PF1E - Dragon Rider

# PF 1e - Dragon Rider

### Class Summary

Dragon riders are people who, either by tradition, agreement, or accident, have found themselves bonded with a true dragon. This bond is magical in nature, granting the rider a portion of the dragon's innate power in exchange for a lifelong companion.
<br>**Hit Die**: d10

### Requirements

To qualify to become a dragon rider, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

* **Alignment**: Any; however, a dragon rider cannot bond with a dragon more than one alignment step away.
* **Feats**: [Iron Will](https://aonprd.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Iron%20Will)
* **Languages**: Draconic
* **Skills**: Knowledge (Arcana) 4 ranks, Ride 4 ranks
* **Special**: The character must have had peaceful contact with a true dragon.

### Class Skills

The dragon rider’s class skills are Climb (Str), Fly (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Perception (Wis), Ride (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
<br>**Skill Ranks at Each Level**: 4 + Int modifier.

<br>

##### Dragon Rider

| Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special                    |
|:-:    |:-:                |:-:        |:-:       |:-:        |:-:                         |
| 1st   | +1                | +1        | +0       | +1        | Bonded Dragon, Mental Link |
| 2nd   | +2                | +1        | +1       | +1        | Draconic Power             |
| 3rd   | +3                | +2        | +1       | +2        | ----                       |
| 4th   | +4                | +2        | +1       | +2        | Draconic Power             |
| 5th   | +5                | +3        | +2       | +3        | ----                       |
| 6th   | +6                | +3        | +2       | +3        | Draconic Power             |
| 7th   | +7                | +4        | +2       | +4        | ----                       |
| 8th   | +8                | +4        | +3       | +4        | Draconic Power             |
| 9th   | +9                | +5        | +3       | +5        | ----                       |
| 10th  | +10               | +5        | +3       | +5        | Draconic Power             |

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### Class Features

The following are the class features of the dragon rider.

#### Weapon and Armor Proficiency

A dragon rider is proficient with all simple weapons and light armor, but not shields.

#### Bonded Dragon (Su)

A dragon rider has acquired a magical bond to a dragon, granting longevity and power to the rider and accelerated growth and advancement to the dragon. This bond ends only if both rider and dragon decide to end it, or if one is killed and not resurrected.

The rider gains some semblance of a dragon's long lifespan, aging far more slowly than usual. The rider reaches middle age at 200 years, old age at 300 years, and venerable age at 400 years, unless it would naturally age even more slowly.

The bond causes the dragon to grow and gain power as the rider gains experience, rather than through age category advancement (see the Bonded Dragon table). The dragon's set of abilities is modified, as the arcane power that drives them is used to fuel the bond between rider and dragon.

A bonded dragon replaces any existing animal companion, eidolon, familiar, or mount. If a dragon rider has levels in any classes that grant any of the above, a number of levels in those classes equal to the dragon rider's class level stack with dragon rider levels to determine the bonded dragon's level (up to the character's total level).

A dragon rider does not take an armor check penalty on Ride checks while riding the bonded dragon.

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#### Mental Link (Su)

A bonded dragon and rider can communicate telepathically at will, as long as they are on the same plane. They always know the direction to each other, and are aware of any conditions the other is suffering. A bonded dragon uses the same initiative as its rider.

#### Draconic Power (Sp)

At 2nd level and every 2 levels after, the bond between dragon and rider has strengthened enough for the rider to gain a draconic power, as the rider's very being is shaped by the magical power surging through their connection.

Unless otherwise specified, each power can only be taken once. All energy damage and energy resistance mentioned in these powers are of the same type as the bonded dragon's breath weapon. If the rider bonds with a new dragon, the energy damage and energy resistance change type to match the new dragon's breath weapon.

