Converting True Dragons
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RavinRay
Explorer
It doesn't say anywhere that they are or aren't related to metallics, but if they are I'd say that they started out as CG with CN tendencies (like how brass dragons were depicted in 1E), and then strayed to the latter alignment.
Considering that the CG/CN song dragon looks very much like a metallic gray-colored copper dragon, plus the LG/LN steel dragon, I wouldn't be surprised to see non-good metallic dragons, as long as they're not evil.
Considering that the CG/CN song dragon looks very much like a metallic gray-colored copper dragon, plus the LG/LN steel dragon, I wouldn't be surprised to see non-good metallic dragons, as long as they're not evil.
JiCi
First Post
Wait, hold on, I may have a theory on this one, from the 2e Edition:
- Brown dragons (from Faerun) were not considered true chromatics because they were wingless. (That hasn't changed in 3.0/3.5, but it changed in 4E when they decided to scrap the Faerunian Brown Dragon and to replace it with the Sand Dragon from the 3.5 book "Sandstorm")
- Steel dragons were not considered true metallics because they only had one breath weapon instead of 2.
The Mithril Dragon has a single breath weapon, so even if it's Chaotic Neutral with Good tendencies and flat out Chaotic Good, it isn't a real metallic since it lacks a second breath.
RavinRay
Explorer
Which really confuses things with the mercury and steel dragons, because in Dragons of Faerûn they're now classified as metallic dragons; and while the steel dragon now has a 2nd breath weapon, the mercury still has just one. That's why IMO I consider them (the mercury) the equivalent of the "lost" chromatic dragons (orange, purple, yellow); a subcategory of metallic dragons that have different sets of abilities. So, we can consider the mithril a dragon that has strayed so far from its metallic lineage that it's no longer metallic, or a very aberrant metallic. Ah, the choices.
Shade
Monster Junkie
Since it's Feybruary, let's work on these fellas. 
Faerie Drake
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-8
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 6”/24”//9” (MC: A)
HIT DICE: See Table 5
% IN LAIR: 25%
TREASURE TYPE: S, T, U
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 claws and 1 bite
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-2/1-2/1-4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Minor breath weapon,
minor spell use
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Magic resistance,
invisibility minor defensive powers,
minor spell use, spell immunities
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See Table 5
INTELLIGENCE: Low to average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral, chaotic neutral
SIZE: S (1½-2’ long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
CHANCE OF:
Speaking: 80%
Magic use: 100%
Sleeping: 30%
LEVEL/XP VALUE: Up to V/365 + 5 per hit point (maximum age and abilities)
The faerie drake is a close relative of the faerie dragon. It is slightly larger than its cousin but has its own distinctive appearance and abilities. Faerie drakes look like miniature dragons with striped or spotted wings, prehensile tails, and a metallic sheen to their wings and scales. Females have wing tips with a shade of color lighter than their body color. Males have wing tips darker than their body color and also have a stronger metallic sheen than females. The underbelly scale color denotes a faerie dragon’s age (see Table 5).
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.
A faerie drake’s body color reveals what sort of breath weapon and attack immunity it possesses (see Table 6). The bronze faerie drake’s repulsion gas causes opponents to move away from the faerie drake for six rounds unless they successfully make saving throws vs. dragon breath. The copper faerie drake's slow venom causes victims to move and attack at one-half normal unless they make their saving throw vs. dragon breath; this effect lasts for six rounds. All other attacks do damage equal to the drake's hit points, or half that if a save vs. dragon breath is successfully made.
The color of a faerie dragon's wing markings is related to its innate magical defense, as shown in Table 7. These magical defenses often mimic wizard or druid spells, but they come into effect at will. Like faerie dragons, faerie drakes can become invisible at will. They also have 120' infravision and very keen senses of smell. These drakes are very fond of swimming, diving, and fishing; one can stay submerged and active for up to three turns, or twice that if inactive. While submerged, they move through the water with great speed and maneuverability. They are even more at home in the air, being able to hover and dart about. Faerie drakes are omnivores and enjoy fish, berries, and small-animal meat. They usually mate for life. If encountered in a lair, there is a 10% chance that 1-4 faerie drake eggs are concealed in the nest.
