New to the forum and just getting back into D&D after a very long break! Not sure this is the correct place to post this question either.
Anyway, I would like feedback on this character idea.
We have just started a homebrew adventure and I am planning on playing a Goblin draconic sorcerer. The background of this character is that he obtained his powers as a result of a magical accident when a crazy wizard tried to harness the power of draconic magic and combine the different essences. All went wrong, big explosion, and the wild draconic magic was absorbed by a lowly goblin slave.
So my idea, before I put if before the DM, is to try and capture this essence of multiply dragon types.
My idea of how this could work is that every day (or every encounter?) roll a 1d10 and randomly assign a draconic heritage. There are 10 in the PHB. This would determine the essesence that has become dominate and the damage cantrip I could use. e.g.Fire = Firebolt, Cold = ray of Frost, you get the idea.
I was also thinking of giving him chromatic orb as one of his first level spells but he would be limited to the damage type rolled.
There would also be subtle RP elements, change in eye colour, skin tone, maybe cold/hot to the touch, change in behaviour etc...
So what do you think? Would this work or be to OP of just a waste of time. If you DM'd a game would you allow this, if not, why not?
It could work. I like the idea. I think I’d allow it but leave all the mechanics and daily 1d10 roll up to you as I couldn’t be bothered tracking it myself as the dm. Probably wouldn’t allow the switching of cantrips though, but it would determine the type of breath weapon you have and the resistances and everything else involved. You could alleviate some of the tediousness by having it a weekly roll, or metagame it a little bit and just do it session-by-session. Roll your d10 at the beginning of every session and that’s what you are until the beginning of the next session.
Too much hassle/work. It would have to be solely your responsibility. Also even as a player I could see this becoming tedious. BUT, maybe not who knows. I do like the creativity of it though.
Do you think that swapping the cantrip to match dragon type to OP or just to much hassle/work?
Don't want to slow the game down just creat flavor and opportunities to role-play.
Thanks
An easier option, perhaps, is instead of swapping out the actual spells you "know" each day, you could just alter them to the appropriate damage for the day's dragon type. So, Fire Bolt would become Cold Bolt or Acid Bold or Poison Bolt, etc. Same mechanics, area of effect/attack role/saving throw, damage dice, etc. except for the damage type.
Chromatic Orb is a bad first level spell if it just does one damage type. The reason you anyone takes it is to be able to choose the damage type, so you are not stuck throwing fire at a fire elemental.
If I were to do that, I would have the Chromatic Orb count as an "extra" spell known that they can not change.
While I'm not insisting you put mechanics over roleplay, it would be good for you to have some control over your damage just for the sake of your party. As mentioned above, if you roll fire right before the party is descending into a volcano, it would be nice to have some non-fire spells so you can serve your role as damage dealer in the party.
The trick is just not to go all in to this one concept at the expense of everything else. Your breath and RP elements can go a long way towards illustrating your concept (I think acting out the personality swings between dragon types could be a lot of fun), and also consider the concept beyond just your daily change. Chromatic Orb is perfect for you just as its written - a manifestation of the chaotic, ever-shifting energy within. I feel like that fits your guy even better.
Gonna be the voice of dissent and say this sounds like a really interesting idea. Obviously discuss the particulars with your GM, but speaking with my GM hat on, I would not turn down the idea. Yes, it's a bit of extra bookkeeping, but fortunately DDB makes that easy - just change your ancestry whenever the roll gets made. Chromatic Orb is a brilliant idea, enough so that I'd probably give you the spell as a freebie with the stipulation you've mentioned of it matching your dragon type.
If your group/GM is the sort to dig cool side stories and funky homebrew like this, go for it. If your GM is the sort who can't be assed a'la half the folks in this thread, obviously tone it back, but honestly it's a cool enough idea I'd probably play it out even if my mechanics didn't change.
Something else that occurs to me is that you could consider the Verdan race, from the Acquisitions Incorporated book. Even if your character started out as a lowly goblin slave, that huge infusion of magic could've made them something moar, and the verdan's mutable, inherently morphic nature is a freakin' perfect fit. Enough so that I may pigjack the idea and keep it in the pocket for when I need character ideas in the future o_o...
After talking to the DM we're going to try rolling for dragon type once a day and changing the cantrip only. I'm happy with this as it provides an opportunity for my character to adapt to the change and not just cast "#####" bolt every encounter. It also gives me more roll play opportunities.
My DM has suggested he was experimented on by some cult of Takisis. I roll once a day on the table.
1d12 Dragon Type Damage Type Cantrip 1/6 Black Acid Acid Splash 2/7 Blue Lightning Shocking Grasp 3/8 Green Poison Poison Spray 4/9 Red Fire Fire Bolt 5/10 White Cold Ray of Frost 11 Wyvern Piercing Thorn Whip 12 I choose
The wyvern was the DM's addition. It's a homebrew world and Takisis apparently has a wyvern tail? Anyway, I quite like the idea that he has a spell that is not normally available to sorcerers. Again gives flavour.
Chromatic orb will remain unchanged and unaffected by dragon type. The fluff is that it reflects his mixed chromatic heritage but he has learnt to partially control it.
Thanks again.
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Hi there.
New to the forum and just getting back into D&D after a very long break! Not sure this is the correct place to post this question either.
