Dragon

Dragon is a Race.

While it is possible to model a character who is a full-time dragon, this is not receommended; while such a thing can be balanced with other options, it's just not practical in most campaign settings.

Instead, System 7 recommends the following approach for all settings:

• Dragons are usually in humanoid form, albeit more powerful than they appear, due to their draconic nature
• They shift into draconic form only when strongly motivated to do so (see Rage)
• At higher levels, they can take draconic form more freely; eventually, they can do so at will

Such a thing could be implemented in a number of ways: perhaps the rules describe a half-blood dragon, or a race of dragons that choose to take humanoid form until they are ready to assume their full power. In any case, these rules are built on the above assumptions.

Base Abilities

• Race Points: 4
• +2 Str, +2 Con, +2 Int, +2 Cha
• Darkvision 120 ft
• Keen Senses: +5 to Perception. Dragons can make out detail at four times the distance human senses can.
• Slow Metabolism: dragons do not operate on a diurnal schedule. Instead, they usually get hungry slowly over a period of about 4 days, feasting heavily on the 4th day, then sleeping heavily (usually 12-18 hours). Inability to feast and rest after 4 days incurs building rage.
• Heart of Fire: Resist 50% (fire). All dragons breathe fire; their bodies are built to contain it, and they have fought each other with it for millions of years--they have evolved to resist it. They possess this ability even when not transformed.
• Rage: See below.
• True Form: See below.
• Breath Weapon: See below.

Subraces

Purple Dragon

Opal Dragon

etc...

Physical Description

Usually a human, sometimes a dragon. You get the idea.

Automatic Abilities

All dragons are powered by fire, deep within. That's quite literal; instead of a biochemical digestive system, their bellies are combustion engines, burning wider range of foods/fuels than a human can consume, and extracting more energy from them. That fire gives them the exceptional amounts of energy they need to use their incredible physical powers...including, of course, fire breath.

In order for a dragon to maintain itself, it must moderate the rate of combustion; burning too hot will expend fuel too quickly, and burning too cool may halt the reaction. Most of the time, this is an autonomic task, but the dragon's emotions can upset the delicate balance--most particularly, when enraged, dragons' bellies burn hotter, which in turn gives them a rush of strength, inspiring them to further rage, becoming a vicious cycle. When this happens, they must burn off excess energy, lest they be literally consumed by their own fire, but they must also take care not to burn off so much that their fire is extinguished. The latter is quite difficult, as enraged dragons are not in a rational state of mind. As such, it is imperative that dragons learn to control their fire, either by avoiding the accumulation of rage, or by burning it off in a controlled manner.

Rage

Rage is an attribute possessed by dragons. It represents their inner fire burning at an exceptionally-high temperature due to emotional compromise.

Attribute

Gaining Rage

A dragon gains 1 point of rage automatically when any of the following events occur:

• He suffers a major or critical injury
• An ally is injured for the first time in a given encounter

Many other sources of rage are possible, per DM discretion, such as:

• He is the victim of an injustice (stolen from, assaulted, deprived of rights, etc)
• He or a loved one is made to suffer (torture, etc)
• A hated enemy evades his wrath
• Death of an ally or loved one (usually more than one point)

Not all situations should incur Rage. It is not a measurement of annoyance, nor the anger of mere mortals...it is an emotional force that creates literal heat, unleashing an extraordinary fiery power. Examples of situations that probably should not result in a Rage gain include:

• The dragon is insulted or disrespected
• He fails a skill check or attack roll (although such a thing could of course result in one of the above situations)
• He finds someone annoying

Losing Rage

Rage does not diminish over time. It can be diminished with Fire Breath, Transformation, or other uses provided by feats.

The Effects of Rage

When a dragon's Rage is not zero, she is affected by the following:

Transformation

Even the lowest-level dragon can transform, if sufficiently motivated by Rage.

• Transform: At-will, immediate, requires 5 or more Rage; you take on your full draconic form (see below). You expend 1 Rage per round while in this form. If your Rage reaches 0, the effect ends. Ending the effect prematurely requires a Willpower check, DC 5 per Rage point.

When you transform, your equipment merges magically with your form. You still benefit from the effects of worn equipment (except armor DR, see below), but you cannot use held items. When you resume normal form, your equipment returns to you.

True Form

The true form of a dragon is, of course, larger and more physically powerful than that of a human.

Physical Powers

Notes:

• Size effects include those listed in Size
• Ability score modifiers replace those based on Rage; upon transformation, cancel the Rage-based modifiers and use these instead
• DR replaces that of worn armor, although other effects of armor will still apply

Natural Attacks

• You have a number of natural attacks, all of which may be used in a single standard action (although not all target the same arc)
• Bite: Single attack, front, slashing damage as a two-handed weapon.
• Claw: Two attacks, front, slashing damage as one-handed weapons.
• Tail Sweep: Single attack, rear, kinetic damage as two-handed weapon; also push 5 ( 5 per size above large).
• Wing Slap: When you are in draconic form and not flying, you may use your wings to attack (two attacks, damage same as claw, can attack flanks without turning).

