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What's a good way to play a dragon?
I want to take wizard/sorcerer classes when I can't level up as a dragon but I'm not sure it's wise. The Draconomicon states that spells are best used to my benefit rather then offencivly, which is logical.
But a dragon is a melee 'class' more the any other, so how about the loss of hitdice due to the wizard class instead of the fighter class. Also, aren't fighter feats more usefull then?

Thoughts?

I was thinking of finding a way to work true dragons into my new game system I'm working on. I'll read through the Dragonomicon and some other books again and get back to this and let you know what I think. It's research anyways and a good excuse to do it instead of goofing off.

Cool, I'll post my thoughts later too.

What ECL are you thinking of going for so I have a better idea?

Hmm, well dragons automatically get sorcerer spellcasting as they age. You could go a few ways.

Taking levels as a sorcerer, if they stack would give you a boost as your character ages. You'd be generally tougher and able to dish out damage to weak fodder in your way without wasting spells. The problem is you'd be weaker as a sorcerer than a standard sorcerer of your level.

Taking levels as a wizard, you wouldn't have the benefit of the sorcerer levels you gain naturally stacking, although if you played it right you could turn that to your advantage. Having two sets of spells allows you to do an interesting array of buffs and such for your character.

Either way, you won't be nearly as powerful as a spellcaster of your ECL.

Personally, I'd like to see how a dragon monk would be. I think that may enhance a dragon's natural abilities and make things quite interesting to play. A Blue or Gold dragon monk would be very fun IMO. Just because, as you grow older, you increase in size. Tossing in a large dragon with natural armor, better damage, flight, breath weapons and immunities, not to mention dragon/monk saves. You would have a wicked tank.

Depending on the level you are starting at though, there's probably a difference in classes you want to take. Plus, the dragon type and level adjustment come into play as well.

The Rich Redman quote about LA pretty much ensures that playing a dragon by paying ECL instead of buying two scrolls of Polymorph Any Object at the earliest opportunity or casting shapechaning magic is a doomed endeavour from the start

But if you really want to go ahead with it, I'd suggest taking the combat-enhancing "swift" spells from Complete Arcane. Those can give you stuff like making all attacks touch attacks for one round. Pretty nice for a sorcerer/fighter type character.

well, since i dont have the Dragonomicon, i dont really know how to go about this.... i am tryin to make a dragon char in an evil camp, im thinkin blue dragon, but i dont know how i should go about this, if you could help it would be excepted. thanks

Well I think that the Draconomicon is little help.
It only offers general info about dragons, new dragons, prestige classes, spells, feats and some fighting tips. What I expected, like a way how to set a dragon up properly, is not in it.

Useing the MM is the way to go IMO.

ok, thanks, and are there any feats that a blue dragon/monk should take?

Power Dive-
I think it has a requirement of power attack, but it's really awesome for that type of character or any dragon for that matter.

Give me a minute to find my book and I'll edit this post.

There we go. All yours man.

interesting, thanks

Sorry Sib, reproduction of official material is not allowed.
Attachment removed.

so, any other good feats for a dragon to take?

Rob-Hin-
Sorry about that man, my bad. Won't happen again.

Demortis-
Anyways, if your DM is reasonable, or you are the DM and are capable of keeping things balanced, you can -easily- think up some original feats specifically for a dragon monk. Something like (with insane requirements of course) being able to use flurry of blows with ALL your attacks, tail, wings, claws, bites, etc. Now, that would make the monk -quite- pimp.

I'd say that a feat to increase your SR could be a good idea!

I have created an off-the-wall (but legal) half-dragon/stone giant monk. The type of the creature is switched from the base race (stone giant) to dragon. As a monk, due to his ECL, he received five feats at first level (real level). I don't remember all of them, but he did take weapon expertise, weapon focus: nunchaku, and sense weakness. That might be an effective combination for a more ordinary monk as well.

As for running a true dragon, I have a supplement from an earlier edition that might help. Let me do some checking and I will get back to you.

With some tweaking, we've made it possible to go for a true dragon, no classes.
Lot's of hit dice and on later level he's also a sorcerer like all dragons.

A monk does seem to be a good class for a dragon.
It improves his AC slightly and all but still... does it really matter? I mean really...it's a dragon, they kick ass. Go for a high as possible age.

well, the highest ive found you can go is juvinale(sp?) correct? and i plan on having a Chromatic dragon monk, aswell as a Metallic dragon monk, to balance the world, so i just wanted to know how to go about making it balanced thats all

How high you can go depends om the level of the campain.
Add the dragon LA to it's HD and you have the character level required.

The oldest dragon is a Great Wyrm.

[QUOTE=Demortis] i plan on having a Chromatic dragon monk, aswell as a Metallic dragon monk, to balance the world, so i just wanted to know how to go about making it balanced thats all[/QUOTE]



In that case, you might want to consider having one of the gem dragons in the mix. I don't know if any of them are LN, but I am sure that you can sufficiently bend the rules one of them so if you see fit. You can find the write ups on these in the MM II, I believe. The half-dragon/stone giant was half topaz dragon.