D&D 5E 5e Updates: Monstrous Compendium

Red Dragon, Elder

Fire Blast: I think you could allow this to substitute for the bite in the multiattack (aka 1 bite and 2 claws, or 1 fire blast and 2 claws). The damage (assuming 2 people) is very comparable to the bite and you don't get the grapple, so it seems completely reasonable to make them interchangable.

Detect: More for flavor, but I still love the idea that a dragon of this caliber isn't just powerful, but they have senses that are superior to other creatures. So how about adding in "The dragon extends its senses and makes a Wisdom (Perception) check. The dragon gains advantage on its next attack action against any creature it perceived within 60 feet of it, and can read their surface thoughts as if using the Detect Thoughts spell.
 

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Red Dragon, Wyrm
Challenge
30 (155,000 XP)

Hot damn, now that's a scary breath weapon! Honestly it might even be too much, though of course at CR 30 its literally kitchen sink time for the DM. A possible alternative (though I still like the original model so I'm not sold this is better, just different).

Breath Weapon: If a target fails their saving throw by 10 or more, they are considered to have failed their save against a disintegrate spell.

On the one hand, your method does a lot more raw damage. But a disintegrate does have the advantage of killing them at 0 and preventing any "auto recoveries" when you hit 0 that some creatures get, so it does have some spice to it. It also forces "real" resurrection, not that 5th level bargain bin stuff:)


Purely for flavor, but I thought about the idea that this dragon is so scary that it lingers for days or even weeks (I figure in the high CRs we can just go a bit ham and over the top). See what you think.

Frightful Presence. Each creature of the dragon’s choice within 240 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute and suffers from the Creature of Nightmares effect on their next long rest. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.

Creature of Nightmares: The next time the target takes a long rest, it is subject to the nightmare version of the Dream spell, with a saving throw equal to the frightful presence DC. The target is subject to this effect on each long rest until it passes the saving throw.
 

Oh one more thing for Wing Attack, I would go with a strength save instead of a dex one. It feels more right in context (you can't really "dodge" the fierce winds a dragon puts out....more just bear it)....and it increases the variety of saves a dragon generates, which allows different characters to shine (or suffer) under different context.
 


Man, I like that Tiamat draft! I especially like she's a f***ing powerful dragon more than a goddess.

You call the mythic trait different things (I think it should be Chromatic Glory).

Shouldn't the XP be five times CR30, when she can use the mythic trait 5 times (or is the usage number wrong?)?
 

Man, I like that Tiamat draft! I especially like she's a f***ing powerful dragon more than a goddess.

You call the mythic trait different things (I think it should be Chromatic Glory).

Shouldn't the XP be five times CR30, when she can use the mythic trait 5 times (or is the usage number wrong?)?
You haven't seen anything yet ;) That is mostly just a cut and paste of the lesser goddess version of Tiamat I posted a long time ago. I've only just begun converting her to the Ur-dragon as you say. That is why her mythic trait says "Chromatic Dragon," but nothing else does - I haven't updated it yet.

That is also why the XP hasn't changed - I really haven't updated her yet. It is a place holder.
 
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Hot damn, now that's a scary breath weapon! Honestly it might even be too much, though of course at CR 30 its literally kitchen sink time for the DM. A possible alternative (though I still like the original model so I'm not sold this is better, just different).

Breath Weapon: If a target fails their saving throw by 10 or more, they are considered to have failed their save against a disintegrate spell.

On the one hand, your method does a lot more raw damage. But a disintegrate does have the advantage of killing them at 0 and preventing any "auto recoveries" when you hit 0 that some creatures get, so it does have some spice to it. It also forces "real" resurrection, not that 5th level bargain bin stuff:)


Purely for flavor, but I thought about the idea that this dragon is so scary that it lingers for days or even weeks (I figure in the high CRs we can just go a bit ham and over the top). See what you think.

Frightful Presence. Each creature of the dragon’s choice within 240 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute and suffers from the Creature of Nightmares effect on their next long rest. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.

Creature of Nightmares: The next time the target takes a long rest, it is subject to the nightmare version of the Dream spell, with a saving throw equal to the frightful presence DC. The target is subject to this effect on each long rest until it passes the saving throw.
I like both suggests, but how about adding a form of madness instead creature of nightmares, should be simpler for a similar effect? I need to check the madness tables though.
 

I've updated the Red Wyrmling through the Red Adult after feedback. I will get to the older dragons after a bit of a break, but still probably later today.
 

You haven't seen anything yet ;) That is mostly just a cut and paste of the lesser goddess version of Tiamat I posted a long time ago. I've only just begun converting her to the Ur-dragon as you say. That is why her mythic trait says "Chromatic Dragon," but nothing else does - I haven't updated it yet.

That is also why the XP hasn't changed - I really haven't updated her yet. It is a place holder.
By Ur-dragon do you mean "greater goddess"?
P.S Any ideas for Innate spellcasting for Atropus? Also, are there any specific modifications I need to make or should I just use the old Primordial traits?
 

By Ur-dragon do you mean "greater goddess"?
No. It basically means first or primal. In this case, specifically not a god, but this first primal dragon of evil. That from which all other evil dragons spring.
P.S Any ideas for Innate spellcasting for Atropus? Also, are there any specific modifications I need to make or should I just use the old Primordial traits?
I'm terrible with spellcasting, I usually just have them for flavor and would do the same for atropus. Handle its relevant abilities in its stat block and have the spells as extra flavor. You can always go with a version of the 3e list:

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However, Atropus is not a primordial*, so I wouldn't use them as a template. I think you have to go with something unique. Currently I am thinking very high CR but only one mythic stage. The concept being that all the initial damage just "cracks" it shell and then exposes its vulnerable core. Of course you could always make it more of a terrain and less of a monster, but I am not sure how to do that.

*The idea that Atropus was a primordial came up in 4e, but it doesn't make a lot of sense (atropals are stillborn gods afterall). I would go with the original ambiguous lore.
 

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