Archdragon

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

ARCHDRAGON

Fierce, primordial beings composed of the multiverse's elements, dragons are among the most powerful creatures tied to any specific elemental form. There are those, however, who also become inexorably linked with the driving forces of the multiverse: alignments.

A deity sometimes bestows archdragon status upon a dragon as a reward for exceptional service. Other times, dragons traveling to other planes might find themselves overwhelmed or corrupted by the unbound planar energies existing there and transform into an archdragon. Archdragons appear similar to other dragons of their color, with some alterations to form based on the alignment with which they link.

A Good Gold Archdragon

Prerequisites

• Must be a True Dragon with at least 15HD (be it from racial HD or class levels)
• Alignment must match that of the desired Archdragon type (Chaotic for Chaotic Archdragons, Evil for Evil Archdragons, Good for Good Archdragons, and Lawful for Lawful Archdragons)
• Must receive the blessings of a Outsider with the appropriate alignment subtype which possesses at least 20HD (usually some leader or deity of the appropriate alignment).
  This blessing is usually rewarded for some great service or act in the cause of the alignment in question. The blessing must be given directly, not by proxy.
  Alternatively, the dragon can travel to a appropriately aligned plane and perform a ritual of ascension which takes 1 week to perform and requires a DC 35 Knowledge(the planes) check to complete. The dragon need not perform the check itself and can be walked through the necessary steps by someone who does make the check, but in such a case the DC is increased by 10.

ARCHDRAGON				HD: d12
Level 1 2 3 4	Base Attack Bonus +1 +2 +3 +4	Fort Save +2 +3 +3 +4	Ref Save +0 +0 +1 +1	Will Save +2 +3 +3 +4	Special Archdragon Body, Paragon of the Bloodline, Aligned Aura 1/day Aligned Magic, Aligned Aura 2/day True Seeing, Aligned Aura 3/day Aligned Breath, Aligned Aura 4/day

Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier per level (x4 at 1st level).
Class Skills: Any skills the Archdragons base Dragon class grant plus Knowledge (the planes).
Proficiencies: An Archdragon gains no new proficiencies

Class Features:

Archdragon Body: The Dragons body transforms to more closely match the alignment ideal it now associates with. First, the Archdragon gains the Extraplanar subtype (becoming native to the plane which transformed it or the plane of the patron that blessed it, presuming the plane matches the appropriate alignment of its kind), as well as the appropriate alignment subtype if it does not have it already, losing any other alignment subtypes.
The Archdragons attacks overcome damage reduction as if its attacks were aligned to the appropriate alignment of a Archdragon of its kind, and any damage reduction the dragon has from levels in a dragon class must now also be overcome by attacks aligned with the Archdragons opposing alignment, ignoring any DR the dragon has that is not overcome by any type of damage.
The Archdragon is now also immune to disease, fear, and polymorph effects, has energy resistance to Acid, Cold, Electricity, Fire, and Sonic equal to 3/4th its HD, Telepathy with a range of 5ft per HD, and increased maneuverability to its fly speed by one step (if any).



Paragon of the Bloodline: The natural abilities of a Archdragon grow as he progresses his new found powers. Levels is the Archdragon class stack with the dragons levels in its base Dragon class for the purposes of determining effect level for it's Breath Weapon (or equivalent, such as the Fang Dragon's Draining Bite) and Blood class features, as well as it's bonuses to ability scores.
The Archdragon does not advance or gain any other class features from the base class.


Aligned Aura (Su): A Archdragon can surround itself with a aligned aura, the effects of which is determined based on its associated alignment. The size of the aura is 10ft per HD, and it lasts a number of rounds equal to HD. This ability can be used 1/day, and an additional time per day per level above 1st. Any saves associated with a aura has a DC equal to 10 + 1/2 dragon's Hit Dice + dragon's Charisma modifier. Activating this ability is a swift action.

