Homebrew Half-Dragon (Gold) Species Details

Slender and Graceful

With their unearthly grace and fine features, half-dragons often pass as unusually muscular elves or half-elves. They are somewhat taller than humans on average, ranging from well over 5 feet tall to just under 7 feet. They are stockier than elves, often weighing 150 to 250 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

A half-dragon's coloration encompasses the normal human range and also includes elven shades of copper, gold, or bronze. Their hair can be any shade, including more unusual tones such as green or blue, metallic, and even vibrant colours such as might be found on their parent's dragonscale hide. Half-dragon eyes are solid depths of colour reminiscent of their dragon parent's nature, anything from forest greens or ocean blues to pools of liquid gold or silver. Half-dragons have no facial or body hair. They do inherit some physical trait of their dragon parent - whether it be patches of feather or scale, horns, claws, or a tail. Some few even grow wings, though this is much more rare. They favor similar hoarding habits to their dragon parent, though on a much smaller scale. Puzzles and riddles are enjoyed by many half-dragons, as they enjoy games of the mind that stimulate thinking and attention to detail. They often hoard trivia as much as they might physical goods.

A Timeless Perspective

Half-dragons can live for centuries, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy - though some are inclined to the more negative traits some dragons display. They tend to remain aloof. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, half-dragons can be as focused and relentless as the dragons they descend from. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.

Hidden Woodland Realms

Half-dragons can be found to dwell with elves in small forest villages hidden among the trees. Some reside in mountaintop caverns and fortresses with their dragon relations. Most prefer life on the road, joining adventuring groups to stretch their proverbial wings and see the broader world.

Half-Dragon (Gold) Traits

Gold Half-Dragon

Age

Young half dragons grow quickly. They can walk hours after hatching but develop slower after that reaching adulthood by 20. They live to be around 500- 5000.

Alignment

Half dragons tend to have alignment in line with that of the parent dragon. However, decisions made during formative adult years can drastically alter that alignment.

Draconic Ancestry

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

 

Dragon Claws

Being half dragon, you can use your dragon claws to deal 1d4 + your strength or dexterity modifier. You are proficient with them and the damage type for your claws are the same as your resistance from your heritage in the ability score increase table. In addition, you can make a second strike with your claws as a bonus action only if you use the attack action to make an attack with your claws. This damage die increases to a d6 at level 5, d8 at level 10 and a d10 at level 15.

Damage Resistance

You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconian heritage.

Breath Weapon

You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. Your draconic ancestry 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 2d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. 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.

Eyes of the Dragon

A half dragon possesses a limited version of the sight of their draconic heritage.  A half dragon has darkvision up to 30 feet and advantage on perception checks.

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.

 

Ability Modifier

+1 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom