Converting True Dragons
Shade
Monster Junkie
The next 3 true dragons will all need name changes, as they all have similarly-named counterparts. Since all have chromatic-sounding names, but don't fit into that category, a name change is probably a good thing!
Brown Dragon (Draco Auburnis Forestus)
Frequency: Rare
No. Appearing: 1-6
Armor Class: 3
Move: 9”/24”
% in Lair: 75%
Treasure Type: H
No. of attacks: 3
Damage/attack: 2-5/2-5/4-16
Special Attacks: Breath weapons and possible magic use
Special Defenses: Nil
Magic Resistance: See text above
Intelligence: 13-16
Alignment: Pure Neutral
Size: L (28” long)
Psionic Ability: Nil
Chance of Speaking 60%, Magic use 65%, Sleeping 20%
The Brown Dragon always lives in a forest, though it may be in a cave within a forest. The dragon is true neutral and interested in the welfare of the forest above all else, though it does have a weakness for crafted jewelry of all types. The brown dragon can shapechange to a small mammal, lizard or bird once per day at its 2nd age level, twice at 4th, three times at 6th and 4 times at 8th. The shapechangeling can, at the very most, inflict 1-2 points of damage with claw, beak, bite, etc. However, the shapechangeling can have the dragon’s full hit points and full benefit of its normal saving throw.
A brown dragon can attack with claw/claw/bite, or either of its two breath weapons, Faerie Fire and Lightning. The Faerie Fire covers an area of 6.x6. at a range up to 3. from the dragon’s mouth. Any in the fire are covered (no saving throw) for 4-80 turns and they also take the sum of the dragon’s age level and hit dice in damage unless a saving throw versus magic is made, in which case they take no damage. The Lightning is in a single bolt 8” long and ½” wide for full age times hit dice in damage, or ½ if a s.t. is made.
Brown Dragons which speak and can cast spells use Druidic spells:
Age Group / Spells castable per day
first / 2 first-level spells
second / 2 first and 1 second-level spell
third / 2 first and 2 second-level spells
fourth / 2 first, 2 second and 1 third-level spell
fifth / 2 first, second and third-level spells
sixth / 3 first, second and 2 third-level spells
seventh / 3 first, second and third-level spells
eighth / 3 first, second and third plus 1 fourth-level spell
Brown dragons are 85% likely to be on friendly terms with Pixies, Sprites, Druids, Pseudo-dragons and Treants that live in the same forest or nearby.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #38 (1980).
Brown Dragon (Draco Auburnis Forestus)
Frequency: Rare
No. Appearing: 1-6
Armor Class: 3
Move: 9”/24”
% in Lair: 75%
Treasure Type: H
No. of attacks: 3
Damage/attack: 2-5/2-5/4-16
Special Attacks: Breath weapons and possible magic use
Special Defenses: Nil
Magic Resistance: See text above
Intelligence: 13-16
Alignment: Pure Neutral
Size: L (28” long)
Psionic Ability: Nil
Chance of Speaking 60%, Magic use 65%, Sleeping 20%
The Brown Dragon always lives in a forest, though it may be in a cave within a forest. The dragon is true neutral and interested in the welfare of the forest above all else, though it does have a weakness for crafted jewelry of all types. The brown dragon can shapechange to a small mammal, lizard or bird once per day at its 2nd age level, twice at 4th, three times at 6th and 4 times at 8th. The shapechangeling can, at the very most, inflict 1-2 points of damage with claw, beak, bite, etc. However, the shapechangeling can have the dragon’s full hit points and full benefit of its normal saving throw.
A brown dragon can attack with claw/claw/bite, or either of its two breath weapons, Faerie Fire and Lightning. The Faerie Fire covers an area of 6.x6. at a range up to 3. from the dragon’s mouth. Any in the fire are covered (no saving throw) for 4-80 turns and they also take the sum of the dragon’s age level and hit dice in damage unless a saving throw versus magic is made, in which case they take no damage. The Lightning is in a single bolt 8” long and ½” wide for full age times hit dice in damage, or ½ if a s.t. is made.
Brown Dragons which speak and can cast spells use Druidic spells:
Age Group / Spells castable per day
first / 2 first-level spells
second / 2 first and 1 second-level spell
third / 2 first and 2 second-level spells
fourth / 2 first, 2 second and 1 third-level spell
fifth / 2 first, second and third-level spells
sixth / 3 first, second and 2 third-level spells
seventh / 3 first, second and third-level spells
eighth / 3 first, second and third plus 1 fourth-level spell
Brown dragons are 85% likely to be on friendly terms with Pixies, Sprites, Druids, Pseudo-dragons and Treants that live in the same forest or nearby.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #38 (1980).
Cleon
Legend
I'd think Forest Dragon would be ideal, but I fear that name is already taken.
GrayLinnorm
Explorer
Auburn has a nice ring to it.
Its shapechanging ability sounds like wildshape.
Its shapechanging ability sounds like wildshape.
Shade
Monster Junkie
I hope so. Otherwise, we'd have to assume it was the shorthand for multipliers of 10 feet, making it 280 feet long!
Yeah, I really like Auburn. And it does sound like wildshape. In fact, the dragon seems rather druidic, so perhaps we should have it cast spells from the druid spell list as sorcerer spells?
RavinRay
Explorer
Oh joy! A druidic-style forest dwelling dragon.
Name change. Amber's already taken (and we should differentiate it from that one). I'm looking at Wikipedia for brown names, especially those named after trees or plants; there's chestnut, mahogany, and redwood. But auburn has a good ring to it.
Wildshape for me as well (the 2e amethyst dragon had wildshape too).
Either it casts druid spells as sorcerer spells, or it has druid spellcasting levels. (The wurms from Dragon magazine had the latter.)
Name change. Amber's already taken (and we should differentiate it from that one). I'm looking at Wikipedia for brown names, especially those named after trees or plants; there's chestnut, mahogany, and redwood. But auburn has a good ring to it.
Wildshape for me as well (the 2e amethyst dragon had wildshape too).
Either it casts druid spells as sorcerer spells, or it has druid spellcasting levels. (The wurms from Dragon magazine had the latter.)