(click to show/hide)

Chaos Aura: A chaos aura appears as a swirling mist of scintillating sparks. Anyone inside the aura hears a steady hiss of harmless static. Creatures without the chaotic subtype take 1d6 per 3HD points of damage each round (ref half), as jolts of magical energy and small physical objects whirl around and randomly strike those within it. Creatures with the chaotic subtype are immune to this damage.
In addition, all attacks made within the chaos aura (except those made by the chaotic archdragon itself) suffer a miss chance. Melee attacks have a 20% miss chance. Ranged attacks have a 50% miss chance.

Corrupting Aura: A corrupting aura appears as thick shadows interspersed with ghostly, translucent images swirling about within. Any non-evil living creature takes a penalty to Constitution and Wisdom equal to 1/4th the Dragons HD.

Aura of Wholesomeness: An aura of wholesomeness appears as a soft white light with glittering gold motes floating about within. Non-evil living creatures heal damage equal to half the dragons HD each round as long as they remain within the aura. Evil creatures must succeed at a Will save each round or take 1d6 per 3 HD point of damage. Evil outsiders and undead instead take 1d8 per 3 HD.
In addition, the good Archdragon is affected by a sanctuary effect while this aura is active. As normal, should the archdragon attack the sanctuary effect immediately ends, but the rest of the effects of this aura continue as normal.

Aura of Imposing Order: An aura of imposing order appears to contain perfectly vertical "raindrops" of energy that fall at a uniform rate and speed.
Attacks that land within the aura deal average damage. Lawful creatures deal maximized damage with there weapon attack rolls instead.

Alignment      Chaotic Evil Good Lawful

Aura Chaos Aura Corrupting Aura Aura of Wholesomeness      Aura of Imposing Order

Aligned Magic: Archdragons have a unmistakable link to the magic associated with their alignments, and can wield it with ease. Starting at 2nd level, a Archdragon with the ability to cast spells adds the spells of the domains associated with its matching alignment to it's spells known list.
If the dragon does not have the ability to cast spells, the dragon can now cast a spell 1/day from each of it's associated domains as if it was a sorcerer 2/3rd it's level, with a caster level equal to it's HD.

Alignment      Chaotic Evil Good Lawful

Domains Chaos, Luck, Trickery Death, Evil, War Good, Healing, Protection Knowledge, Law, Strength

With DM permission, the Dragon can switch out up to 2 of the associated domains (besides the alignment domain), with another appropriate Domain associated with either the Dragons would be patron or the force of the associated alignment in that campaign world. For Instance, if a Dragon becomes a Good Archdragon by linking himself to a good aligned fire plane, with DM approval it would be appropriate to trade out the Healing or Protection domain for the Fire domain. Likewise, if the dragon instead gained the blessing of a Powerful Eladrin, it would be appropriate to perhaps trade in the Liberation Domain (SpC). Regardless of circumstance, you cannot choose another alignment domain  not matching your archdragon alignment, or a domain directly associated with such a alignment like the Celestial Domain (BoED).


True Seeing (Su): Starting at 3rd level, All archdragons can continually see through illusions and invisibility. This acts as a continuous true seeing spell (caster level equal to HD), which the archdragon can suppress or renew as a free action at will.


Aligned Breath (Su): Starting at 4th level, the Archdragons breath weapon now applies an additional effect, based on it's associated alignment. If the Dragon has a equivalent ability instead of a Breath Weapon, such as the Fang Dragon's Draining Bite, that ability applies the effects of this class feature instead. Any Save DCs are equal to the Dragon's Breath Weapon DC (or equivalent).

(click to show/hide)

Confusing Breath: A chaotic archdragon's breath is infused with chaotic energy. Any creature struck by the Archdragons breath weapon must make a will save or be confused condition for a number of rounds equal to half the dragons HD. Creatures immune to mind-affecting effects are even affected by this effect, but recieve a +5 bonus to their will saves.