<br>

##### Draconic Powers

| Power | Prerequisites | Benefits |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| Augmented Senses | ---- | The rider gains low-light vision, 60 ft. darkvision,<br>and a +4 racial bonus to Perception. |
| Energy Attacks | Natural attack(s) | The rider's natural attacks deal an additional<br>1d6 damage of the dragon's energy type. |
| Energy Resistance | ---- | The rider gains energy resistance 5 to the dragon's energy type.<br>This power can be taken up to two times and stacks with itself. |
| Expanded Limits | Shared Abilities,<br>Dragon Rider 8 | The rider can use any spell-like abilities granted by Shared<br>Abilities as many times per day as the dragon can, each<br>with their own usage limits but still with the same DC. |
| Hardened Scales | ---- | The bonded dragon gains DR ?/magic equal to half its Hit Dice. |
| Improved Flight | ---- | The bonded dragon's fly speed and maneuverability<br>increase by 10 ft. and one step. This power can be<br>taken up to two times and stacks with itself. |
| Instinctual Riding | 4 ranks in Ride | The rider gains a bonus feat from the first feat list of the ranger's<br>mounted combat style, but must meet its prerequisites. |
| Natural Bite | ---- | The rider gains a primary 1d6 bite attack. The listed damage<br>is for a Medium rider and changes normally with size. |
| Natural Claws | ---- | The rider gains two secondary 1d4 claw attacks. The listed damage <br>is for a Medium rider and changes normally with size. |
| Scale Armor | Dragon Rider 4 | The rider gains a +2 natural armor bonus to AC and DR 2/magic. |
| Shared Abilities | ---- | The rider can use any of the dragon's spell-like abilities,<br>counting towards the same usage limits and with the same DC. |

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TODO: more powers?

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##### Bonded Dragon

| Level | Hit Dice | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Natural Armor | Skills | Feats |
|:-:    |:-:       |:-:                |:-:        |:-:       |:-:        |:-:            |:-:     |:-:    |
| 1st   | 2        | +2                | +3        | +0       | +3        | +0            | 4      | 1     |
| 2nd   | 3        | +3                | +3        | +1       | +3        | +1            | 6      | 2     |
| 3rd   | 3        | +3                | +3        | +1       | +3        | +1            | 6      | 2     |
| 4th   | 4        | +4                | +4        | +1       | +4        | +2            | 8      | 2     |
| 5th   | 5        | +5                | +4        | +1       | +4        | +3            | 10     | 3     |
| 6th   | 6        | +6                | +5        | +2       | +5        | +4            | 12     | 3     |
| 7th   | 6        | +6                | +5        | +2       | +5        | +4            | 12     | 3     |
| 8th   | 7        | +7                | +5        | +2       | +5        | +5            | 14     | 4     |
| 9th   | 8        | +8                | +6        | +2       | +6        | +6            | 16     | 4     |
| 10th  | 9        | +9                | +6        | +3       | +6        | +7            | 18     | 5     |
| 11th  | 9        | +9                | +6        | +3       | +6        | +7            | 18     | 5     |
| 12th  | 10       | +10               | +7        | +3       | +7        | +8            | 20     | 5     |
| 13th  | 11       | +11               | +7        | +3       | +7        | +9            | 22     | 6     |
| 14th  | 12       | +12               | +8        | +4       | +8        | +10           | 24     | 6     |
| 15th  | 12       | +12               | +8        | +4       | +8        | +10           | 24     | 6     |
| 16th  | 13       | +13               | +8        | +4       | +8        | +11           | 26     | 7     |
| 17th  | 14       | +14               | +9        | +4       | +9        | +12           | 28     | 7     |
| 18th  | 15       | +15               | +9        | +5       | +9        | +13           | 30     | 8     |
| 19th  | 15       | +15               | +9        | +5       | +9        | +13           | 30     | 8     |
| 20th  | 16       | +16               | +10       | +5       | +10       | +14           | 32     | 8     |

