Don't know about you folks but I've been waiting for Dragotha to make the scene ever since we learned he was behind the dragon Ilthane's plot in the mistmarsh swamp.
The ironic thing is in my original 2nd edition campaign I used the threat of Dragotha to put my players back in line. They had recently routed a clan of Green Dragons and thought they were pretty unstoppable.
I gave them plenty of warning that something wicked was coming for them for their sins against dragonkind, but a bunch of 19-20th level characters get pretty full of themselves. Wish I could remember the stats I gave to Dragotha but needless to say he wiped the floor with them.
Sadly, that campaign ended a few months later without any resolution. How ironic years later 2 of the original players will be running into there old enemy. I can't wait.
Anyone else have any Dragotha stories?
Creative Director
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Dragotha's stats are done. I can say that he's one of the toughest villains ever statted up in Dungeon, and that if your 19th–20th level characters simply kick in the door to his room and attack, they'll die. The bulk of "Into the Wormcrawl Fissure" is about how the group can arrange advantages and defenses against him.
And just wait until you see the cover to issue #134!
And just wait until you see the cover to issue #134!
But I can't wait... and when I tried to go to the url, I just got the "Sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server, or you do not have permission to access this area" message.
Darn you, Paizo website! Darn you to heck!
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Senior Software Developer
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But I can't wait... and when I tried to go to the url, I just got the "Sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server, or you do not have permission to access this area" message.
Darn you, Paizo website! Darn you to heck!
Yeah. We learned our lesson awhile back. We now have a robot pony guarding the website to make sure that cover images don't get accidentally uploaded early. He's a little dim, but loyal, and he means well.
He's a little dim, but loyal, and he means well.
LOL!
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Dragotha's stats are done. I can say that he's one of the toughest villains ever statted up in Dungeon, and that if your 19th–20th level characters simply kick in the door to his room and attack, they'll die. The bulk of "Into the Wormcrawl Fissure" is about how the group can arrange advantages and defenses against him.
And just wait until you see the cover to issue #134!
Can you at least give the CR?
Hello, TPK. ;)
oh wow, that's a tough fight - most of the demon lords aren't even that high in CR. :)
that thar's a great wyrm gold dragon!
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being an old school GM/player from the red box days, i can attest to the power that is Dragotha, the first dracolich to ever be statted (?) up. his stats have been done up before (one of the first edition era Dragon mags, in fact. issue # escapes me though) but those will probably pale in comparsion to the CR 27 incarnation of the first dracolich. go Greyhawk! the Realms has nothing on you.
Yikes! CR 27 for a 20th level party? Dare we ask where Kyuss will weigh in? (Oh, and now we know why Lashonna--James didn't you say she's a CR 23--needs to dupe some poor PCs into taking him on.) Now I won't feel the least bit guilty about the 107,000 gp sword I just designed as Tenser's gift for my party paladin.
And just wait until you see the cover to issue #134!
*SQUEEL!*
Now I won't feel the least bit guilty about the 107,000 gp sword I just designed as Tenser's gift for my party paladin.
Whatsitdo,whatsitdo,whatsitdooo?
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the first dracolich to ever be statted (?) up. his stats have been done up before (one of the first edition era Dragon mags, in fact. issue # escapes me though)
*dusts* off Dragon #134...
AC -3, 152 HP, attacks for 5-12/5-12/6-36, regeneration, 14th level MU, disease, fear, a few immunities, a couple of breath weapons, and a rather natty "death wind" power -- twice a day, 90x30 cone, save or die & if you die you're reanimated as an undead creature under Dragotha's control.Ouch!
Now I won't feel the least bit guilty about the 107,000 gp sword I just designed as Tenser's gift for my party paladin.Whatsitdo,whatsitdo,whatsitdooo?
I posted it in the thread entitled "Manzorian's gifts to the PCs" or something close to that. It's a sword with an ego, which makes it much more expensive right off the bat--even though the PC has the added headaches of having his main weapon talk back.
