dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 2
DRAGON
ASPIRANTS
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to 2nd level that you are capable of preparing and casting, and
any one metamagic feat you know (with a maximum spell slot
adjustment of four). Once per day, you can apply the effect
of that metamagic feat to the chosen spell without adjusting
the spell slot of the spell or preparing it ahead of time.
At 6th level, you can select a second arcane spell (of up
to 4th level) to gain this benefit (choosing either the same
or a different metamagic feat that you know). At 9th level,
you can select a third arcane spell (of up to 6th level) to gain
this benefit, again selecting either the same or a different
metamagic feat that you know.
Convert Counterspell (Su): Starting at 7th level, you
can identify the components of an incoming spell instantaneously
and convert stored arcane energy into a counterspell.
You can lose any prepared spell of 3rd level or higher in order
to cast dispel magic as a counterspell, or you can lose any
prepared spell of 6th level or higher in order to cast greater
dispel magic as a counterspell. This ability does not allow you
to convert spells for general use into dispel magic and only
applies to counterspelling. The normal rules for casting a
counterspell still apply.
Break Spell Resistance (Su): At 10th level, you gain
great insight into the way creatures naturally resist magic
by studying the magical defenses of dragons. Whenever you
succeed on a caster level check to overcome a target’s spell
resistance, you can lose a prepared spell as a free action to
negate the target’s spell resistance. The target loses its spell
resistance for a number of rounds equal to the level of the
spell you expended.
PLAYING A WYRM WIZARD
You have always known that magic holds more promise than
your mind could imagine. Some mysteries of the multiverse
are beyond human comprehension, but this fact does not
stop you from trying to puzzle them out, making every
attempt to explore the great secrets of magic. Unlike some
who cloister themselves in towers or spend every hour with
their nose buried in a book, you prefer to seek out others who
have followed your same path. Dragons, magical creatures
of legend and potent spellcasters, are your preferred source
of knowledge, and no other will suffice. As such, you have
little regard for established centers of learning—colleges,
churches, wizard academies—and you see no need to offer
the deference and respect that they seem to expect. Indeed,
you are skeptical of any arcane knowledge that does not
come directly from a dragon unless you see it with your
own eyes.
You often face prejudice and anger from those who do not
share your beliefs, and as such you become defensive when
others question the validity of your research. Additionally,
your ability to make amazing discoveries in conjunction
with your dragon allies has given you great confidence to see
beyond the accepted rules and find wisdom elsewhere. Above
all, you believe that dragons hold the key to new knowledge
and advancement of magical abilities, and your best course
of action is to befriend and learn from them.
Combat
Like most spellcasters, your strengths lie not in your ability
to barge into combat, but in your talents that allow you to
strike from a distance. Furthermore, thanks to your advanced
understanding of magic gleaned from many hours with
dragon mentors, you have an uncanny knack for unraveling
spells cast by others. As such, you often hold your strength in
reserve, choosing to react only when other spellcasters attempt
to cast spells of their own. When you are not faced with such
a threat, you prefer to cast spells that have been strengthened
by your research, relying on them to provide a significant
advantage over the standard spells of your enemy.
Advancement
You started learning magic in the traditional ways—through
study and experimentation. Soon, however, you discovered
that there are greater avenues to knowledge than books and
self-teaching. Under the tutelage of dragons, you began to
learn more about how magic works, and soon you were able to
apply their instinct and experience to your own magical studies.
You seek the counsel of dragon mentors to solve arcane
mysteries and explore your talents, relying on their insight
as other wizards rely on musty tomes and aging instructors.
To you, the world of magic is embodied in a living, breathing
being, known to most as a dragon but to you as a teacher.
As a wyrm wizard, you benefit greatly from feats and abilities
that improve your power to overcome magical defenses,
such as the Spell Penetration feat. Additionally, anything that
grants you extra spells (such as magic items that increase your
Intelligence) helps to compensate for your slower acquisition
of new spells.
Resources
Dragons are your greatest and primary resource. By befriending
and studying under true dragons, you can learn much
about how magic works. Additionally, dragons often provide
you with knowledge or items that can prove invaluable while
adventuring. Moreover, any dragon that acts as your mentor
likely becomes protective of you, sometimes coming to your
defense if you are threatened. Though you cannot rely on this
protection every time you’re in a difficult situation, having a
dragon back your actions on occasion is a powerful advantage,
especially when you are facing down a superior foe.
WYRM WIZARDS IN THE WORLD
“Can you ever really trust the word of a dragon? Surely creatures that
so covet wealth must also hoard arcane lore, and it seems farfetched
that they would allow mere humans access to such closely guarded
knowledge. After all, is not each mortal wizard a potential thief of
a dragon’s spell hoard?”
—Kaija, wizard of the Hidden Mask