Platinum Dragoon (3.5e Prestige Class)

This is a Dragoon class that is based fairly strictly off of the abilities and lore of the Final Fantasy series. I started with Kain Highwind as the base ideal model Dragoon and pooled the most common abilities and themes from all Final Fantasy Dragoons, using as little deviation and as little hocus pocus as possible, to stay as true to the original theme of Dragoons through out all Final Fantasy games as possible, and did a small amount of fluffing and tweaking it to balance it for Dungeons & Dragons.

Also, a big thank you to Eiji-kun for helping me choose the name for this class, and everyone else in IRC for input on improvements.

Becoming a Platinum Dragoon
Platinum Dragoons are an elite order of dragon knights, implemented and created by Bahamut himself. These knights defy gravity as they make unimaginable leaps and soar into the air, where they gracefully peak and seem to stay floating in air for a short time before they descend with a tenacious look of tempered determination on their face. They glide at increasing speeds towards their target until they create a devastating collision leaving their opponents mortally wounded, and they arc back gracefully and land safely back away from their enemy. This is the Platinum Dragoon, a fearsome and formidable foe.

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Platinum Dragoon.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Platinum Dragoons are proficient with all simple weapons and martial weapons. Platinum Dragoons are proficient with light armor, medium armor, heavy armor, and with shields but not Tower Shields.

At first level a Platinum Dragoon gains Weapon Focus (Polearms) as a bonus feat even if he does not meet the prerequisites. At 4th level a Platinum Dragoon gains Weapon Specialization (Polearms) as a bonus feat even if he does not meet the prerequisites. At 7th level a Platinum Dragoon gains Greater Weapon Focus (Polearms) as a bonus feat even if he does not meet the prerequisites, and at 10th level a Platinum Dragoon gains Greater Weapon Specialization (Polearms) as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. This ability defines polearms as every two-handed weapon which the Platinum Dragoon is proficient with, that are like Spear, Longspear, Glaive, Guisarme, Halberd and Ranseur. It is always a DM's discretion which weapon counts for the purpose of this ability.

The armor also commonly has other imagery of dragons themed into the armor such as wings, spikes and scales. At 1st level a Platinum Dragoon may craft an exceptional suit of dragon hide armor that is distinctive to the Platinum Dragoon order. To do this a Platinum Dragoon must slay or otherwise obtain the corpse of; any chromatic dragon (most commonly a blue dragon) of at least large size or larger. A Platinum Dragoon is better able to identify which dragon scales are in good usable condition, as opposed to a normal armorsmith. Because of this, a Platinum Dragoon can make the equivalent of a heavy armor and 1 light shield or buckler for a medium creature, from 1 large dragon corpse (instead of the normal medium hide armor for a creature 1 size smaller. See the 'Dungeon Masters Guide' page 283 for more information).

A suit of Platinum Dragoon armor has a value of 40 gold, and a DC of 16 to make. The Platinum Dragoon does not need to pay any costs for raw materials so long he has a set of artisan tools, he can get all the raw material he needs from the dragons corpse. A completed set of Platinum Dragoon Armor functions like a light armor, suit of masterwork breastplate with a +1 increase to armor and max dexterity, no armor check penalty, a 15% chance of arcane spell failure. A suit of Dragoon armor may be enchanted as any other armor would.

A Platinum Dragoon may only have 1 suit of armor in existence at any given time, and only for themselves. A Platinum Dragoon who attempts to make Platinum Dragoon armor for another person, or attempts to make a second suit of armor for himself instead creates a suit of hide armor for a medium character, with no special bonuses on the armor.

 (Ex): A Platinum Dragoon is an adept at making incredible and inhuman jumps, even while armored that seem to defy gravity itself. At 1st level and higher, a Platinum Dragoon always makes Jump checks as if he was running and had the Run feat, enabling him to make high jumps and long jumps without a running start. A Platinum Dragoon also halves the DC of all Jump checks, so the DC to jump a given height, is the height to be jumped X2 instead of the usual X4 (see the Jump skill description, page 77 of the Players Handbook). A Platinum Dragoon gains a competency bonus on all Jump checks equal to his class level (up to a maximum of +10 at 10th level). A Platinum Dragoon may also use a Jump check in place of a tumble check to negate falling damage, and halves the DC's on such checks as well (see the tumble skill description on page 84 of the Players Handbook). This ability can only be used if the Platinum Dragoon is carrying no more than a light load. A Platinum Dragoon may always take 10 on jump checks even if stress or distractions would not normally allow them to do so.

