Discretionary/fixed abilities (PDAH)

:This was originally published in Dragon Magazine #206
As half-dragon characters mature and gain levels, they slowly become more like their dragon parents. These changes are reflected in the receiving of new abilities and powers as certain levels are reached. Two types of new abilities are involved here: discretionary and fixed.
Players, with their DM's permission, should decide which race (human, elf, dwarf, gnome, halfling, kender, half-elf, etc.) is mixed with their draconic heritage.
As a starting character, the half-dragon PC has all the racial abilities of his demihuman parent (as detailed in the Player's Handbook or other appropriate reference), though the character of course looks like a half-dragon as previously described. Half-dragons with human parents start with no racial abilities.
As half-dragons increase in level, the metamorphosis lurking within them begins to manifest. Half-dragons at this point are treated differently, depending on whether they have human or demihuman parents. Note: This material does not apply to Krynnish half-silvers of to the offspring of Oriental dragons.
At 2nd, 4th, and 6th level, the player of a half-dragon PC with a demihuman parent can choose one of the draconic discretionary abilities listed in the section "Half-dragon roster" and add it to her character sheet. To balance this, the character must lose one demihuman racial ability; this ability has been superseded and replaced by one of draconic origin, showing the character's inevitable shift toward dragonkind as her body matures. For example, a 2nd-level half-bronze half-elf is about to take the water breathing draconic ability. This replaces the character's elven 60 infravision. A DM should decide beforehand if the player gets to choose which ability is replaced, or if the decision is made through random selection by player or DM.
﻿Fixed abilities come into play here, too, but they are not chosen and occur regardless of other factors. At 5th level, all half-dragons with demihuman parents gain the ability to use their talonlike nails as claw weapons. At 7th level, they reach their full physical maturity and stop metamorphosing. While still obviously humanoid, they are also obviously related to dragonkind. At 7th level, they gain the ability to use their half-dragon breath weapon. Each of these fixed abilities must replace one demihuman racial ability, just as happens with discretionary abilities.
A half-dragon with a human parent has no innate racial abilities. The discretionary and fixed abilities are received as described above, but without the loss of any other ability. Furthermore, discretionary abilities continue to be received by the half-dragon at even-numbered levels beyond the 6th, as the half-dragon/half-human character becomes increasingly dragonlike with age. The receiving of discretionary abilities ends only when either the half-dragon has reached its maximum level within its character class, and thus cannot progress further and receive new abilities, or when no further abilities remain for it to take. A half-dragon/half-human character is likely to be more powerful in the long run than a half-dragon/half-demihuman character.
==Tables==
:When two stats are given, male on left, female on right.""
 Table 1: Height (Inches)
Race 	Base 	Modifier
Half-Gold 	78/72	2d8
Half-Silver 	76/70	2d6
Half-Bronze 	74/68	2d4
Half-Silver, K. 	* 	*
Half-Chiang Lung**	56/51	2d4
Half-Shen Lung** 	56/51	2d4
Half-Greyhawk 	66/64	1d6
Half-Steel 	66/64	1d6
Deep Dragon 	56/60	2d4
Half-Iron 	76/72	2d8
: * Use the statistics from the Player's Handbook, page 24, for human, half-elf, or elf, whichever form the PC's mother took.
: ** As per 5' average size for river spirit folk.
 Table 2: Weight (Pounds)
Race 	Base 	Modifier
Half-Gold 	180/170	4d8
Half-Silver 	160/130	3d8
Half-Bronze 	150/120	3d8
Half-Silver, K. 	* 	*
Half-Chiang Lung	90/70 	3d6
Half-Shen Lung 	90/70 	3d6
Half-Greyhawk 	130/120	2d6
Half-Steel 	130/120	2d6
Deep Dragon 	100/115	2d4
Half-Iron 	170/150	4d8
: * Use the statistics from the Player's Handbook, page 24, for human, half-elf, or elf, whichever form the PC's mother took.
 Table 3: Age Range (Years)
Race 	Max. 	Mid./Old/Ven.
Half-gold 	300+5d10	150/200/300
Half-Silver 	250+3d20	125/167/250
Half-Bronze 	200+4d10	100/133/200
Half-Silver, K. 	* 	*
Half-Chiang Lung	125+3d20	62/83/125
Half-Shen Lung 	125+3d20	62/83/125
Half-Greyhawk 	170+4d8 	85/115/170
Half-Steel 	170+4d8 	85/115/170
Deep Dragon 	100/115 	2d4
Half-Iron 	400+3d10	200/267/400
: *Use the statistics from the Player's Handbook, page 24, for human, half-elf, or elf, whichever form the PC's mother took.
 Table 4: Thief Skill Racial Adjustments
Skill 	H-Gd	H-Sv	H-Bz	H-Gk	H-St	DD 	H-In
Pick pockets 	-5% 	— 	+5% 	+5% 	+5% 	-5% 	-5%
Open locks 	+5% 	-5% 	— 	-5% 	-5% 	-5% 	+5%
F/R traps 	— 	+5% 	-5% 	-5% 	-5% 	+5% 	+5%
Move silently 	-10%	— 	+10%	— 	— 	+10%	—
Hide/shadows 	— 	+5% 	+10%	— 	— 	+10%	—
Detect noise 	+10%	-5% 	— 	+5% 	+5% 	— 	—
Climb walls 	-10%	-5% 	— 	— 	— 	+5% 	-10%
Read languages	+5% 	— 	— 	+15%	+15%	-10%	—
: Half-chiang lung and half-shen lung cannot become thieves, and so have no thieving-ability modifiers. Those who become bushi have normal chances for purse-cutting, pick-pocketing, and so forth, though half-chiang lung avoid doing so if at all possible.
: Krynnish half-silvers use whatever racial bonuses are appropriate to their appearance (human, elven, or half-elven).
Category:Dragon Magazine Articles
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