Converting True Dragons

[RavinRay]

Genius Int same as gold.
Body length same as blue from juvenile onward, tail length same as black except as hatchling. This is a comparatively short-tailed dragon.
SR/MR same as brass and emerald.
Base HD same as red and silver.

 

[freyar]

In that case: Use gold for mental stat progression, silver for HD, basically blue for size, and brass for SR?

We need to decide whether to use usual item damage rules or make it nastier, like the original.

 

[Shade]

The progressions sound good.

For the breath weapon, we might borrow from this...

Frostbrittle (Su): Any weapon that strikes Cryonax has its hardness reduced by 5 for 10 rounds, thereby increasing the effectiveness of sunder attempts against the weapon. In addition, rolling a 1 on an attack with the targeted weapon causes it to take damage equivalent to the amount it would have dealt on a successful hit.

 

[freyar]

Oooh, we've used that one recently, too. Good idea!

 

[RavinRay]

Brilliant! Oh and doesn't its scintillating breath remind you of the 2e crystal dragon's breath of scintillating shards?

 

[Shade]

Indeed it does!

 

[freyar]

Don't have my books at work: what's the 3e crystal dragon breath weapon? This one appears to be cold plus frostbrittle, but maybe we should consider the scintillating shards also.

 

[Shade]

The 2e version:
Breath weapon/special abilities: This dragon's breath weapon is a cone of glowing shards; the cone is 60 feet long, 5 feet wide at the dragon's mouth, and 25 feet wide at the base. Creatures caught in the blast can save vs. breath weapon for half damage, and must make a second saving throw vs. breath weapon or be blinded by the dazzling shards for one turn per age level of the dragon. The shards shine as bright as daylight, and can be seen for miles. Creatures within 60 feet must save vs. breath weapon or be dazzled, incurring a penalty of -2 to attack rolls for one turn per age level of the dragon. A crystal dragon casts spells and uses magical abilities at 5th level, plus its combat modifier.

The 3e version:
Breath Weapon (Su): A crystal dragon's breath weapon is a cone of brilliant light. A target who fails his or her Reflex saving throw takes the indicated damage and is blinded for 1d4 rounds.

 

[freyar]

Well, it doesn't quite seem to fit to me, but you could try to persuade me.

 

[RavinRay]

Hmm, cold damage + crystalline effect + blinded/dazzled is too powerful for me. Although, being so visible would make the dragon somewhat detectable from a distance, and that could be a hindrance.