| Level | Str/Con Bonus | Dex Penalty | Int/Wis/Cha Bonus | Special                    | SLA 1 | SLA 2 | SLA 3 | SLA 4 | SLA 5 |
|:-:    |:-:            |:-:          |:-:                |:-:                         |:-:    |:-:    |:-:    |:-:    |:-:    |
| 1st   | +0            | -0          | +0                | Breath Weapon, Bite, Claws | -     | -     | -     | -     | -     |
| 2nd   | +0            | -0          | +0                | Share Spells               | 1     | -     | -     | -     | -     |
| 3rd   | +1            | -1          | +0                | ----                       | 1     | -     | -     | -     | -     |
| 4th   | +1            | -1          | +0                | Intimidating               | 2     | -     | -     | -     | -     |
| 5th   | +1            | -1          | +1                | ----                       | 2     | -     | -     | -     | -     |
| 6th   | +2            | -2          | +1                | Wings or Gore              | 2     | 1     | -     | -     | -     |
| 7th   | +2            | -2          | +1                | Multiattack                | 3     | 1     | -     | -     | -     |
| 8th   | +2            | -2          | +1                | ----                       | 3     | 2     | -     | -     | -     |
| 9th   | +3            | -3          | +1                | Reciprocated Share Spells  | 3     | 2     | -     | -     | -     |
| 10th  | +3            | -3          | +1                | ----                       | 3     | 2     | 1     | -     | -     |
| 11th  | +3            | -3          | +2                | Tail Slap                  | 4     | 3     | 1     | -     | -     |
| 12th  | +4            | -4          | +2                | ----                       | 4     | 3     | 2     | -     | -     |
| 13th  | +4            | -4          | +2                | Enhanced Senses            | 4     | 3     | 2     | -     | -     |
| 14th  | +4            | -4          | +2                | ----                       | 4     | 3     | 2     | 1     | -     |
| 15th  | +5            | -5          | +2                | ----                       | 4     | 4     | 3     | 1     | -     |
| 16th  | +5            | -5          | +2                | Potent Breath              | 5     | 4     | 3     | 2     | -     |
| 17th  | +5            | -5          | +3                | ----                       | 5     | 4     | 3     | 2     | -     |
| 18th  | +6            | -6          | +3                | ----                       | 5     | 4     | 3     | 2     | 1     |
| 19th  | +6            | -6          | +3                | ----                       | 5     | 4     | 4     | 3     | 2     |
| 20th  | +6            | -6          | +3                | Frightful Presence         | 5     | 5     | 4     | 4     | 3     |

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##### Dragon Size, Attacks, and Speed

| Level      | Size   | 1 Bite | 2 Claws | 2 Wings | 1 Gore | 1 Tail Slap | Fly Speed (Man.)          |
|:-:         |:-:     |:-:     |:-:      |:-:      |:-:     |:-:          |:-:                        |
| 1st        | Small  | 1d4    | 1d3     | ----    | ----   | ----        | 30 ft. (good)             |
| 6th        | Medium | 1d6    | 1d4     | 1d4     | 1d6    | ----        | 40 ft. (good)<sup>†</sup> |
| 11th       | Large  | 1d8    | 1d6     | 1d6     | 1d8    | 1d8         | 50 ft. (avg.)             |
| 16th       | Huge   | 2d6    | 1d8     | 1d8     | 2d6    | 2d6         | 60 ft. (avg.)             |
† At 6th level, a bonded dragon is able to carry riders of the appropriate size on its back during flight.

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> ##### Wings, for Flight and Fight(ing)
> Imperial dragons, unlike chromatic, metallic, primal, outer, and esoteric dragons, are wingless. Their flight is a supernatural ability, and they gain the ability to gore enemies with their horns rather than attack foes with their wings.

### Bonded Dragon Features

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#### Racial Traits

- d12 Hit Die
- low-light vision
- 60 ft. darkvision
- immune to magical sleep and paralysis
- energy resistance 10 to their own energy type
- 30 ft. base speed, 20 ft. swim speed
- size-dependent fly speed and maneuverability

#### Advancement

While the dragon rider prestige class only has 10 levels, a chart is provided all the way up to level 20 because of the possibility of stacking with other class levels (in exchange for replacing existing companions). See the rider's Bonded Dragon class feature for details.

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#### Languages

A bonded dragon knows Common and Draconic. It can learn new languages normally, through an increased Int modifier or the Linguistics skill.

#### Ability Scores

All baby bonded dragons are shaped by their magical bond with the rider, giving them the following starting ability scores: Str 8, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 11, Wis 10, Cha 12. They also get 5 extra points to distribute at 1st level, but no more than 3 of those points can go into any one ability score. The listed ability score bonuses and penalties given in the Bonded Dragon table replace the standard bonuses and penalties that come with increased size.

#### Skills

The bonded dragon's class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Climb (Str), Escape Artist (Dex), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str). A bonded dragon with an increased Int modifier gains extra skill ranks per hit die, as normal.

#### Breath Weapon (Su)

At 1st level, once every 1d6 rounds, a bonded dragon can use its breath weapon as a standard action. It deals 1d6 damage, plus another 1d6 for every 2 bonded dragon levels beyond 1st. Targets can make a Reflex save for half damage (DC = 10 + 1/2 the dragon's Hit Dice + the dragon's Con modifier).