Infectious Breath: An evil archdragon's breath weapon spreads the demon fever disease. Any creature struck by the Archdragons breath weapon must make a Fortitude save or be infected with demon fever, which affects the creature immediately as if it has incubated for a day. Each time a creature that is already affected by demon fever fails his fort save against this breath weapon, the disease progresses as if a day has passed, dealing damage to the creature. Creatures immune to diseases are even affected by this effect, but receive a +5 bonus to their fort saves.

Holy Breath: A good archdragon's breath weapon gains a disrupting quality dangerous to undead and the forces of evil. Half the damage the Breath Weapon dealing becomes sacred damage instead of the normal kind of damage it deals, which deals double double damage vs Undead and Evil Outsiders, but no damage to Good aligned creatures. If the Breath Weapon does not deal hit point damage, it instead deals a number of points of sacred damage equal to the Dragon's HD, in addition to the normal effects of the Breath (Ref Half).

Antimagic Breath: A lawful archdragon's breath weapon gains an antimagic quality. Any creature or object struck by the Archdragons breath weapon is affected by a targeted Greater Dispel Magic effect, with a CL equal to the Dragons HD.

Alignment      Chaotic Evil Good Lawful

Breath Weapon    Confusing Breath Infectious Breath    Holy Breath Antimagic Breath

ARCHDRAGON TYPES
Alignment      Chaotic Evil Good Lawful	Energy Resistance      Acid, Fire, Sonic Acid, Cold, Fire Cold, Electricity, Sonic      Cold, Electricity, Fire	Domains Chaos, Luck, Trickery Death, Evil, War Good, Healing, Protection Knowledge, Law, Strength	Aura Chaos Aura Corrupting Aura Aura of Wholesomeness      Aura of Imposing Order	Breath Weapon    Confusing Breath Infectious Breath    Holy Breath Antimagic Breath

Multiclassing and Change in Alignment
A Dragon can take the Archdragon class for each of his Alignments axis. For Instance, it is possible to be a Silver Dragon 15/ Lawful Archdragon 5 / Good Dragon 5. Note however that you cannot have both your aligned aura class features activate at the same time, and you can apply only one of your Aligned Breath class features to a Breath Weapon when it is used. You can however stack your energy resistance from both Archdragon classes (for instance Chaotic Evil Archdragon could have Acid and Fire Resistance equal to 1.5 his HD). He also retains both alignment subtypes (he does not lose the alignment subtype from the first Archdragon class he takes when he takes the second). All other class features apply normally, which for a few causes overlap of effects (such as True Seeing and Immunities).

A Archdragon who falls from the ideals and changes alignment loses all class features of this class except Paragon of the Bloodline. From there, he can exchange his Archdragon class levels for his base Dragon class levels at a rate of 1 level for every week he spends in uninterrupted rest and contemplation, refocusing his existence. If he regains his alignment, he can seek out the casting of a atonement spell to regain his class features (and re-exchange base Dragon class levels for Archdragon class levels). If a Archdragons alignment falls fare enough to be that of the opposing alignment, he can also forsake his former existence and seek out the powers of that alignment. All this requires is the dragon to re-qualify for Archdragon as a Archdragon of that alignment, and he converts his Archdragon class levels to a Archdragon of his new alignment.

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

holder

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

Something I decided to just whip up today.
Based on the Archdragon template found here, orginally from Dragon#321.

I missed around with a few of the abilities, mainly giving them scaling effects based on HD and giving some quality of life additions, and stuck a 15HD requirement on it so it would be more of a late game option, which I feel is most appropriate considering the nature of the template and strength of some of the abilities (namely antimagic breath of lawful archdragons).

[oslecamo]

Hmm, interesting, but some of the abilities between alignments don't seem to compare very well.

Corrupting aura for example allows a save and deals only minor ability damage, which your opponents at this level are probably immune against. And even if they aren't immune, it's kinda of a chore to keep track "ok, those guys now have minus -1 Wis and -1 Con, those don't, wait, what about last round?"

 While the order aura inflicts auto-doom and then basically shuts down energy-based attacks.

