A Player's Guide to Dragonmarks

[nijineko]

And with that, this handbook is finished (except for online articles, which I don't want to sift through because you can't search them easily the way you can an OCR PDF).

my archive contains all the online articles, use an indexer and you have it all in an easy to search format. that is the purpose of the archive, after all. ^^ link in sig, click on the "bundle torrent" link, not the download now link.

[cru]

Suggestions for stuff to be included into handbook:

dragonmarks can be identified with a spellcraft check, DC 15 to 30

discussion about caster level and saving throw

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The caster level of your dragonmark depends on the type and level of your dragonmark. For true dragonmarks, taking specific prestige classes may increase your CL. The maximum increase from PRC is 5.
The saving throw is charisma-based. Often, the DC is not important because DM powers don't require a save. Notable exceptions are aberrant dragonmarks, animal charms (handling) and undead curing (healing).
   least   1+prc   HD/2
   lesser   6+prc   3+HD/2
   greater   10+prc   5+HD/2
For a cheap increase of CL, use dragonmark focus amulets (ECS), up to +4. RAW, only for true DM (but see items section).   
Mighty Dragonmark feat is increases DC and CL. An aberrant only feat, Hideous Strength, offers similar benefits.

      
feats:

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aberrant dragonmark as a prerequisite for aberrant feats in Lords of Madness
maximize SLA
empower SLA
quicken SLA

Dragonmark Luck (TEOTLQ) - 1/day sacrifice dragonmark use to get 1 action point
Dragon Ward (TEOTLQ) - sacrifice DM use to get +4 AC/reflex vs dragons for a few rounds
Aberrant Dragonmark Vigor (PGtE) - sac DM use to get temp HP equal to HD, immediate action (!)
Aberrant Dragonmark Gift (PGtE) - can use aberrant DM 3/day
Aberrant Dragonmark Mystery (PGtE) - sac DM use to get +1 CL for a single spell/power/infusion/invocation
Dragon's Insight (PGtE) - expend DM use for +4 skill bonus
Shield of Deneith (PGtE) - expend DM use for dodge AC bonus
Swiftness of Orien (PGtE) - expend DM use for speed bonus

Dragonmarked Sorcerer (Dragon 351) - SLAs granted by your house's dragonmark are now spells known for you (if sorcerer spells)

Breath of Siberys: +1d6 / +2d6 to breath weapon damage
Dragonmark Adept/Prodigy/Visionary: get extra use of DM + an additional SLA from Spell Compendium
Dragonmark Mastery: spend action point to use DM as immediate/swift action
Dragonmark Rage: gain fast healing 3 while raging
Dragonmark Smite: spend AP to make target dazed/prone/unconscious
Dragonmark Spellturning: spend AP to target spell at original caster, max level 1/3/5/7
Dragonmarked Summoner: summons get 1/2/3 deflection to AC
Evoker's Mark: spend AP to empower evocation
Greensinger's Mark: wild shaped deal +2d6 damage vs aberrations and evil outsiders
Mark of the Dauntless: cannot be dazed or stunned; can touch others to remove these conditions
Mark of the Recovery: when attack disables you, can sac DM as immediate action to heal HP damage
Mark of Stars: never surprised/flatfooted; +2 insight to AC and reflex
Mark of Twelve Moons: gain +1 inherent bonus to one ability score
Mark of Vermin: treat vermin as animals with 2 int
Mark of Xoriat: DR5/byeshk
Mighty Dragonmark: +1 DC, +2 CL for dragonmarks
Orien Battle Stride: +4 stability; can take 5ft step when missed as immediate action
Quicken Dragonmark: use least DM as swift action; can be taken 3 times to affect also lesser and greater DM
Sentinel Stance: adjacent allies gain up to +3 AC and Reflex
Stormrider: electricity and sonic resistance 10; take 10 on Balance
Umbral Mark: 25% / 50% fortification; does not stack

PRC:
explorer's handbook   windwright captain (storm)

Items:

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dragonmark focus - 1/2/3/4 to dm caster level, 1.5k/3k/6k/12k gp - cheap and good
dragonshard reservoir - gives extra use of least, lesser, greater, siberys (7k-80k) - expensive
channeling rods - metamagic rods for dragonmarks (0.5k-85k) - useful and not expensive
siberys shard holy symbol (FoE) - allows a cleric to rebuke drakonmarked
dragonmark rods (MoE) - grants 3/2/1 uses of dm to users who have already have the dm (30k-60k) + use any
fuel shards (MoE) - empower/extend/heighten dragonmark, single use, 225-1800
dragon's blood drug (Sharn) - improve effect of dm
dragonmark scepter (RoE) - extra use of least dm for 1000 gp
sentinel's shield (sharn) - shield enhancement: extra uses of protection from arrows

Many items work only for true dragonmarks. However, aberrant variants should be also available (Dra 158).

specific mark items
altar of resurrection - cheap and nice
astral beacon - doubles teleportation distance, expensive
bag of bounty - meh for player characters
bracelet of comfort - meh for player characters
collar of the wild bond - dominate any creature? eternal slave for 5k? broken?
diadem of focused passage - +2 teleport CL… meh?
diadem of sharpened senses - nice: at will least DM, extra uses of lesser, skill bonuses…
helm of the sentinel - 1/day contingent dragonmark
houseward - greatly increases duration of warding marks, meh for player characters
inquisitive goggles - sense last living creature touching an object
keycharm - to bypass wards
lightning reins - meh for player characters
pen of the scribe - +5 forgery, meh for player characters
prospector's rod - meh for player characters
rings of shared suffering - shield other with bonuses, expensive
scepter of wild dominion - +2 CL and DC of mark of handling powers, can target magical beasts
scrystone - send and receive mental images via scrying
sky forge - fabricate lot of stuff
speaking stone - meh for PC
wheel of wind and water - benefits when controlling ships
image projector (MoE)
reparation apparatus (MoE) - +4 CL for repair spells/infusions/SLAs - cheap!
crown of high dominion (Dra) - control more weather, meh
serpentine mirror (Dra) - can use greater scrying
shadow eye (Dra) - cheap sensor that can be scryed
siberys combass (SoX) - traveling benefits on Xen'drik
gloves of the locksmith (sharn) - arcane seal 3/day
pen of the living parchment (sharn) - mark criminals by writing on their body

