dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 3
DRACONIC
MAGIC
88
Illus. by E. Widermann
For example, the sorcerer offering a 4th-level slot and 1,600
gp must attempt a DC 19 Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate
check. If he gets a result of 14 or lower (having negotiated
poorly), he misses the check by 5 or more and must
increase his offered treasure by 25%, bringing the final
price to 2,000 gp. On the other hand, if he gets a result of
24 (having negotiated well), he makes the check by 5 and
can reduce his offered treasure by 10%, bringing the final
price to 1,440 gp.
Once the negotiation is
complete, the offered treasure
instantly vanishes from the sorcerer’s
possession and appears in
the dragon’s hoard. This treasure must
be present during the ceremony. If the
sorcerer doesn’t have sufficient treasure
on hand to pay for the dragonpact, the ceremony
fails.
DRAGONPACT EFFECTS
Once the sorcerer has paid the required
treasure, the dragonpact
takes effect immediately. The sorcerer
loses one of his daily spell
slots of the appropriate level,
and the dragon gains one
daily spell slot of the same
level. This exchange has no
effect on either party’s list of
spells known.
The sorcerer gains one or
more spell-like abilities, based on
the specific dragonpact entered
and the spell slot sacrificed. For
example, a sorcerer who offered a
4th-level spell slot for the Devious
Whispers of the Master dragonpact gains
charm person 3/day and eagle’s splendor 2/
A sorcerer bound to a dragonpact adopts
some draconic features
day. The caster level for these spell-like abilities equals the
sorcerer’s caster level for his sorcerer spells, and the save DC
(if any) is equal to 10 + the spell’s level + the sorcerer’s Cha
modifier. A pact-bound adept (see page 46) gains more powerful
spell-like abilities than normal, and also gains a bonus
to his caster level for these spell-like abilities.
The dragon also loses hit points for the duration of the pact
based on the level of the spell slot gained:
Slot Gained HP Lost
2nd, 3rd, or 4th 10
5th, 6th, or 7th 25
8th or 9th 50
No sorcerer can be party to more
than one dragonpact at a time. (A
pact-bound adept can enter into
a second dragonpact simultaneously;
see page 47 for details.)
Dragons have no such restriction,
but the cumulative loss
of hit points from multiple
pacts discourages them
from entering more than a
few. Typically, a dragon prefers
to have a small number of
powerful dragonpacts rather than
a large number of weak pacts that
don’t have much payoff. A great
wyrm red dragon has little need for
five extra 4th-level spell slots, but an
extra 8th- or 9th-level spell slot is a
more desirable power boost.
If either party to a dragonpact
dies, the other party loses all
benefits of the pact but not the
drawbacks (a lost spell slot or lost hit
points) until one year has passed. If the
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CREATING NEW DRAGONPACTS
The DM is free to create new dragonpacts for any kind of dragon.
Use the existing pacts as a template for creating new ones, with
the following guidelines.
The five spell-like abilities should fit together in a coherent
theme. Their effects need not be similar (you don’t have to have
four different fire spells, for example), as long as the theme is
interesting and lends itself to a particular kind of dragon—or
even better, to more than one kind.
The first spell-like ability gained should be a useful 1st-level
spell.
The second spell-like ability gained should be a good 2nd-level
spell or a weak 3rd-level spell.
The third spell-like ability gained should be a good 3rd-level
spell or a 4th-level spell.
The fourth spell-like ability gained should be a good 5th-level
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spell or a 6th-level spell.
The fifth spell-like ability gained should be a good 7th-level
spell or an 8th-level spell.
Stick primarily to spells that are combat-oriented or that have
a general use. Avoid those that are useful only in very specific
situations or only outside combat.
Be aware of any significant material components or focus
costs of spells you include. Spell-like abilities don’t require such
costs, so the spell is worth more than you might realize. Avoid
spells with XP costs entirely.
Not all spell-like abilities gained must be sorcerer/wizard
spells, but avoid including more than one or two other kinds in a
pact. Giving up a sorcerer spell slot to gain access to nonsorcerer
spells can be a potent trade, particularly when the spell-likeabilities
don’t fit the normal arcane caster niche (such as cure
spells).