I am a player considering asking my dm if I can play in the next campaign as a dragon. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to make it balanced without having a really sad white dragon wyrmling with way worse stats than normal. Maybe i'm really grumpy and are like "FINNEE" whenever I do help the party. Just looking for ideas.
Talk to your DM, only he can allow it. In terms of ideas, what about a Dragonborn Monk with reflavored unarmed strike as claw (slashing) and bite (piercing) as well a fly speed of 30 feet. You will look/move/breath like a dragon without the use of weapon or armor. As you age, you're size could grow, you could obtain spellcasting (by multiclassing) etc
If your dm allows it. You can also see about using the drake companion block in the rangers drakewarden as a base. Granted there will be some custom work. Can have it were you can't take a class level until a bit in. Like you take levels as a dragon as an offset in a way. Doubtful that you would do much in large size until high levels, or a ghost gets you pretty bad. Depending on how group and game goes. Can be a fun side character in later campaigns.
Granted I am in a game where it is a common thing and animal races are common.
So to clarify the question is: "How do I homebrew a playable dragon so that it is balanced compared to PCs, but not weaker than normal dragons (some of the most powerful creatures in the game)?"
You don't. Even young dragons are equivalent to level 15-17 characters at least.
Yeah, there's plenty of things you can do in the game to get the feel and flavor of a Dragon, but there's no balanced way to play as a full-on Dragon that doesn't involve drastically reducing your character's strength.
If I was to recommend anything, it would be to look into the new Draconic Options UA Playtest material, which gives options for Dragonborn that are a bit more powerful than the standard Dragonborn, and in particular allows builds that use Dragon Breath more easily. Draconic Sorcerer might also be a good choice of subclass.. it very clearly tries to capture the feel of dragon-specific skills and abilities, and eventually even grants full on dragon wings, but it is fairly late game.
You can't just play as one of the most powerful creatures in the game and expect that there are little nerfs. A level 1 character has around 10 hit points I would say, or even less. In terms of homebrewing, it would have to be a class and a race simultaneously or you just playing a statblock (which is less fun).
TransmorpherDDS has good ideas on how to do it by RAW.
For homebrewing I'd recommend having a balanced dragon race, but take levels in a regular class with a homebrew subclass (or official subclass like draconic sorcerer would be good if you can reflavor some spells as breath weapons) for dragon abilities like an eventual size increase to large than medium, the breath weapon, resistances, possible unarmed strike damage boosts over time etc.
For a homebrew dragon race itself I would use the aarakocra stats as a base (I mean you get flight at level 1 so it makes sense) but swap the ability scores with the +2 and +1 either being from strength, constitution, and charisma (I would recommend letting that stuff be up to the DM for the ability scores on what increases should be there), and with the talons ability, ask your DM to allow it to also be able to deal piercing damage if you want to make a bite. If your DM thinks that is overpowered suggest a speed reduction on the flight.
But remember that homebrew is up to your DM and don't get mad if your DM says no. They are within perfect reasoning to do it.
If you are realy going to do it I think you would need to make a Base Race and Class in that Race. You would then have to make each level up like they did for 3.5 template class or the Dragon classes from
Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons (Dungeons & Dragons).
If you are not adverse to Homebrew, there are people who have posted different homebrew races/classes that emulate playing a dragon.
This is one I found recently. It's meant to be used to create Metallic Dragon Cohorts (sidekicks basically) but can also be used to create a Metallic Dragon PC. I'm not sure on the balance but here.
I used Kobald Fight club and it seems to have a wyrmling silver dragon equal to a 5th level PC. A young silver dragon is shown as equal to a 19th level PC. I don't see why the DM, the player and other party members couldn't scale the silver dragon to cover 1st thru 20th levels. Anything that appears unbalance could be adjusted as needed. Have fun.
I used Kobald Fight club and it seems to have a wyrmling silver dragon equal to a 5th level PC. A young silver dragon is shown as equal to a 19th level PC. I don't see why the DM, the player and other party members couldn't scale the silver dragon to cover 1st thru 20th levels. Anything that appears unbalance could be adjusted as needed. Have fun.
Silver wyrmling is about level 6, and young at level 19, yeah. The OP (a year ago) was trying to avoid being a weakened version of a dragon. Unless they were starting at level 5 or 6, that is basically impossible. From there, I suppose they could add sidekick levels...
It also runs into the problem of not really having non-combat features, etc.
I've been playing "as a dragon" in a campaign, but what I opted for is one who was afflicted by a curse that was rapidly killing him.
