Casimir Liber
Adventurer
Prefer "multifaceted" over "insectile" for eyes, but yeah - I think the idea of "crossbreed" is dumb in this case, but to be fair it's what the source material has I guess. Otherwise looks fine.
5E: Monstrous Arthropods for Fifth Edition
- Thread starter Cleon
- Start date
Cleon
Legend
Yeah, I'd rather keep it fairly vague. Maybe cut out the first sentence fragment and have a generic paragraph about their life cycle plus a more detailed one for each colour.
A mystaran dragonfly closely resembles a regular dragonfly about 3 to 4 feet long. Its head has subtle draconic features as well as a huge pair of globular multifaceted eyes. Mystaran dragonflies are swift and agile flyers with chitinous exoskeletons almost as tough as dragon scales. There are six known types, in order of size and power these are white, black, green, blue, red, and gold. They possess weak breath weapons that do damage corresponding to their dragon variety: cold for a white dragonfly, fire and poison for a gold dragonfly, et cetera.
Magical Amalgams: ??.
Black: ??.
Blue: ??.
Gold: ??.
Green: ??.
Red: ??.
White: ??
Cleon
Legend
Here's a complete Description for the Collected Mystaran Dragonflies entry,
A mystaran dragonfly closely resembles a regular dragonfly about 3 to 4 feet long. Its head has subtle draconic features as well as a huge pair of globular multifaceted eyes. Mystaran dragonflies are swift and agile flyers with chitinous exoskeletons almost as tough as dragon scales. There are six known types, in order of size and power these are white, black, green, blue, red, and gold. They possess weak breath weapons that do damage corresponding to their dragon variety: cold for a white dragonfly, fire and poison for a gold dragonfly, et cetera.
Magical Mutant Insects: A bizarre combination of a finger long insect and enormous mystical reptile, the origins of these monsters is lost to time. Mystaran dragonflies seem to be very rare and may need extremely specific conditions or special magical environments to reproduce. While they do not hunt cooperatively, mystaran dragonflies are gregarious and often gather into small flights that number about 10 (3d6) insects. More surprisingly, mystaran dragonflies tolerate other varieties and groups with two colors flocking together are rather common, with some special sites hosting three or more. For example, a magically-irradiated underdark cave could contain the five colors of chromatic dragonflies, or a particularly mystical jungle pool might buzz with every variety of mystaran dragonflies.
Mystaran dragonflies lay eggs in water that hatch into ferocious aquatic nymphs (see Mystaran Dragonfly Nymph for details). Unlike natural dragonflies, mystaran dragonflies build nests in waterweed or floating masses of greenery and guard their eggs until they hatch; the newborn nymphs immediately scatter as their parents abandon them. After a few years in the water the nymphs climb into the air and turn into flying adults. The larvae of mystaran dragonfly varieties are indistinguishable; even an expert cannot tell what kind of adult a nymph will turn into just by looking at it.
It is possible mystaran dragonflies are interfertile, with individuals in mixed flocks combining bloodlines from multiple varieties. Such hybrids, if they exist, look identical to a full-blooded mystaran dragonfly and never have features resembling other dragon types. Perhaps hybrids always "breed true" to the variety of one of its parents or a more distant ancestor, or mystaran dragonflies have polymorphic adult forms depending on what environment the young develop in; so a nymph from an egg laid in a tundra bog would grow into a white dragonfly, but a volcanically-heated brine pool could produce a red dragonfly.
Draconic Habitats. Each mystaran dragonfly variety inhabit terrain similar to that of their dragon type, but more hospitable. They would never survive in the desolate wastelands of ice, sand or lava that some dragons call home, preferring warmer environments with plenty of water. All known varieties also live in magical subterranean areas such as the Underdark. A mystaran dragonfly's territory might be far away from the bodies of water they need to breed, forcing a long migration every breeding season. Mystaran dragonflies usually breed in ponds, oxbow lakes, and slow-moving rivers. A few populations have nymphs adapted to saltwater and lay eggs in seaside pools, shore reefs or river mouths.
Black mystaran dragonflies like the same habitat as black dragons: dismal bogs, humid jungle swamps and stinking marshes. They enjoy hot weather and tropical climates while being quite tolerant of temperate areas. Black dragonflies are highly competitive and the most fecund of the dragonfly varieties, causing some breeding sites to suffer from over population.
Blue mystaran dragonflies are creatures of open plains, flying over grasslands, deserts and savannahs in a near-constant search for prey. They lay their eggs in desert oases, prairie ponds or sluggish meandering rivers. Blue dragonflies are notorious for starting bushfires with their lightning breath, either accidentally or to drive out prey.
