Converting True Dragons
RavinRay
Explorer
Well yep, I went through the stats of the gem dragons; and for the most part they're simply minor tweaks of existing dragons, essentially that of their colored counterpart. For example, onyx is almost identical to black (with a dash of white stats thrown in), jade to green, ruby a mix of blue and red, and crystalline, ironically the strongest (considering that crystal is the weakest), close to gold. So if you post the 2e stats of a gem dragon, I have the side-by-side comparisons on a spreadsheet.
The Mystaran gem dragons and Spelljamming dragons are the last two major dragon groups left to convert, I think, because the others (like pearl) are unrelated thematically.
The Mystaran gem dragons and Spelljamming dragons are the last two major dragon groups left to convert, I think, because the others (like pearl) are unrelated thematically.
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RavinRay
Explorer
Go for it Shade. Let's have the intro for the gem dragons. BTW, something to add, the Vaults of Pandius website for Mystara has its own conversions and I've seen them, but I deliberately did not reference them so as not to be influenced. After all, this is the Creature Catalog's own take.
Shade
Monster Junkie
From Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix...
Like other AD&D game worlds, the MYSTARA campaign features mighty dragons. Some Mystaran species exist nowhere else. Others grace the skies of distant worlds too, but Mystaran varieties may display subtle differences.
The table below lists all the dragons currently known to inhabit Mystara. All but four--crystalline, jade, onyx, and ruby-are fully detailed in the Monstrous Manual As noted above, some peculiarities distinguish these familiar dragons in the MYSTAM campaign. Variations are described below; otherwise, the Monstrous Manual description still applies. For more complete information on dragons in general, see “Dragons, General” in the Monstrous Manual.
Alignment
More than any other factor, alignment sets Mystaran dragons apart from those of other realms. Traditional AD&D game dragons are concerned most about the good-evil axis; chromatic, metallic, and gem dragons tend to stay with their own kind because of their common philosophies of evil, good, or neutrality.
Mystaran dragons who interact with player characters often consider law and chaos first, and good and evil second. For example, a Mystaran gold dragon (always lawful and usually good) probably would assist a lawful rnan before a chaotic one, whether that character is depraved or princely. (On the other hand, if it would benefit the cause of law and goodness to assist an individual, so much the better.)
Mystaran Dragons Table
Dragon Hit Dice* Alignment**
Good/Neutral/Evil
Lawful Dragons
Gold 16 95%/4%/1%
Crystalline 15 10%/80%/10%
Ruby 14 15%/80%/5%
Sapphire 13 5%/90%/5%
Netural Dragons
Blue 14 5%/80%/15%
Jade 13 30%/60%/10%
Onyx 12 10%/80%/10%
White 11 5%/90%/5%
Chaotic Dragons
Red 15 1%/4%/95%
Amber/Brown 14 20%/70%/10%
Green 13 10%/60%/30%
Black 12 5%/90%/5%
Notes:
*The “Hit Dice” column lists standard hit dice for a juvenile specimen.
**The percentages listed give an idea of the alignment variations in Mystaran dragons. These are guidelines only; an individual dragon’s alignment can be whatever the DM needs it to be for a given adventure. Only the law/chaos part of the alignment is rigid.
***Mystara’s crystalline dragons are quite different from the crystal dragons from other AD&D game worlds. They have their own entry, therefore, in this appendix.
****Like their crystalline cousins, the ruby, jade, and onyx dragons are new species of gem dragons unique to Mystara. Each has a full entry on the upcoming pages.
*****The Monstrous Manual includes a ‘brown dragon.” Mystarans know this creature as the “amber dragon” because its scales, which are normally opaque and brown, become as translucent as amber during key stages of its development (adolescence and extreme age-roughly, the very young and young age categories, plus very old and older). Apart from this variation in appearance, and amber dragons’ tendency toward chaotic good alignment, they are practically identical to the brown dragon desxihed in the Monstrous Manual in terms of habitat, combat, and special abilities.
Gem Dragons
The gem dragons of Mystara differ from those of other AD&D game worlds in one key area: Mystaran dragons lack psionic ability. As far as anyone knows, the psionic species of gem dragons do not exist here.
As mentioned above, Mystara offers four species of gem dragon all its own: crystalline, jade, onyx, and ruby. Like standard gem dragons, these creatures have a smaller chance of causing fear than other dragons. The parenthetical fear save modifiers on the Monstrous Manual‘s DragonTable apply.
Languages
All of the new Mystaran dragons have a chance of being able to communicate with any intelligent creature. The chance is 15% for hatchlings, and increases 5% per age category of the dragon. In addition, these dragons speak their own languages and the tongue of all gem dragons (and perhaps others, as mentioned in their descriptions).
Special Attacks and Defenses
Remember, besides breath weapons and spellcasting, dragons have a whole arsenal of special attacks, ranging from fear to tail slaps. Even the least intelligent dragon is very crafty, and will use all possible attacks and strategies to the best possible benefit.
