Converting monsters from Dragon magazine
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Shade
Monster Junkie
Dragon, Phase
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 2
MOVE: 6”/24” (MC: C)
HIT DICE: 3-5
% IN LAIR: 10%
TREASURE TYPE: F
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 bite
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Breath weapon; possible spell use
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Phasing ability; see hidden/invisible objects
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 30%
INTELLIGENCE: Average to very
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic (neutral or good)
SIZE: S (3’ long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV to V/175 + 3/hp to 360 + 5/hp
The phase dragon can be found almost anywhere, although it prefers sparsely inhabited areas in and around forests. Its lair can be found in caves and in stout, hollow trees. Though of small size, a phase dragon is as greedy as any other dragon and covets precious metals, gems, and magic items.
This dragon’s phasing ability allows it to shift out of phase with its surroundings as a phase spider can; it uses this power when attacking or being attacked. The dragon will bring itself back into phase when it is ready to deliver a bite or breath weapon (it can see its surroundings even when out of phase). When out of phase, the dragon cannot be struck by normal weapons, but it can be seen and attacked by someone wearing armor of etherealness or using oil of etherealness; other ethereal beings can also attack it. A phase door spell will cause the dragon to remain in phase for seven rounds.
Because a phase dragon hates to fight, it will prefer to use its breath weapon first in an unfriendly encounter and then try to escape. The phase dragon can attack once per round with either a bite or by breathing a 10’ diameter cloud of white gas that causes all within it who fail a saving throw vs. breath weapon to become confused, as per the druid spell confusion.
A phase dragon is able to use magic, and if taught to do so (as 40% of them have been), it can learn a 1st-level magic-user spell for each of its first four ages and a 2nd-level magic-user spell every age after that, to a maximum of four 1st-level and four 2nd-level magic-user spells at ancient age. Phase dragons have the same age categories and abilities to detect hidden or invisible beings that regular dragons have, but they lack any fear aura abilities. They can be subdued. Phase dragons are a glossy light blue-gray in color, and their scales have a mother-of-pearl sheen to them. They speak their own tongue and their alignment language, and 75% of them know the common tongue as well. Phase dragons are 40% likely to be found sleeping. They make saving throws like regular dragons.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #94 (1985).
Elsewhere, we determined that we will convert these as "lesser dragons", like wyverns and linnorms, and not true dragons with age categories.
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 2
MOVE: 6”/24” (MC: C)
HIT DICE: 3-5
% IN LAIR: 10%
TREASURE TYPE: F
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 bite
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Breath weapon; possible spell use
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Phasing ability; see hidden/invisible objects
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 30%
INTELLIGENCE: Average to very
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic (neutral or good)
SIZE: S (3’ long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV to V/175 + 3/hp to 360 + 5/hp
The phase dragon can be found almost anywhere, although it prefers sparsely inhabited areas in and around forests. Its lair can be found in caves and in stout, hollow trees. Though of small size, a phase dragon is as greedy as any other dragon and covets precious metals, gems, and magic items.
This dragon’s phasing ability allows it to shift out of phase with its surroundings as a phase spider can; it uses this power when attacking or being attacked. The dragon will bring itself back into phase when it is ready to deliver a bite or breath weapon (it can see its surroundings even when out of phase). When out of phase, the dragon cannot be struck by normal weapons, but it can be seen and attacked by someone wearing armor of etherealness or using oil of etherealness; other ethereal beings can also attack it. A phase door spell will cause the dragon to remain in phase for seven rounds.
Because a phase dragon hates to fight, it will prefer to use its breath weapon first in an unfriendly encounter and then try to escape. The phase dragon can attack once per round with either a bite or by breathing a 10’ diameter cloud of white gas that causes all within it who fail a saving throw vs. breath weapon to become confused, as per the druid spell confusion.