Gold mystaran dragonflies are the rarest of all varieties, but paradoxically have the widest range. Their favorite habitat is tropical forests and hills, but gold dragonflies can live in the habitat of any other mystaran dragonfly, from icy tundra to searing desert.
Green mystaran dragonflies like any rainforest that isn't cold, so are usually encountered in temperate woods and tropical jungles. They typically breed in rivers or streams, but sometimes compete with black dragonflies for jungle swamps. Green dragonflies are highly tolerant of salt and can even drink seawater.
Red mystaran dragonflies are the largest of mystaran dragonflies, sometimes approaching 5 feet in length. They claim hilly areas and highland moors as their territories, plus tablelands such as mesas. Red dragonflies have ravenous appetites and often migrate to new territories to hunt for prey. This vicious dragonfly variety is the most likely to attack other mystaran dragonflies, reds sometimes even devour other red dragonflies.
White mystaran dragonflies inhabit subarctic areas of tundra (fields of grass, shrub and moss too cold for normal trees) and taiga (forests of pines and other conifers). Many adults only live for the Arctic's brief warm spell, laying eggs in marshy tundra pools in late summer and dying once winter returns. However, adult white dragonflies have been encountered in temperate and tropical areas. At first that suggests the whites migrate to warmer climes during the Arctic winter, but white dragonflies have also been observed nesting on sudds floating down jungle rivers, which suggests a population that lives in the tropics year round. White dragonfly nymphs can survive being frozen solid, thawing into life once spring returns.
The individual entries will have cutdown versions of this.
Any suggestions for additions or changes?
A mystaran dragonfly closely resembles a regular dragonfly about 3 to 4 feet long. Its head has subtle draconic features as well as a huge pair of globular multifaceted eyes. Mystaran dragonflies are swift and agile flyers with chitinous exoskeletons almost as tough as dragon scales. There are six known types, in order of size and power these are white, black, green, blue, red, and gold. They possess weak breath weapons that do damage corresponding to their dragon variety: cold for a white dragonfly, fire and poison for a gold dragonfly, et cetera.
Magical Mutant Insects: A bizarre combination of a finger long insect and enormous mystical reptile, the origins of these monsters is lost to time. Mystaran dragonflies seem to be very rare and may need extremely specific conditions or special magical environments to reproduce. While they do not hunt cooperatively, mystaran dragonflies are gregarious and often gather into small flights that number about 10 (3d6) insects. More surprisingly, mystaran dragonflies tolerate other varieties and groups with two colors flocking together are rather common, with some special sites hosting three or more. For example, a magically-irradiated underdark cave could contain the five colors of chromatic dragonflies, or a particularly mystical jungle pool might buzz with every variety of mystaran dragonflies.
Mystaran dragonflies lay eggs in water that hatch into ferocious aquatic nymphs (see Mystaran Dragonfly Nymph for details). Unlike natural dragonflies, mystaran dragonflies build nests in waterweed or floating masses of greenery and guard their eggs until they hatch; the newborn nymphs immediately scatter as their parents abandon them. After a few years in the water the nymphs climb into the air and turn into flying adults. The larvae of mystaran dragonfly varieties are indistinguishable; even an expert cannot tell what kind of adult a nymph will turn into just by looking at it.
It is possible mystaran dragonflies are interfertile, with individuals in mixed flocks combining bloodlines from multiple varieties. Such hybrids, if they exist, look identical to a full-blooded mystaran dragonfly and never have features resembling other dragon types. Perhaps hybrids always "breed true" to the variety of one of its parents or a more distant ancestor, or mystaran dragonflies have polymorphic adult forms depending on what environment the young develop in; so a nymph from an egg laid in a tundra bog would grow into a white dragonfly, but a volcanically-heated brine pool could produce a red dragonfly.
Draconic Habitats. Each mystaran dragonfly variety inhabit terrain similar to that of their dragon type, but more hospitable. They would never survive in the desolate wastelands of ice, sand or lava that some dragons call home, preferring warmer environments with plenty of water. All known varieties also live in magical subterranean areas such as the Underdark. A mystaran dragonfly's territory might be far away from the bodies of water they need to breed, forcing a long migration every breeding season. Mystaran dragonflies usually breed in ponds, oxbow lakes, and slow-moving rivers. A few populations have nymphs adapted to saltwater and lay eggs in seaside pools, shore reefs or river mouths.
Black mystaran dragonflies like the same habitat as black dragons: dismal bogs, humid jungle swamps and stinking marshes. They enjoy hot weather and tropical climates while being quite tolerant of temperate areas. Black dragonflies are highly competitive and the most fecund of the dragonfly varieties, causing some breeding sites to suffer from over population.
