style="font-family: tahoma;">The Bearers of the Mark
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By
Darkgolem
Dragonmarks are a unique feature of
Eberron, and in Dungeons and Dragons Online (DDO), a fun way to
customize your character, broadening their abilities. However,
Dragonmarks are not a particularly easy feature to use well, and, if
taken without planning, will more of a detriment to your character than
a benefit.
The History of
Dragonmarks
Dragonmarks
originally appeared over 3000 years ago, on members of specific
families, in specific regions. There are 13 total types of
Dragonmarks, not including Aberrant Dragonmarks. Eventually the
War of the Mark ensued between those with Dragonmarks and those with
Aberrant Dragonmarks. In addition, the Mark of Death was
extinguished. Recently, members of House Phiarlan split from
their house to form House Thuranni, and both houses bear the Mark of
Shadow.
At this time, thousands of years
since the first Dragonmarks appeared, there are a total of 12
Dragonmarked houses, plus individuals who appear with Aberrant
Dragonmarks. This includes both House Thuranni and House Phiarlan
having the Mark of Shadow.
About Dragonmarks
The types of
Dragonmarks and the house/races that they appear on are as follows:
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- Mark of
Making, House Cannith, Human Only - Mark of
Sentinel, House Deneith, Human Only -
Mark of
Hospitality, House Ghallanda, Halfling style="font-family: tahoma;"> only -
Mark of
Healing, House Jorasco, Halfling style="font-family: tahoma;"> only -
Mark of
Warding, House Kundarak, Dwarf style="font-family: tahoma;"> only -
Mark of Storm,
House Lyrandar, Half Elf style="font-family: tahoma;"> only -
Mark of
Detection, House Medani, Half Elf style="font-family: tahoma;"> only -
Mark of
Passage, House Orien, Human style="font-family: tahoma;"> only -
Mark of
Shadow, House Phiarlan, Elf style="font-family: tahoma;"> only - Mark of
Scribing, House Sivis, Gnome only -
Mark of
Finding, House Tharask, Half Orc and Human style="font-family: tahoma;"> only -
Mark of
Shadow, House Thuranni, Elf style="font-family: tahoma;"> only -
Mark of
Handling, House Vadalis, Human style="font-family: tahoma;"> only - Aberrant
Dragonmark, no house, any race that can have a Dragonmark
size="-1">All dragonmarks, except
Aberrant Dragonmarks, come in 4 levels of power, these being least,
lesser, greater and Siberys. Each one has a more powerful ability
than the previous and are related to the general abilities a mark
provides.
Dragonmarks do not necessarily
appear on a creature on birth, but instead can manifest later.
Each Dragonmark appears as a complex rune, a tattoo, on a creatures
skin, and aside from Aberrant Dragonmarks, is the same for the type of
mark. For example, the Least Dragonmark of Shadow always looks
the same as any other Least Dragonmark of Shadow, and so on.
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Dragonmarks in
DDO
In Dungeons and
Dragons online, there (at the time of this article) 6 types of
Dragonmarks available. These are the Marks of Making, Sentinel,
Healing, Warding, Shadow and Passage.
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For DDO, Dragonmarks are
feats. You can take a Least Dragonmark at level 1 or any level
later, as long as you are of the correct race, as a character feat (not
a bonus feat due to class choice). You are assumed to be of
the corresponding house if you get the appropriate Dragonmark.
Drow, while elves, do not get dragonmarks, because the Houses Phiarlan
and Thuranni have no Drow members.
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You may only take one type of
dragonmark even if you otherwise qualify, so for example, one cannot
take both the mark of making and the mark of sentinel if you are human.
style="font-family: tahoma;">
href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=album106&id=Outside_Dragonmark_Quest&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php">
alt="Outside the quest to gain dragonmarks"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album106/Outside_Dragonmark_Quest.jpg"
style="border: 2px solid ; width: 250px; height: 172px;" align="right">You
must unlock the ability to take dragonmarks before you may take
dragonmarks with any character.
A least dragonmark will grant a
bonus to a skill that is associated with the dragonmark, plus the use
of the power the dragonmark grants 3 times per rest. In addition,
one gains access to enhancements to increase the skill bonus a
particular dragonmark grants.
A lesser dragonmark can be taken if
you already have a least dragonmark of the same type, and are at least
level 6. With a lesser dragonmark, you gain the ability to use
your least dragon mark one additional time per rest, plus the ability
to use your lesser dragonmark twice a rest for its new ability.
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A greater dragonmark can be taken if
you have a least dragonmark of the same type, and are at least level
9. With a greater dragonmark, you gain the ability to use your
least dragon mark one additional time per rest, the ability to use your
lesser dragonmark one additional time per rest, and the ability to use
your greater dragonmark once a rest.