A phase dragon is able to use magic, and if taught to do so (as 40% of them have been), it can learn a 1st-level magic-user spell for each of its first four ages and a 2nd-level magic-user spell every age after that, to a maximum of four 1st-level and four 2nd-level magic-user spells at ancient age. Phase dragons have the same age categories and abilities to detect hidden or invisible beings that regular dragons have, but they lack any fear aura abilities. They can be subdued. Phase dragons are a glossy light blue-gray in color, and their scales have a mother-of-pearl sheen to them. They speak their own tongue and their alignment language, and 75% of them know the common tongue as well. Phase dragons are 40% likely to be found sleeping. They make saving throws like regular dragons.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #94 (1985).
Elsewhere, we determined that we will convert these as "lesser dragons", like wyverns and linnorms, and not true dragons with age categories.
Cleon
Hero
Looks like we should base it on the Pseudodragon, there are many similarities in its stats.
Its size (including 3' body length), 6" land move, AC, and see invisible ability are identical to the AD&D Pseudodragon, so we may as well just copy the SRD Pseudodragon's equivalent in those areas. (Tiny Dragon, AC 18, Speed 15 ft, Blindsense 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision)
Now for the changes:
Increase Hit Dice by to 3d12, with advancement 4-5HD (Tiny). So it's 3-5 HD to a Pseudo's 2-4 HD.
Its Magic Resistance is 30% to the Pseudo's 30%, so Spell Resistance 18 instead of the 3E Pseudo's 19?
Plus the normal true dragon's immunity to sleep and paralysis, of course.
Its phase-shifting ability is its big power. Since it says it works like a phase spider's, we may as well copy-and-paste the SRD phase spider's Ethereal Jaunt power.
The 1st level magic-user spells just look like it gains sorcerer levels somehow, but not all pseudodragons can do this. Maybe add a subentry for "arcane phase dragons" that casts spells as a sorcerer of a level equal to its Hit Dice?
Now, what shall we do about ability scores. A pseudodragon is:
Pseudodragon: Str 6, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10.
I feel its stats should be a bit better than a pseudodragon, it has 3HD to the pseudo's 2HD and an intelligence of average-very (8-12) to a pseudo's average (8-10). Also, it will need a 12 in its spellcasting stat (Charisma if we go sorcerer) to be able to cast 2nd level spells.
So, how about the following:
Phase Dragon: Str 8, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 13
It has bite 1d4 instead of a sting.
Hmm, I'm tempted to increase its bite to 1d6 so its average damage (1d6-1) is almost the same as the original's 1d4 sans penalties.
The phase dragon doesn't have telepathy like a pseudodragon.
And finally, it has a confusion breath weapon instead of a coma-causing poison. That looks like it translates to a 10-foot cone with effects as a confusion spell (caster level = HD or HD+3?).
Its size (including 3' body length), 6" land move, AC, and see invisible ability are identical to the AD&D Pseudodragon, so we may as well just copy the SRD Pseudodragon's equivalent in those areas. (Tiny Dragon, AC 18, Speed 15 ft, Blindsense 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision)
Now for the changes:
Increase Hit Dice by to 3d12, with advancement 4-5HD (Tiny). So it's 3-5 HD to a Pseudo's 2-4 HD.
Its Magic Resistance is 30% to the Pseudo's 30%, so Spell Resistance 18 instead of the 3E Pseudo's 19?
Plus the normal true dragon's immunity to sleep and paralysis, of course.
Its phase-shifting ability is its big power. Since it says it works like a phase spider's, we may as well copy-and-paste the SRD phase spider's Ethereal Jaunt power.
The 1st level magic-user spells just look like it gains sorcerer levels somehow, but not all pseudodragons can do this. Maybe add a subentry for "arcane phase dragons" that casts spells as a sorcerer of a level equal to its Hit Dice?
Now, what shall we do about ability scores. A pseudodragon is:
Pseudodragon: Str 6, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10.
I feel its stats should be a bit better than a pseudodragon, it has 3HD to the pseudo's 2HD and an intelligence of average-very (8-12) to a pseudo's average (8-10). Also, it will need a 12 in its spellcasting stat (Charisma if we go sorcerer) to be able to cast 2nd level spells.
