General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
__________________ Veronica: Where's your brother?
Dick: I think he took Ghost World up to his room. They're probably up there making love. Or playing Dungeons and Dragons. Or both, at the same time. They're both, like, 12th-level dorks. I'm just sayin'
I can picture the PC's being captured then watching from behind bars as the dragon dons an apron and chef's hat in preparation to have them for dinner.
I like the "gourmand" flavor, it's eccentric enough to be notable. I don't like how that fluff has absolutely nothing to support it, stats-wise. The dragon gains no benefit from "tasting" enemies, or from spending time to devour a kill, or some advantage for "preparing" a meal, or even an encouragement to bite an enemy as opposed to breathing on it...
It would have been cool to see some sort of mechanical advantage, for the dragon to, say, make a bite attack against several different targets (maybe it grants them a bonus on future attack rolls) to represent it's need for culinary adventure, and maybe some sort of mechanic to represent their general laziness, like a bonus if it doesn't move in the round.
The fluff and crunch are both good, but they're totally independent of each other, and this means it could have been so much better.
Also, though the flavor is good, I do have to point out that Denizens of Avadnu's Epicurian did it better and cooler as a sort of mastermind evil gourmand of luxurious criminal wickedness (and they looked neat, too!).
No points for originality, but points for effort there.
WoTC previews one of the new 4e chromatic dragons from the Draconomicon. I really like this new dragon and the final artwork is amazing IMO.
That breath weapon is mega-nasty!
Synchronicity: As I read about the Scourge Dragon earlier today I wondered if a good theme for the chromatic dragons was as incarnations of the 7 Deadly Sins(*). And now we have a Gluttony Dragon!
(*) But then I had to ask: which one is the Lust Dragon?
Quite fun fluff, I am glad to see a more "basic" dragon idea with the Brown Dragon. Not one consumed with ruling over lots of minions, etc. Simply finding something tasty.
The crunch is also quite nice, I can see lots of DMs having the Brown Dragon surprising a party by burrowing toward them bursting out then flying above their heads.
Also, anyone wondering if they got Todd Lockwood to do some of the artwork. Since the Brown Dragon looks quite similar to his Dragons (what with the fins and all).
An at-will immediate reaction attack to any creature making a ranged attack on you? Sweet lord, that's awesome.
Only one immediate reaction per round, right? Thank god.
Kamikaze Midget:
Give it a +1 to all attacks on all attacks after it hits with an attack on a creature it's never tasted, and a -1 on all attacks after one it has. Refresh after its breath weapon recharges. That's how I'd do it.
Again a dragon that looks like it should use its head as a weapon, yet without the stats to do so. That mace-like head should make an awesome sweeping strike.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scholar & Brutalman
(*) But then I had to ask: which one is the Lust Dragon?
But then I had to ask: which one is the Lust Dragon?
Whichever one gave birth to the dragonbewbs? I mean...dragonborn? If they were "born" from a "dragon," then I guess that dragon must have been sleeping with something fairly....non-dragon-like...
1. The fluff is mostly good.
2. But if your goal in life is tasty meals, and you're a superpredator, why do you live in the desert?
3. Desert dragons are a cool concept.
4. Chromatic dragons are inherently dumb. See rant here.
5. I'm not sure what I think of it transforming into a cloud of sand. Dragons are already inherently magical, but this is a different type of inherent magic than we usually see. It seems kind of cool, except that its already a big flying lizard, so its not clear that it needed a new way to fly.
It's not really a new way to fly IMO. First, the dragon shifts a number of squares = to its speed, not its fly speed, so to me it seems it can't fly with this mode of movement - think of it like a twister that's always touching the ground.
Second, it's a way to shift safely through the ranks of your enemies, wounding and blinding each one as you go, setting you up to sneak attack the out of them. Use it after you've already burrowed up/flown down on the PCs, then after you've shifted past most of them, turn around and use the breath weapon on them. Breath weapon + sneak attack? Win!
It's far FAR more than another mere mode of movement IMO.
I liked the fluff in this excerpt. In fact, I liked that it had fluff AT ALL. So much better than in the Monster Manual, where you had to either be familiar with a creature beforehand, or try to suss out any interesting bits of fluff from the Lore DC tables.
If this is an example, it ought to make the new Draconomicon interesting reading.
Although, it begs the question: will they re-publish OTHER MM creatures in their own fluff-heavy books? A book about giants, say, that re-publishes what we already have, but with a few of the "missing" varieties filled in, and with interesting descriptive and background stuff? Same for demons/humanoids/Illithids, etc?
Although, it begs the question: will they re-publish OTHER MM creatures in their own fluff-heavy books? A book about giants, say, that re-publishes what we already have, but with a few of the "missing" varieties filled in, and with interesting descriptive and background stuff? Same for demons/humanoids/Illithids, etc?
That is what I personally would prefer, keep the MM crunch heavy so they can be more easily reskinned and allow more monsters in each book.
But if someone wants more fluff then they can buy really fluff heavy books for individual iconic monsters.
You can see the sand bellowing all around, the fear in the expression of the horse, the dragon licking it's lips in anticipation of a nice piece of meat with a tasty little treat on top!
__________________ Game on, gang! Ptolus #16 (with customized, personalized sig from Monte. Awesomesauce.), Rappan Athuk Reloaded #37 (Another Awesomesauce, the Necromancer way.)
Try to not let failure to use technical language properly get in the way of getting to the real point under discussion. - Umbran
Characters & Games
Books currently in play: Dungeon & Dragon Magazine (*Scales of War AP*), WOTC 4e Core and Supplemental books
Current Campaign: Scales of War - Lost Mines of Karak -- Kodirgo, Minotaur Barbarian 6; Vondal, Dwarf Cleric 6; Karithul, Gnome Bard 6; Marshaun, Elf Druid 6
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