Dragon Bloodline Build Question

[Revan]

So i am trying to make a spellsword/dragon polymorph build... thing. but i see that Eldritch Scion cannot get better than Dragonkind I due to spel level shenanigans. Dragon Disciple maxes out at II (oddly) and only Sorc can get to III, due to spell levels.

i was wondering if a levels in those three classes stack for unlocking bloodline abilities. so dragonkind III is level 17 for Sorc and Scion

would 3 levels of Scion and 14 of Sorc then meet the 17 levels requirement for Dragonkind III, or no? no idea how dragon disciple would work for that as you presumably can't get it before level 5

[Selvokaz]

I would highly suggest getting the unity mod manager tool, and downloading and installing Eldritch Arcana, it can improve builds around this idea and offer new options. I would also suggest the Call of the Wilds mod as it offers another spontaneous arcane caster option that fits into this theme (the Witch has a subclass option that makes it a spontaneous Int based caster with a patron that deals exclusively with transmutation/formation spells yes including the Dragonkind spells I, II, and III)..

If you use the above suggestions I would suggest the Leyline Witch as the Witch's spell list encompasses a better variety of spells including healing spells as well as offensive spells and debilitating spells, there is also the added bonus of getting a Hex or two.

If you're really hard on for this Spellsword build I would suggest something like Leyland Witch 4/Fighter 1/Dragon Disciple 8/Eldritch Knight 7. (The game isn't really true to the Pen and Paper rules but im just throwing this information out there, that this build wouldn't give you the witches Patron Spells beyond 4th level Witch, but its a video game and it does so abuse it for all intensive purposes.)

Take the feat Favored Prestige Class before taking Dragon Disciple, and select Dragon Disciple, take the feat Prestigious Spellcaster I think it's called 2x, this will make up for the 2 levels of spellcasting lost from the prestige class, if you want you can also take the Trait Magical Knack which will give you a +2 caster level bonus on your primary spellcasting class (the first spellcasting class you took, in this case Leyland Witch), so that by 20th level you'll have a caster lv of 20 with the spells of a 18th level Leyland Witch. Your BAB will be something like 16 which is definitely on the high end of the Spellsword or Gish build trend. You'll end up with a good Will and Fort save as well. Since Int is the primary casting score for Witches you'll have a plethora of skill points I assume and some beefy Str, Con, and Int bonuses from leveling and Dragon Disciple.

The fighter bonus feat can be used to take the first arcane armor training feat, and if you like maybe grab the 2nd one so you can where something like mithril scale armor with no fear of Arcane spell failure.

To answer your question no spellcasting doesn't work like that, 4 levels of Eldritch Scion doesn't stack with Sorcerer even if you pick the same bloodline, spellcasting from two different sources is usually tracked separately no matter what, the exception being taking levels in the Mystic theurge which allows you to advance in two different spellcasting classes (divine and arcane), and has a ability that combines the two with calculating caster level on certain spells i believe.

[Orange]

Given how the game is coded i don't think so... Also Dragon Disciple still progresses the bloodline the Dragonkind spell-like abilities you get from the prestige class are separate from the bloodline, so you still get the III from sorc if you had sorc 7 and dragon disciple 10.

But you are far better off with a simple sorc->dragon disciple with Form of the Dragon + Transformation for a polymorph build

Or just go sorc 6 -> eldritch knight 10 -> Dragon Disciple 4 if you want the weapon component, you can still easily grab Form of the Dragon III as a 6th level spell

[Eonwe]

If you're reluctant to use the mods suggested above for whatever reason, i know there is a good and really detailed build somewhere in the forum about that exact theme, using only the vanilla game mechanisms.

I remember you could actually kick ass as a dragon in the late game, but i can't remember the exact build.

[Doombringer]

Yeah, polymorph melee sorc works, but not until level 12+, and the good dragonkind spell is level 8...
Until then you are a just sorc that has weird stat allocation and feat choices lol.

But arcane trickster makes a better polymorph wiz/sorc because of the massive sneak damage you can add to every attack...

Wizard/Sorc can do more sneak damage than rogues (with arcane trickster levels), have same BAB as fighters (with transmutation), get better AC than anyone and have most of the best spells... at high level.
They suck at low level though (like through most of chapter 1).
Arcane Trickster doesn't actually do anything for your spells until level 14+ and your BAB is so bad you aren't doing much with attacks without transmutation or dragonkind 3 (or both).

It's one of those builds where you either wait until you are high level and then pay a lot of gold to hire a pre-leveled merc, or you roll one at level 1 and let him sit out of party gaining exp, then waaaaayyy later level up are replace another party member.

[ppaladin123]

Originally posted by Lettus:

I would highly suggest getting the unity mod manager tool, and downloading and installing Eldritch Arcana, it can improve builds around this idea and offer new options. I would also suggest the Call of the Wilds mod as it offers another spontaneous arcane caster option that fits into this theme (the Witch has a subclass option that makes it a spontaneous Int based caster with a patron that deals exclusively with transmutation/formation spells yes including the Dragonkind spells I, II, and III)..

The oracle with the dragon mystery might be more straightforward.

[Selvokaz]

Originally posted by ppaladin123:

Originally posted by Lettus:

I would highly suggest getting the unity mod manager tool, and downloading and installing Eldritch Arcana, it can improve builds around this idea and offer new options. I would also suggest the Call of the Wilds mod as it offers another spontaneous arcane caster option that fits into this theme (the Witch has a subclass option that makes it a spontaneous Int based caster with a patron that deals exclusively with transmutation/formation spells yes including the Dragonkind spells I, II, and III)..

The oracle with the dragon mystery might be more straightforward.

True this is definitely a option.

[Eonwe]

I stumbled upon the guide i was talking about, while looking for something else.

Here it is if you're interested : https://www.gog.com/forum/pathfinder_kingmaker/ineffects_guide_v2/post31