Ancestry: Half-Dragon
Dark rituals, magical experiments, and the shenanigans of the boldest charismatics sometimes produce half-dragons. Half-dragons occupy a strange space in dragon society, set in-between dragon and humanoid, and truly belong to neither yet displaying the traits and behaviors of both. The main example is, due to their draconic tendencies, half-dragons tend to create lairs and hoards for themselves to rest in isolation. Despite this predisposition towards isolation, half-dragons are more sociable than most draconic creatures, likely to converse with those that enter their lairs rather than attack on first sight. Half-dragons are curious about the outside world, yet are often too shy to explore it on their own.
Half-dragons appear as centauroid draconic creatures, with the upper body of a humanoid and the lower body of a dragon. They have wings, but only in the oldest of half-dragons do they fully mature into a usable state. Their scales can be of any chromatic or metallic color.
Half-Dragon Traits
Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and another by 1, to a maximum of 20.
Age. Half-dragons reach maturity around the age of 100, and live to be up to 2,000 years old.
Alignment. Naturally curious yet shy, half-dragons tend towards lawful alignments.
Creature Type. You are a Dragon.
Size. Half-dragons stand at around 10 feet tall, with their draconic body reaching 5 foot high at their shoulders. Your size is Large.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 40 feet.
Quadruped Build. Any climb that requires hands and feet is especially difficult for you because of your quadruped legs. When you make such a climb, each foot of movement costs you 4 extra feet instead of the normal 1 extra foot. If you later gain a climbing speed, climbing costs you only 2 extra feet instead of the normal 1 extra foot.
Darkvision. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Claws. Your claws are natural weapons, which count as simple melee weapons with which you are proficient. You add your Constitution modifier, instead of your Strength modifier, to the attack and damage rolls when you attack with your claws. They deal 1d6 Slashing damage on a hit.
Languages. You can read, speak, and write Common and Draconic.
Heritage: Feathered Hide
Some half-draogns are born with feathers rather than scales, who prioritize beauty and performance over displays of power. They are naturally charismatic, and the friendliest of half-dragons.
Half-dragons with a feathered hide have softer scales and bird-like feathers.
Feathered Performer. You have proficiency in the Performance skill.
Draconic Bound. You can make a long or high jump without a running start.
Heritage: Scaly Hide
Half dragons with a scaly hide are the most common of the rare half-dragon ancestry, who use their greater armor to protect themselves. When not in isolation, these half-dragons sometimes serve as warriors, using their tough scales to protect others.
Half-dragons with a scaly hide typically have large, tough scales whose colors are dulled by regular wear and tear.
Dragon Hide. You have a +1 bonus to your AC. Additionally, if you aren't wearing armor, your AC equals 13 + your Dexterity Modifier.
Half-Dragon Prestige
The Half-Dragon can also be played as a Prestige ancestry, taken after character creation at any point when you would receive a Feat in place of taking a regular Feat. A character must meet the following prerequisites to do so:
- You must have a Constitution score of 16 or higher.
- You must have 30 or more hit points.
- You must have a Common Ancestry.
- You cannot already be an Automaton.
- You can't already have a Prestige Ancestry.
Your DM might allow you to ignore one or more of these prerequisites, and may allow you to take this Prestige ancestry at 1st level.
Regardless of when you gain this ancestry, its features modify or add onto your base ancestry's. If a feature is present on both the prestige ancestry and the base ancestry, you take the version of the feature in the prestige ancestry. If you gain more than one prestige ancestry, you use the newest version of any feature it has that you previously gained.
When you play this ancestry as a Prestige ancestry, you gain the benefits of its Creature Type, Quadruped Build, Claws, and Darkvision.
Prestige Ancestry: Ancient Dragon
Like other dragons, as half-dragons age, their power grows. The oldest, most ancient half-dragons gain the power of flight and further draconic powers.
Prestige
The Ancient Dragon is a Prestige Ancestry. It can be taken after character creation at any point when you would receive a Feat in place of taking a regular Feat. A character must meet the following prerequisites to do so:
- You must have a Constitution score of 16 or higher.
- You must be at least 14th level.
- You must have the Half-Dragon ancestry.
- You can't already have a Prestige Ancestry.
Your DM might allow you to ignore the Constitution Modifier prerequisite, and may allow you to take this Prestige ancestry at 1st level.
Regardless of when you gain this ancestry, its features modify or add onto your base ancestry's. If a feature is present on both the prestige ancestry and the base ancestry, you take the version of the feature in the prestige ancestry. If you gain more than one prestige ancestry, you use the newest version of any feature it has that you previously gained.
Ancient Dragon Traits
Draconic Flight. You have a fly speed equal to your walking speed. You can’t use this flying speed if you’re wearing medium or heavy armor.
Draconic Ancestry. You are directly related to a particular kind of dragon. Choose a type of dragon from the below list; this determines the damage and area of your breath weapon, and the type of resistance you gain.
| Dragon Color | Damage Type | Breath Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Acid | 5 by 60 ft. line (DEX save) |
| Blue | Lightning | 5 by 60 ft. line (DEX save) |
| Brass | Fire | 5 by 30 ft. line (DEX save) |
| Bronze | Lightning | 5 by 60 ft. line (DEX save) |
| Copper | Acid | 5 by 60 ft. line (DEX save) |
| Gold | Fire | 30 ft. cone (DEX save) |
| Green | Poison | 30 ft. cone (CON save) |
| Purple | Force | 30 ft. cone (CON save) |
| Red | Fire | 30 ft. cone (DEX save) |
| Silver | Cold | 30 ft. cone (CON save) |
| White | Cold | 30 ft. cone (CON save) |
Breath Weapon. You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. It deals damage in an area according to your ancestry. When you use your breath weapon, all creatures in the area must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your ancestry. The DC of this saving throw is 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 increase to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th, and 5d6 at 16th level.
Once you use your breath weapon, you must complete a long rest to do so again.