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CHAPTER 2
DRAGON
ASPIRANTS
32
PLAYING A DIAMOND DRAGON
You have learned to tap into the energies of the minds of
dragons, drawing forth pure psionic powers that others
cannot access. Much like a sorcerer with draconic feats or a
dragonfire adept, you have elevated yourself above others of
your race, becoming more like a dragon than a humanoid.
You’re proud of this accomplishment, and it shows. Knowing
you’re better able to survive a fight gives you the confidence
to be open about your superiority. You don’t need to be smug
or overbearing, but you do exude a quiet sense of personal
satisfaction and accomplishment.
Combat
You are better able to engage in close combat than typical
psions or wilders. In addition to being more physically fit,
you can employ your channeled claws or tail to strike at
foes in melee without giving up psionic attacks. Your coneshaped
breath weapon can catch numerous foes in it near
the front line, while your line-shaped breath weapon allows
you to strike at enemies who hold back, such as spellcasters
and masterminds. However, you are not as resilient as a true
fighter and still depend on armor or defensive psionic powers
for safety. You should be ready to retreat (possibly by flying
away) if you run low on power points.
Advancement
There are many ways to find the path of the diamond dragon.
You might have been driven to understand psionic dragons,
naturally developing a closer understanding of them through
study and mediation. You might have actually met such a
creature, perhaps many years ago when you first learned
psionics, and found yourself moving toward a form that’s
more in keeping with that teacher. Or perhaps you simply
had visions or dreams about using psionic energy in dragon
form and followed them to create a training program that
made you what you are today.
Now that you’ve begun to see real benefits from your study
into dragon psionics, a long and clear course of study lies
before you. You gain some draconic power at nearly every
level and can augment your abilities with careful selection of
your other psionic powers. You can become more dragonlike
and expand your mental studies long after you’ve mastered
the secrets of this prestige class.
As a diamond dragon, you have greater freedom than other
psionic characters when selecting psionic powers, because
you know that as you progress through your new career,
you’ll automatically gain melee and ranged attack powers and
mobility, though all at a cost in power points. When selecting
your other psionic powers, focus on those that increase your
defense, healing ability, or general utility. Since you’ll burn
through power points faster than most psionic characters, you
would benefit from taking the Psionic Talent feat as many
times as you can manage. In addition, your greater physical
abilities make Body Fuel an attractive choice.
Resources
All diamond dragons share a sense of kinship that binds them
together, even if they end up on opposite sides of an issue. You
can count on polite treatment from diamond dragons who
oppose you and warm hospitality from those who do not.
Having taken the mantle of being a dragon, you are expected
to be self-sufficient, but you could ask for a meal and a safe
place to sleep without violating that expectation. A few colleges
of diamond dragons exist, welcoming all who come to
them in peace. Many of these colleges have one or two gem
dragons that teach and maintain order. At these places, you
can attend classes or find a quiet place to mediate, but you
cannot recruit armies to march off to war.
DIAMOND DRAGONS IN THE WORLD
“I thought we had him—before he hit me with that blasted tail
and flew off!”
—Tordek, dwarf fighter
Diamond dragons fit well in any game that includes both
psionics and a higher concentration of dragons. Though
based on psionic gem dragons, diamond dragons can operate
even if neutral dragons are not common in the campaign. A
diamond dragon might have learned draconic powers from an
ancient tome of lore, a senior diamond dragon, or a rare lone
gem dragon sitting atop a distant mountain. Most members of
this prestige class wander and test their new abilities against
the threats of the world, making them excellent choices for
adventurers.
Organization
Diamond dragons spend little time in the cloistered schools
where psionics are taught. At a typical psionics school, they
are treated as venerated outsiders, asked to speak about their
unique view of psionics and their experiences as a draconic
thinker, but they are not expected to stay for any great length
of time. A diamond dragon who wishes to remain at a particular
school for a few weeks or months could teach classes
or perform difficult chores in exchange for a small cell and
simple fare, but the character’s radical path prevents him
from attaining a position of power there.
Less commonly, a diamond dragon might establish his
own school upon retirement, creating a place that teaches
only the draconic version of psionics. In these colleges, wandering
diamond dragons and true gem dragons can stay as
long as they wish, and students handle all chores. The more
draconic powers a diamond dragon can demonstrate, the
greater authority he enjoys.
NPC Reactions
Diamond dragons are too rare for most groups to have formed
any particular opinions about them. Most communities treat
diamond dragons as they would any psionic characters—or
as psychic warriors, if the community recognizes a differ-