Natural Defenses

• In addition to simple DR, you also gain:
• Wing Block: When you are in draconic form and not flying, you may use your wings to Block. They grant a 5 bonus to the check, and can protect your flanks as well as your front.

Breath Weapon

The simplest way to burn off excess Rage is to convert it directly into fire. A dragon's lungs are quite massive--large even for his size--and his lung capacity is based on his true form's size, not his humanoid size. Thus, he can breath in quite a lot of air, then heat it to incredible temperatures, finally releasing it as a gout of flame. Of course, dragons need to breath air, so after releasing such a blast, he must take some time to breath normally before trying it again.

• Breath of Fire: Recharge 33%, std, cone 1/level (min 3), costs at least 1 Rage; cone of fire inflicts nominal fire damage 100% per Rage point burned.

Skills

There are several dragon-specific skills you may invest in.

Dragonborn

You are a dragon, hence, awesome.

All Ranks

• Gain the following bonuses:
  • +1 to Str, Con, and Cha per rank
  • +5 DR per rank
  • +5 Block Rating when blockign unarmed

Rank 1

• Dragon Snout: Gain Scent in all forms.
• More?

Rank 2

• ?

Rank 3

• ?

Dracorage

Invest in rage! TBD

Dragon Form

Better dragonform, more transformation. TBD

Feats

All Ranks

• Fire Resistance: Improves fire resistance to 75%.
  • Greater Fire Resistance: Improves fire resistance to 90%.

Rank 1

• Flame Jet: When you use Breath of Fire, you may change the area to line 2/level (10-ft wide) or 4/level (5-ft wide).
• Disposition: You can adopt one of two "stances" at any given time. Switching between them is a free action (once/rd).
  • Offensive: gain one point of Rage each time you spend an action to attack (max once/rd).
  • Defensive: gain one point of Rage each time you are attacked (max once/rd).

Rank 2

• Wyrmling Wings: At-will, you may sprout feathery wings (the natural "down" of a young dragon). It costs no Rage to use or sustain this ability; however, you aren't quite strong enough in humanoid form to fly unaided. Still, they are useful, as they can slow your descent, granting slow fall over virtually any distance, allowing you to move horizontally at a 45-degree angle (maximum deviation at landing = height of the drop). While your wings are out, your horizontal jump distances are tripled.

Rank 3

• Lesser Transformation: At will, you may take on draconic form, albeit as if you were two ranks lower. There is no Rage requirement to assume or sustain this lesser form.

Rank 4

• Mystic Flight: You may use the flight ability of your draconic form without transforming at all, albeit at the fly speed 2 sizes lower than normal.

Epic

• Unleash the Dragon: You may stay in draconic form indefinitely. Epic XP cost TBD.

Quick list:

• Wing Slap
• Tail Sweep
• Alternate breath weapon shapes
• Alternate breath weapon energies
• Crush
• Improved crit, arp, etc on natural weapons
• Pounce
• Keep certain equipment while shifted
• Mini-breaths

Dragon Bloodlines

Purple Dragon

Automatic Abilities

• Time Resistance: Gain Resist 50% (time).
• Mind Shield: Gain Resist 50% (psychic damage, mental effects).
• Talented Mentalist: You gain 1 rank of Mentalism as an innate power.
• Serpent Form: Your draconic form is more serpentine, and you can become snakes. Woot.
• Parseltongue: You may communicate with serpents and their kin.

Feats

• Greater Resistance: Improve to Resist 100% (time, psychic and mental effects). Costs 5 BP.
• Telekinetic Flight: Rank 3, costs 3 BP. You gain a fly speed equal to your current Rage count.

Variants

Natural Dragon

Lose:

• Shapeshifting into humanoid (can regain through talents)

Gain:

• Always in dragon form
• Gain 1 rage OTS in combat, 1 rage when attacked (max 1/rd), 1 rage when damaged (max 1/rd)

Notes

• Max Rage should be based on something dynamic, not just 10 ?
• Raid the System 6 fighter for more rage feats
• Rage feat: spend Stamina, gain Rage
• Rage feat: use Rage as Mana
• Purple dragon feat: absorb the Rage of others; absorb temporal Rage

7.3

Paths:

• Shifting
  • Hybrid form: can stay in as long as you want, partial-strength draconic attacks
  • Wings, lesser transformation
• Rage
  • Increase rage limit, transfer to other energy forms
  • Rage "stances"
  • System 6 fighter rage maneuvers
• Dragonity
  • DR, fire res, strength, etc. The obvious.
  • Flight