Converting True Dragons

[RavinRay]

I concur with freyar

 

[Shade]

So the question becomes: convert to SLAs or retain spellcasting?

I have no strong preference. Thoughts?

 

[freyar]

Here's the appropriate text about spellcasting from both of them:

Demon drakes able to use spells will employ illusionist spells, but as they grow older, they gain a small selection of wizard and cleric spells. Unlike their cousins, their spells are not selected only on the basis of their mischief potential. Spellcasting demon drakes gain spells at the same rate that illusionists do, each hit die equaling a level. One in 24 magic-using demon drakes is a lair shaman and gains both cleric and illusionist spells at the same time, like a multiclassed character. Spell-casting demon drakes also gain one first-level wizard spell at old, very old, and ancient ages each. All demon drakes (even those that do not normally use spells) gain a first-level cleric spell at ancient age, including lair shamans, who have that spell in addition to their others. Most spells are taught by the elders of the demon drake group, except for the cleric spells, which appear to be gained from an unknown source.

and

Faerie drakes have innate spell abilities that slowly increase as they grow older. Only drakes of young adult and older ages have offensive spells. Most prefer spells useful in their everyday lives (as selected by the DM); such spells are taught by the older members of a faerie drake group.

Faerie drakes have been known to associate with and spy upon wizards and druids, especially while the latter learn and cast their spells. It is conjectured that watching such activities enables faerie drakes to learn spells other than those they acquire early in life.

This is fairly similar, though I think the demon drakes have slightly stronger language. Demon drakes get CL = HD originally, and it seems like faerie drakes get somewhat less (though they get both wiz and druid levels). So there's more justification in giving casting levels for the demon drakes, but not a whole lot.

I guess I could go either way. The answer might also depend on whether there are any other drakes that strongly demand casting; if not, I'd be more inclined to convert to SLAs.

 

[demiurge1138]

I say give them full casting. Demon drakes sorcerer with a focus on illusions and enchantments, faerie drakes sorcerer with some druid spells sprinkled in (or with access to the Animal, Plant and Weather domains, perhaps?)

 

[freyar]

Oooh, that would mean re-writing the faerie drakes, and I'm not sure they really have quite enough casting. I'd only like to do that if the rest of the drakes look like they should have full casting. Do you know anything about them?

 

[demiurge1138]

Nope. I'm coming into this process rather late--I'm just looking at the original text posted above.

 

[freyar]

Hmmm, maybe Shade can tell us.

 

[Shade]

I'll check the archive CDs later today.

 

[Shade]

Crystal Drake:

"Only 50% of all crystal drakes have the ability to cast spells throughout their lives. Fully 50% of these spell-casters choose to cast wizard spells; 20% become shamans of their lairs and have both cleric and illusionist spells, like a multiclassed character. Another 15% cast only illusionist spells, and 15% cast only druid spells. As they progress in age, their spellcasting abilities increase, as shown in Table 2. Old crystal drakes that have no previous spell-casting talents always develop the ability to cast cleric spells as a lst-level cleric. They gain one additional level of spell-casting ability with each following age level, becoming 3rd-level clerics at ancient age. Most spell-casting powers are taught by the elders of each group of crystal drakes, through a teaching process that involves no writing or spell books. Cleric and druid spells, however, appear to be granted by an unknown power perhaps a demigod."

Shadow Drake:

They have some clearly spell-like abilities, as well as this...

"The shadow drake is a shy creature and often uses a shadow duplicate to lure creatures away from its lair. Some shadow drakes have magical abilities, having learned to cast illusionist spells from elder members of their species (though some learn spells from gnome or human illusionists in the vicinity). These spells are mostly defensive in nature but never include spells such as color spray, dancing lights, and other spells that create or involve light. See Table 8 for details."

 

[freyar]

Well, I suppose it depends on tables, but my preference is probably strong SLA progressions for faerie drakes and shadow drakes and casting for demon and crystal drakes. However, a case could be made for giving them all full casting, probably at a slow progression. Anyone else have a thought? It could mean revising the faerie drakes, but we should try to get them right.