General Prestige Class : Dragon Samurai

Dragon samurai are dedicated warriors, members of a special, self-selected class who revere dragonkind and emulate dragons' ferocious martial abilities to the point of taking on some draconic traits. Unlike noble samurai, who are born to their role and into a system of allegiance, dragon samurai are made, not born. Sometimes, orthodox samurai fall out of the system and find their way into a dragon clan (see below), but more often, those previously unfettered with allegiance swear fealty to a chosen dragon clan. It is then that they begin their training in the arts of draconic warfare and discipline.

Each dragon samurai is bound to a single dragon clan, of which there are ten. Five good dragon clans are each devoted to a kind of metallic dragon, and five evil dragon clans are each devoted to a kind of chromatic dragon.

Dragon samurai adhere to their own unique bushido (a samurai's code of honor). However, they swear loyalty and obedience to a clan, not to a lord. If a dragon samurai remains true to her bushido, in time the fires of the dragon awaken within her.

Martial classes of all types can apply for membership in dragon clans. Basically, anyone with an abiding interest in or reverence for dragons may eventually qualify for clan membership. If the dragon's roar is as a song to one's ears, she should consider becoming a dragon samurai.

NPC dragon samurai are solid, stalwart warriors of their clans. They advance the clan's secret agendas, which can be as simple as a quick commission or as grand as an all-consuming crusade.

Requirements

To qualify to become a Dragon Samurai, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Class Skills

The dragon samurai's class skills are Climb, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Jump, Profession, Ride, Sense Motive, and Swim.

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the dragon samurai prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Dragon samurai gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Dragon Breath (Su): A dragon samurai can use a breath weapon once per day as a standard action. The type of breath weapon depends on the color of the dragon samurai's clan, as noted below. The breath weapon deals 1d8 points of damage per class level. The Reflex save DC for the breath weapon is 10 + the dragon samurai's class level + the dragon samurai's Con modifier. If a dragon samurai already has a breath weapon of the same type, the damage stacks. For example, if a half-dragon character has a breath weapon dealing 6d8 points of damage once per day and gains a breath weapon of the same type that deals 2d8 points of damage for being a 2nd-level dragon samurai, her damage increases to 8d8. She still gets so use her breath weapon only once per day.

ColorEnergyBreath Weapon*
Blackacid60-ft. line of acid
Blueelectricity60-ft. line of lightning
Greenacid30-ft. cone of corrosive (acid) gas
Redfire30-ft. cone of fire
Whitecold30-ft. cone of cold
Brassfire60-ft. line of fire
Bronzeelectricity60-ft. line of lightning
Copper acid60-ft. line of acid
Goldfire30-ft. cone of fire
Silvercold30-ft. cone of cold
*Breath weapon sizes given here are for Medium creatures. For creatures of other sizes, see the Dragon Breath Weapons table on page 69 of the Monster Manual.

Resistance to Energy (Su): A dragon samurai gains resistance 5 against attacks involving the same energy type as the character's breath weapon (for example, acid for a green dragon samurai). At 5th level, the resistance improves to 10. At 7th level it improves to 15, and at 10th level it becomes 20.

Dragon Friend (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a dragon samurai gets a +4 circumstance bonus on all Charisma-based checks when dealing with dragons of his clan's color.

Immune to Dragon Fear (Ex): Starring at 3rd level, a dragon samurai is immune to fear effects from a dragon of her clan's color.

Elemental Weapon (Su): Starting at 4th level, a dragon samurai can endow a melee weapon with elemental energy while she wields it in battle. This energy is of the same type as her breath weapon. Causing a weapon or weapons to gain this feature is a free action. At 4th level, the melee weapon deals an extra 1d6 points of energy damage, and this extra damage increases to 2d6 at 9th level. This extra damage does stack with any energy damage the weapon may already deal.

Dragon Ride (Ex): Starting at 6th level, a dragon samurai gets a +4 bonus on all Ride checks while riding a dragon.

Blind-Fight: At 8th level, a dragon samurai gains Blind-Fight as a bonus feat. If the character already has the feat, she can choose a different one

Dragon SamuraiHit Die: d10
CLBABFortRefWillSpecial
1st+0+2+0+2Dragon breath, resistance to energy 5
2nd+1+3+0+3Dragon friend
3rd+2+3+1+3Immune to dragon fear
4th+3+4+1+4Elemental weapon +1d6
5th+3+4+1+4Resistance to energy 10
6th+4+5+2+5Dragon ride
7th+5+5+2+5Resistance to energy 15
8th+6+6+2+6Blind-Fight
9th+6+6+3+6Elemental weapon +2d6
10th+7+7+3+7Resistance to energy 20

Source: Miniatures Handbook


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General Prestige Classes