 (Ex): At 2nd level a Platinum Dragoon gains his signature attack called a Jump Attack. To make a Jump Attack a Platinum Dragoon must target a single foe (not square) within 100 feet, and make a successful vertical Jump check of at least 8 feet as a full round action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Upon making a successful Jump check, the Platinum Dragoon jumps extremely high and is untargetable by any spell or ability (short of a limited wish, wish or miracle), regardless of range on the attack used, and he must spend the rest of the current round in the air and cannot take any other actions this round. A Platinum Dragoon gets a +2 bonus on his Jump check if he takes a 5 foot step towards the target as part of his Jump check.

In his turn in the following round, if the target has moved from the originally targeted square, as a free action, the Platinum Dragoon can reorientate on the target before he comes down, or even orientate on a new target if the previous target is no longer available. The new foe targeted must still be within 100 feet of where he made his jump check from and no more than 60 feet away from his previously targeted foe.

When the Platinum Dragoon comes down onto a target it counts as an instantaneous attack in which the Platinum Dragoon makes one attack roll at his highest base attack bonus, which is treated as a charge attack granting a +2 bonus to the attack roll, and the target is always considered to be flat footed (regardless of whether or not they actually lose their dexterity modifier to AC while flat footed). The Platinum Dragoon cannot miss a target of a Jump Attack (due to the target moving or readying an action against the Platinum Dragoon, etc), so long as his attack roll hits the opponents flat footed AC.

The Jump Attack deals appropriate weapon and strength damage, plus 1d6 damage per the Platinum Dragoon's 'character' level, and the total is multiplied by 2. The 1d6 bonus dice are not from dealing damage to a certain part of the opponents anatomy so bonus damage dice from a Platinum Dragoons Jump Attack still affects creatures that are immune to critical hits. The bonus damage dice are always multiplied for velocity, but never as part of a critical hit. For example; if a Platinum Dragoon rolls a critical hit on a Jump Attack, his weapon and strength and appropriate damage such as weapon specialization, magic enhancement, etc is multiplied by the weapons critical hit modifier and then added to the bonus damage dice and then multiplied for velocity

The Platinum Dragoon then lands 15 feet away from the target in the direction that he began his Jump Attack from, if that square is occupied, or otherwise obstructed then he lands in the next nearest open square to the square he was supposed to arrive in. The Platinum Dragoon does not provoke an attack of opportunity for approaching his opponent or for leaving the opponents threatened area during a Jump Attack.

Starting at 6th level, he ignores the speed reduction imposed by any heavy armors as well and reduces armor check penalties of all armors by 5 (to a minimum of 0).

 (Su): A number of times per day equal to the Platinum Dragoons class level plus his constitution modifier (minimum of once per day), a 3rd level Platinum Dragoon may make a special attack called a Lancet. A Platinum Dragoon must declare he is using Lancet before attacking, thus a missed attack uses up an attempt. While in melee range a Platinum Dragoon may make 1 attack at his highest base attack bonus. If the Platinum Dragoon successfully strikes his target he does not deal any weapon damage, but instead deals 1d4 point of damage per character level the Platinum Dragoon has plus his strength modifier. The damage dealt by the Lancet ability is then applied to the Platinum Dragoons own current hit points as though applied by a healing spell. This means that the hit points gained are not temporary, and a Platinum Dragoon may never gain a total number of hit points greater than his maximum hit points from this ability.

Against targets that have available spells per day, Lancet also causes them to loses 1 perpared spell for the day of the Platinum Dragoons choosing. The spells level that the Platinum Dragoon chooses to destroy, can be no higher than 1/2 of the Platinum Dragoon's character level or lower. Targets of a Lancet that have power points, magic points, or ki points, or the like, loses a number of points equal to the attacks damage. It is always at the DM's discression as to what classes lose resource points from a Lancet attack.

 (Sp): Upon reaching 5th level, a Platinum Dragoon gains the service of an intelligent, strong and loyal dragon steed to serve him in his battles. This mount is a young adult drake who’s color may be chosen by the Platinum Dragoon when he first gains this ability from the available shades described in the drakes description. Once this choice has been made, it can never be changed until he either retires his drake or his drake dies.