So, how about the following:
Phase Dragon: Str 8, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 13
It has bite 1d4 instead of a sting.
Hmm, I'm tempted to increase its bite to 1d6 so its average damage (1d6-1) is almost the same as the original's 1d4 sans penalties.
The phase dragon doesn't have telepathy like a pseudodragon.
And finally, it has a confusion breath weapon instead of a coma-causing poison. That looks like it translates to a 10-foot cone with effects as a confusion spell (caster level = HD or HD+3?).
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
That sounds like a pretty good analysis to me.
As for the arcane spells, we could either add "or by character class (favored class sorcerer)" to the advancement, give all of them Spells (Sp) (or have a sidebar variant), or give them some SLAs. I think I'm partial to giving all of them Spells (not just some of them) to juice them up a little. But it's not a big deal.
As for the arcane spells, we could either add "or by character class (favored class sorcerer)" to the advancement, give all of them Spells (Sp) (or have a sidebar variant), or give them some SLAs. I think I'm partial to giving all of them Spells (not just some of them) to juice them up a little. But it's not a big deal.
Cleon
Hero
That sounds like a pretty good analysis to me.
As for the arcane spells, we could either add "or by character class (favored class sorcerer)" to the advancement, give all of them Spells (Sp) (or have a sidebar variant), or give them some SLAs. I think I'm partial to giving all of them Spells (not just some of them) to juice them up a little. But it's not a big deal.
I don't mind giving them all levels in sorcerer but I don't think spell-like abilities is a good fit with the phase dragon as written.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
That was very emphatic!
I agree, just throwing out options.Well, I don't think we want a progression, since we're not giving these age categories.
What if we give them all 1 effective level of sorcerer and let them advance by character class as well as HD? That keeps the average one kind of weak but allows some to be more powerful.
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
I agree with freyar. One level of sorcerer automatically, and advance by character class.
Cleon
Hero
That was very emphatic!
Sorry about that, my internet connection kept on cutting out last night and from my end it looked like my first two attempts at the post failed to get through.
Oh well, such things happen.
As for their sorcery, I suggested sorcery level = HD because (a) it means the top end (5th level sorcerer) matches up fairly well to the original, with its multiple 1st & 2nd level spells, and (b) many spellcasting creatures do so at a level around their HD - i.e. the 3HD aranea is a 3rd level sorcerer. Admittedly the original starts out at the bottom, with one 1st level spell, which argues for making them 1st level sorcerers.
So, I'm fine with making them 1st level sorcerers and gaining 1 level per level of Dragon, plus being able to gain sorcerer levels with class advancement.
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
Hypnotism for the second spell?
Cleon
Hero
I prefer something defensive. Mirror image could be amusing combined with its phasing. Failing that, protection from arrows or hideous laughter?
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
I avoided defensive spells because its AC is already 18. Adding the +4 from mage armor or shiled would be unreasonably high for a critter of this CR, especially because the party won't yet have dispelling access. Obscuring mist might be interesting, as would ventriloquism, but I still like hypnotism.
Cleon
Hero
Oh sorry, I misread the "second" with a level behind it for some reason.
Obscuring mist is OK, but it can just phase out if it wants to avoid a fight. I think grease has more versatility and repeat value, There's always true strike, which would allow it to pop out of the ether with a +20 bonus on bite attack, or burning hands if we feel it needs some Area-of-Effect punch.
As for feats, I'd go for Flyby Attack for the first one. Not so sure about t'other. How about Spell Penetration, since I'm guessing it will often have to deal with other Tiny magic-resistant dragons?
I'd was thinking of Diplomacy instead of Appraise, since pseudodragons have that skill, but it does say they covet treasure. Diplomacy is probably a bit more useful, though.
So, if we give it Knowledge (arcana) which of its other skills shall we take points from? Hide seems the obvious one, since (a) it can use ethereal jaunt to avoid attention and (b) it not having good conventional stealth will help differentiate it from a pseudodragon.
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