Converting True Dragons

[freyar]

So let's stick with cone and then it turns into a spread. Those ages sound good for the "dispel improvements."

 

[RavinRay]

I'm turning to my trusty ol' Draconomicon for inspiration.

The smoke drake's two breath weapons (smoke and incendiary cloud) form a 30-ft.-radius spread centered on itself, so there is precedent for spread-shaped breath weapon. The Styx dragon's breath weapon lasts for 3 rounds, while the Lingering Breath metabreath feat causes the breath to remain as a cloud for 1 round. The Spread Breath feat also shapes a breath weapon into a spread.

 

[Shade]

Excellent! Then spread it is! How does this look?

Breath Weapon (Su): An arack has one type of breath weapon, a spread of choking, magic-inhibiting gas that persists for 1 minute. Creatures within the cloud must make Fortitude saves or begin to suffocate (see Suffocation in the DMG). Additionally, the spread functions as an area dispel magic effect (caster level equals twice arack's Hit Dice). Upon reaching the old age category, an arack's breath weapon functions as greater dispel magic, and at great wyrm is treated as an antimagic field.

The breath weapon fills a spread centered on the arack's head and is 10 feet for a Small arack, 15 feet for a Medium arack, 20 feet for a Large arack, and 25 feet for a Huge arack.

 

[freyar]

We might want to let greater dispel stack with the antimagic field. Also, I assume that the dispels will only remove one effect, like the spell.

 

[Big Mac]

Excellent! Then spread it is! How does this look?

...

Its looking very good.

We might want to let greater dispel stack with the antimagic field.

Hmm. Giving it both or giving it a choice could be good. (i.e. it should either get greater dispel and antimagic field or greater dispel or antimagic field.)

Also, I assume that the dispels will only remove one effect, like the spell.

I thought that too!

 

[Shade]

The arack will bluff and charge "half-heartedly," with crest and wings expanded, trumpeting the call that gives the beast its name, attempting to drive off anyone who comes within its domain. If the intruders run away, the dragon(s) will generally not pursue, unless especially hungry (1 in 6 chance). If cornered or the target of a charge, these beasts will attack at once, using the breath weapon in the defensive mode while doing so.

RavinRay suggested upthread "It can bluff its opponents by making itself appear larger in a confrontation, like the real-world Australian frilled lizard Chlamydosaurus"

The effects are not always obvious, however, since the gas is nearly invisible, even in daylight.

Did we want to do anything with the breath weapon being nearly invisible?

Meanwhile, the arack will attack with its mouth and wing spears against anyone in front or alongside it (on three separate targets). The neck is supple, able to attack on either flank, and the beast is quick about turning to face those who think they are behind it.

Can't be flanked? (Improved uncanny dodge?)

In battle, it sweeps its tail back and forth continually and with some velocity. Anyone to the rear of the dragon will have to contend with the tail as they attack; a successful hit by the tail (rolled as for any other "to hit" chance) knocks the opponent down, does no damage, but causes the victim to take a round to get back to his or her feet.

It sounds like they should get tail sweep and much smaller sizes than normally allowed for true dragons.

 

[freyar]

RavinRay suggested upthread "It can bluff its opponents by making itself appear larger in a confrontation, like the real-world Australian frilled lizard Chlamydosaurus"

Racial bonus to frightful presence DC? Maybe +4?

Did we want to do anything with the breath weapon being nearly invisible?

Spot check with DC equal to breath weapon DC to determine boundaries of the spread?

Can't be flanked? (Improved uncanny dodge?)

Imp Uncanny Dodge sounds right to me, sneak attack only by rogues of level >= HD +4.

It sounds like they should get tail sweep and much smaller sizes than normally allowed for true dragons.

This seems to have a different effect than the usual tail sweep, though. I agree it should start at smaller sizes (maybe at Large?), but it knocks people prone instead. Do we want to do that?

 

[Shade]

Racial bonus to frightful presence DC? Maybe +4?

Hmmm...I'm almost leaning more toward an Intimidate mechanic.

Spot check with DC equal to breath weapon DC to determine boundaries of the spread?

Simple and elegant.

Imp Uncanny Dodge sounds right to me, sneak attack only by rogues of level >= HD +4.

Start with uncanny dodge at wyrmling, then gain improved uncanny dodge at say, adult?

This seems to have a different effect than the usual tail sweep, though. I agree it should start at smaller sizes (maybe at Large?), but it knocks people prone instead. Do we want to do that?

Since we're essentially rewriting the ability, we could even start it at Small.

 

[freyar]

Hmmm...I'm almost leaning more toward an Intimidate mechanic.

Works for me.

Start with uncanny dodge at wyrmling, then gain improved uncanny dodge at say, adult?

I like that well enough.

Since we're essentially rewriting the ability, we could even start it at Small.

Sure. We could have the damage kick in at Gargantuan as normal.

 

[Shade]

Intimidate bonus equal to age category?

Since aracks never reach Gargantuan size, we needn't worry about tail sweep damage. How's this?

Tripping Tail Sweep (Ex): Aracks gain a tail sweep far earlier than most dragons, and can knock opponents prone with such a maneuver. An arack can sweep with its tail as a standard action. The sweep affects a half-circle with a radius equal to its reach, extending from an intersection on the edge of the arack's space in any direction. Creatures within the swept area are affected if they are one or more size categories smaller than the arack. An arack's tail sweep deals no damage, but affected creatures must make DC x Reflex saves to or be knocked prone. The save DC is Strength-based.