You have tapped into the shapeshifting ability of your draconic heritage. You gain the following benefits:
You can cast polymorph on yourself at will, with the following modifications: You can transform into any creature that has a CR less than or equal to your level minus 3. You automatically succeed on checks to maintain concentration, but you lose concentration if you begin concentrating on another spell.
Twice per long rest, you can, as an action, transform into a dragon hybrid for 1 minute. You grow wings and gain a flying speed of 30 feet. If you already have a flying speed, it increases by 30 feet.
Polymorph at will may be too powerful, since you also get to replace your HP when you transform. If you go that route you should probably limit it to once per long rest
As an alternative, may I suggest allowing the dragonborn to cast either Disguise Self at will OR Alter Self at will (provided they use it to change their appearance only). Since changing your appearance gives no real combat benefit, it only plays into the roleplay potential of a dragon's ability to appear like a human or other humanoid.
Your second feature seems fine to me. Since some races already get the ability to fly, perhaps you could spice it up by having the transformation also empower their breath weapon
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Iam not an expert in balancing but here are my thoughts.
Casting polymorph at will at level 8 without concentration is very much overpowered at level 8, even with the restriction in CR. A Giant crocodile for example is far more powerful than a level 8 PC, and if it loses all its hit points you can use your action to get them back again you would be almost impossible to knock unconcious
Given the highest CR of a beast is 8 it progressively loses its power when the player gets past level 11.
The note that you lose concentration if you begin concentration on another spell is not needed as no beast can cast spells
The abilty to fly at level 8 shouldn't be a problem by that level getting a single party member to fly is straight forward and getting the whole party flying a possibility depending on magic item availability etc.
I would put forward the suggestion that you make the polymorph once per day with the possibility of increasing it at its power decreases (once per short rest at level 14, at will at 17 when it will be more an out of combat feature)
You have tapped into the shapeshifting ability of your draconic heritage. You gain the following benefits:
You can cast polymorph on yourself a number of times equal to your Charisma Modifier plus 1 (minimum of once) per long rest, with the following modifications: You can transform into any beast, humanoid, or dragon, that has a CR less than or equal to half your level (round down). You automatically succeed on checks to maintain concentration.
Twice per long rest, you can, as an action, transform into a dragon hybrid for 1 minute. You grow wings and gain a flying speed of 30 feet. If you already have a flying speed, it increases by 30 feet.
I still feel that youre allowing polymorph too often and with more perks than necessary. At 8th level, a wizard could only cast polymorph twice between long rests. Here you are allowing the dragonborn to cast it up to 6 times AND give them auto success on concentration. Its true that the CR is lower than it normally would be, but I still feel the benefits heavily outweigh the restrictions, especially since the dragonborn can now transform into humanoids and dragons as well.
The other issues is that "humanoids" don't necessarily have a CR to compare to, unless you would just use the commoner stat block for all different humanoids
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Can people help me balance this?
You have tapped into the shapeshifting ability of your draconic heritage. You gain the following benefits:
Polymorph at will may be too powerful, since you also get to replace your HP when you transform. If you go that route you should probably limit it to once per long rest
As an alternative, may I suggest allowing the dragonborn to cast either Disguise Self at will OR Alter Self at will (provided they use it to change their appearance only). Since changing your appearance gives no real combat benefit, it only plays into the roleplay potential of a dragon's ability to appear like a human or other humanoid.
Your second feature seems fine to me. Since some races already get the ability to fly, perhaps you could spice it up by having the transformation also empower their breath weapon
Three-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews! Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!
Iam not an expert in balancing but here are my thoughts.
Casting polymorph at will at level 8 without concentration is very much overpowered at level 8, even with the restriction in CR. A Giant crocodile for example is far more powerful than a level 8 PC, and if it loses all its hit points you can use your action to get them back again you would be almost impossible to knock unconcious
Given the highest CR of a beast is 8 it progressively loses its power when the player gets past level 11.
The note that you lose concentration if you begin concentration on another spell is not needed as no beast can cast spells
The abilty to fly at level 8 shouldn't be a problem by that level getting a single party member to fly is straight forward and getting the whole party flying a possibility depending on magic item availability etc.
I would put forward the suggestion that you make the polymorph once per day with the possibility of increasing it at its power decreases (once per short rest at level 14, at will at 17 when it will be more an out of combat feature)
Version 2:
You have tapped into the shapeshifting ability of your draconic heritage. You gain the following benefits:
I still feel that youre allowing polymorph too often and with more perks than necessary. At 8th level, a wizard could only cast polymorph twice between long rests. Here you are allowing the dragonborn to cast it up to 6 times AND give them auto success on concentration. Its true that the CR is lower than it normally would be, but I still feel the benefits heavily outweigh the restrictions, especially since the dragonborn can now transform into humanoids and dragons as well.
The other issues is that "humanoids" don't necessarily have a CR to compare to, unless you would just use the commoner stat block for all different humanoids
Three-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews! Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!