Yikes! CR 27 for a 20th level party? Dare we ask where Kyuss will weigh in? (Oh, and now we know why Lashonna--James didn't you say she's a CR 23--needs to dupe some poor PCs into taking him on.) Now I won't feel the least bit guilty about the 107,000 gp sword I just designed as Tenser's gift for my party paladin.
I have a feeling that Dragotha's going to be one of those "diplomacy" encounters. if you read the AoW overload, it hints that the PCs will be able to convince draggy to run away, since they've either destroyed his phylactery or have it in their power to do so. and by diplomacy, i do mean blackmail. :D
though, if they do fight him, my party is so far behind on the adventure path (we're just now in the middle of 3foE) that I should have the Colossal Red Dragon mini available for the combat, if it's needed.
Wonder what it will be considering that most dragon's CRs are lower than comparable creatures because the 3E designers figured that players would know ahead of time that they'd be against a dragon and prepare accordingly.
That was true in 3.0. In 3.5, the designers removed that bit of lunacy. The CR now accurately reflects the creature's strength.
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I have a feeling that Dragotha's going to be one of those "diplomacy" encounters. if you read the AoW overload, it hints that the PCs will be able to convince draggy to run away, since they've either destroyed his phylactery or have it in their power to do so. and by diplomacy, i do mean blackmail. :D
The overload says in "dawn of a New Age" that Dragotha may be helping the PCs at this point.
I had a look back through the overload last night--it appears that diplomacy with Dragotha is a possibility--but it seems like at some point the PCs will have to fight him. They may use him to take down Lashonna, but is he going to be willing to turn against a Kyuss that has returned to the material plane? I suppose it's possible--and would allow for an epic level continuation of the campaign, but it seems a bit of a stretch.
I can't wait to see the details! The adventures just keep getting better and better!
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the first dracolich to ever be statted (?) up. his stats have been done up before (one of the first edition era Dragon mags, in fact. issue # escapes me though)*dusts* off Dragon #134...
AC -3, 152 HP, attacks for 5-12/5-12/6-36, regeneration, 14th level MU, disease, fear, a few immunities, a couple of breath weapons, and a rather natty "death wind" power -- twice a day, 90x30 cone, save or die & if you die you're reanimated as an undead creature under Dragotha's control.Ouch!
ah, yes....the death wind. brings back memories....good for me, bad for my players who recall their excursion to the infamous White Plume Mountain. not even the powers of Whelm, Wave, and Nightrazor could save them. but seeing how it was Nightrazor that caused them to take that left turn to Alberquerque...well, let's just say it wasn't pretty and leave it at that.
Why I've been waiting for an adventure involving Dragotha ever since seeing his name in White Plume Mountain... The original 1st edition module that is.
Dragotha is CR 27.
Our robot pony guardian is only CR 1, so please be gentle with him.
27? I suppose after Last Resort, I really shouldn't be suprised. I'm hoping that the fortress is a death trap, and that the players can use it against him, a la The Tomb of Ankar Ratalla. In which case, that is going to be very nice...
27?!?!? I can't WAIT! This is a DM's dream come true! I mean, my party handled Ilthane like she was a red-headed, left-handed stepchild.
I can just hear what most DM's will say when their party meets the d-lich:
"Diplomacy? We don't need no stinkin' Diplomacy checks here! Roll for initiative! ;)"
Dragotha's stats are done. I can say that he's one of the toughest villains ever statted up in Dungeon, and that if your 19th–20th level characters simply kick in the door to his room and attack, they'll die. The bulk of "Into the Wormcrawl Fissure" is about how the group can arrange advantages and defenses against him.
And just wait until you see the cover to issue #134!
You were right James, it is a great cover!!!
can't wait to see next month's issue. :D
At least I have plenty of time to paint this miniature up:
http://www.reapermini.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=719&cat= 18&page=1
I am running age of worms, and the party just finished the last bits of The Whispering Cairn. They are almost to 4th level.
Do you think it would destroy some of the continuity if I just gave my players a summary, bumped everyone up to 19th level, and started this module?
