Ancient White Dragon "Blizzard" ability and breath weapon.

[wertyou2]

The stablock for this ability states: "An ancient white dragon can use its breath weapon to create a blizzard in the area around it as a standard action."

What I'm wondering is if the dragon gives up the damage for that breath weapon use to instead create the blizzard (and then have to wait the 1d4 rounds to recharge), if he can use this ability in conjunction with the cone damage, or if it has nothing to do with the normal mechanics for the breath weapon and every part of that is flavor text save for the action type.

Any help?

[Gilarius]

If you have stated the description accurately (I'm currently not GMing so I try not to look up bestiary entries unless given permission - by means of a skill check), then your answer is clear:

'...can use its breath weapon to...' hence it counts as a use of its breath weapon; 1d4 rounds to recharge, no other effect/result, just the blizzard.

It's a good tactic. (Mind you, it is amazing how often a dragon rolls a 1 on that d4...)

[Claxon]

Quote:

Blizzard (Su) An ancient white dragon can use its breath weapon to create a blizzard in the area around it as a standard action. This creates heavy snow conditions in a 50-foot radius for 1 minute, centered on the dragon. This snow slows movement (4 squares of movement per square entered) and limits vision as fog does.