Table 5
Faerie Dragons' Ages and Spells
Belly color Magic resistance Age Hit dice Mage spells (C 1 2 3) Druid spells (C 1 2 3)
Red 20% Very young 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Red-orange 25% Young 2 + 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
Orange 30% Sub-adult 2 + 4 4 0 0 0 4 1 0 0
Yellow 35% Young adult 3 4 1 0 0 4 2 1 0
Green 40% Adult 3 + 2 4 2 0 0 4 3 2 0
Blue-green 45% Old 3 + 4 4 3 1 0 5 4 2 0
Blue 55% Very old 4 5 4 2 0 5 5 3 0
Violet 60% Ancient 5 5 5 2 1 5 5 4 1
Table 6
Faerie Drakes' Attacks and Immunities
Body color / Breath weapon's type and frequency / Breath weapon's shape and dimensions / Attack type immunity
Black = Acid, 3 X /day, Line shaped, ½” X 40’, Acid
Blue = Electric bolt, 3 X /day, Line shaped, 1” X 30’, Electricity
Brass = Fear gas, 4 X /day, Cloud shaped, see below, Poison
Bronze = Repulsion gas, 5 X /day, Cloud shaped, see below, Electricity
Copper = Slow venom, 5 X /day, Line shaped, ½” X 40’, Acid
Gold = Fire or chlorine gas, 3 X /day, Cone shaped, see below, Fire and poison
Green = Chlorine gas, 3 X /day, Cone shaped, see below, Poison
Red = Fire, 3 X /day, Cone shaped, see below, Fire
Silver = Frost cone, 3 X /day, Cone shaped, see below, Cold
White = Paralyzing gas, 3 X /day, Cloud shaped, see below, Cold
Breath weapon notes:
Line shaped: This breath weapon starts at the creature’s mouth and stretches out toward the target in a straight line. Each type of this breath weapon has its own diameter and range as shown. Diameters are given in real inches.
Cloud shaped: This breath weapon billows forth from the drake’s mouth to form a 5’ X 5’ cloud, 2’ high, around its target.
Cone shaped: This breath weapon begins at the drake’s mouth (here, the cloud is ¼” in diameter) and spreads out to 3’ wide at its end. The cone-shaped cloud is 8’ long.
Table 7
Faerie Drakes' Innate Defenses
Wing markings / Special powers / Duration or level of abilities
Black Obscurement, 3 X /day As per druid spell at 5th level of ability
Blue Blink, 3 X /day As per mage spell at 5th level of ability
Brass Mirror image, 3 X /day As per mage spell at 5th level of ability
Bronze Scare, 3 X /day As per mage spell at 5th level of ability
Copper Entangle, 4 X /day As per druid spell at 5th level of ability
Gold Polymorph self, 2 X /day As per mage spell at 7th level of ability
Green Regeneration, perm. 1 hp/six turns
Red Haste, 1 X /day As per mage spell at 7th level of ability
Silver Gaseous form, 2 X /day As per potion, with a duration equal to the faerie dragons' hit dice in turns
White Control temperature, 3 X /day As per druid spell at 6th level of ability
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #146 (1989).
Faerie Drake
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-8
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 6”/24”//9” (MC: A)
HIT DICE: See Table 5
% IN LAIR: 25%
TREASURE TYPE: S, T, U
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 claws and 1 bite
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-2/1-2/1-4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Minor breath weapon,
minor spell use
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Magic resistance,
invisibility minor defensive powers,
minor spell use, spell immunities
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See Table 5
INTELLIGENCE: Low to average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral, chaotic neutral
SIZE: S (1½-2’ long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
CHANCE OF:
Speaking: 80%
Magic use: 100%
Sleeping: 30%
LEVEL/XP VALUE: Up to V/365 + 5 per hit point (maximum age and abilities)
The faerie drake is a close relative of the faerie dragon. It is slightly larger than its cousin but has its own distinctive appearance and abilities. Faerie drakes look like miniature dragons with striped or spotted wings, prehensile tails, and a metallic sheen to their wings and scales. Females have wing tips with a shade of color lighter than their body color. Males have wing tips darker than their body color and also have a stronger metallic sheen than females. The underbelly scale color denotes a faerie dragon’s age (see Table 5).
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.