Anyway, I would like feedback on this character idea.
We have just started a homebrew adventure and I am planning on playing a Goblin draconic sorcerer. The background of this character is that he obtained his powers as a result of a magical accident when a crazy wizard tried to harness the power of draconic magic and combine the different essences. All went wrong, big explosion, and the wild draconic magic was absorbed by a lowly goblin slave.
So my idea, before I put if before the DM, is to try and capture this essence of multiply dragon types.
My idea of how this could work is that every day (or every encounter?) roll a 1d10 and randomly assign a draconic heritage. There are 10 in the PHB. This would determine the essesence that has become dominate and the damage cantrip I could use. e.g.Fire = Firebolt, Cold = ray of Frost, you get the idea.
I was also thinking of giving him chromatic orb as one of his first level spells but he would be limited to the damage type rolled.
There would also be subtle RP elements, change in eye colour, skin tone, maybe cold/hot to the touch, change in behaviour etc...
So what do you think? Would this work or be to OP of just a waste of time. If you DM'd a game would you allow this, if not, why not?
Plus any other suggests along this idea.
Many thanks
It could work. I like the idea. I think I’d allow it but leave all the mechanics and daily 1d10 roll up to you as I couldn’t be bothered tracking it myself as the dm. Probably wouldn’t allow the switching of cantrips though, but it would determine the type of breath weapon you have and the resistances and everything else involved. You could alleviate some of the tediousness by having it a weekly roll, or metagame it a little bit and just do it session-by-session. Roll your d10 at the beginning of every session and that’s what you are until the beginning of the next session.
Hi
Do you think that swapping the cantrip to match dragon type to OP or just to much hassle/work?
Don't want to slow the game down just creat flavor and opportunities to role-play.
Thanks
Too much hassle/work. It would have to be solely your responsibility. Also even as a player I could see this becoming tedious. BUT, maybe not who knows. I do like the creativity of it though.
Thanks for thoughts.
I think I will suggest this to my DM :)
An easier option, perhaps, is instead of swapping out the actual spells you "know" each day, you could just alter them to the appropriate damage for the day's dragon type. So, Fire Bolt would become Cold Bolt or Acid Bold or Poison Bolt, etc. Same mechanics, area of effect/attack role/saving throw, damage dice, etc. except for the damage type.
Chromatic Orb is a bad first level spell if it just does one damage type. The reason you anyone takes it is to be able to choose the damage type, so you are not stuck throwing fire at a fire elemental.
If I were to do that, I would have the Chromatic Orb count as an "extra" spell known that they can not change.
While I'm not insisting you put mechanics over roleplay, it would be good for you to have some control over your damage just for the sake of your party. As mentioned above, if you roll fire right before the party is descending into a volcano, it would be nice to have some non-fire spells so you can serve your role as damage dealer in the party.
The trick is just not to go all in to this one concept at the expense of everything else. Your breath and RP elements can go a long way towards illustrating your concept (I think acting out the personality swings between dragon types could be a lot of fun), and also consider the concept beyond just your daily change. Chromatic Orb is perfect for you just as its written - a manifestation of the chaotic, ever-shifting energy within. I feel like that fits your guy even better.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Gonna be the voice of dissent and say this sounds like a really interesting idea. Obviously discuss the particulars with your GM, but speaking with my GM hat on, I would not turn down the idea. Yes, it's a bit of extra bookkeeping, but fortunately DDB makes that easy - just change your ancestry whenever the roll gets made. Chromatic Orb is a brilliant idea, enough so that I'd probably give you the spell as a freebie with the stipulation you've mentioned of it matching your dragon type.
If your group/GM is the sort to dig cool side stories and funky homebrew like this, go for it. If your GM is the sort who can't be assed a'la half the folks in this thread, obviously tone it back, but honestly it's a cool enough idea I'd probably play it out even if my mechanics didn't change.
Something else that occurs to me is that you could consider the Verdan race, from the Acquisitions Incorporated book. Even if your character started out as a lowly goblin slave, that huge infusion of magic could've made them something moar, and the verdan's mutable, inherently morphic nature is a freakin' perfect fit. Enough so that I may pigjack the idea and keep it in the pocket for when I need character ideas in the future o_o...
Please do not contact or message me.
Thanks for all your input.
After talking to the DM we're going to try rolling for dragon type once a day and changing the cantrip only. I'm happy with this as it provides an opportunity for my character to adapt to the change and not just cast "#####" bolt every encounter. It also gives me more roll play opportunities.
My DM has suggested he was experimented on by some cult of Takisis. I roll once a day on the table.
1d12 Dragon Type Damage Type Cantrip
1/6 Black Acid Acid Splash
2/7 Blue Lightning Shocking Grasp
3/8 Green Poison Poison Spray
4/9 Red Fire Fire Bolt
5/10 White Cold Ray of Frost
11 Wyvern Piercing Thorn Whip
12 I choose
The wyvern was the DM's addition. It's a homebrew world and Takisis apparently has a wyvern tail? Anyway, I quite like the idea that he has a spell that is not normally available to sorcerers. Again gives flavour.
Chromatic orb will remain unchanged and unaffected by dragon type. The fluff is that it reflects his mixed chromatic heritage but he has learnt to partially control it.
Thanks again.