Basically the idea is that the curse was attacking his true self, so he found a loophole by partially separating himself from his own soul, the source of his true draconic power. This means that he essentially is a dragonborn (a form he has used as a disguise in the past), and he is a draconic sorcerer who draws power from the remaining link to his soul (which includes the magic that allows a dragon to exist), so a lot of his spells are dragon themed. Levelling up represents him testing the limits of the curse, and learning how to safely draw more of his original power.
In my case I'm using a modified draconic bloodline as vanilla draconic bloodline can be a bit "meh", and I wanted access to more draconic ancestries and have access to true polymorph at 17th level. You could alternatively use any class that can get the same spell (Bard, Warlock or Wizard).
Anyway, in gameplay terms he's "just" a dragonborn, and doesn't mention what he really is aside from a few cryptic comments and evasive non-answers (he always speaks the truth, but is good at giving half answers that don't really say anything). Since I knew the campaign was intended to continue to level 20 (and actually, beyond) the idea was that once he hit level 17 he could cast true polymorph to turn back into a dragon, but it's more like temporarily suppressing the curse (as the spell can end). That said, isn't the plan I'm actually sticking to (in my case my "dragon" replaced a character who became trapped somewhere, and I've decided I want to bring them back as the "dragon" has no real reason to remain with the party beyond the current section of the campaign, so I'll be lifting the curse, having the dragon bring my older Bard back, but since the Bard can also take true polymorph he will instead gain the ability to "summon" the dragon later so I still get to go ham as a dragon.
An alternative you might consider is just playing as a Drakewarden Ranger; in this case the drake is your actual character, and the Ranger is some loyal friend who accompanies you or whatever. The benefit of this method is you get to play as two characters, so you can have a standoffish or aloof dragon, but still have fun with a more easygoing companion. 😉
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I have made a full set of rules for playing as a balanced dragon, which I need to start playtesting at some point so that I can publish it! Good to know there's probably always going to be the demand for it!
Look up a homebrew class called "Demi-Dragon" This is honestly the best balanced way to play a dragon in any setting. Best part being that you can work with a DM to change and tweak anything and everything to your liking.
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I am a player considering asking my dm if I can play in the next campaign as a dragon. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to make it balanced without having a really sad white dragon wyrmling with way worse stats than normal. Maybe i'm really grumpy and are like "FINNEE" whenever I do help the party. Just looking for ideas.
Talk to your DM, only he can allow it. In terms of ideas, what about a Dragonborn Monk with reflavored unarmed strike as claw (slashing) and bite (piercing) as well a fly speed of 30 feet. You will look/move/breath like a dragon without the use of weapon or armor. As you age, you're size could grow, you could obtain spellcasting (by multiclassing) etc
If your dm allows it. You can also see about using the drake companion block in the rangers drakewarden as a base. Granted there will be some custom work. Can have it were you can't take a class level until a bit in. Like you take levels as a dragon as an offset in a way. Doubtful that you would do much in large size until high levels, or a ghost gets you pretty bad. Depending on how group and game goes. Can be a fun side character in later campaigns.
Granted I am in a game where it is a common thing and animal races are common.
I feel like that partially runs into the problem of it being a sad weak dragon, but will definitionally consider it.
So to clarify the question is: "How do I homebrew a playable dragon so that it is balanced compared to PCs, but not weaker than normal dragons (some of the most powerful creatures in the game)?"
You don't. Even young dragons are equivalent to level 15-17 characters at least.
Yeah, there's plenty of things you can do in the game to get the feel and flavor of a Dragon, but there's no balanced way to play as a full-on Dragon that doesn't involve drastically reducing your character's strength.
If I was to recommend anything, it would be to look into the new Draconic Options UA Playtest material, which gives options for Dragonborn that are a bit more powerful than the standard Dragonborn, and in particular allows builds that use Dragon Breath more easily. Draconic Sorcerer might also be a good choice of subclass.. it very clearly tries to capture the feel of dragon-specific skills and abilities, and eventually even grants full on dragon wings, but it is fairly late game.
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You can't just play as one of the most powerful creatures in the game and expect that there are little nerfs. A level 1 character has around 10 hit points I would say, or even less. In terms of homebrewing, it would have to be a class and a race simultaneously or you just playing a statblock (which is less fun).
TransmorpherDDS has good ideas on how to do it by RAW.