Once per day, as a full round action, a Platinum Dragoon may magically call his mount from the realm in which it resides. The drake mount immediately appears adjacent to the Platinum Dragoon and remains for 4 hours per Platinum Dragoon level; it may be dismissed at any time as a free action. The drake is the same creature each time it is summoned, though the Platinum Dragoon may release a particular drake from service if he so chooses. Each time the drake is called, it appears in full health, regardless of any damage it may have taken previously. The drake also appears wearing or carrying any gear it had when it was last dismissed (including barding, saddle, saddlebags, and the like). Calling a drake is a conjuration (calling) effect.

Should the Platinum Dragoons drake die, it immediately disappears, leaving behind any equipment it was carrying. The Platinum Dragoon may not summon another mount until he gains a new Platinum Dragoon level. If no new Platinum Dragoon level exists, then the next character level is sufficient. Until the Platinum Dragoon gains his next level, he takes a -1 on all attack and damage rolls. This restriction still exists even if the drake is somehow brought back to life.

 (Ex): At 6th level, a Platinum Dragoon learns an attack called the Highwind. A Highwind attack functions similar to a Jump Attack, but takes place completely in 1 full round action, and acts as follows; a Platinum Dragoon must target a single foe within 100 feet, and make a successful vertical Jump check of at least 8 feet that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Upon making a successful Jump check, the Platinum Dragoon jumps up well above enemy reach, and then comes crashing back down onto his enemy in a flurry of attacks. A Platinum Dragoon gets a +2 bonus on his Jump check if he takes a 5 foot step towards the target as part of his Jump check.

When the Platinum Dragoon comes down onto his opponent, he makes a full round attack action against his opponent and deal a bonus 1d6 damage per Platinum Dragoon prestige class level on each successful attack. Like a Jump Attack, a Highwind attack still deals bonus damage dice to creatures immune to critical hits and the opponent is still considered to be flat footed, but unlike a Jump Attack, a Highwind attack does not count as a charge attack to grant a +2 on the attack, nor does a Highwind attack multiply the total damage done, a Highwind attack also does not modify the Platinum Dragoons critical hit multiplier through High Jump.

At the end of his attack action the Platinum Dragoon springs back and lands 15 feet away from the target in the direction that he began his Highwind Attack from, if that square is occupied or obstructed, then he lands in the next nearest open square to the square he was supposed to arrive in. The Platinum Dragoon does not provoke an attack of opportunity for approaching his opponent or for leaving the opponents threatened area during a Highwind Attack. : At 7th level, a Platinum Dragoon gains the whirlwind attack feat as a bonus feat even if he does not meet the prerequisites.

 (Ex): A Platinum Dragoon is adept at making the most of his defenses while wielding a two-handed polearm weapon. An 8th level or better Platinum Dragoon who is wielding a polearm or weapon that the DM rules counts as a polearm for the purposes of his Polearm Affinity ability, may equip any light shield as though it were a buckler, meaning that a Platinum Dragoon may use a light shield and still make full use of a two-handed polearm weapon at all times.

 (Sp): At 9th level, a Platinum Dragoon is able to summon a draconic creature to his aid, specifically a Wyvern. Platinum Dragoons gains the ability to cast Summon Wyvern as a spell-like ability a number of times per day equal to the Platinum Dragoons Constitution modifier (minimum of once per day). The Platinum Dragoon (and only the Platinum Dragoon) adjusts the spells description so that the spell has a duration of 2 rounds/class level (D), and requires no material components.

 (Ex): A 9th level Platinum Dragoon learns how to better collect momentum while preforming a Jump Attack, to land with the maximum amount of velocity for impact. When a Platinum Dragoon makes a Jump Attack, his total damage on his Jump Attack is now multiplied by X3 rather than X2 on all successful normal and critical Jump Attacks. This ability has no effect on a Highwind attack.

