|
 Races of the Dragon provides D&D players and Dungeon Masters with an in-depth look at races descended from or related to dragons. In addition to exploring the fan-favorite kobold race, Races of the Dragon introduces two new races, dragonborn and spellscales, and provides information on half-dragons. The dragonborn are a transitive race, an exciting new concept that allows players to transform from their initial race into a new one. This book also includes a wealth of cultural information and new prestige classes, feats, equipment, spells, and magic items. The excerpts below include the disciple of the eye prestige class, sample racial substitution levels, some psionic powers, and draconic grafts.
Table of Contents
Introduction
"I believe in miracles. After all, the majesty and grandeur of the dragon imbues my blood with magic. Touch my skin, feel the pattern of my scales. Look into my eyes. Feel the magic of my being. Know that I am dragonblood."
-- Benesvelk ux Thurirl tibur Elizar, dragonborn
Few creatures excite the imagination as much as dragons. These awesome beings are the ultimate adversaries and allies, found throughout myths from around the world and holding a legendary place in our hearts. For many, the appearance of a dragon is the highlight of a campaign, meaning that the player characters have finally mastered their skills.
Despite our enjoyment at encountering dragons in our games, however, playing one is not an option in most campaigns due to the majesty, wealth, and power that a dragon commands. For those who want to experience draconic splendor firsthand -- to have a chance to play with and direct the power of the dragon ourselves -- opportunities have been few and far between. Many of us are still wishing we could play a dragon somehow -- to be of a race of the dragon. This book is for us.
Races of the Dragon is a supplement for the Dungeons & Dragons® roleplaying game. It is primarily a player resource focusing on new options and expanded rules for D&D players who want to play draconic races. It features two new races, the dragonborn and the spellscale, as well as detailing familiar dragonkind creatures such as kobolds, half-dragons, and creatures with the draconic template. Much of the book is devoted to new options for players and their characters -- prestige classes, feats, racial substitution levels, spells, psionic powers, and equipment.
Races of the Dragon also includes a number of adventure sites and sample NPCs that Dungeon Masters can use as a resource for encounters and adventures featuring members of the dragonblooded races.
What Is a Race of the Dragon
Dragons have been living and breeding for eons. Sorcerers of any humanoid race carry a trace of this draconic ancestry. Is every sorcerer a member of a race of the dragon? No -- although the blood of the dragon may be in all of them, it is dilute and latent in the vast majority. Other races such as lizardfolk and troglodytes likewise may have had touches of dragon blood in their past, but they no longer have strong links to any dragon ancestry. That link is necessary for one to claim descent from draconic ancestry. Being a member of dragonblood race goes much deeper than merely speaking Draconic or having scales. Races of the dragon are those with strong ties to their dragon progenitors. They look, feel, and often behave in ways that ref lect their mighty draconic heritage.
The sidebar at the bottom of this page goes into detail about how dragons and those related to dragons are classified in the game.
What You Need to Play
Races of the Dragon makes use of the information in the three D&D core rulebooks -- Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual. In addition, it contains references to creature descriptions and other material from several supplements, including Draconomicon, Monster Manual II, Monster Manual III, Fiend Folio, Monstrous Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn, Oriental Adventures, Epic Level Handbook, and Sandstorm.
Although possession of any or all of these supplements will enhance your enjoyment of Races of the Dragon, they are not strictly necessary; in fact, in many cases all the details you need to make use of a particular creature or rule from another source are provided in this book.
|