For homebrewing I'd recommend having a balanced dragon race, but take levels in a regular class with a homebrew subclass (or official subclass like draconic sorcerer would be good if you can reflavor some spells as breath weapons) for dragon abilities like an eventual size increase to large than medium, the breath weapon, resistances, possible unarmed strike damage boosts over time etc.
For a homebrew dragon race itself I would use the aarakocra stats as a base (I mean you get flight at level 1 so it makes sense) but swap the ability scores with the +2 and +1 either being from strength, constitution, and charisma (I would recommend letting that stuff be up to the DM for the ability scores on what increases should be there), and with the talons ability, ask your DM to allow it to also be able to deal piercing damage if you want to make a bite. If your DM thinks that is overpowered suggest a speed reduction on the flight.
But remember that homebrew is up to your DM and don't get mad if your DM says no. They are within perfect reasoning to do it.
If you are realy going to do it I think you would need to make a Base Race and Class in that Race. You would then have to make each level up like they did for 3.5 template class or the Dragon classes from
Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons (Dungeons & Dragons).
I spell Goodly.
If you are not adverse to Homebrew, there are people who have posted different homebrew races/classes that emulate playing a dragon.
This is one I found recently. It's meant to be used to create Metallic Dragon Cohorts (sidekicks basically) but can also be used to create a Metallic Dragon PC. I'm not sure on the balance but here.
Creature Cohorts: Metallic Dragons
"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
Characters for Tenebris Sine Fine
RoughCoronet's Greater Wills
I used Kobald Fight club and it seems to have a wyrmling silver dragon equal to a 5th level PC.
A young silver dragon is shown as equal to a 19th level PC.
I don't see why the DM, the player and other party members couldn't scale the silver dragon to cover 1st thru 20th levels.
Anything that appears unbalance could be adjusted as needed.
Have fun.
I would ask your mom to run this small adventure... https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1086-free-d-d-adventure-fight-as-dragons-and-explore-a
After that, I would look at one of the several available dragonborn with Drakewarden Ranger or Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk.
Good luck!
Silver wyrmling is about level 6, and young at level 19, yeah. The OP (a year ago) was trying to avoid being a weakened version of a dragon. Unless they were starting at level 5 or 6, that is basically impossible. From there, I suppose they could add sidekick levels...
It also runs into the problem of not really having non-combat features, etc.
I've been playing "as a dragon" in a campaign, but what I opted for is one who was afflicted by a curse that was rapidly killing him.
Basically the idea is that the curse was attacking his true self, so he found a loophole by partially separating himself from his own soul, the source of his true draconic power. This means that he essentially is a dragonborn (a form he has used as a disguise in the past), and he is a draconic sorcerer who draws power from the remaining link to his soul (which includes the magic that allows a dragon to exist), so a lot of his spells are dragon themed. Levelling up represents him testing the limits of the curse, and learning how to safely draw more of his original power.
In my case I'm using a modified draconic bloodline as vanilla draconic bloodline can be a bit "meh", and I wanted access to more draconic ancestries and have access to true polymorph at 17th level. You could alternatively use any class that can get the same spell (Bard, Warlock or Wizard).
Anyway, in gameplay terms he's "just" a dragonborn, and doesn't mention what he really is aside from a few cryptic comments and evasive non-answers (he always speaks the truth, but is good at giving half answers that don't really say anything). Since I knew the campaign was intended to continue to level 20 (and actually, beyond) the idea was that once he hit level 17 he could cast true polymorph to turn back into a dragon, but it's more like temporarily suppressing the curse (as the spell can end). That said, isn't the plan I'm actually sticking to (in my case my "dragon" replaced a character who became trapped somewhere, and I've decided I want to bring them back as the "dragon" has no real reason to remain with the party beyond the current section of the campaign, so I'll be lifting the curse, having the dragon bring my older Bard back, but since the Bard can also take true polymorph he will instead gain the ability to "summon" the dragon later so I still get to go ham as a dragon.
An alternative you might consider is just playing as a Drakewarden Ranger; in this case the drake is your actual character, and the Ranger is some loyal friend who accompanies you or whatever. The benefit of this method is you get to play as two characters, so you can have a standoffish or aloof dragon, but still have fun with a more easygoing companion. 😉
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I have made a full set of rules for playing as a balanced dragon, which I need to start playtesting at some point so that I can publish it! Good to know there's probably always going to be the demand for it!
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Look up a homebrew class called "Demi-Dragon" This is honestly the best balanced way to play a dragon in any setting. Best part being that you can work with a DM to change and tweak anything and everything to your liking.