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Converting True Dragons

Working draft.

Tactics:
Albino wyrms, while quite intelligent, are incredibly barbaric and fight more like cunning animals than devious dragons. Typically, they will use their breath weapons and close quickly for melee, attempting to swallow obvious spellcasters whenever possible. Other times, albino wyrms may burrow near the wall a tunnel and use blindsight to spot prey, ambushing them from an apparently solid wall. In melee, alino wyrms give in to their bloodlust, fighting recklessly but not foolishly enough to disdain retreat when necessary.
 

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Working draft.

Tactics:
Albino wyrms, while quite intelligent, are incredibly barbaric and fight more like cunning animals than devious dragons. Typically, they will use their breath weapons and close quickly for melee, attempting to swallow obvious spellcasters whenever possible. Other times, albino wyrms may burrow near the wall a tunnel and use blindsight to spot prey, ambushing them from an apparently solid wall. In melee, alino wyrms give in to their bloodlust, fighting recklessly but not foolishly enough to disdain retreat when necessary.

Well let's see what bits of the original description seem germane for their tactics.

"Their difficulty in finding prey in the Underdark has made them small, flightless predators who rely on stealth to strike and take down prey."

"the albino wyrm has fallen far; most are barely sane, barely able to express a coherent thought, despite their Intelligence."

How's this...

Albino wyrms, while intelligent, are insanely ferocious, fighting more like cunning animals than devious dragons. They rely on stealth to ambush prey, any may use their burrowing ability to attack from unexpected directions, such as bursting out of an apparently solid wall. The wyrm usually attacks first with its breath weapon then leaps into melee, attempting to swallow vulnerable spellcasters when possible. Food is so scarce in the Underdark that albino wyrms rarely stop attacking prey once they find it, although they are not foolish enough to disdain retreat when necessary.​

Hold on, the original description says they "rely on stealth" so we'd better give them Hide and Move Silently! What skills shall we pare away to pay for it?

I guess we can cut Appraise, Escape Artist, Knowledge (dungeoneering) and UMD. Cut 5 ranks off each and put 10 apiece in Hide & MS? That's give em:

Skills #1: Appraise +7, Escape Artist +5, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +7, Hide +10, Intimidate +12, Jump +20, Listen +10, Move Silently +10, Spot +10, Use Magic Device +7, Survival +2 (+4 underground), Use Rope +0 (+2 binding foes)​

Hmm, I fancy cutting a few points out of Intimidate and Jump to increase Escape Artist and UMD. Say cut Jump to +16 and Intimidate to +10 and put +3 in each.

Skills #2 : Appraise +7, Escape Artist +8, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +7, Hide +10, Intimidate +10, Jump +16, Listen +10, Move Silently +10, Spot +10, Use Magic Device +10, Survival +2 (+4 underground), Use Rope +0 (+2 binding foes)​

I like #2 the best.
 

I'm happy with your tactics, and I'll agree with skill set 2.

Description: A pale dragon with stubby wings and madness in its eyes
 

I'm happy with your tactics, and I'll agree with skill set 2.

Updating Albino Wyrm Working Draft.

Description: A pale dragon with stubby wings and madness in its eyes

We've got more descriptive phrases from the AD&D writeup we could work in:

"gaunt, sinewy" ... "red eyes, mottled white scales, and brownish claws. Its wings are semi-transparent" ... "the albino wyrm’s jaws have expanded" ... "often wear jewelry on wingtips, claws, and tail".

Let's see...

A gaunt, sinewy dragon with over-sized jaws and vestigial, translucent wings. It has mottled white scales, dirt brown talons and eyes that seem red with madness.

I think that's OK. The bit about them wearing jewelery can go into the background info.
 

That seems fine.

Background: Albino wyrms are the descendants of chromatic dragons who became trapped underground. Unable to find as much food as before, they succumbed to madness. Their offspring were stunted, physically and mentally, slowly evolving over generations to become the albino wyrms of today. These are smaller dragons without the ability to cast spells or fly but who have developed the ability to tunnel through solid rock. ....
 

That seems fine.

Updating Albino Wyrm Working Draft.

Background: Albino wyrms are the descendants of chromatic dragons who became trapped underground. Unable to find as much food as before, they succumbed to madness. Their offspring were stunted, physically and mentally, slowly evolving over generations to become the albino wyrms of today. These are smaller dragons without the ability to cast spells or fly but who have developed the ability to tunnel through solid rock. ....

Hmm, I think that could do with work. Let me mull over it a bit...
 



Hmmmm.

Albino wyrms are not so avaricious as true dragons, leaving most of their comparatively scant treasure scattered carelessly around their lairs. The only treasure they truly value are magic items, especially magic jewelry, that will aid them in hunting, which they wear at all times.
 

Hmmmm.

Albino wyrms are not so avaricious as true dragons, leaving most of their comparatively scant treasure scattered carelessly around their lairs. The only treasure they truly value are magic items, especially magic jewelry, that will aid them in hunting, which they wear at all times.

They don't usually have lairs according to the original description.

Oh well, I'll have a stab at it...

The ancestors of albino wyrms may have been surface dragons who became lost in the unfathomable depths of the Underdark. If this is so, their offspring have become stunted creatures who lack the intelligence, flight and spellcasting ability of a true dragon. Albino wyrm are afflicted with some form of hereditary madness and are barely able to express a sane thought.

Few places in the Underdark hold enough food to nourish an albino wrym for long, so they rarely form permanent lairs. Most of these dragon-kin spend their lives wandering from hunting ground to hunting ground carrying what little treasure they possess. The only wealth albino wyrms truly value are magic items, especially items that aid them in hunting. They often wear jewelery, although it may not be on the intended body part. Thus, a wealthy wyrm may wear a crown around the tail, rings on its claws, and a bracelet on a wingtip.

A typical albino wyrm is X feet long, including Y feet of tail.

Albino wyrms can speak Draconic, but their minds are so deranged they cannot hold a coherent conversation.
 

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