Answering Questions about Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons (was: Primal Power Preview)

[davethegame]

Originally Posted by Rechan

So, where can we ask questions about this, while avoiding the evil that is twitter?

Fire away! I'm about to head home for the night and when I come back I'll answer questions about the book.

Originally Posted by CasvalRemDeikun

Even though I loathe writing these types of posts, I want spoilers as well.

Who are all of the Hall of Fame Dragons?

• Andraemos, a brass dragon, who rules a desert thanks to some bandits known as the Sand Knives.
• Bahamut, the big bad platinum himself, both as The Old Man with the Canaries and the level 36 Dragon God form, with his aspect, and Kuyutha, his exarch.
• Jalaanvaloss, a steel dragon, who (according to her sidebar) originated in the city of Waterdeep in Forgotten Realms.
• Niflung, a cobalt dragon, who hangs out in the frigid north with a barbaric tribe known as the Talons of Winter.
• Silvara, a silver dragon, who is from Dragonlance (and the only one I previously recognized).
• Valamaradace, a gold dragon, the "Dragon Queen of Silverymoon" from FR.

And in case anyone's interested, here are all the "new" metallics listed (new in quote since some of them are just new to the edition)

• Brass
• Bronze
• Cobalt
• Mercury
• Mithral
• Orium
• Steel

[GMforPowergamers]

So, are there any cool alternate powers?

Is there any flavor text about useing good dragons as allies, and mentors?

How much of the book is useable if you never want the party to fight a metallic dragon?

[CasvalRemDeikun]

So how many of the "new" dragon types get full write-ups(i.e. different age categories)?

How many different types of Draconians are in the book?

[davethegame]

Originally Posted by GMforPowergamers

So, are there any cool alternate powers?

Adding shapechanging is one easy one, but I also like the gold dragon's luck field (which is a cool callback), bronze dragons surrounding themselves with water (that gives vulnerable to lightning as well as forcing attackers to swim) and the mithral dragon's powers to go into extraplanar stasis to recover health.

Is there any flavor text about useing good dragons as allies, and mentors?

Some, it varies by dragon but strongly emphasizes that they're not always good anymore. There's a section called "Dragons in the World" that talks about metallic dragon patrons, dragons as mysterious strangers, and occasional allies. My favorite though is a section on using Bahamut's "Old Man with Canaries" as a supporting ally for the party taking on a big threat.

How much of the book is useable if you never want the party to fight a metallic dragon?

Hmm, depends if you still need the stats or not. There's 1 or 2 of the dragon lair mini-adventures that don't have you fight the dragons, and there's a few skill challenges for that too, as well as the stuff I mention above.

Originally Posted by CasvalRemDeikun

So how many of the "new" dragon types get full write-ups(i.e. different age categories)?

All of 'em, if I understand your question correctly.

How many different types of Draconians are in the book?

8, for Adamantine, Gold, Brass, Bronze, Iron, Copper, Cobalt, and Silver with appropriately Draconian names.

[Shroomy]

Most of the draconians death throes seem pretty easy to implement in 4e, but how does the baaz work? Do they still turn to stone and trap your weapon when they die?

[CasvalRemDeikun]

Originally Posted by davethegame

All of 'em, if I understand your question correctly.

So there are seven new dragon types introduced in the way the three new chromatics were in Draconomicon 1? Good gravy! That is pretty awesome if that is true.

8, for Adamantine, Gold, Brass, Bronze, Iron, Copper, Cobalt, and Silver with appropriately Draconian names.

Yeah... don't even get me started on the Adamaaz, Ferak, and Kobaaz.

Thanks for the answers, BTW!

[davethegame]

Originally Posted by Shroomy

Most of the draconians death throes seem pretty easy to implement in 4e, but how does the baaz work? Do they still turn to stone and trap your weapon when they die?

They still do indeed. There's a level 2 Soldier and a Level 8 Minion Soldier version, both make a reflex attack against the attacker in melee. If it hits, the weapon is stuck, needs a standard action to remove.

Originally Posted by CasvalRemDeikun

So there are seven new dragon types introduced in the way the three new chromatics were in Draconomicon 1? Good gravy! That is pretty awesome if that is true.

Yep, though it's definitely at the cost of other monsters. Not nearly the same variety of other dragon critters as was in Draconomicon 1.

Yeah... don't even get me started on the Adamaaz, Ferak, and Kobaaz.

Thanks for the answers, BTW!

Sure thing!