Blue mystaran dragonflies are creatures of open plains, flying over grasslands, deserts and savannahs in a near-constant search for prey. They lay their eggs in desert oases, prairie ponds or sluggish meandering rivers. Blue dragonflies are notorious for starting bushfires with their lightning breath, either accidentally or to drive out prey.
Gold mystaran dragonflies are the rarest of all varieties, but paradoxically have the widest range. Their favorite habitat is tropical forests and hills, but gold dragonflies can live in the habitat of any other mystaran dragonfly, from icy tundra to searing desert.
Green mystaran dragonflies like any rainforest that isn't cold, so are usually encountered in temperate woods and tropical jungles. They typically breed in rivers or streams, but sometimes compete with black dragonflies for jungle swamps. Green dragonflies are highly tolerant of salt and can even drink seawater.
Red mystaran dragonflies are the largest of mystaran dragonflies, sometimes approaching 5 feet in length. They claim hilly areas and highland moors as their territories, plus tablelands such as mesas. Red dragonflies have ravenous appetites and often migrate to new territories to hunt for prey. This vicious dragonfly variety is the most likely to attack other mystaran dragonflies, reds sometimes even devour other red dragonflies.
White mystaran dragonflies inhabit subarctic areas of tundra (fields of grass, shrub and moss too cold for normal trees) and taiga (forests of pines and other conifers). Many adults only live for the Arctic's brief warm spell, laying eggs in marshy tundra pools in late summer and dying once winter returns. However, adult white dragonflies have been encountered in temperate and tropical areas. At first that suggests the whites migrate to warmer climes during the Arctic winter, but white dragonflies have also been observed nesting on sudds floating down jungle rivers, which suggests a population that lives in the tropics year round. White dragonfly nymphs can survive being frozen solid, thawing into life once spring returns.
Any suggestions for additions or changes?
Cleon
Legend
Updated the Index of 5E Monster Arthropods and the Index of 5th Edition BECMI Conversions.
Casimir Liber
Adventurer
"More surprisingly" implies a surprising fact in the previous sentence - otherwise looks all good
Cleon
Legend
Not necessarily.
An unusual fact is more surprising than a mundane fact just as a highly astonishing fact is more surprising than a slightly odd fact.
I found the last couple of sentences a bit clunky anyway, so I'm revising it to:
Magical Mutant Insects: A bizarre combination of a finger long insect and enormous mystical reptile, the origins of these monsters is lost to time. Mystaran dragonflies seem to be very rare and may need extremely specific conditions or special magical environments to reproduce. While they do not hunt cooperatively, mystaran dragonflies are gregarious and often gather into small flights that number about 10 (3d6) insects. Mystaran dragonflies are surprisingly tolerant of other varieties and flocks of two colors are rather common, with some special cases having three or more. For example, a magically-irradiated underdark cave could contain all five chromatic dragonflies, while a mystical jungle pool might buzz with every dragonfly variety.
Cleon
Legend
I'm wondering about juicing up the current Dashing Flight based on an airborne version of the Scarlet Death's Shifting Mists:
Darting Flight. The mystaran dragonfly can disengage or dash as a bonus action when flying. It cannot use Darting Flight if it used Dodging Flight after the start of its previous turn.
Wouldn't give them Dodge like the Scarlet Death's Shifting Mist.
I've already given mystaran dragonflies an inflated Armour Class to compensate the lack of a regular Giant Odonatid's Evasive Flight, and they don't need Dodge's advantage on DEX saves as they've got Expert Aerialist.
Darting Flight. The mystaran dragonfly can disengage or dash as a bonus action when flying. It cannot use Darting Flight if it used Dodging Flight after the start of its previous turn.
I've already given mystaran dragonflies an inflated Armour Class to compensate the lack of a regular Giant Odonatid's Evasive Flight, and they don't need Dodge's advantage on DEX saves as they've got Expert Aerialist.
Cleon
Legend
Just noticed that all of my Giant Odonatid adults had a "It cannot use Burst of Speed if it used Dodging Flight after the start of its previous turn" that should be "It cannot use Dashing Flight" since I renamed that Bonus Action from Burst of Speed to Dashing Flight.
They've all been corrected.
Well, unless I missed one!
They've all been corrected.
Well, unless I missed one!
Casimir Liber
Adventurer
ok x 2
Cleon
Legend
Good-oh.
I'll put Darting Flight in the Collected Mystaran Dragonflies and start adding Descriptions to the individual entries.
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