 (Su): At 10th level a Platinum Dragoon gains the ability to link his soul with that of his drake mount. Forever more the souls of the Platinum Dragoon and his drake mount are linked. Once per day, so long as the Platinum Dragoons drake mount is alive, even if his drake is not present, and the Platinum Dragoon receives an attack that would reduce him to -1 hit points or fewer (including -10), if he so chooses, a Platinum Dragoon is instead healed for a number of hit points equal to 1/4th of his total hit points (rounded down), plus his character level. This choice of whether or not to trigger this ability must be made as soon as the Platinum Dragoon reaches -1 or fewer hit points, and even before the completion of an enemies full attack action. After this ability is triggered a Platinum Dragoon immediately becomes fatigued and takes a number of points of temporary constitution damage equal to his constitution modifier. This ability damage can be healed magically, but a Platinum Dragoon cannot receive the benefits of this ability so long as he still has temporary constitution damage active.

The Platinum Dragoon's Drake
The Platinum Dragoon’s drake is superior to a normal drake of its kind and has special powers, as described below. A Platinum Dragoon’s drake is treated as a Magical Beast, for the purpose of all effects that depend on its type (though it retains a dragon’s HD, base attack bonus, saves, skill points, and feats).

Platinum Dragoon’s Drake Basics: Use the base statistics for a drake, but make changes to take into account the attributes and characteristics summarized on the table and described below.

Extra Hit Dice improve the drake’s base attack and base save bonuses. A drake’s base attack bonus is equal to the drake’s HD. A drake has all good saves (treat it as a character whose level equals the dragon’s HD). The drake gains additional skill points or feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster’s Hit Dice.







 (Su): The Platinum Dragoon has an empathic link with his drake out to a distance of up to 1 mile. The Platinum Dragoon cannot see through the drake’s eyes, but they can communicate emphatically.

Note that even intelligent drakes see the world differently from humans, so misunderstandings are always possible.

Because of this empathic link, the Platinum Dragoon has the same connection to an item or place that his drake does, just as with a master and his familiar (see Familiars).

 (Ex): When subjected to an attack that normally allows a Reflex saving throw for half damage, a drake takes no damage if it makes a successful saving throw and half damage if the saving throw fails.



The drake must be within 5 feet at the time of casting to receive the benefit. If the spell or effect has a duration other than instantaneous, it stops affecting the drake if it moves farther than 5 feet away and will not affect the drake again even if it returns to the Platinum Dragoon before the duration expires. Additionally, the Platinum Dragoon may cast a spell with a target of “You” on his drake (as a touch range spell) instead of on himself. A Platinum Dragoon and his drake can share spells even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the drake’s type (dragon).

The drake applies its own ability modifiers to saves, and it doesn’t share any other bonuses on saves that the master might have.

 (Ex): The drake’s ground and fly speed increases by 10 feet.

 (Sp): Once per day per Platinum Dragoon levels of its master, a drake can use this ability to command any other normal dragon of approximately the same kind as itself (elemental drakes, pseudo dragons, dragonnel's, dragonne's and wyverns, but never True Dragons), as long as the target creature has fewer Hit Dice than the drake. This ability functions like the command spell, but the drake must make a DC 21 Concentration check to succeed if it’s being ridden at the time. If the check fails, the ability does not work that time, but it still counts against the drake’s daily uses. Each target may attempt a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 Platinum Dragoon’s level + Platinum Dragoon’s Con modifier) to negate the effect.

 (Ex): A drake’s spell resistance equals twice its master’s Platinum Dragoon level + 5. To affect the drake with a spell, a spellcaster must get a result on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) that equals or exceeds the drake’s spell resistance.

Playing a Platinum Dragoon
Religion: All Platinum Dragoons hold all metallic dragons with a high reverence, but do not treat normal dragons as gods. Platinum Dragoons most commonly worship Bahamut, but other Platinum Dragoons also worship Heironeous or Kord, and less commonly there are some Platinum Dragoons that also worship Fharlanghn or Palor. Platinum Dragoons also revile chromatic dragons as equally as they revere metallic dragons.

Other Classes: Platinum Dragoons get along best with fighters and barbarians whom they have the most ideals in common with and get along well with Paladins and Knights who are heavily armored melee classes that can be in close combat with his targets so that his targets are more likely to stay stationary while the Platinum Dragoon is doing a Jump Attack, to prevent him needing to reorientate during a Jump Attack. Naturally all Dragoons appreciate a helpful healing hand when they get damaged in battle. Platinum Dragoons are neutral towards rogues and bards. Although Platinum Dragoons do not dislike spell casters, they rarely find any common ground to forge truly strong friendships.

