Dragons of the Dying Earth
So I’ve gotten a bit tired of the same old sacred co…I mean, dragons. I never liked how there are hierarchies of power within dragon-kind (reds are biggest and baddest of the chromatics, whites and blacks are the retarded step children, LG metallics can play house with mortals but CGs inexplicably can’t). I like how 4e has made different species act differently in combat, but what’s with greens going from skirmisher mode to controller? Anyway, it’s become apparent since 4e’s release that it’s harder to make solo fights interesting than others, so I thought I’d make dragons elites instead and then shake up some draconic traditions while I’m at it. So far I have four species:
Flame: Passionate and creative, flame dragons are known for their fiery moods. Flame dragons often travel the world just to seek out new experiences, making many friends and enemies along the way. Flame dragons come in a variety of bright colors, usually yellows, oranges and reds. Flame dragons are often accompanied by flame elementals, who they share a primal bond with.
Polar: Calm and thoughtful, polar dragons are known for their knowledge and wisdom. Polar dragons have been known to cross oceans and mountains in search of knowledge and valuable objects. Polar dragons are almost always white or off-white. Polar dragons are often accompanied by frost elementals, who they share a primal bond with.
Silver: Friendly and benevolent, silver dragons spend as much time among mortals as they do with their own kind. These dragons have the magical ability to change their shape, and often do so in order to seamlessly blend in with their social environment.
Elder Black Dragon
Level 30 Elite Lurker (Leader)
Gargantuan Natural Magical Beast (dragon)
Initiative +22
Senses Perception +22; Darkvision
Hit Points 426
AC 44; Fortitude 42; Reflex 44; Will 40
Resist 40 necrotic
Saving Throws +2
Speed 8, fly 16 (hover), overland flight 24
Action Points 1
Bite (standard; at-will) • Necrotic
Reach 4; +35 vs. AC; 3d10 +11 damage and 6d6 necrotic damage.
Claw (standard; at-will)
Reach 4; +35 vs. AC; 3d10 +11 damage.
Draconic Fury (standard; at-will)
The dragon makes two claw attacks
Breath Weapon (standard; recharge 5-6) • Necrotic
Close blast 4; +33 vs. Reflex; 4d10 +19 necrotic damage and the target takes a -2 penalty to defenses, is blinded and is weakened (save ends all).
Scaly Camouflage (minor; recharge 4-6)
The dragon gains total concealment.
Alignment Evil
Languages Common, Draconic
Skills Acrobatics +27, Athletics +27, Endurance +22, Religion +20, Stealth +32
Str 24 (+22)
Con 14 (+17)
Dex 24 (+22)
Int 10 (+15)
Wis 14 (+17)
Cha 10 (+15)
Dragon Wights
Level 30 Soldier
Medium Natural Animate (undead)
Initiative +20
Senses Perception +15; Darkvision
Hit Points 275
AC 46; Fortitude 42; Reflex 44; Will 40
Immune disease, poison; Resist 40 necrotic; Vulnerable 5 radiant
Speed 6
Claw (standard; at-will)
Reach 1; +37 vs. AC; 3d8 + 10 necrotic damage and the target is marked until the end of the wight’s next turn; see also bane of life.
Bane of Life
When the thrall hits with an opportunity attack, the target gains vulnerability 15 necrotic (save ends).
Alignment Evil
Languages Common
Skills: Acrobatics +20, Athletics +20
Str 10 (+15)
Con 10 (+15)
Dex 10 (+15)
Int 10 (+15)
Wis 1 (+10)
Cha 1 (+10)
Elder Flame Dragon
Level 30 Elite Artillery (Leader)
Gargantuan Natural Magical Beast (dragon)
Initiative +15
Senses Perception +15; Darkvision
Hit Points 426
AC 42; Fortitude 42; Reflex 44; Will 40
Resist 40 fire
Saving Throws +2
Speed 8, fly 16 (hover), overland flight 24
Action Points 1
Immolate (standard; at-will) • Fire
Ranged 30; +37 vs. Reflex; 6d8 +20 fire damage and the target takes a -2 penalty to defenses until the end of the dragon’s next turn. Secondary Attack: +35 vs. Fortitude; this attack bypasses the target’s fire resistance.
