Converting True Dragons

[Shade]

Hmm...I'm not fond of assigning a flat dodge bonus, and enhancement bonuses generally only apply to other types of bonuses (like natural armor).

How about a deflection bonus equal to Cha bonus, and an insight bonus equal to Wis bonus? That would give even a lowly great wyrm white dragon a total of +8, and a mighty gold a whopping +22!

On the other hand, we could simply state it gets a deflection bonus equal to its former natural armor bonus. I've seen templates do that before.

 

[Cleon]

Hmm...I'm not fond of assigning a flat dodge bonus, and enhancement bonuses generally only apply to other types of bonuses (like natural armor).

How about a deflection bonus equal to Cha bonus, and an insight bonus equal to Wis bonus? That would give even a lowly great wyrm white dragon a total of +8, and a mighty gold a whopping +22!

On the other hand, we could simply state it gets a deflection bonus equal to its former natural armor bonus. I've seen templates do that before.

I was going to suggest the deflection = former NA approach to.

 

[Cleon]

Hmm, if we give it deflection = NA, what if we have ghosttouch attacks treat its deflection bonus as NA?

That way a ghosttouch touch attack isn't up against its humongous deflection-boosted touch AC.

 

[RavinRay]

I'd go for deflection. That still won't always save it from force attacks, right?

 

[Cleon]

I'd go for deflection. That still won't always save it from force attacks, right?

Deflection's OK by me too, provided everyone's happy with the implications.

 

[Shade]

I'd go for deflection. That still won't always save it from force attacks, right?

Correct. Updated.

To simulate the "aging", we might want to borrow from the similar Evolved Undead template from Libris Mortis.

Essentially, add a note like this:

Note: Unlike most other templates, an evolved undead can potentially acquire this template more than once, evolving more with each application.

 

[freyar]

Don't incorporeal critters always get a deflection bonus equal to the Cha bonus (or +1 if no Cha bonus)? So we could add that to the natural armor or not as we like. I sort of like the insight bonus, too.

As for aging: does the evolved template have a table of new abilities gained with each application or something?

 

[RavinRay]

That template intrigues me too. Is it just an arithmetic accumulation of abilities?

 

[Cleon]

To simulate the "aging", we might want to borrow from the similar Evolved Undead template from Libris Mortis.

Essentially, add a note like this:

Note: Unlike most other templates, an evolved undead can potentially acquire this template more than once, evolving more with each application.

That's fine by me.

Even if we keep the increases per template fairly modest it'll add up to something pretty terrifying with enough applications.

Do we want to impose a cap of 12 templates like the original's +12 age categories?

Don't incorporeal critters always get a deflection bonus equal to the Cha bonus (or +1 if no Cha bonus)? So we could add that to the natural armor or not as we like. I sort of like the insight bonus, too.

That's the default, but I'd rather fold it all into the "equal NA" deflection bonus.

As for aging: does the evolved template have a table of new abilities gained with each application or something?

Since the air dragon doesn't appear to gain extra powers with age it's rather academic whether it does or not.

 

[Shade]

In a nutshell, each time the evolved template is gained, the creature improves as follows:

• +1 to natural armor or deflection (if incorporeal)
• +2 Strength (if corporeal) and +2 Charisma
• One random spell-like ability from a list (or increased usage of the same ability)
• Fast healing +3