Dragonlings, a young dragon player character race for Basic Fantasy Roleplaying

(© 2023 by Zelena. All text in this document is made available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)


[ Description ]

Young dragon yet to grow into the mighty and powerful creatures most fear. Stands in height with the shoulder a bit above the average humans' waist.

Are about human size and weight, but less vertical.

If appropriate to the world, dragonlings may have difficulty fitting into normal civilizations. Towns with the normal races may see them as monsters and be wary of them, if not chasing them right out.


[ Restrictions ]

Difficult to find armor that fits. Armor costs twice as much. You may have better luck finding armor that fits from someone who knows how to make horse armor.

Minimum Int of 10.

Dragonlings have a versatile stance, being able to switch between their more natural quadrupedal stance, and temporarily to a bipedal stance. While in a quadrupedal stance, they cannot wield two-handed weapons. They are limited to a single-handed weapon or tool, such as shields. While in a bipedal stance, they may use both hands freely, but their movement is reduced by 10 feet. Changing stance does not take an action.


[ Special Abilities ]

Thick Scales: +1 to AC

Damage resistance based on dragon's color. (See pg. 70.) Where an adult dragon of your color would receive immunity, you instead take half damage. If they would take half damage, you do not get any resistance.

Have claws that deal 1d4 damage. Can bite for 1d6 damage with a -2 to their attack roll. Can attack behind themselves using their tail for 1d4 damage with a -2 to their attack roll. Can add Str or Dex to these attack rolls.

Can use Dragon Breath attack once after a full meal has had an hour to digest. Deals 1d8 + character's hit dice in damage. (A level 4 fighter has earned 4 hit dice and would deal 1d8+4 damage.) Type and shape are based on dragon's color. (Reference pg. 70 for details.) Those affected can make a save vs. Dragon Breath to resist half damage.

Wings allow flight equal to ground speed. Cannot fly while heavily encumbered. Trying to be precise while flying is challenging, causing a -2 penalty to any dexterous actions while flying.


[ Saving Throws ]

Dragonlings do not get any special resistances for saving throws.