Enhancing Your Dragonlance Game

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Azrael Macool

Author's Notes: This article provides insight on how to incorporate core and prestige classes from the Player's Handbook and the Dungeon Master's Guide into your Dragonlance campaign. The following feature provides alternate class descriptions and variants for your game.

Player's Handbook

Bard Options

Bard of Faith: Instead of the bard's normal spellcasting, the bard of faith prepares divine magic using his Wisdom score. The bard of faith's patron deity must be either Branchala (if good), Gilean (if neutral), or Hiddukel (if evil). He casts spells and receives the same number of spells known as a cleric, but cannot spontaneously cast cure or inflict spells. He also gets a reduction in his spells per day. This reduction applies to all levels in which he can cast spells. If the bard gets below 0 spells of a certain level per day, he cannot cast spells of that level.

The bard of faith's spell reduction (by spell level) is: -0/-1/-1/-1/-1/-1/-2.

Bard of High Sorcery: This variant is nearly identical to the bard as presented in the Dragonlance Campaign Setting, but a Bard of High Sorcery prepares arcane magic using his Intelligence score. He casts spells and receives the same number of spells known as a wizard. To balance this, the Bard of High Sorcery gets two fewer spells per day than normal (i.e., at first level, the bard gets no 0-level spells per day). Also, if the bard gets below 0 spells of a certain level per day, he cannot cast spells of that level.

Mystic Bard: Instead of the bard's normal spellcasting, the mystic bard spontaneously casts divine magic using his Wisdom score.

Theurgic Bard: Instead of the bard's normal spellcasting, the theurgic bard spontaneously casts arcane and divine magic using his Charisma score. A Theurgic Bard must choose to cast every spell he knows as either divine or arcane at the time he casts the spell, not when he learns the spell. The only restrictions are that he must cast half his spells as divine and half as arcane, and that any spells from the Conjuration (healing) subschool must be cast as divine. Note that a theurgic bard qualifies for the Mystic Theurge prestige class at 4th level. When a theurgic bard gains a new level of mystic theurge, the character gets an additional 2 spells per day.

Paladin Options

Paladins are few, but they do exist as special followers of Paladine, Kiri-Jolith, or sometimes even Mishakal. They occasionally appear in the Knights of Solamnia, but usually are in no organization other than the church of the paladin's god.

Mystic Paladin: Instead of the paladin's normal spellcasting, the mystic paladin spontaneously casts divine magic using his Wisdom score. Mystic paladins use the table shown below when determining Spells Per Day and Spells Known.

Ranger Options

Mystic Ranger: Instead of the ranger's normal spellcasting, the mystic ranger spontaneously casts divine magic using his Wisdom score. Thus, he does not require a patron deity. Mystic rangers use the table shown below when determining Spells Per Day and Spells Known:

Dungeon Master's Guide

Adept: Adepts are unknown in Dragonlance, except for Shadowpeople, whose adepts draw power from the Revered Ancient One.

Arcane Archer: Arcane archers are quite common among the elves, considering their aptitude for magic and their obsession with bows.

Arcane Trickster: Arcane tricksters are similar to spellfilches, except they usually have a more rogueish nature. They are present, if unwelcome, among the ranks of the Wizards of High Sorcery, and are much more likely to be sorcerers. They are much more rare then spellfilches.

Archmage: Archmagi are the best of the best in magic. Example of archmagi would include Raistlin Majere, Magius, Par-Salian, and Galen Dracos.

Aristocrat: Aristocrats are to Nobles what the Warrior class is to a Fighter. This class is for those members of nobility that have much less experience at court and the like than those represented with the Noble class, notably lesser courtiers, very minor nobles, etc.

Assassin: Assassins can be found in almost any walk of life. Some assassin variants are shown below.

Assassin of Faith: Instead of the assassin's normal spellcasting, the assassin of faith prepares divine magic using his Wisdom score. He receives the same spells known as a cleric, but his spells per day are reduced by 1 per spell level except for 1st-level spells.

Assassin of High Sorcery: Instead of the assassin's normal spellcasting, the assassin of High Sorcery prepares arcane magic like a wizard. He receives the same spells known as a cleric, but his spells per day are reduced by 1 per spell level (thus no spells are available at 1st level).

Mystic Assassin: Instead of the assassin's normal spellcasting, the mystic assassin spontaneously casts divine magic using his Wisdom score.

Primal Assassin: Instead of the assassin's normal spellcasting, the primal assassin spontaneously casts arcane magic using his Charisma score.

Theurgic Assassin: Instead of the assassin's normal spellcasting, the theurgic assassin spontaneously casts arcane and divine magic using his Charisma score. A theurgic assassin must choose to cast every spell he knows as either divine or arcane at the time he casts the spell, not when he learns the spell. The only restriction is that he must cast half his spells as divine and half as arcane. Note that a theurgic assassin qualifies for the Mystic Theurge prestige class with his 2nd assassin level. When a theurgic assassin gains a new level of mystic theurge, the character gets an additional 2 spells per day.

Blackguard: Blackguards are champions of evil. They are rare, but they have had members in such orders as the Holy Orders of the Stars, the Dragonarmies, and the Knights of Takhisis. They are usually folowers of the Dark Queen or Sargonnas, but occasionally follow Hiddukel. Morgion and Chemosh have almost no blackguards, but they do exist. A blackguard variant is shown below.

Mystic Blackguard: Instead of the blackguard's normal spellcasting, the mystic blackguard spontaneously casts divine magic using his Wisdom Score. He uses the following spells per day and spells known charts:

Dragon Disciple: Dragon disciples have almost no place in Dragonlance. The only way this class could work would be for:

• A draconian or dragonspawn who is trying to become more in touch with his dragon roots. The draconian must be a dragon disciple of the corresponding type, for instance, a Bozak draconian must be a bronze dragon disciple and a green dragonspawn must be a green dragon disciple. The nondragon requirement is wavered for them.
• A dragon is somehow trapped in a different body and trying to get in touch with its true self. For example, if a brass dragon is killed in the Dragon Purge, but his soul somehow gets diverted and gets reborn as a kender.

Duelist: Duelists are often nobles or mariners, who depend more on speed than strength when they fight.

Dwarven Defender: Among dwarves, especially mountain dwarves, dwarven defenders are quite common for guarding thanes, tombs, etc.

Eldritch Knight: Eldritch knights have almost no place in Dragonlance. Any character who wants to become an eldritch knight would be advised to look at the spellsword.

Hierophant: Hierophants are often high ranking members in the Holy Orders of the Stars, usually Revered Sons/Daughters, or their equivalents in other clergies.

Horizon Walker: A non-planar horizon walker is most appropriate for Dragonlance campaigns. This option only uses the first 5 levels of the horizon walker prestige class, and the character cannot take any planar terrain mastery.

Loremaster: Loremasters are among the more scholarly mages and clerics, usually staying in a tower or church most of the time and travelling only to add new knowledge to their repetoire. They are less often sorcerers or mystics, but it's not unheard of.

Mystic Theurge: Mystic theurges are relatively rare, considering that wizards and clerics cannot multiclass. With the advent of mysticism and primal sorcery, they have become prolific among those who wish to reap the benifits of both kinds of magic. Less often, cleric/sorcerers and wizard/mystics become mystic theurges, but these are very rare.

Shadowdancer: Shadowdancers are masters of illusion and darkness. They even get a shadow to serve them. These shadows are only evil if the shadowdancer is. The shadow is connected to Chemosh only if the shadowdancer worships him.

Thaumaturgist: Thaumaturgists are relatively rare, considering how little contact Krynn has with the planes, but they do exist.

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