- Chris "IwanttouseDragotharightnow!" Wissel
At least I have plenty of time to paint this miniature up:
http://www.reapermini.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=719&cat= 18&page=1
Why not go nuts and treat yourself to this
http://www.reapermini.com/gallery/box_sets/10012_G
instead?
Ouch, $50. I think I'll paint it myself. I have about a year to do it :)
Why not go nuts and treat yourself to this
http://www.reapermini.com/gallery/box_sets/10012_G
instead?
Just picked this fella up last month in anticipation of the Wormcrawl Fissure. It's a great fig... but honestly I don't know that it'll do Dragotha justice! I rate the size category of this boxed dracolich at Gargantuan, I figure Big D has to be Collosal!
I am running age of worms, and the party just finished the last bits of The Whispering Cairn. They are almost to 4th level.
Do you think it would destroy some of the continuity if I just gave my players a summary, bumped everyone up to 19th level, and started this module?
- Chris "IwanttouseDragotharightnow!" Wissel
Don't waste time on the level bump. Just send them "as is" into Dragotha's lair.
--Eric
I am running age of worms, and the party just finished the last bits of The Whispering Cairn. They are almost to 4th level.
Do you think it would destroy some of the continuity if I just gave my players a summary, bumped everyone up to 19th level, and started this module?
- Chris "IwanttouseDragotharightnow!" Wissel
Don't waste time on the level bump. Just send them "as is" into Dragotha's lair.
--Eric
I like it!
Near as I can figure, a party of 4th level PCs defeating a CR 27 creature stands to earn 3,276,800 XP. As there are 6 players in teh party, that comes out to 546,133 XP each.
That means if they are sucessful in beating Dragotha, my PCs will jump from 4th level to 33rd level.
I'm gonna need to upgrade Dragotha's paltry treasure hoard to keep up with my party's new-and-improved 33rd level needs, which according to the Epic Level Handbook, should be equal to about 6.3 million gp worth of equipment. . . each.
Why is "Into the Wormcrawl Fissure" so undertreasured?
You could always dump a bag of holding full of holy water vials on him. Figure 500 vials x 2d4 damage. 2,500 damage (on average) should do the trick. I smashed a clay crock full of holy water (20 vials worth) on a 2nd edition Dracolich's melon and the DM just said it did about 20 damage. I was pretty bummed. Figured it would melt his head off. :(
You could always dump a bag of holding full of holy water vials on him. Figure 500 vials x 2d4 damage. 2,500 damage (on average) should do the trick. I smashed a clay crock full of holy water (20 vials worth) on a 2nd edition Dracolich's melon and the DM just said it did about 20 damage. I was pretty bummed. Figured it would melt his head off. :(
Now I would reward such creativity... then watch as Dragotha's turn comes up and you end up melted away into a bubbling pool of protoplasm.
Are dracoliches really that hard? I mean, they only have 200-300 hp :P
Seems like a 20th level party could do that kind of damage in a round.
I really, really hope they can't take out Dragotha in one round. That would be very disappointing.
Are is Pazio planning to do an art print of Dungeon Cover 134? It would make a great companion piece to Dungeon 124. Just a thought.
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Creative Director
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Are dracoliches really that hard? I mean, they only have 200-300 hp :P
Seems like a 20th level party could do that kind of damage in a round.
I really, really hope they can't take out Dragotha in one round. That would be very disappointing.
Dracoliches do indeed have glass jaws when it comes to hit points. Which is why I gave Dragotha Unholy Toughness. He's got over 800 hp as a result, with the AC and resistances and immunities to more or less guarentee no one will be able to take him out in one round.
As for the holy water bomb idea... it's an interesting idea, but it's also not in the spirit of the rules. What SHOULD be mentioned is how to scale damage from holy water if more than a vial gets on an undead creature. If holy water bombs were really that effective, why isn't this tactic used more often?
I'd probably treat holy water in such huge volumes in a similar matter to how the DMG treats large quantities of acid (DMG 302).