Converting True Dragons

[Shade]

Rather than typing out the age progression charts, I'll report the comparisons to other dragons.

Base HD are 2 less than a white.

In size, they begin about the size of a green but end up smaller than a white at the oldest age categories. Base size also equals a green.

Spellcasting progression falls between silver and gold. They can freely interchange priest and wizard spells.

Breath weapon progression and damage is identical to a gold dragon.

AC progression is one worse that black and white dragons.

Spell resistance progression is identical to a gold dragon.

Claw damage is worse than a white, but bite is on par with a blue dragon.

Land speed is on par with most dragons, and flight speed is identical to a topaz dragon.

 

[RavinRay]

Quick question: Is this the Myth Drannor electrum dragon?

On to the basics…

HD and size: Less than a white but bigger than a green? So it starts out Small and ends Gargantuan. Atypical HD/size correspondence, somewhat like the steel/Greyhawk dragon.

Spellcasting: Since both gold and silver are 19th-level caster at great wyrm, it should have the same progression. I guess it can also cast cleric spells and maybe select domain spells.

Breath weapon: Duration 1 round per age category of the dragon?

AC: Natural AC still HD-1?

Spell resistance: Copy from a gold?

Claw and bite: no thoughts yet.

Speed: If fly speed is identical to the topaz' than it's also the same as the silver's. However, since the 3e topaz dragon is now the most powerful gem dragon (Colossal great wyrm) instead of second weakest, we could base it on a smaller dragon such as a sapphire or crystal.

 

[freyar]

Quick question: Is this the Myth Drannor electrum dragon?

The fluff doesn't sound right for that...

Busy with work this weekend, but I hope to have some time for this Monday!

 

[Echohawk]

Quick question: Is this the Myth Drannor electrum dragon?

Yes. The MCA1 version is a reprint of that page from Ruins of Myth Drannor, just with a different picture.

 

[freyar]

Yes. The MCA1 version is a reprint of that page from Ruins of Myth Drannor, just with a different picture.

Interesting. There are also electrum dragons mentioned in The Fall of Myth Drannor, which are 8 unique dragons. On closer look, though, that source specifically says the Ruins of Myth Drannor electrum dragons are something else. They also might or might not be the progenitors of the electrum dragons we're converting. Interesting.

On speed: why don't we go with the silver dragon's speed?

 

[RavinRay]

Silver/topaz dragon speed: 40 ft. throughout, 100 ft. (average) to 200 ft. (clumsy) for fly. Most other dragons have the same speeds as well. The Jump 2 should translate to a Jump class skill.

Abilites: Exceptional Int (15-16) is the same as the 2e bronze, silver, and red dragons. In 3e they progress 14-26, 14 -30, and 10-26 respectively. Since they can already detect magic and read magic at will as wyrmlings, I'm inclined to start them off with Int 14.

 

[Shade]

Comparing size further with other dragons, it is identical to the fang on age categories 1-4, which would make it T, S, M, L at those age categories.

At age categories 5, it is still really close to the fang, which would make it L.

At age categories 6-7, its size ranges when compared to other dragons would still make it L.

At age categories 8-9, it is close to a crystal dragon, which would make it H, H.

At age categories 10-12, , its size ranges when compared to other dragons would still make it H.

So...

Wyrmling = T
Very Young = S
Young = M
Juvenile through Mature Adult = L
Adult through Great Wyrm = H.

Sound OK?

 

[freyar]

Sounds good. As far as the Int progression (and other mental stats also), I'd be inclined to borrow from the silver.

 

[Shade]

Sounds good. For the breath weapon, we've discussed duration equal to age category. Shall the enfeebling effect improve as well?

For the ray of enfeeblement spell, the subject takes a penalty to Strength equal to 1d6+1 per two caster levels (maximum 1d6+5).

Could we go with 1d6+age category?

 

[freyar]

That sounds reasonable. Also, just go with the usual single Ref save, maybe for half the Str penalty and no confusion? Or do you want separate saves, Will to negate confusion and maybe Ref to avoid enfeeblement?