Homebrew Half Dragon Species Details

Half dragons, unlike their dragonborn cousins, are actually directly related to a dragon and are either born of eggs or if birthed to their humanoid parent take on their draconic traits swiftly after birth.  Because they appear similar to dragonborn they are often mistaken as such, allowing them to live with much less suspicion than their heritage might otherwise create.  Where dragonborn are a combination of the best traits of the two races, half dragons are far more attuned to their draconic parentage. 

Strong Draconic Heritage

While they are often mistake for dragonborn, half dragons are very different upon closer inspection.  A half dragon always sports the hue and features of its dragon parent.  Scale color, frills and horns will all be fully developed to the scale appropriate for the half dragon's size.  For instance a gold half dragon will have swept back horns, golden hued scales and two small frills on the back of his neck.  Half dragon scales are also far more akin to true dragon scales featuring spikey growths, ridges and sharp edges common to dragons.  These scales are also tough and provide protection to an unarmored half dragon that can only be matched by heavy armor.  They are similar is size and stature as dragonborn, standing 6 to 8 feet tall with broad shoulders, powerful muscles and a slightly narrow waist.  Their weight tends to be more or less the same as dragonborn with 300 pounds being fairly common. 

Like their draconic parent, a half dragon does not sleep, but must enter a meditative state similar to an elf's reverie to absorb elemental energies that match their breath weapon.  Precious metals speed this process up and as such nearly all half dragons sport rings, amulets, bangles and clothes with gold sewn into them.  These metals allow the process increased efficiency so that a half dragon can gain the same restorative benefits of rest that any other humanoid would gain.  The drawing of this elemental energy not only rejuvinates the half dragon, but allows it to charge its breath weapon.  A half dragon posses a breath weapon in line with his heritage like dragonborn,  but more effective and taxing on the body.  A half dragon retains the same resistances of a dragonborn.

 

Of Two Races, Yet Not Fully Either

A half dragon often relies on appearing similar to dragonborn to maintain a low profile.  They usually leave an area when someone discovers and spread the word that they are half dragon and not dragonborn.  This is due to the mistrust, fear and awe that their dragon heritage creates.  While they have a similar disposition as their parent dragon, they are not as bound by such behavior or compulsions.  It is perfectly common to see a truly good and selfless red half dragon or an evil and manipulative gold half dragon.  The need for precious metals to properly rest does tend to cause other races to view them as greedy as a dragon.  But a half dragon typically does not live with their dragon parent.  Whether its because their parent is chromatic and will outright kill them, or they find the compulsions of their metallic parent distasteful, a half dragon will almost always set out on their own once they come of age.  Because of this it is more common a chromatic half dragon is usually raised by his human parent and a metallic dragon is usually raised by their draconic parent.

 

Half Dragon Names

    Half dragons often take the name of their dragon parent as their last name and the sur name of their humanoid parent as a first name or as a second last name.  They some times use their humanoid given name as a second last name.  Their human name reflects the area in which the human was born.  If for some reason they want to keep their name hidden, they use a first name or alias given to them by their humanoid parent.  However, these are highly egotistical beings and prefer to be addressed by their full humanoid name and any title befitting their station within reason.

Half Dragon Traits

Your draconic heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with your dragon parent.

Draconic Ancestry

You have draconic ancestry. Choose one type of dragon from the Draconic Ancestry table. Your breath weapon and damage resistance are determined by the dragon type, as shown in the table.

Draconic Ancestry

Dragon	Damage Type	Breath Weapon
Black	Acid	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Blue	Lightning	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Brass	Fire	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Bronze	Lightning	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Copper	Acid	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Gold	Fire	15 ft. cone (Dex. save)
Green	Poison	15 ft. cone (Con. save)
Red	Fire	15 ft. cone (Dex. save)
Silver	Cold	15 ft. cone (Con. save)
White	Cold	15 ft. cone (Con. save)

Aquatic Affinity

Because of their tail a half dragon can swim at a speed of 30 feet as long as they are not wearing medium or heavy armor.  They can also hold their breath for up to 5 minutes with ease.

Eyes of the Dragon

A half dragon posses a limited version of the sight of their draconic heritage.  A half dragon has darkvision up to 30 feet and advantage on perception checks vs stealth up to 10 feet if the creature using stealth remains within 10 feet for longer than 1 turn without taking action against them.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Constitution score increases by 1.  At 11th and 16th level your Constitution increase by 1 in addition to any other ability scores you may increase.

Age

Young half dragons grow quickly, but age slowly after reaching adulthood. If born to a dragon mother, they walk hours after hatching, attain the size and development of a 10-year-old human child by the age of 3, and reach adulthood by 20. If born to a human mother the are birthed the way natural to her species and appear to be a normal infant with a slight hue similar to their dragon father and have very soft, tiny scales.  As they age, their draconic features become more prominent.  By adulthood they have the full appearance standard to half dragons.  They live to be around 300 years old.  Unlike other races a half dragon maintains their vitality through old age until death.

Alignment

A half dragon tends to extremes, often influenced by their draconic lineage.  They are not bound by this however and are fully capable of making a conscious choice for one side or the other in the cosmic war between good and evil.  Once they choose; however, they tend to uphold the core ideals of that alignment to the letter and almost never falter.

Size

Half Dragons are taller and heavier than humans and slightly taller than dragonborn, standing from 6 1/2 to 8 feet tall and averaging almost 350 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.  Because of their tail, they are able to swim 30 feet.

Breath Weapon

You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. Your draconic bloodline determines the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your draconic ancestry. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 4d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 6d6 at 6th level, 8d6 at 11th level, and 12d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a long rest.

Damage Resistance

You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic. Draconic is thought to be one of the oldest languages and is often used in the study of magic. The language sounds harsh to most other creatures and includes numerous hard consonants and sibilants.