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In the end, if you take all three
dragonmarks of a particular type, You will be able to use your
least mark 5 times per rest, your lesser mark 3 times per rest, and
your greater mark 1 times per rest.
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There are no Siberys or Aberrant
Dragonmarks available at the time of this articles publication.
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The dragonmarks in DDO grant
slightly different abilities than in pen and paper Dungeons and
Dragons, as follows:
(as spell)
of Warding
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All dragonmarks are used as if they
were cast as a spell, with the character level of the character being
level of the caster, and the saving throw figured using charisma as the
primary ability score. So the saving throw will be figured as 10
+ charisma bonus + level of spell. Note that there is no arcane spell
failure due to armor, nor concentration checks, nor spell components,
needed to use a dragonmark.
Acquiring a
Dragonmark
To acquire a
dragonmark, one of your characters on the server where you wish to have
a character with a dragonmark must complete a specific quest.
This quest does not involve any fighting, and can be completed at level
1.
The quest is located in the harbor,
near the mailbox. Speak to the blue haired elven maiden (she
actually is a dragon in disguise) to get the quest, and the quest
entrance is a doorway located within sight of Lockania.
style="font-family: tahoma;">
href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=album106&id=The_Dragonmark_Quest&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php">
alt="Dragonmark quest"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album106/The_Dragonmark_Quest.jpg"
style="border: 2px solid ; width: 250px; height: 172px;" align="right">Upon
entering the quest, you will see 6 sets of scrolls on pedestals, and
Lockania in an alcove on the far side of the room. If you are not
familiar with the Dragonmarks, take the time to read the scrolls, the
questions you are asked will be based upon the information on the
scrolls.
Some of the questions are based upon
what skill a dragon mark makes. For example:
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"Which skill
does the mark of making improve?
Repairing
Healing
Swimming
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Spellcraft"
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These are self explanatory, but
perusing the scrolls will give you an answer, and you can do this quest
again if you fail the first time.
Other questions are about what house
is responsible for what service (such as House Kundarak being
responsible for protection, with the mark of warding).
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The history of Dragonmarks is also
asked about. One of the questions, for example, is
style="font-style: italic;">which long lost mark appeared with the
mark of shadow.. this is of course, the Mark of Death.
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There are 8 questions total, at the
end, you receive the ability to manifest a dragonmark (and with any new
characters you build on this server), and 50 gold pieces. If you
are a drow or warforged, you gain a free feat respec. If you are
a dragonmarked race, you gain the ability to respec out a character
feat (gained at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) for a dragonmark. Either respec
is only usable once, and you cannot gain a second respec by doing this
quest again, with any particular character.
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Using Dragonmarks
The first step in
making a character with a dragonmark is developing a concept. The
most important thing to remember about dragonmarks are that they are
generally less efficient than other feats. However, when used
with certain builds, which capitalize with a dragonmarks abilities,
dragonmarks can make a build much more powerful.
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After you have an idea for a
dragonmarked character, your next step is to determine whether any
dragonmarks that might be available to the race of that build would
improve that build, and whether any feats lost (because they are used
to take a dragonmark instead) are worth the trade off.
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As an example, the
href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=512">Warforged
Captain is a bard build which has the Cannith Greater, Lesser and
Least Marks of Making. The WC is designed to be a particularly
good party member for working with warforged (and constructs). As
such, by taking the three dragonmarks, the Warforged Captain gains 5
repair light damage, 3 repair serious damage and 1 reconstruction spell
like abilities, plus a +2 to repair bonus. In addition, the
Warforged Captain gains access to the qualification for the Mithril,
Iron and Steel Guardian enhancements (and summoning a construct assist
is perfect for this concept).
What is the warforged captain losing
for use of the dragonmarks? 3 feats, which for a bard would
likely be such as improved mental toughness, spell focus enchantment
and similar. In this case, the trade off works, because the
concept gains more from this. However, whether this trade off
would be worth it for another build is questionable, and a value
judgment from the builds maker.
The next step in using a dragonmark
is planning when to take them. This is similar to picking feats
for any character, and will not be entered into detail with this guide.
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What Is Coming
Next?
What new dragonmarks
and related items might be up and coming in DDO? Well, keep in
mind this is speculation, but here are some things that could come in
the future.
Aberrant Dragonmarks can come to any
dragonmarked race, they are something that could be developed for
DDO. Aberrant Dragonmarks can have some of the following
abilities that are already found in DDO:
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· Burning
Hands
· Cause Fear
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· Charm
Person
· Chill
Touch
· Detect
Secret Doors
· Feather
Fall
· Inflict
Light Wounds
· Jump
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· Shield
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Also, at the time of the publication
of this article, both half elves and half orcs are coming to DDO.
Since both have dragomarks, it is possible we might see the Mark of
Storm, Mark of Detection and Mark of Finding in Stormreach.
This guide off the mark? Say so
href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=18138">in our
forums!
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