 1) Supernatural Instincts; 3) Pain Touch; 6) Double Hit; 9) Lunging Strike; 12) Spectral Skirmisher; 15) Snap Kick; 18) Robilar’s Gambit
   This is the bare bones for any dragon descendant. X can be any six class levels but try to keep adding on unarmed damage dice. Employ Invisible Fist defensively to earn three AoO for each attack of your opponent. You have a direct line to your martial ancestors and should role-play like it by either acting like them, reacting to them, or both if you are really crazy.

Thunder of the Dancing Sword
Monk 3/Fighter 1/Sorceror 1/Dragon Descendant 10/Shintao Monk 5
New Abilities: Hit and run tactics, Smite, Immune to sleep, slow, and stun
Different Feats: Aberrant Blood, Inhuman Reach, Draconic Heritage, WF: Hooked Sword, Flying Tiger, Combat Expertise, Improved Trip
   If Fu Leng will not come to you, Shinsei says to ring up another ancestor. Set up your 20’ zone of ancient decisive strikes. Hooked sword of choice has Feycraft, Scorpion, and Finesse ASAP plus others. If you need more weapon ability options juggle some dancing swords to find the right bane.

Couatl of the Silver Armor
Monk 3/Cleric 1/Sorceror 1/Dragon Descendant 10/Exorcist of the Silver Flame 3/Argent Fist 2
New Abilities: Turn energy, Inquisition, Flame of censure, Weapon of the exorcist, Smite evil, Ki focus, Stunning smite, Holy armor
Different Feats: Spear of Doom, Protection Devotion, Draconic Heritage, WF: Ransuer, Pole Master, Monastic Training
   You reach out with your arrow of exorcism and smite the impure. Although your spiritual power is weak, the temporal power of your shiny plate keeps enemies at bay.

Hin-anju
Monk 9/Dragon Shaman 1/Dragon Descendant 10
New Abilities: Auras (power, senses, vigor), Skirmish (+4d6, +4 AC), Size matter not, The harder they fall
Different Feats: Staggering Strike, Improved Trip, Swift Ambusher
   The Hin teach an unsubtle racism of cowering in small spaces, forcing you to your knees, and curb stomping you with the whole extended family. It’s how they make Sparring Dummies of the Master race.

Pub Dragon
Monk 3/Fighter 1/Sorceror 1/Dragon Descendant 10/Drunken Master 5
New Abilities: Hit and Run tactics, Spear Focus, Drink like a demon, Greater improvised weapons, Stagger, Swaying waist
Different Feats: Dragonwrought, Ascetic Mage, Dodge, Draconic Heritage, WF: Unarmed, Close Quarters Fighting
   The prepared drunk has a potion bracer and a BFF named Al Chemist.

Professor of the Blast
Monk 3/Dragon Shaman 1/Warlock 1/Dragon Descendant 10/Enlightened Spirit 5
New Abilities: Auras (courage, menace, power, senses, swiftness), Eldritch blast 8d6, Energy resistance, Invocations (entropic warding, see the unseen, spirit blast, celestial flight, vitriolic blast, chilling tentacles), Spirit armor, Tongues
Different Feats: Scorpion’s Grasp, Improved Grapple, Multigrab, Grappling Blast, Greater Multigrab
   Search for interesting dragons and interview them while they are under subtle barrage in your chilling tentacles. If that fails perform an eldritch pin and drop some loaded inquiries on them. Purely theoretical as neither enlightened spirit nor warlock are compatible with DD under RAW.

« Last Edit: July 18, 2013, 03:30:09 PM by Arz »

Offline Arz

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Re: Dragon Descendant
« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2013, 04:20:14 PM »
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Offline Arz

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Re: Dragon Descendant
« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2013, 04:20:47 PM »
« Last Edit: July 13, 2013, 04:26:49 PM by Arz »