Homebrew (2024) Gem Dragonborn Species Details
Note: This is the Gem Dragonborn species from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons recreated with the 2024 Dragonborn ruleset. Specifically, the Gem Dragonborn gain the following standard 2024-edition Dragonborn features: the ability to choose the shape of their breath weapon each use, between a line and a cone, 10 minutes of flight time at fifth level instead of 1 minute, and three known languages including Common. The Gem Dragonborn retain their unique Psionic Mind trait, which allows them to send telepathic messages, and so they do not gain Darkvision like the other 2024 Dragonborn.
Gem Dragonborn
Gem dragonborn partake of the heritage of gem dragons, who claim to be heirs of Sardior, the Ruby Dragon. The colors and mysterious powers of gem dragons—amethyst, crystal, emerald, sapphire, and topaz—gleam in these dragonborn’s scaled skin and course through their veins. Theirs are the wonders of the mind, the force of will, the brilliant light of insight, and the resounding echo of discovery—but also the desiccation of despair.
Dragonborn look like wingless, bipedal dragons— scaly, bright-eyed, and thick-boned with horns on their heads—and their coloration and other features are reminiscent of their draconic ancestors. Some dragonborn may have tails while others may not.
Dragonborn Traits
Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 5–7 feet tall)
Speed: 30 feet
(2024) Gem Dragonborn Traits
As a Gem Dragonborn, you have these special traits.Gem Ancestry
You have a gem dragon ancestor, granting you a special magical affinity. Choose one kind of dragon from the Gem Ancestry table. This determines the damage type for your other traits, as shown in the table.
Gem Ancestry
Dragon | Damage Type |
---|---|
Amethyst | Force |
Crystal | Radiant |
Emerald | Psychic |
Sapphire | Thunder |
Topaz | Necrotic |
Breath Weapon
When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation of magical energy in either a 15-foot Cone or a 30-foot Line that is 5 feet wide (choose the shape each time). Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 8 plus your Constitution modifier and Proficiency Bonus). On a failed save, a creature takes 1d10 damage of the type determined by your Gem Ancestry trait. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage. This damage increases by 1d10 when you reach character levels 5 (2d10), 11 (3d10), and 17 (4d10).
You can use this Breath Weapon a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.
Damage Resistance
You have Resistance to the damage type determined by your Gem Ancestry trait.
Psionic Mind
You can send telepathic messages to any creature you can see within 30 feet of you. You don’t need to share a language with the creature for it to understand these messages, but it must be able to understand at least one language to comprehend them.
Draconic Flight
When you reach character level 5, you can channel draconic magic to give yourself temporary flight. As a Bonus Action, you sprout spectral wings on your back that last for 10 minutes or until you retract the wings (no action required) or have the Incapacitated condition. During that time, you have a Fly Speed equal to your Speed. Your wings appear to be made of the same energy as your Breath Weapon. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
Comments
Free flight at level 5, even if it's once per long rest, is a bit... how you say... le busted?
Could be! But that's straight out of the players handbook for the 2024 Dragonborn, so hopefully its relatively balanced with other features on difference species.
Your NPCs have flak artillery, right?