Bite (standard; at-will) • Fire
Reach 4; +35 vs. AC; 3d6 +9 damage and 6d4 fire damage.
Claw (standard; at-will)
Reach 4; +35 vs. AC; 3d6 +9 damage.
Draconic Fury (standard; at-will)
The dragon makes two claw attacks
Breath Weapon (standard; recharge 5-6) • Fire
Close blast 4; +37 vs. Reflex; 4d10 +19 fire damage and ongoing 15 fire damage (save ends).
Alignment Unaligned
Languages Common, Draconic, Primordial
Skills Acrobatics +27, Athletics +22, Endurance +20
Str 14 (+17)
Con 10 (+15)
Dex 24 (+22)
Int 14 (+17)
Wis 10 (+15)
Cha 24 (+22)
Elder Flame Elemental
Level 30 Soldier
Gargantuan Elemental Magical Beast (fire)
Initiative +20
Senses Perception +15
Hit Points 275
AC 46; Fortitude 42; Reflex 44; Will 40
Immune disease, poison; Resist 40 fire; Vulnerable 5 cold
Speed Fly 16 (hover)
Flame’s Touch (standard; at-will)
Reach 4; +37 vs. AC; 3d8 + 10 fire damage and the target is marked until the end of the elemental’s next turn. If a marked target makes an attack that does not include the elemental, the target takes 15 fire damage.
Alignment Unaligned
Languages Common, Primordial
Skills: Acrobatics +20, Athletics +20
Str 10 (+15)
Con 10 (+15)
Dex 10 (+15)
Int 6 (+13)
Wis 10 (+15)
Cha 6 (+13)
Elder Polar Dragon
Level 30 Elite Controller (Leader)
Gargantuan Natural Magical Beast (dragon)
Initiative +15
Senses Perception +15; Darkvision
Hit Points 550
AC 44; Fortitude 42; Reflex 44; Will 40
Resist 40 cold
Saving Throws +2
Speed 8, fly 16 (hover), overland flight 24
Action Points 1
Winter’s Chill (standard; at-will) • Cold
Ranged 30; +33 vs. Reflex; 6d6 +18 cold damage and the target takes a -2 penalty to defenses and is restrained until the end of the dragon’s next turn. Secondary Attack: +31 vs. Fortitude; this attack bypasses the target’s cold resistance.
Bite (standard; at-will) • Cold
Reach 4; +35 vs. AC; 3d8 +10 damage and 6d6 cold damage.
Claw (standard; at-will)
Reach 4; +35 vs. AC; 3d8 +10 damage.
Draconic Fury (standard; at-will)
The dragon makes two claw attacks
Breath Weapon (standard; recharge 5-6) • Cold
Close blast 4; +33 vs. Reflex; 4d6 +17 cold damage and the target is restrained (save ends).
Alignment Unaligned
Languages Common, Draconic, Primordial
Skills Acrobatics +27, Athletics +22, Endurance +20
Str 14 (+17)
Con 14 (+17)
Dex 24 (+22)
Int 24 (+22)
Wis 10 (+15)
Cha 10 (+15)
Elder Frost Elemental
Level 30 Soldier
Gargantuan Elemental Magical Beast (cold)
Initiative +20
Senses Perception +15
Hit Points 275
AC 46; Fortitude 42; Reflex 44; Will 40
Immune disease, poison; Resist 40 cold; Vulnerable 5 fire
Speed Fly 16 (hover)
Winter’s Touch (standard; at-will)
Reach 4; +37 vs. AC; 3d8 + 10 cold damage and the target is marked until the end of the elemental’s next turn. If a marked target makes an attack that does not include the elemental, the elemental slides the target 4 squares as an immediate reaction.