Then in the breaths we have  glitterdust (a 2nd level spell. A pretty good 2nd level spell, but still only 2nd level), devil chills (your enemy is probably immune), "f*** you undeads and evil ones", and finally "f*** you magic users". So two somewhat lacking effects and then two very powerful effects, one which is extremely situational, and other which will screw over most opponents out there.

[neriractor]

I don´t know if this was on purpose or some way to say that chaotic equals bad but if you run a chaotic Archdragon every party member that relies on attack rolls will hate you... that or you will never use the aura class feature.

Chaos Aura: A chaos aura appears as a swirling mist of scintillating sparks. Anyone inside the aura hears a steady hiss of harmless static. Creatures without the chaotic subtype take 1d6 per 3HD points of damage each round (ref half), as jolts of magical energy and small physical objects whirl around and randomly strike those within it. Creatures with the chaotic subtype are immune to this damage.
In addition, all attacks made within the chaos aura (except those made by the chaotic archdragon itself) suffer a miss chance. Melee attacks have a 20% miss chance. Ranged attacks have a 50% miss chance.

  
please add a clause so your friends or at least your chaotic friends won´t suffer the miss chance. (also do something about the breath weapons)

good luck, otherwise it looks like a really neat class to take.

[ketaro]

Much like the boss template, thsee problems don't hurt anything when this is a dm boss. In fact it's fairly awesome for a boss fight imo

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

I generally agree, a lot of the abilities need to be balanced quite a bit

Auras
Chaos Aura: Probably fine
Corrupting Aura: Maybe increase damage and only 1 save? Tick damage as long as creatures stay in area. Or Maybe replace with a Retribution aura that deals damage to creatures whom attack in the area.
Aura of Wholesomeness: Switch double damage to Undead/Evil Outsiders to d8s instead perhaps.
Aura of Imposing Order: Remove Doom and set damage to half instead of minimum. Also require a save (probably Will)

Breaths
Blinding Breath: Maybe permanent  blindness, or perhaps change to be a confusion effect which bypasses immunity.
Infectious Breath: Penetrate Immunity (with +5 to those normally Immune). Maybe increase damage.
Holy Breath: No save or die, make half damage of breath weapon sacred damage which deals double damage to undead/evil outsiders (effectively 150% damage to them over all).
Antimagic Breath: Maybe only 1 round Antimagic, or perhaps a dispel magic effect.

[oslecamo]

Corrupting aura-I think something like inflicting an auto-penalty that lasts while inside the aura may be more interesting and slow gameplay a lot less.

Aura of Wholesomeness switch to d8s sounds good.

Imposing Order may not need a save if all it's doing is halving damage. Maybe make non-lawful deal average damage and lawful creatures deal max damage with their weapon damage rolls?

Confusing breath sounds more thematic to chaotic dragons.

Infections breath immunity piercing at least yes.

Holy breath half sacred damage that's super effective against undead/evil outsiders sounds better yes.

Antimagic breath dispel magic sounds good.

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

Changes applied.

Stuck in a clause in the Aligned Magic class feature about switching out domains for different domains, because not all chaotic archdragons are inherently tricksters, nor are all evil archdragons prone to war.

I also dial back a tad on Alignment Restrictions, allowing for extreme axis alignments like Lawful Good or Chaotic Evil to enter the class, or even take the class twice, though that last option is severely limited and wouldn't be advised beyond adding versatility (no double auras or double breaths, overlapping class features). Cause I figure the Lawful Good Dragon Paladin should be allowed to be a paragon of good too.

The only other thing I am potentially worried about is the energy resistance, as it is a little oblong, and some dragons lose a bit of it just because of their standard immunity, depending on which archdragon they go. Im thinking it should just be applied across the board to all the standard energy types. That would make it more uniform, and 2 more small energy resistances is not much considering most combats wont have more then 1 or 2 energy type being flung at you anyways.

[oslecamo]

Meh, considering that the dragons can be of any alignment, I don't see that as much of a problem. You should always be able to pick an archetype that doesn't overlap with your own immunity.

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

Energy Resistance changes applied.

[oslecamo]

Looking good, added to the index!