Like other AD&D game worlds, the MYSTARA campaign features mighty dragons. Some Mystaran species exist nowhere else. Others grace the skies of distant worlds too, but Mystaran varieties may display subtle differences.
The table below lists all the dragons currently known to inhabit Mystara. All but four--crystalline, jade, onyx, and ruby-are fully detailed in the Monstrous Manual As noted above, some peculiarities distinguish these familiar dragons in the MYSTAM campaign. Variations are described below; otherwise, the Monstrous Manual description still applies. For more complete information on dragons in general, see “Dragons, General” in the Monstrous Manual.
Alignment
More than any other factor, alignment sets Mystaran dragons apart from those of other realms. Traditional AD&D game dragons are concerned most about the good-evil axis; chromatic, metallic, and gem dragons tend to stay with their own kind because of their common philosophies of evil, good, or neutrality.
Mystaran dragons who interact with player characters often consider law and chaos first, and good and evil second. For example, a Mystaran gold dragon (always lawful and usually good) probably would assist a lawful rnan before a chaotic one, whether that character is depraved or princely. (On the other hand, if it would benefit the cause of law and goodness to assist an individual, so much the better.)
Mystaran Dragons Table
Dragon Hit Dice* Alignment**
Good/Neutral/Evil
Lawful Dragons
Gold 16 95%/4%/1%
Crystalline 15 10%/80%/10%
Ruby 14 15%/80%/5%
Sapphire 13 5%/90%/5%
Netural Dragons
Blue 14 5%/80%/15%
Jade 13 30%/60%/10%
Onyx 12 10%/80%/10%
White 11 5%/90%/5%
Chaotic Dragons
Red 15 1%/4%/95%
Amber/Brown 14 20%/70%/10%
Green 13 10%/60%/30%
Black 12 5%/90%/5%
Notes:
*The “Hit Dice” column lists standard hit dice for a juvenile specimen.
**The percentages listed give an idea of the alignment variations in Mystaran dragons. These are guidelines only; an individual dragon’s alignment can be whatever the DM needs it to be for a given adventure. Only the law/chaos part of the alignment is rigid.
***Mystara’s crystalline dragons are quite different from the crystal dragons from other AD&D game worlds. They have their own entry, therefore, in this appendix.
****Like their crystalline cousins, the ruby, jade, and onyx dragons are new species of gem dragons unique to Mystara. Each has a full entry on the upcoming pages.
*****The Monstrous Manual includes a ‘brown dragon.” Mystarans know this creature as the “amber dragon” because its scales, which are normally opaque and brown, become as translucent as amber during key stages of its development (adolescence and extreme age-roughly, the very young and young age categories, plus very old and older). Apart from this variation in appearance, and amber dragons’ tendency toward chaotic good alignment, they are practically identical to the brown dragon desxihed in the Monstrous Manual in terms of habitat, combat, and special abilities.
Gem Dragons
The gem dragons of Mystara differ from those of other AD&D game worlds in one key area: Mystaran dragons lack psionic ability. As far as anyone knows, the psionic species of gem dragons do not exist here.
As mentioned above, Mystara offers four species of gem dragon all its own: crystalline, jade, onyx, and ruby. Like standard gem dragons, these creatures have a smaller chance of causing fear than other dragons. The parenthetical fear save modifiers on the Monstrous Manual‘s DragonTable apply.
Languages
All of the new Mystaran dragons have a chance of being able to communicate with any intelligent creature. The chance is 15% for hatchlings, and increases 5% per age category of the dragon. In addition, these dragons speak their own languages and the tongue of all gem dragons (and perhaps others, as mentioned in their descriptions).
Special Attacks and Defenses
Remember, besides breath weapons and spellcasting, dragons have a whole arsenal of special attacks, ranging from fear to tail slaps. Even the least intelligent dragon is very crafty, and will use all possible attacks and strategies to the best possible benefit.
Shade
Monster Junkie
Dragon, Onyx
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Nonarctic shady wetlands
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary or clan
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Low (5-7)
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1 (1d4+1)
ARMOR CLASS: 0 (base)
MOVEMENT: 12, Fl 30 (C), SW 12
HIT DICE: 12 (base)
THAC0: 9 (base)
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2d4 (claw)/2d4 (claw)/3d6 (bite)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Varies
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Varies
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Varies
SIZE: G (30' base)
MORALE: Fanatic (18)
LEVEL/XP VALUE: Varies
Onyx dragons inhabit dismal swamps and dark fens. They are not especially intelligent dragons, but are cunning and stealthy when hunting prey.
At a distance of 120 feet or more, the onxy dragon cannot be distinguished from a black dragon, unless there is bright sunlight (in which case the dragon’s bright scales are conspicuous). At closer range the onxy dragon’s lustrous, jeweled scales shimmer and sparkle in the light, revealing the mighty reptile’s true nature. In sunlight, the onxy dragon’s deep black scales shine as brightly as a thousand mirrors.
