Like so many others on this board, I was very tired of the similar (and frequent) dragon encounters in the SCAP. One of these encounters I decided to replace with another type of dragon. Although Vittriss Bale is a dracolich (and I just got the new mini too!), he still runs very similar to a standard breath weapon and melee power house dragon encounter. I wanted to save this type of encounter for the huge red dragon in Foundations of Flame. So, after reading through Dragon #343, I found two new types of interesting dragons.
Vittriss Bale as a tome dragon runs *very* different than the standard dragon encounter. First, he's got perfect manuverability and can fly any where. He's also a *very* powerful spell caster. His melee is very weak and he would avoid it at all costs here. Also, his breath weapon, although not very powerful, is a great burst and very versataile.
It's also important to note that, as a tome dragon, Vittriss has EVERY CONJURATION AND DIVINATION SORCERER SPELL. That's huge, especially for a spontaneous caster. If you really want to make this a tough encounter, read up on all the various new splat books (specifically, Spell Compendium) for some kick-butt conjuration spells.
Due to his powerful metamagic ability, I may have even given him some more metamagic feats and skipped the spell focus feats. He should be casting every spell empowered since he doesn't increase the level or casting time at all. I have yet to run this encounter, so I don't know if it will be harder or easier than the dracolich version. But if anyone does run it, let me know how it goes. :-)
With a mane of fine white hair framing its wise face, this dragon’s many hued scales reflect light in shimmering patterns. Its long tail ends in a wide fin, not unlike some great fish. Its eyes glow with an extreme intelligence and power, but that glow seems corrupted somehow, much like the color of the dragon’s scales.
Vittriss Bale CR 16
Male adult Tome Dragon (Dragon 343)
NE Large Dragon (air)
Init +0; Senses Listen +26, Spot +26; darkvision 60 ft., Dragon keen senses, Arcane Sight
Languages Abyssal, Common, draconic, Dwarven, elven, orc, infernal; telepathy 100 ft.
AC 27, touch 11, flat-footed 27
(-1 size, +16 natural, +2 Insight)
hp 225 (18 HD); DR 10/magic
Immune draconic immunities
SR 21
Fort +17, Ref +11, Will +17
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares), fly 120 ft. (perfect)
Melee bite +19 (1d8+2) and
Melee 2 claws +14 (1d6+1) and
Melee 2 wings +14 (1d4+1) and
Melee Tail slap +14 (1d6+3)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +18; Grp +24
Atk Options Spells, Free Metamagic +2, Breath Weapon (Ref DC 27 half; 30 ft. burst; 6d8; air = sonic, earth = piercing, water = non lethal, fire = fire; every 1d4 rds)
Special Actions Frightful Presence (DC 29)
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 13th; DC= 20 + level; DC= 21 + level for conjuration, evocation and necromancy):
6th (6/day) – Fleshshiver*, Chain Lightning
5th (8/day) – Cone of Cold, Wall of Force, Waves of Fatigue
4th (8/day) – Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere, Enervation, greater invisibility, Slashing Dispel*
3rd (8/day) – Dispel Magic, Fireball, Ray of Exhaustion, Curse of Impending Blades, Mass*
2nd (9/day) – Resist Energy, Scorching Ray, False Life, Blindness/Deafness, Ray of Weakness*
1st (9/day) – Shield, Magic Missile, Ray of Enfeeblement, Back Biter*, Mage Armor
0 (6/day) -- acid splash, daze, detect magic, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation, read magic
* = Spell Compendium
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 18th):
At will – Arcane sight
3/day – clairaudience/clairvoyance
Abilities Str 15, Dex 10, Con 22, Int 25, Wis 22, Cha 30
SA Breath weapon, spells
SQ draconic senses, Frightful Presence
Feats Ability Focus (breath weapon), Empower Spell, Improved Flight, Quicken Spell, Spell Focus (Conjuration, evocation, necromancy)
Skills Bluff +31, Concentration +27, Diplomacy +8, Intimidate +28, Jump +16, Knowledge (arcana) +28, Knowledge (nature) +28, Knowledge (the planes) +28, Listen +26, Search +23, Sense Motive +26, Spellcraft +28, Spot +26, Use Magic Device +31
Spells: Tome dragons automatically know all divination and conjuration spells of the sorcerer spell list. They can also cast spells from the Knowledge cleric domain as sorcerer spells.
Free Metamagic (Su): Metamagic comes naturally to a tome dragon. It takes no extra time to apply a metamagic feat to a spell. In addition, Vittriss Bale can subtract 2 from the level amount increased from a spell when applying a metamagic feat (to a minimum of 0). Thus, when using a quickened fireball, Vittriss Bale would only need to cast the spell in a 5th level slot rather than a 7th level slot. However, if he used an empowered magic missile, the spell would still count as a 1st level spell.