Role: Platinum Dragoons are a heavily armored, damage dealing class, and front-line melee combatant, who excels at focusing on one opponent at a time and taking them down quickly with massive damage from Jump Attacks. In a pinch, the Platinum Dragoon could be a temporary tank, having a high amount of hit points and good armor.

Platinum Dragoons in the World
"Defeat is unacceptable, all those who challenge me will fall."

Adventures: Most Platinum Dragoons adventure or undertake quests in order to champion causes, particularly causes of the Dragoon Order. While some Platinum Dragoons adventure and help noble or righteous people to right injustices, others merely adventure for the lure of renown and treasure. All Platinum Dragoons would be ready at a moments call to jump into any quest for the sake of Bahamut.

Notables: Kain Highwind, son of Ricard Highwind is one of the most infamous and renown Dragoons in history. Kain was born in Baron to the Commander of the Dragoons, Ricard Highwind. His father was particularly active, but died suddenly one day while Kain was still young, so Kain was raised by the king of Baron. Kain wished to follow in his father's footsteps down the path of the Dragoon in order to defend the castle. Kain cared for his father's dragon, who grew weak but still faithfully awaited his master's return. The Dragoons were on the verge of disbanding after Kain's father's death, but reformed when they saw the devotion of both Kain and the dragon. Kain was eventually appointed the Commander of the Dragoons.

Organizations: The most commonly found Platinum Dragoons are wandering loners, but it is far from unheard of for a given kingdom to have a squadron of Platinum Dragoons among its ranks. Then there is The Dragoon Order, which is a large, loose organization of the Platinum Dragoons which are overseen and given directives by the avatars of Bahamut. The Dragoon Order use their skills in the service of the agenda of Bahamut. Not all Platinum Dragoons are adherent to the desires of The Dragoon Order, but Platinum Dragoons that are unwilling to help the cause of The Dragoon Order are rare.

NPC Reactions: Platinum Dragoons receive similar reactions from NPC's as Knights do. Platinum Dragoons are generally noble, elite warriors who's themed dragon armor generally creates a sense of awe from friendly villagers, and a sense of great fear from villagers with reason to suspect that the Platinum Dragoon means them harm. Any neutral or friendly NPC that is particularly familiar with Platinum Dragoons is likely to have a respectful disposition for the Platinum Dragoon.

Platinum Dragoon Lore
Characters with a lore skill or ranks in Knowledge (Arcana) can research Platinum Dragoons to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Platinum Dragoons in the Game
Sample Encounter: When the PC's enter a hostile kingdom on some mission, either political, espionage or even to attack, the NPC's wind up being caught and confronted by a Platinum Dragoons in the royal forces. Possibly leading to a confrontation with the noble and honorable Platinum Dragoon.

EL 10:

Claudus Sabrek

Medium Humanoid (Human) Male Human Fighter 6/Platinum Dragoon 4 Hit Dice: 6d10 (33) + 4d12 (26) + (30 con) = (138 hp max or 89 hp average) Initiative: 8 Speed: 30 ft Armor Class: Normal 24 ( Armor +6, Dex +4, 3 Magic, 1 Shield), Touch 17, Flat Foot 20 Base Attack / Grapple: +10 / +12 Full Attack: Halberd +14 1d10 +6 (+2 (str), +2 (Wpn Spc), +2 (Magic) ),  20 X3 Space / Reach: 5 ft / 5 ft Special Qualities: Polearm Affinity, Ignore Elevation, Jump Attack, Armor Mastery (Medium), Lancet 7/day Saves: Fort 12, Ref 10, Will 4 Skills: 13 ranks each in Jump and Sense Motive, 10 ranks in Craft (Armorsmithing), 5 ranks in Knowledge (Arcana), 1 rank each in Listen and Spot Feats: Dodge, Improved Initiative, Improved Unarmed Strike, Combat Reflexes, Close Quarters Fighting*, Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, Skill Focus (Jump), Weapon Focus (Polearms), Defensive Throw*, Weapon Specialization (Polearms) Abilities: Str: 15, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 10 CR: 10 Treasure: +2 Dragoon Armor, +1 Buckler, +2 Halberd, Brooch of Shielding, Elixir of Fire Breath X3, 1054 gold worth of mundane items and coins in his room in the castle Alignment: Lawful Neutral


 * Feat from The Complete Warrior supplement.