Converting True Dragons

[Shade]

RavinRay's suggestions are good. Maybe also a sidebar that jade dragons are lung dragons if you use Oriental Adventures?

That'll work.

 

[Shade]

Updated Homebrews.

Beguile (Sp): Using its riddling ways, a jade dragon can enchant anyone within 90 ft (or Xft/age category?) who is not involved in combat or otherwise distracted. Anyone who can hear the jade dragon speak or can "hear" it due to its telepathy ability must make a Will save or be subject to a suggestion by the dragon (at its caster level). A creature that saves against a jade dragon's beguile ability is immune to that dragon's beguile ability for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma based.

We can mine this for inspiration,from the cataboligne updated in the recent Expedition to Greyhawk:

Captivating Voice (Su): A cataboligne's voice sounds like tht of a human woman. When it speaks, one designated humanoid, fey, or giant within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 22 Will save or become captivated and functions as if affected by the spell charm monster, although it remains charmed only until the demon's next action. If the cataboligne continues to speak to that victim, the effect persists (no save), but if the demon stops speaking or speaks to a different target, the victim recovers immediately from the effect. Captivating voice is a sonic, mind-affecting, language-dependent charm effect. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the same cataboligne's speech for 24 hours. The cataboligne can use its captivating voice as a free action, but can target only one creature per round. The save DC for this ability is Charisma-based.

A captivated victim walks toward the cataboligne, taking the most direct route available. If the path leads into a dangerous area (through flame, off a cliff, or the like), that creature gets a second saving throw. Captivated creatures can take no actions other than to defend themselves. (Thus, a fighter cannot run away or attack but takes no defensive penalties.) A victim within 5 feet of the cataboligne stands there and offers no resistance to the monster's attacks. A bard's countersong ability allows the captivated creature to attempt a new Will save.

 

[freyar]

These seem basically the same, once we convert the cataboligne's captivation to a suggestion. I'm also fine with making it Su.

 

[Shade]

How's this revision?

Beguile (Su): A jade dragon often speaks in riddles. When it speaks (even via telepathy), all creatures within 10 feet per age category must succeed on a Will save or become susceptible to the dragon's whims and functions as if affected by the spell suggestion. Beguile is a sonic, mind-affecting, language-dependent compulsion effect. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the same jade dragon's beguile ability for 24 hours. The cataboligne can use its captivating voice as a free action, but can target only one creature per round. The save DC for this ability is Charisma-based.

I changed the ranged of the jade dragon's telepathy to 10 feet x age category like the other neutral dragons.

 

[freyar]

Looking good, but you might want to get that cataboligne out of there.

Actually, if this can work by telepathy, should it really be a sonic effect?

 

[Shade]

Looking good, but you might want to get that cataboligne out of there.

Will do before finalizing it.

Actually, if this can work by telepathy, should it really be a sonic effect?[/QUOTE]

Probably not, although I'm still not convinced that it should work through telepathy.

Anyone strongly for or against?

 

[dhaga]

Probably not, although I'm still not convinced that it should work through telepathy.

Anyone strongly for or against?

I think it would be an interesting mechanic, if it worked through telepathy, but at the same time, it may make the ability too powerful. I'll admit I'm on the fence on this one. What do others think?

 

[RavinRay]

If it's sonic (which might not be necessary because a mental voice doesn't sound sonic to me—pun intended) since it is language-dependent this places a balancing limit on the ability.

 

[freyar]

Just to get the thread moving again, let's remove the telepathy from the beguile ability.

Class skills: Appraise, Bluff, and maybe Survival?

 

[Shade]

OK.

Updated Homebrews.

Let's figure out the spell-like abilities.

Suggested spell-like abilities upthread: plane shift ability, detect thoughts.

Here are the emerald's abilities...

Spell-Like Abilities: At will--legend lore; 3/day--fog cloud, improved invisibility, sculpt sound. (When using the Psionics Handbook, replace legend lore with the object reading psionic power, replace sculpt sound with the control sound psionic power, and replace improved invisibility with the augmented invisibility psionic power.) Caster level varies with age; save DC 10 + dragon's Charisma modifier + spell level.

Psionics (Sp): 3/day--nondetection, clairaudience/clairvoyance. Caster (or manifester) level varies by age; save DC 10 + dragon's Charisma modifier + spell (or power) level.

Attack/Defense Modes: id insinuation, psychic crush/thought shield, tower of iron will. An emerald dragon manifests powers, and gains additional attack and defense modes, as if it were a psion with Clairsentience as its primary discipline.