Unpublished Feats from Eberron Designer:

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DEATH CURSE   
When you are about to die, you can make a final strike with the power of your dragonmark.   
Prerequisites: Aberrant Dragonmark.   
Benefit: When you suffer an injury that reduces your hit points to -1 or below, you may choose to invoke your death curse on your enemies. Select one of your aberrant dragonmark abilities and an opponent who participated in the final attack. This opponent must be within the normal range of the spell effect and you must make a successful attack roll if it is required, but you do not have to have an action prepared. Your effective caster level is increased by 4, and the saving throw DC against the effect is increased by 2. However, there is one drawback: you die as soon as you have released the curse, regardless of your current hit point total.   
You may also choose to invoke your death curse any time you use an aberrant dragonmark ability; however, you die immediately after activating the power. In either case, death is unavoidable; if you find some effect that prevents death, then the curse will not take effect.   
   
HIDEOUS STRENGTH   
Your aberrant dragonmark is unusually strong, but it has a tangible disturbing effect. This may take the form of physical disfigurement, noxious odor, or an inexplicably repellent aura: whatever the visible signs, others find you to be especially disturbing.   
Prerequisites: Aberrant Dragonmark.   
Benefit:The caster level of your aberrant dragonmark powers is increased by 1, and the saving throw DC is increased by 2. However, when dealing with any creature aside from an aberration or humanoid with an aberrant dragonmark, you take a -2 penalty on the following skills or abilities: Diplomacy, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Perform, or wild empathy. Barring other factors, a hostile animal will choose you as a target over other nearby enemies.   

[cru]

For a caster, dragonmarks are unimpressive feat sink. For mundane characters, they grants them some extra tricks in their sleeves. BSFs sacrifice one point of BAB and a feat or 2 to enter the prestige classes, they receive great saves and new abilities in return. These builds are pretty viable at mid levels; later casters' versatility overshadows them.

Aberrant rager

barb 4/child 4
1 aberrant dragonmark 3 aberrant dragonmark vigor 6 dragonmark rage 9 aberrant reach (lords of madness)	CL9 4 x shield (rod extended 18 minutes, 500 gp) 2 x vampiric touch (4d6) 2 x enervation

* fast healing 3 while raging
* as immediate action, sac DM to get 8 temp hp
* If all aberrant DM feats are treated as [Aberrant], this character can get nice benefits from further [Aberrant] feats (Lords of Madness).

Fiery Blaster

any 4/child 4	CL11
1 aberrant dragonmark 3 quicken dragonmark 6 quicken dragonmark	4x quickened burning hands 3x quickened empowered scorching ray 1x flamestrike

gear: dragonmark focus +2 CL (3k), empower channeling rod lesser (4,5k)
note: does not work RAW, some feats/items are for true dm only

Halfling Healbot

any 4/heir 5	CL15
1 favored 3 least dragonmark 6 dragonmark mastery 9 dragonmark visionary	CLW 4x CSW 3x heal 3x panacea 2x

* spend action point to use dragonmark as an immediate action
* gear: dragonmark rod (healing) 55k (with party contribution); altar of resurrection 13k

Halfelf perceptor
CL14
any 4/heir 4
detect magic 5x, see invis 3x, true seeing 1x
diadem of sharpened senses 10k: least at will, lesser extra use, skill bonuses

Mobile mundane
any 4/heir 4 (CL14)
dimension leap 4x, ddoor OR phantom steed 3x, overland flight or teleport 1x
least channeling rod, quickening, 6k - can quicken dimension leap 3xday

[The_Mad_Linguist]

You might want to mention the interaction between spellthief and dragonmarks. 

Getting unlimited uses per day (even with a longer activation time) makes the feats pretty decent.

[Nifft]

Prestige Classes

Child of Khyber

Entry Requirements: Any nongood, 7 ranks in two different skills, Abberant Dragonmark.
Progression: d8 HD, medium BAB, three good saves, 4+Int skill points with a decent skill list.
Ability Overview: This is basically the counterpart to Dragonmarked Heir, with one major exception: Aberrant Burst. The ability is decent for anyone using Aberrant marks, as it raises the CL and DC by 3 each.

The only problem is that the PrC doesn't mention any other CL increases for your Aberrant marks, meaning you have to get the DM to extrapolate from the feats themselves. That said, several Aberrant Dragonmark SLAs are very powerful and, more importantly, useful. Consider this if you are using one.

Just want to point out: Aberrant Dragonmarks auto-advance the caster level of their SLAs, so it's not necessary for Child of Khyber to compensate caster level in the way that Dragonmark Heir does. IMHO this is significant enough that it bears mention in the guide, since Aberrant Dragonmarks don't require class-levels to perform at higher levels in the same way that true Dragonmarks do.

Least Aberrant Dragonmark SLA caster level is one-half your HD (presumably with a minimum of 1 but that's not stated).

Lesser Aberrant Dragonmark SLA caster level is (3 + half your HD); starts at 6 and goes up to 13.

Greater Aberrant Dragonmark SLA caster level is (5 + half your HD); starts at 9 and goes up to 15.