Celebrating Fourth Wing...a Dragon Rider class for 5e and heartbreaking fantasy gaming

As I mentioned when I reviewed the novel Fourth Wing a couple of days ago, I wanted to also share a fairly simple Dragon Rider class.  This should be suitable, for the most part, for 5e games and is designed to work with the classes of the ever-developing fantasy heartbreaker I'm trying to follow through on.  While the dragon rider trope has varying characteristics depending on the universe you're drawing from, this one is very much based on the warriors of Navarre...

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The Dragon Rider

Image from Pixabay

Hit Die: d10

Proficiencies

Armor: Light armor, all shields
Weapons: All simple and martial weapons

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Constitution
Skills: Athletics, Perception

To represent your experience up until Level 1, choose one additional Skill and one Talent (a competency not directly represented on the Skill list) proficiency.

Equipment

Begin with a set of campaign-appropriate equipment (per DM).  You do not necessarily begin with a dragon mount, although this class assumes you have gained the abilities that accompany having one.

You Can Ride Dragons!

At 1st level, you gain proficiency on all checks that involve dragon riding.

Channeling the Dragon’s Power

Beginning at 1st level, you are able to achieve some feats of magic with the help of your dragon.  Your beginning Dragon Rider knows the cantrip Mage Hand and the following new cantrips:

Trustworthy Pen – A quill or pen that you control writes with a consistent and smooth line and does not run out of ink.

Sphere of Privacy – You may establish a sphere of up to 20 feet in diameter, centered on you.  Sound cannot pass into or out of this sphere.  (However, creatures can move through this barrier as normal.)  The sphere lasts for 10 minutes or until dispelled or eliminated by another creature’s magic.

Signature Power

At 2nd level, you gain the ability to cast a Level 1 spell from any spell list that can be accessed by a Mage in your world.  Per the DM, this spell may be chosen or determined randomly.  It is okay to rename and tweak the flavor of a spell in order to fit a slightly different theme; e.g. Witch Bolt may simply become Bolt for a character who is able to cast lightning.

You may cast your Signature Power a number of times per day equal to your Dragon Rider level; this is replenished after a long rest.  It is always cast as a Level 1 spell (unless its enhanced version is selected at 5th level as your Ultimate Power).  Wisdom is the ability you use for all spellcasting checks.

More Spells

Starting at 3rd level, you gain the ability to also cast the following spells:  Knock, Arcane Lock, and Haste (Self) (which functions like a Haste spell that can only be targeted at yourself).  Whenever you cast one of these spells, it uses up one of your Signature Power slots for the day.

Ability Score Increase

When you reach 4th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1.

Extra Mounted Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn while you are riding a dragon.

Ultimate Power

At 5th level, select a Level 3 spell from any of the Mage spell lists.  This should be related to the spell that defines your Signature Power (at the DM’s discretion).  If your Signature Power spell has an enhanced version for casting at Level 3, you may use this instead of choosing a new spell.  In addition to the spells you can already cast a number of times per day equal to your Dragon Rider level, you may cast this Ultimate Power spell once per day (it is also replenished after a long rest).