Some folks like to take the Aberrant Dragonmark feat with their Armorer to gain access to Shield once per short rest. What are the thoughts on taking the Gift of the Metallic Dragon feat for a similar effect?
A character with this feat learns Cure Wounds and can cast it once per long rest without expending a spell slot. Alternatively, the character can spend a spell slot if they’d prefer to cast cure wounds at a higher level.
When a character with this feat is attacked or sees another creature within 5 feet get attacked, they can manifest spectral dragon wings from their back as a reaction. These wings offer a bonus to the target’s AC equal to the character’s proficiency bonus. This ability can be used a number of times equal to the character’s proficiency bonus.
The spectral dragon wings start off with less protection, but could eventually offer +6 AC with 6 uses per long rest — while Aberrant Dragonmark is limited to 1 use per short rest — and can be applied to allies (including your homunculus)! That said, the spectral dragon wings only affect a single attack compared to Shield's effect lasting until your next turn. The Cure Wounds aspect of the feat is redundant, but I guess if you were planning on preparing it anyway this frees up a prepared spell slot for something else.
What do you all think? Do you think Gift of the Metallic Dragon is a good choice for an Armorer?
Also, it's worth noting that Aberrant Dragonmark says you "learn" the spell, so as far as I know, it acts like any other spell that you know - you can cast it using your spell slots. More recently printed features, such as the Fairy's innate spellcasting, do spell this out explicitly, but I believe the general rule should hold true.
At what level are you planning to take the feat - what else could you do with the ASI? That said, if it fits a character’s backstory or adventuring story it always make sense even if it’s not an optimal use of the ASI.
For my armorer, it won’t be for awhile, likely 8th or 12th level. My armorer is currently only level 3 and will take Fey Touched at 4th to round out INT to 18, add misty step, and gift of alacrity. I think I would like Shield or the Dragon Wings as my armorer will be a (if not the) primary frontlines in the party (bard - unknown subclass, ranger - unknown subclass, peace cleric, and barbarian - unknown subclass, and may drop out of the game). I will definitely max out INT, but with 18 at 4th level I’m not sure how pressing it is to do that.
Armorer is a Rock Gnome with current stats: 8STR 14DEX 16CON 17INT (will be 18 at 4th) 10WIS 8CHA
My specific case aside, also interested in the broader ‘theory craft’ discussion of Aberrant Dragonmark vs. Gift of the Metallic Dragon for armorers.
You may want to wait until 12th level so that you can max out uses and effect of Flash of Genius. You could flip up to five saving throws, which typically are a bigger effect than one attack.
Ok, where is aberrant dragon mark? Is it a UA feature that didn’t carry over to Fizban’s? I was trying to find it and couldn’t in what I’ve got. If all it gives shield or a + to an ability and shield I’m kind of wondering why take it over an ASI? For much of the same reasoning the cure wounds spell, while useful (as shield also is) isn’t a big selling point to me. The spectral wings both for flavor and the ability is a much more interesting feature and I would be willing to forego an ASI to get it once my main stat(s) have been maxed out. If you had an in story reason to take it earlier I could see that happening too.
Aberrant Dragonmark is from the Eberron book I believe.
It gives +1 CON, a sorcerer cantrip, and a sorcerer 1st level spell (that can be cast for free 1x, refreshing after short rest), along with some shenanigans when it is cast through the mark. There are also an optional "greater aberrant powers" mechanic that some DMs may use.
Ah ok, that’s why I couldn’t find it I don’t have the book since I don’t do anything with Ebberon. Thanks for the readout on what it does now it makes sense why someone would take it. Given your description of aberrant dragonmark it’s a bit stronger feat with shield being just an option for the L1 spell choice. Both are good, so it’s more about the way you play - dragonmark if your more offense, gift if your more defense.
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Hi all,
Some folks like to take the Aberrant Dragonmark feat with their Armorer to gain access to Shield once per short rest. What are the thoughts on taking the Gift of the Metallic Dragon feat for a similar effect?
The spectral dragon wings start off with less protection, but could eventually offer +6 AC with 6 uses per long rest — while Aberrant Dragonmark is limited to 1 use per short rest — and can be applied to allies (including your homunculus)! That said, the spectral dragon wings only affect a single attack compared to Shield's effect lasting until your next turn. The Cure Wounds aspect of the feat is redundant, but I guess if you were planning on preparing it anyway this frees up a prepared spell slot for something else.
What do you all think? Do you think Gift of the Metallic Dragon is a good choice for an Armorer?
Yes! I think it's absolutely worth considering.
Also, it's worth noting that Aberrant Dragonmark says you "learn" the spell, so as far as I know, it acts like any other spell that you know - you can cast it using your spell slots. More recently printed features, such as the Fairy's innate spellcasting, do spell this out explicitly, but I believe the general rule should hold true.
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I didn't realize that about Aberrant Dragonmark, that's an interesting point—makes it harder to decide!
At what level are you planning to take the feat - what else could you do with the ASI? That said, if it fits a character’s backstory or adventuring story it always make sense even if it’s not an optimal use of the ASI.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Great question and point WildBill.
For my armorer, it won’t be for awhile, likely 8th or 12th level. My armorer is currently only level 3 and will take Fey Touched at 4th to round out INT to 18, add misty step, and gift of alacrity. I think I would like Shield or the Dragon Wings as my armorer will be a (if not the) primary frontlines in the party (bard - unknown subclass, ranger - unknown subclass, peace cleric, and barbarian - unknown subclass, and may drop out of the game). I will definitely max out INT, but with 18 at 4th level I’m not sure how pressing it is to do that.
Armorer is a Rock Gnome with current stats: 8STR 14DEX 16CON 17INT (will be 18 at 4th) 10WIS 8CHA
My specific case aside, also interested in the broader ‘theory craft’ discussion of Aberrant Dragonmark vs. Gift of the Metallic Dragon for armorers.
You may want to wait until 12th level so that you can max out uses and effect of Flash of Genius. You could flip up to five saving throws, which typically are a bigger effect than one attack.
Ok, where is aberrant dragon mark? Is it a UA feature that didn’t carry over to Fizban’s? I was trying to find it and couldn’t in what I’ve got. If all it gives shield or a + to an ability and shield I’m kind of wondering why take it over an ASI? For much of the same reasoning the cure wounds spell, while useful (as shield also is) isn’t a big selling point to me. The spectral wings both for flavor and the ability is a much more interesting feature and I would be willing to forego an ASI to get it once my main stat(s) have been maxed out. If you had an in story reason to take it earlier I could see that happening too.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Aberrant Dragonmark is from the Eberron book I believe.
It gives +1 CON, a sorcerer cantrip, and a sorcerer 1st level spell (that can be cast for free 1x, refreshing after short rest), along with some shenanigans when it is cast through the mark. There are also an optional "greater aberrant powers" mechanic that some DMs may use.
Ah ok, that’s why I couldn’t find it I don’t have the book since I don’t do anything with Ebberon. Thanks for the readout on what it does now it makes sense why someone would take it.
Given your description of aberrant dragonmark it’s a bit stronger feat with shield being just an option for the L1 spell choice. Both are good, so it’s more about the way you play - dragonmark if your more offense, gift if your more defense.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.