[CasvalRemDeikun]

Originally Posted by davethegame

Yep, though it's definitely at the cost of other monsters. Not nearly the same variety of other dragon critters as was in Draconomicon 1.

Umm, excuse me, but have you seen my jaw somewhere? It seems to have clattered to the floor. Perhaps we will see more Draconian types in Dragon mag (to fill out the rest of the types).

[Shroomy]

Originally Posted by davethegame

They still do indeed. There's a level 2 Soldier and a Level 8 Minion Soldier version, both make a reflex attack against the attacker in melee. If it hits, the weapon is stuck, needs a standard action to remove.

Cool, I don't mind powers that target equipment or specific power sources, as long as its not a total "screw you!" to the players and can be reasonably overcome (totally crippling is totally lame). BTW do any of the new draconians have death throes that affect implements?

[Rechan]

1) Aside from the new dragons, and the Draconians... what other monsters are there?

2) What the heck is Orium?

3) OK. We see in the excerpt they mention about good and evil metallics. There's obviously material in there about Helpful dragons (Mentors, the Old Man assisting you, etc etc). What about Metallics as antagonists - are there any concrete plots offered, any advice in general beyond what we saw in the excerpt, or is it just "Well they can be evil, unaligned, or still antagonists... figure it out for yourself!"

4) Subdual encounteres - what the hell is that? We get the excerpt Friday, I just want an idea of what that is.

5) Any surprises we're not expecting? Or anything that surprised you, at least.

[davethegame]

Originally Posted by Shroomy

BTW do any of the new draconians have death throes that affect implements?

Nope, and most of them explode

Originally Posted by Rechan

1) Aside from the new dragons, and the Draconians... what other monsters are there?

Wyrmling versions of the metallics (including a piece of art that is super cute)

Hollow dragons, basically the metallic version of dracolichs without the undead flavor

Couatls

Drakes: Liondrake, Vulture Drakes

Drakkensteed, elongated dragons designed for riding and bred from metallic dragons.

More Kobolds, including more dragonkin.

2) What the heck is Orium?

"A crimson-hued metal used by ancient empires" that is supposed to enhance magic and may have originated in the Feywild, but is mostly long lost. It reminds me of Cinnabril (sp?) from Red Steel but without the cursing/mutations. It gets its own sidebar.

3) OK. We see in the excerpt they mention about good and evil metallics. There's obviously material in there about Helpful dragons (Mentors, the Old Man assisting you, etc etc). What about Metallics as antagonists - are there any concrete plots offered, any advice in general beyond what we saw in the excerpt, or is it just "Well they can be evil, unaligned, or still antagonists... figure it out for yourself!"

Yes, in fact, I'd say more about making them antagonists than allies. There's a lot about how proud and condescending they are. Most of the sample encounters involve fighting metallic dragons. There's some draconic campaigns and organizations that help with this as well.

4) Subdual encounteres - what the hell is that? We get the excerpt Friday, I just want an idea of what that is.

Good question! I don't remember anything like that in my read-throughs and it's not in the index, but I'll keep an eye out.

[nightwyrm]

Maybe "Orium" (or at least the name) is inspired by Orichalcum?

[Rechan]

Yay kobolds! Yay Drakes!

Orichalcum is gold. Or well, super gold.

Hopefully there's good advice in there with regards to antagonists. Making, for instance, Good-aligned antagonists takes a litlte bit of skill.

It seems I edited in #5 after you started, so I'll repeat: What surprised you? Or do you think will surprise us?

BTW, thanks Dave.

[Nahat Anoj]

What are the personalities of the "new" metallics? (new to 4e, that is ) Like how copper dragons tend to be miserly and silver dragons tend to be knights-errant.

I'd like to know their breath weapons and monster roles too, if you would be so kind.

Thank you very much!

[davethegame]

Originally Posted by Rechan

Hopefully there's good advice in there with regards to antagonists. Making, for instance, Good-aligned antagonists takes a litlte bit of skill.

I think you'll like the advice about making them antagonists, but not necessarily about making them good AND antagonists.

It seems I edited in #5 after you started, so I'll repeat: What surprised you? Or do you think will surprise us?

I was surprised that they decided to put in so many different dragon types, and not so many related monsters- I thought they would follow suit from Draconomicon 1 and include lots of related monsters. I tend to find the dragon-related monsters easier to use in games than a pile of new solos, but I do like a lot of the new dragon types.

I was also surprised at how much it uses from DMG2, like the organizations and campaign styles.

BTW, thanks Dave.

Sure thing!