D&D General Companion to D&D Survivor: Spelljammer Dragons

[RealAlHazred]

So, I thought I had the full measure of these guys, but then I realized the Solar Dragon in the new 5E box set isn't the same as the Sun Dragon from 2E. In fact, it's description name drops three dragons from 2E, but it's breath weapon doesn't exactly match any of them! It's birth seems like the Sun Dragon, but it doesn't shoot fireballs. In the end, I made it a new dragon type, since it's somewhat distinct. Blargh.

EDIT: They also made a Lunar Dragon, which seems slightly different to the Moon Dragon but at least the breath weapon is reasonably similar (frost).

 

[RealAlHazred]

Main thread is here.

 

[RealAlHazred]

• Air Dragon: "The Air Dragon is the transformation of a standard dragon who has passed through the Great Wyrm stage of its life. When the dragon's body becomes too weak and decrepid, its mind actually leaves the confines of its body, and the body withers. When this transformation occurs, it looks as though a large non-corporeal diamond perfectly shaped after the dragon's former body pulls away from the dying husk.
  "The air dragon looks very much like a shimmerless diamond suspended in mid air. The rippling of pseudo-muscles, teeth, claws and bone make up the diamond-like cuts. It still possesses the wings, feet and toes of its former dragon self, but it now is nothing more than the Shape Air creation of its powerful mind. They are truly beautiful to see, but they still possess the dragon-fear aura that so many adventurers feel when they are near. The eyes of the dragon often resemble the color of its scales before the body died during transformation into an Air Dragon."
• Moon Dragon: "Moon dragons are evil dragons that exclusively inhabit caves on moons. Like most dragons, they prize wealth and power. The coloration of moon dragons changes every 30 days, starting out as brilliant white. Slowly, what appears to be a large black shadow forms on the dragon's left side, and gradually moves across the beast until it is all black. This process takes 15 days, whereupon a small sliver of white appears on the left side and moves across the dragon until, 15 days later, it is all white again. The dragon's strength and alignment vary with its coloration. Each "phase" lasts seven days. When the dragon is all black, it is at full strength and chaotic evil. When either black-white or white-black, its powers and combat modifiers are half the dragon's age category, its alignment neutral evil. When all white, it is lawful evil and its power is one quarter of its age category (e.g., an old dragon during the all-white phase fights as a very young dragon). Size and Intelligence do not change."
• Radiant Dragon: "The radiant dragon, also called the star dragon or the celestial dragon (though not to be confused with the oriental dragon of the same name), is a sinuous, serpentine dragon with graceful, translucent wings. Its scales are a collection of glittering pearl-like shards of mica and gypsum, which cause the dragon's scales to shimmer in the starlight, giving the creature its name.
  "Radiant dragons can be of any alignment, unlike the tendencies toward good and evil of the chromatic and metallic dragons. There exist radiant dragons who terrorize the spaceways, those who act in a beneficial fashion, and those who prefer to set themselves up as whimsical king-gods on small, distant worlds. As a class, the radiant dragons are proud, haughty, and feel they are the ultimate in draconian development: they are, after all, the largest of their type."
• Solar Dragon: "A solar dragon (also known as a radiant dragon or a sun dragon) is born in the heart of a star. It divides its time outside its lair between patrolling its territory and hunting for food. The dragon has a serpentine body, a pair of ventral limbs ending in long fins, nebulous wings that give off light, and gleaming, multicolored scales. It can see clearly even in blindingly bright light.
  "Solar dragons are fond of treasure just as all dragons are, but in the airless void of Wildspace, they value food even more. Solar dragons typically feed on kindori, scavvers, and other forms of space-dwelling wildlife. A solar dragon might mistake a distant spelljamming ship for possible prey and come within range of the vessel's weapons before realizing its error and veering away. A wise or experienced captain won't take the dragon's approach as a sign of hostility. Solar dragons that are fired upon have been known to batter the offending ships to flinders."
• Stellar Dragon: "Big, peaceful and highly intelligent, these enormous philosophers of the phlogiston wander the flow seeking discourse with the keepers of the crystal spheres.
  "The scales of stellar dragons are iridescent deep purple, with a chrome drop at the tip of each scale. Gems of myriad colors and sizes adorn the scales in random patterns, giving the stellar dragon its name. Two main fins, like the fins of a lionfish, adorn either side of the central torso, and four enormous lace-like wings provide guidance and stability. Numerous other fins of various sizes cover the rest of the dragon's body. They have no visible arms or legs.
  "Stellar dragons, unlike their smaller kin, the radiants, are neutral. They consider stooping to meddle in the affairs of smaller beings to be loutish and in bad taste. When they encounter humanoids, stellar dragons prefer to watch rather than involve themselves. Only rarely do they speak with lesser beings."
• Sun Dragon: "The benevolent sun dragons live and cavort on the surface of suns. Though majestic and intelligent, they love life and freedom, showing this love in a playful attitude.
  "The sun dragon's coloration changes as it ages, matching stellar evolution. At hatching, they are fiery red; as juveniles, burnt orange; as mature adults, brilliant yellow; when venerable, bluish white. Finally, when a sun dragon becomes a Great Wyrm, it shrinks back to almost hatchling size and turns a flat white color. Some people confuse these sun dragons for very young moon dragons, at much risk to their health."

 

[JoeyD473]

The Solar dragon is the only one where we are using 5e descriptions?

 

[RealAlHazred]

The Solar dragon is the only one where we are using 5e descriptions?

There are 2 dragons in the 5e box set: Lunar Dragons and Solar Dragons. The Lunar Dragons are basically the 2E Moon Dragons, minus the alignment shifting over the course of the lunar cycle. 5E Solar Dragons are, as I said, a combo of 2E Radiant and Sun Dragons.

Frankly, if I ran Spelljammer, I'd probably just use the Cosmic Dragons. Much more flavourful, IMO. We'll get to the Cosmic Dragons eventually.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

Stellar Dragons! How about a 3 million foot long dragon!

 

[Tonguez]

3 great unique dragons down to the line, its a race to the finish and it could go anywhere, Spelljamming -its out of this world!

 

[RoughCoronet0]

I'd be alright with any of the remaining options winning, despite how hard I've been going against the Air Dragon.

 

[JoeyD473]

So what's next

 

[RealAlHazred]

So what's next

Next is going to be Wrack dragons from the Scarred Lands setting for d20.