Alignment Unaligned
Languages Common, Primordial
Skills: Acrobatics +20, Athletics +20
Str 10 (+15)
Con 10 (+15)
Dex 10 (+15)
Int 6 (+13)
Wis 10 (+15)
Cha 6 (+13)
Elder Silver Dragon
Level 30 Elite Soldier (Leader)
Gargantuan Natural Magical Beast (dragon)
Initiative +20
Senses Perception +20; Darkvision
Hit Points 550
AC 46; Fortitude 44; Reflex 42; Will 40
Resist 40 radiant
Saving Throws +2
Speed 8, fly 16 (hover), overland flight 24
Action Points 1
Bite (standard; at-will) • Radiant
Reach 4; +37 vs. AC; 3d8 +10 damage and 6d6 radiant damage.
Claw (standard; at-will)
Reach 4; +35 vs. AC; 3d8 +10 damage.
Draconic Fury (standard; at-will)
The dragon makes two claw attacks
Breath Weapon (standard; recharge 5-6) • Radiant
Close blast 4; +35 vs. Reflex; 4d8 +18 radiant damage and the target takes a -2 penalty to defenses, is blinded and is weakened (save ends all).
Radiant Gaze (minor; at-will)
Close burst 5; one target within the burst is marked until the start of the dragon’s next turn. If the target makes an attack which does not include the dragon, it takes 6 radiant damage and gains vulnerability to radiant 15.
Radiant Bellow (standard; encounter)
Close burst 5; 3 + (level) vs. Will; the target is affected by radiant gaze.
Radiant Rider (while mounted by an ally of the dragon’s level or higher; at-will) • Mount, Radiant
Whenever the rider is hit by an attack that does not include the dragon, the rider’s next attack deals an additional 3d6 radiant damage to the enemy who hit the rider.
Change Shape (minor; at-will) • Polymorph
A silver dragon can alter its form into that of any corporeal creature of its own size or smaller, including a unique individual (see Change Shape, page 280). While in another form, the dragon cannot use any of its natural powers except for radiant gaze and radiant bellow.
Alignment Good
Languages Common, Draconic
Skills Acrobatics +27, Athletics +27, Endurance +22, Religion +20, Stealth +32
Str 24 (+22)
Con 14 (+17)
Dex 24 (+22)
Int 10 (+15)
Wis 10 (+15)
Cha 14 (+17)
Not looking for anything in particular here, maybe a commentary on my fluff, maybe some constructive criticism. I'd think that D&D forum goers would have a bit to say about dragons. Unless...everyone is finally fed up with them?
TS
Possibly your not getting much commentary because most of us are perfectly happy with the sacred Cow, err, Dragons.
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I like them but I hardly ever use dragons in any of my campaigns. When I do use dragons they are of the eastern tradition where they are great spirits of mountains, rivers, oceans, etc. Because they are spirits it is almost impossible to meet one and harder to kill one. On the other hand I love the lesser dragons like the wyvern, dragon turtle and nagas because they are semi-intelligent and make more convincing monstrous threats.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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I can't speak to the mechanics (I'm not conversant in 4ese) but the flavor seems interesting. Might be fun for you to come up with some sort of creation myth that explains why they are the way they are. Also, if you're going to kill the cows, avoid using the same names. Silvers can become Noble Dragons, Black Dragons can become Marauder Dragons, etc. It helps to put distance between your version and tradition.
Also, one way to completely avoid the sacred cows is to avoid having any coherent characteristics at all; ie instead of all Black dragons being black in color, they can be any color/shape but all share strange spines around their heads or overlarge claws and teeth. Noble dragons all have a single scale on their chests that glows softly like a candle. Frost dragons all cause the air around themselves to cool and you can see their breath constantly.
Hey James, I don't want to annihilate the sacred dragons--just strip away a bit of the fat. For example I think it's a bit unnecessary to have five types of benevolent metallic dragons, but I do like the general rule of metallic = benevolent, which is why I changed Silvers from "always silver" in color to just "often silver". Most players like silver best, but options never hurt.
Thanks for your thoughts everyone, anyway.
TS