A faerie drake’s body color reveals what sort of breath weapon and attack immunity it possesses (see Table 6). The bronze faerie drake’s repulsion gas causes opponents to move away from the faerie drake for six rounds unless they successfully make saving throws vs. dragon breath. The copper faerie drake's slow venom causes victims to move and attack at one-half normal unless they make their saving throw vs. dragon breath; this effect lasts for six rounds. All other attacks do damage equal to the drake's hit points, or half that if a save vs. dragon breath is successfully made.
The color of a faerie dragon's wing markings is related to its innate magical defense, as shown in Table 7. These magical defenses often mimic wizard or druid spells, but they come into effect at will. Like faerie dragons, faerie drakes can become invisible at will. They also have 120' infravision and very keen senses of smell. These drakes are very fond of swimming, diving, and fishing; one can stay submerged and active for up to three turns, or twice that if inactive. While submerged, they move through the water with great speed and maneuverability. They are even more at home in the air, being able to hover and dart about. Faerie drakes are omnivores and enjoy fish, berries, and small-animal meat. They usually mate for life. If encountered in a lair, there is a 10% chance that 1-4 faerie drake eggs are concealed in the nest.
Table 5
Faerie Dragons' Ages and Spells
Belly color Magic resistance Age Hit dice Mage spells (C 1 2 3) Druid spells (C 1 2 3)
Red 20% Very young 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Red-orange 25% Young 2 + 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
Orange 30% Sub-adult 2 + 4 4 0 0 0 4 1 0 0
Yellow 35% Young adult 3 4 1 0 0 4 2 1 0
Green 40% Adult 3 + 2 4 2 0 0 4 3 2 0
Blue-green 45% Old 3 + 4 4 3 1 0 5 4 2 0
Blue 55% Very old 4 5 4 2 0 5 5 3 0
Violet 60% Ancient 5 5 5 2 1 5 5 4 1
Table 6
Faerie Drakes' Attacks and Immunities
Body color / Breath weapon's type and frequency / Breath weapon's shape and dimensions / Attack type immunity
Black = Acid, 3 X /day, Line shaped, ½” X 40’, Acid
Blue = Electric bolt, 3 X /day, Line shaped, 1” X 30’, Electricity
Brass = Fear gas, 4 X /day, Cloud shaped, see below, Poison
Bronze = Repulsion gas, 5 X /day, Cloud shaped, see below, Electricity
Copper = Slow venom, 5 X /day, Line shaped, ½” X 40’, Acid
Gold = Fire or chlorine gas, 3 X /day, Cone shaped, see below, Fire and poison
Green = Chlorine gas, 3 X /day, Cone shaped, see below, Poison
Red = Fire, 3 X /day, Cone shaped, see below, Fire
Silver = Frost cone, 3 X /day, Cone shaped, see below, Cold
White = Paralyzing gas, 3 X /day, Cloud shaped, see below, Cold
Breath weapon notes:
Line shaped: This breath weapon starts at the creature’s mouth and stretches out toward the target in a straight line. Each type of this breath weapon has its own diameter and range as shown. Diameters are given in real inches.
Cloud shaped: This breath weapon billows forth from the drake’s mouth to form a 5’ X 5’ cloud, 2’ high, around its target.
Cone shaped: This breath weapon begins at the drake’s mouth (here, the cloud is ¼” in diameter) and spreads out to 3’ wide at its end. The cone-shaped cloud is 8’ long.
Table 7
Faerie Drakes' Innate Defenses
Wing markings / Special powers / Duration or level of abilities
Black Obscurement, 3 X /day As per druid spell at 5th level of ability
Blue Blink, 3 X /day As per mage spell at 5th level of ability
Brass Mirror image, 3 X /day As per mage spell at 5th level of ability
Bronze Scare, 3 X /day As per mage spell at 5th level of ability
Copper Entangle, 4 X /day As per druid spell at 5th level of ability
Gold Polymorph self, 2 X /day As per mage spell at 7th level of ability
Green Regeneration, perm. 1 hp/six turns
Red Haste, 1 X /day As per mage spell at 7th level of ability
Silver Gaseous form, 2 X /day As per potion, with a duration equal to the faerie dragons' hit dice in turns
White Control temperature, 3 X /day As per druid spell at 6th level of ability
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #146 (1989).
JiCi
First Post
Oh, you guys follow a theme. Very well then ! Let's go !Since it's Feybruary, let's work on these fellas.
Boy, this this one looks complicated, might as well take the faerie dragon stats from the Draconomicon and starts from there...
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