Dragon Rider

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Overview & Creation

A small elf woman walks into the raided village, passing through the orcs that look at her with humor, one more weak creature for them, until a shadow passes by, and in a flash of silver, a powerful silver dragon lands behind her, and together, the dragon with it's cold breath and the woman, with blasts of arcane energy take back the village from the orcs.   A towering goliath man runs into battle side by side with his black dragon, the opposing army, having surpassed the initial surprise of seeing a dragon, prepares to attack. But it's the goliath, who started to gain the aspect of a dragon himself, that surprises them this time as he plows through their defenses, with strength never before seen, even for a goliath.   A human man and his dragon fight against a group of wyverns, both moving in ways that perfectly complement each other. The red dragon they seek to bring down watches from afar, even such a powerful creature starting to feel overwhelmed by the synchrony of the pair. The dispatch of the last wyvern and start heading for their quarry, who in it's sinking desperation attacks, not know that in the end, the rider and his partner are the ones who will walk away in the end.   A dragon is known for its power, its intellect and its love for treasure. The idea of a dragon swearing its loyalty to a person would be unimaginable to most. Until they see a dragon rider. A rider has a deep magical bond with their dragon. Connected to each other by their souls, they are a great duo, always stronger together.  

 

The Bond

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  A dragon rider is connected to their dragon from the moment the dragon hatches from its egg. For this to happen the egg has to be specially enchanted by a member of the Dragon Rider Bond. Once the dragon has chosen his companion it´s soul meld together and can not be separated. That is why the dragon hatchling is so picky when it comes to choosing its rider. Some might look at a dragon born with the bond with pity, for it loses a great part of its freedom. But underestimating one of them would be a grave mistake. For where they lack in personal strength, the make up with loyalty. Their masters mean more to them than their own lives and each rider will gladly risk their own lives to protect their companions. Together they are fearsome. Two creatures connected, sharing everything. The dragon might have lost some of its independence, but it gained something just as great.  

Creating a Dragon Rider

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  When making a dragon rider, think of the following questions to decide why you would want to make this character. Do you want to play a character that has a companion by its side? Do you want to ride a mighty mount to battle? Cast, few but useful spells, while your dragon keeps the enemies at bay with its fangs and claws? Fight side by side with a dragon, watch it grow together with you?  

Quickbuild

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  You can make a dragon rider quickly by following these suggestions. First, Strength or Dexterity should be your highest ability score if you want the Dragonkin or Dragon Knight archetypes or Charisma, Intelligence or Wisdom if you want the Dragon Mage archetype, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the Folk Hero background.  

Multiclassing

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Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing into the dragon rider class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Strength, Dexterity or Charisma and you need to be chosen by an dragon. Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the dragon rider class, you gain the following proficiencies: light armor, shields, simple weapons and the Animal Handling skill.
 

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Class Features

Naming

Naming your Dragon is the first step of the journey. The dragon chooses his or her own name but it will always take suggestions. Once a name is given it can not be revoked. At 1st level, you have to help you dragon pick a name.  

Soulbound

At 1st level, your souls are now merged into one. You can telepathically communicate up to a range of 5 miles. Well if the dragon has learned a language that is. You will have to teach him/her but luckily dragons are very fast learners. You also feel how your dragon is feeling. This connection works both ways. The dragon can feel if you feel happy, uncomfortable, sad, mad, etc. This feature can not be turned off. And you also gain advantage to Charisma checks when interaction with dragons.  

Dragonriders Way

At 2nd level, you choose a dragonrider way. You can become a fierce "Dragon Knight" feared for their physic and their toughness or become a "Dragon Mage" known for their elemental adaptiveness and their immense power or you could focus on the bond connecting you and your dragon companion and become a "Dragon Soul".  

Physical Transformation

You start growing scales in the same color as your companions has. At 3rd level, your connection with your dragon has given your body a bit of a draconic aspect. You are immune to nonmagical diseases. See your Dragonrider way for extra features. At 9th level, your body starts to outgrow its original limits. The maximum ability score is increased to 22. At 15th level, your body´s former limits are almost nonexistent and the maximum ability score is increased to 24.   Mount Starting at 3rd level, Your dragon grows and becomes a large creature, allowing you to finally ride it. When mounting or dismounting your dragon it costs you only 5 feet of movement, rather than half your speed. In addition, you have advantage on saving throws made to avoid falling off your mount. If you fall off it, you can automatically land on your feet if you aren’t incapacitated and you fall less than 10 feet. While you are riding your dragon both of you act on your initiative, you both keep all the actions you had each, except for the movement, which only the dragon keeps, unless you dismount it. Your dragon cannot fly while you are mounting it, as it has not grown enough to carry the additional weight in the air. This changes at 7th level.

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Starting Equipment

• (a) a simple weapon and a shield or (b) two simple weapons

• (a) five javelins or (b) any simple melee weapon

• (a) a explorers pack or (b) an adventurers pack

• (a) studded leather armor or (b) chainmail

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Spellcasting

You choose your Spellcasting Ability from either Charisma, Intelligence or Wisdom as your spellcasting ability for your Dragon Rider spells. Once you have chosen the Ability it is impossible to change your choice. You use your chosen Ability whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your chosen Ability modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a dragon rider spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.   Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your chosen Ability modifier   Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your chosen Ability modifier

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Subclass Options

Dragon Knight

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Bonus Proficiencies

When you choose this way, you gain proficiency in the athletics or acrobatics skill. And you are also proficient with heavy armor.

Fighting Style

At 2nd level, you adopt a style of fighting as your specialty. Choose one of the following options. You can’t take a Fighting Style option more than once, even if you later get to choose again:

Archery

You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.

Defense

While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.

Dueling

When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

Great Weapon Fighting

When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even if the new roll is a 1 or a 2. The weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit.

Protection

When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding a shield.

Two-Weapon Fighting

When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

Physical Transformation

At 3rd level, you also gain 1 additional hit point when you level up. This bonus increased to 2 (9th level) and later to 3 (15th level) per level.

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. The number of attacks increases to three when you reach 13th level in this class.

Draconic Resolve

At 10th level, your time with your dragon has increased your resolve. You are immune to a dragon's frightful presence, and while you're within 30ft of your dragon you gain advantage against any other fear effect.

Dragon Strike

When you reach 14th level, the bond between you and your dragon has been strengthened significantly. Because of this you are granted the ability to imbue your weapon with the element relating to the type of dragon with which you are Bonded. By concentrating on your bond, you can use a bonus action to imbue the weapon you are wielding with the element corresponding to the type of dragon to which you are bonded. Enemies struck with your Draconic Strike take an extra 2d8 of elemental damage

Dragon Body

At level 16 your body has gained even more apparent draconic aspects. Now you are immune to all diseases, even magical ones. You also have gained a few scales (more scales if you chose the dragonkin archetype) that have the same colour as your dragon, they give you resistance to your dragon's breath damage type.

Complete Bond

When you reach the 20th level, your bond with your dragon has been completely formed, the two of you are one. With a bonus action, you and your dragon gain temporary hit points equal to 1/2 of your combined current hit points for one minute. This can be used once per long rest.
Dragon Mage

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