A line breath has a range of 20 ft. plus 10 ft. for every 2 bonded dragon levels beyond 1st, while a cone breath has a range of 10 ft. plus 5 ft. for every 2 bonded dragon levels beyond 1st. The damage type and the breath shape vary from dragon to dragon, and are listed on the Dragon Types tables.

#### Bite

At 1st level, a bonded dragon can bite its foes. This is a primary attack that adds 1-1/2 times the dragon's Str modifier to damage. It also has reach as though the dragon were one size larger.

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#### Claws

At 1st level, a bonded dragon can make two claw swipes. These are primary attacks that add the dragon's Str modifier to damage.

#### Share Spells (Ex)

At 2nd level, the rider may cast a spell or spell-like ability with a target of "You" on the bonded dragon (as a touch range spell). The rider may cast spells or spell-like abilities on the bonded dragon even if they would normally not affect creatures of its type.

#### Spell-Like Abilities (Sp)

At 2nd level and every 4 levels thereafter, a bonded dragon learns to use a new spell-like ability (see the Dragon Types tables), using its Hit Dice (not its bonded dragon level) as its caster level (DC = 10 + 1/2 the dragon's Hit Dice + the dragon's Cha modifier). It can use these abilities a number of times per day as shown on the Bonded Dragon table.

#### Intimidating (Ex)

At 4th level, a bonded dragon gains a morale bonus to Intimidate equal to its Hit Dice.

#### Wings

At 6th level, a bonded chromatic, metallic, primal, outer, or esoteric dragon can make two wing attacks. These are secondary attacks that add 1/2 times the dragon's Str modifier to damage.

#### Gore

At 6th level, a bonded imperial dragon can gore foes with its horns. This is a primary attack that adds 1-1/2 times the dragon's Str modifier to damage. It also has reach as though the dragon were one size larger.

#### Multiattack (Ex)

At 7th level, a bonded dragon gains [Multiattack](https://aonprd.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Multiattack) as a bonus feat.

#### Reciprocated Share Spells (Ex)

At 9th level, the bonded dragon may cast a spell or spell-like ability with a target of "You" on the rider (as a touch range spell). The bonded dragon may cast spells or spell-like abilities on the rider even if they would normally not affect creatures of its type.

#### Tail Slap

At 11th level, a bonded dragon can slap enemies with its tail. This is a secondary attack that adds 1/2 times the dragon's Str modifier to damage.

#### Enhanced Senses (Ex)

At 13th level, a bonded dragon gains 30 ft. scent and a +6 racial bonus to Perception.

#### Potent Breath (Su)

At 16th level, a bonded dragon's breath weapon can be used once every 1d4 rounds, and its damage dice are changed from d6s to d8s.

#### Frightful Presence (Ex)

At 20th level, a bonded dragon gains a frightful presence aura with a radius of 60 ft., a duration of 3d6 rounds, and a DC = 10 + 1/2 the dragon's Hit Dice + the dragon's Cha modifier.

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## Standard Dragons

<br>

##### Dragon Types: Chromatic

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<br>

##### Dragon Types: Metallic

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## Exotic Dragons

<br>

##### Dragon Types: Imperial

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##### Dragon Types: Primal

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## Alien Dragons

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##### Dragon Types: Outer

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##### Dragon Types: Esoteric

| Type | Alignment | Breath Type | SLA 1 | SLA 2 | SLA 3 | SLA 4 | SLA 5 |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| Astral | Neutral | force, line | [Deja Vu](https://aonprd.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Deja%20Vu) | [Aversion](https://aonprd.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Aversion) | [Telekinetic Charge](https://aonprd.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Telekinetic%20Charge) | [Repulsion](https://aonprd.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Repulsion) | [Telekinetic Storm](https://aonprd.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Telekinetic%20Storm) |
| Dream | Neutral | electricity, cone | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Etheric | Neutral | force, line | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Nightmare | Neutral Evil | acid, cone | ? | ? | ? |[Power Word Blind](https://aonprd.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Power%20Word%20Blind) | ? |
| Occult | Neutral Good | cold, cone | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |

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TODO: finish alien dragon SLAs

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