So I found a reference to a changed breath weapon for metallic heritage dragonborn that much like their Dragon cousins ( relatives??)who use / have a secondary breath weapon (separate breath weapon for dragons) would cause a secondary effect for the dragonborn (combined with the main breath) when used but would exhaust the PC when the action is taken putting them out of combat for a round. Thereby making it somewhat better but at a true cost, the following are the examples I came up with to try and balance risk versus reward. I appreciate helpful insight as I believe they need some love.
Bronze Dragonborn: As a Bronze Dragonborn You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage + spell modifier on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one not including the spell modifier. Additionally if the creature or creatures fail the saving throw they must make a 70% or higher percentile dice roll or fall prone for one round. In the course of using your breath weapon you will be exhausted and will miss one round of combat. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
Brass Dragonborn: As a Brass Dragonborn You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage + spell modifier on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one not including the spell modifier. Additionally if the creature or creatures fail the saving throw they must make a 70% or higher percentile dice roll or suffer drowsiness putting them at disadvantage for 2 rounds versus melee attacks. In the course of using your breath weapon you will be exhausted and will miss one round of combat. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
As a Copper Dragonborn You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage + spell modifier on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one not including the spell modifier. Additionally if the creature or creatures fail the saving throw they must make a 70% or higher percentile dice roll or be slowed to 1/2 speed for three rounds only able to either move 1/2 normal distance or make one attack per round. In the course of using your breath weapon you will be exhausted and will miss one round of combat. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
As a Silver Dragonborn You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage + spell modifier on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one not including the spell modifier. Additionally if the creature or creatures fail the saving throw they must make a 70% or higher percentile dice roll or be frozen in place / encased in ice for one round. In the course of using your breath weapon you will be exhausted and will miss one round of combat. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
As a Gold Dragonborn You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage + spell modifier on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one not including the spell modifier. Additionally if the creature or creatures fail the saving throw they must make a 70% or higher percentile dice roll or become weakened (-4 to strength checks / or attack at half damage) for 3 rounds. In the course of using your breath weapon you will be exhausted and will miss one round of combat. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
I know chromatic dragons don't get a secondary breath weapon but I'm actually toying with the idea of giving say a Black Dragonborn's secondary effect something like a fear based psychological impairment to the creature, Red: a smoldering damage over time (1d8 +damage mod over 4 rounds), Green: toxic fumes negative to hit for 2 rounds, White: self inflicted damage taken during an action (1d4 +2 ) for 3 rounds, Blue: arcing damage to companions (1d4+1 to random ally) for 4 rounds.
Thankyou in advance for reading and sharing your thoughts, I believe these tweaks may help Dragonborn players and their parties. I know my party is enjoying having my Bronze Dragonborn Cleric of the forge in our campaign thus far and I am enjoying playing him.
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So I found a reference to a changed breath weapon for metallic heritage dragonborn that much like their Dragon cousins ( relatives??)who use / have a secondary breath weapon (separate breath weapon for dragons) would cause a secondary effect for the dragonborn (combined with the main breath) when used but would exhaust the PC when the action is taken putting them out of combat for a round. Thereby making it somewhat better but at a true cost, the following are the examples I came up with to try and balance risk versus reward. I appreciate helpful insight as I believe they need some love.
Bronze Dragonborn: As a Bronze Dragonborn You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage + spell modifier on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one not including the spell modifier. Additionally if the creature or creatures fail the saving throw they must make a 70% or higher percentile dice roll or fall prone for one round. In the course of using your breath weapon you will be exhausted and will miss one round of combat. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
Brass Dragonborn: As a Brass Dragonborn You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage + spell modifier on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one not including the spell modifier. Additionally if the creature or creatures fail the saving throw they must make a 70% or higher percentile dice roll or suffer drowsiness putting them at disadvantage for 2 rounds versus melee attacks. In the course of using your breath weapon you will be exhausted and will miss one round of combat. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
As a Copper Dragonborn You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage + spell modifier on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one not including the spell modifier. Additionally if the creature or creatures fail the saving throw they must make a 70% or higher percentile dice roll or be slowed to 1/2 speed for three rounds only able to either move 1/2 normal distance or make one attack per round. In the course of using your breath weapon you will be exhausted and will miss one round of combat. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
As a Silver Dragonborn You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage + spell modifier on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one not including the spell modifier. Additionally if the creature or creatures fail the saving throw they must make a 70% or higher percentile dice roll or be frozen in place / encased in ice for one round. In the course of using your breath weapon you will be exhausted and will miss one round of combat. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
As a Gold Dragonborn You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage + spell modifier on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one not including the spell modifier. Additionally if the creature or creatures fail the saving throw they must make a 70% or higher percentile dice roll or become weakened (-4 to strength checks / or attack at half damage) for 3 rounds. In the course of using your breath weapon you will be exhausted and will miss one round of combat. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
I know chromatic dragons don't get a secondary breath weapon but I'm actually toying with the idea of giving say a Black Dragonborn's secondary effect something like a fear based psychological impairment to the creature, Red: a smoldering damage over time (1d8 +damage mod over 4 rounds), Green: toxic fumes negative to hit for 2 rounds, White: self inflicted damage taken during an action (1d4 +2 ) for 3 rounds, Blue: arcing damage to companions (1d4+1 to random ally) for 4 rounds.
Thankyou in advance for reading and sharing your thoughts, I believe these tweaks may help Dragonborn players and their parties. I know my party is enjoying having my Bronze Dragonborn Cleric of the forge in our campaign thus far and I am enjoying playing him.