Onyx dragons speak their own language and the tongue known by all gem dragons. They also know a smattering of Common (or perhaps another humanoid tongue spoken by creatures nearby.)
Combat: The onxy dragon’s breath weapon is a cloud of inky black acid, all foulness and corruption. It has two effects. The first, identical to the black dragon’s breath, is a stream of deadly, corrosive acid (half damage if a save vs. breath weapon is successful). The second effect comes into play only if the first saving throw is missed; the victim must make a second saving throw—this time vs. spell—or a darkness spell effect (15-foot radius) appears, centered on the victim. It moves as he moves. It only can be countered by a light spell, or removed by dispel magic (use the draogn’s age category as the opposing caster level); otherwise, it remains for 1 round per Hit Die of the the dragon. This darkness is a special tpe through which the dragon can easily see; it otherwise functions exactly as a normal darkness spell.
If the second saving throw is successful, the darkness remains, but is not tied to the target; the victim can move and escape it.
Onyx dragons sometimes use the darkness breath in advance of an encounter, to hide themselves and gain surprise.
Habitat/Society: Onyx dragons lair in wetlands, ranging from the tropics to the chillier fringes of the temperate zones. As a rule, they prefer dark, well-shaded areas such as tree-filled bogs. In darker areas, their scintillating scales are less likely to give away their location to prey.
Ecology: Onyx dragons hunt the largest animals in their environments: alligators, herons, manatees, moose, and so forth. They do not hesitate to consume humanoid prey, but they do have enough intelligence to realize that adventurers may be more trouble to kill than the meal is worth.
Onxy dragons do value treasure, especially dark and lustrous gems. However, they tend to have less treasure than other dragons.
Rather than type out the whole table, here are the progressions:
Originally appeared in Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994).
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Nonarctic shady wetlands
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary or clan
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Low (5-7)
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1 (1d4+1)
ARMOR CLASS: 0 (base)
MOVEMENT: 12, Fl 30 (C), SW 12
HIT DICE: 12 (base)
THAC0: 9 (base)
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2d4 (claw)/2d4 (claw)/3d6 (bite)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Varies
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Varies
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Varies
SIZE: G (30' base)
MORALE: Fanatic (18)
LEVEL/XP VALUE: Varies
Onyx dragons inhabit dismal swamps and dark fens. They are not especially intelligent dragons, but are cunning and stealthy when hunting prey.
At a distance of 120 feet or more, the onxy dragon cannot be distinguished from a black dragon, unless there is bright sunlight (in which case the dragon’s bright scales are conspicuous). At closer range the onxy dragon’s lustrous, jeweled scales shimmer and sparkle in the light, revealing the mighty reptile’s true nature. In sunlight, the onxy dragon’s deep black scales shine as brightly as a thousand mirrors.
Onyx dragons speak their own language and the tongue known by all gem dragons. They also know a smattering of Common (or perhaps another humanoid tongue spoken by creatures nearby.)
Combat: The onxy dragon’s breath weapon is a cloud of inky black acid, all foulness and corruption. It has two effects. The first, identical to the black dragon’s breath, is a stream of deadly, corrosive acid (half damage if a save vs. breath weapon is successful). The second effect comes into play only if the first saving throw is missed; the victim must make a second saving throw—this time vs. spell—or a darkness spell effect (15-foot radius) appears, centered on the victim. It moves as he moves. It only can be countered by a light spell, or removed by dispel magic (use the draogn’s age category as the opposing caster level); otherwise, it remains for 1 round per Hit Die of the the dragon. This darkness is a special tpe through which the dragon can easily see; it otherwise functions exactly as a normal darkness spell.
If the second saving throw is successful, the darkness remains, but is not tied to the target; the victim can move and escape it.
Onyx dragons sometimes use the darkness breath in advance of an encounter, to hide themselves and gain surprise.
Habitat/Society: Onyx dragons lair in wetlands, ranging from the tropics to the chillier fringes of the temperate zones. As a rule, they prefer dark, well-shaded areas such as tree-filled bogs. In darker areas, their scintillating scales are less likely to give away their location to prey.
Ecology: Onyx dragons hunt the largest animals in their environments: alligators, herons, manatees, moose, and so forth. They do not hesitate to consume humanoid prey, but they do have enough intelligence to realize that adventurers may be more trouble to kill than the meal is worth.
Onxy dragons do value treasure, especially dark and lustrous gems. However, they tend to have less treasure than other dragons.
Rather than type out the whole table, here are the progressions:
- Body length ranges from 3-6 feet to 96-105 feet. Tail length goes from 2-5 feet to 80-87 feet.
- AC ranges from 3 to -8.
- Breath weapon damage is 2d4+1 to 24d4+12.
- Spellcasting is Priest 1 at age 4, increasing by 1 each category to a max of Priest 9.
- SR ranges from 5% at age 5 to 40%.
Originally appeared in Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994).
