Converting True Dragons
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Shade
Monster Junkie
Hawkdragon
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1 (1-3 in wild)
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 12./33" (MC: B)
HITDICE: 1 +1 to 3 +3
% IN LAIR: Nil (50% in wild)
TREASURE TYPE: See below
NO. OF ATTACKS: 4
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-2/1-2/1-4/1-2
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Diving attack, breath weapon
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Immunity to missiles
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low to average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (1-1/2’ to 3’ long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III to IV/126
+ 2/hp to 240 + 4/hp
The hawkdragon is a rare creature that dwells in forests and wooded hills. Named because of its similarity in size and appearance to a hawk, it is quick on the ground and capable of highly complicated maneuvers in the air.
Most hawkdragons are found in the wild, but occasionally one domesticated from birth may be found as the pet of a powerful or wealthy lord. As hawkdragons are small, fast, and vicious, domesticated ones have been used much in the same manner as falcons for sport.
A hawkdragon attacks with a claw/claw/bite/tail slash routine, getting all four attacks even while airborne, as the tiny hawkdragon can land upon larger prey to attack. Since they can fly so well, 70% of all hawkdragons are able to dive on a target in the same manner that eagles do. During a dive, a hawkdragon can only attack with its claws and tail, but all hits are at +4 on the die, damage is doubled, and a .to hit. Roll of 20 indicates a 50% chance of blinding the victim in one eye. A heal alone will cure this blindness.
Hawkdragons, due to an innate form of magic resistance coupled with their high maneuverability, are not affected by normal missile weapons of any kind, and magical arrows or bolts do -1 damage on each die (see 3rd-level magic-user spell, protection from normal missiles). The -1 modifier also applies to missiles from ballistas, catapults, and the like, but this resistance offers no protection to the magic missile spell.
If a hawkdragon attacks a creature that is too powerful for it or if the creature is badly wounded, it will use its breath weapon of a 10’-diameter stinking cloud, centered on the dragon’s nose. A missed saving throw vs. spell constitutes nausea (and the inability to attack) for 2-5 rounds, just long enough for the hawkdragon to flee. It is thought that some hawkdragons eat various wild herbs and onions to intensify this effect. A hawkdragon is immune to its own breath weapon and can use it twice a day.
Wild hawkdragons have a natural affinity for brightly colored objects, so their nests may contain treasure types K, L, M, and 1-4 small gems (base 10 gp value). Domesticated hawkdragons often wear either a silver, gold, or gem-studded collar bestowed upon them by their masters.
When encountered in the wild, a hawkdragon will be either a lone male, a mated pair, or a mated pair and young. There is a 40% chance that a mated pair of hawkdragons also has a clutch of 1-3 eggs. If sold, hawkdragon eggs can bring over 1,000 gp on the market, and young 3,000 gp. Adult hawkdragons will defend their eggs or young to the death, and cannot be subdued.
Hawkdragons range in color from dark green for young ones to brown for adult ones. They are sized and gain hit points as do normal dragons; i.e., an 8-sided die is rolled: 1-2 = small (1 + 1 HD), 3-7 = average (2 + 2 HD), 8 = large (3 + 3 HD). Ancient hawkdragons live to be 140 years old, and each growth stage is as follows:
Very young 0-3 years
Young 4-7 years
Sub-adult 8-18 years
Young adult 19-30 years
Adult 31-60 years
Old 61-90 years
Very old 91-120 years
Ancient 121+ years
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #101 (1985).
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1 (1-3 in wild)
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVE: 12./33" (MC: B)
HITDICE: 1 +1 to 3 +3
% IN LAIR: Nil (50% in wild)
TREASURE TYPE: See below
NO. OF ATTACKS: 4
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-2/1-2/1-4/1-2
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Diving attack, breath weapon
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Immunity to missiles
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low to average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (1-1/2’ to 3’ long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III to IV/126
+ 2/hp to 240 + 4/hp
The hawkdragon is a rare creature that dwells in forests and wooded hills. Named because of its similarity in size and appearance to a hawk, it is quick on the ground and capable of highly complicated maneuvers in the air.
Most hawkdragons are found in the wild, but occasionally one domesticated from birth may be found as the pet of a powerful or wealthy lord. As hawkdragons are small, fast, and vicious, domesticated ones have been used much in the same manner as falcons for sport.
A hawkdragon attacks with a claw/claw/bite/tail slash routine, getting all four attacks even while airborne, as the tiny hawkdragon can land upon larger prey to attack. Since they can fly so well, 70% of all hawkdragons are able to dive on a target in the same manner that eagles do. During a dive, a hawkdragon can only attack with its claws and tail, but all hits are at +4 on the die, damage is doubled, and a .to hit. Roll of 20 indicates a 50% chance of blinding the victim in one eye. A heal alone will cure this blindness.
Hawkdragons, due to an innate form of magic resistance coupled with their high maneuverability, are not affected by normal missile weapons of any kind, and magical arrows or bolts do -1 damage on each die (see 3rd-level magic-user spell, protection from normal missiles). The -1 modifier also applies to missiles from ballistas, catapults, and the like, but this resistance offers no protection to the magic missile spell.
If a hawkdragon attacks a creature that is too powerful for it or if the creature is badly wounded, it will use its breath weapon of a 10’-diameter stinking cloud, centered on the dragon’s nose. A missed saving throw vs. spell constitutes nausea (and the inability to attack) for 2-5 rounds, just long enough for the hawkdragon to flee. It is thought that some hawkdragons eat various wild herbs and onions to intensify this effect. A hawkdragon is immune to its own breath weapon and can use it twice a day.
Wild hawkdragons have a natural affinity for brightly colored objects, so their nests may contain treasure types K, L, M, and 1-4 small gems (base 10 gp value). Domesticated hawkdragons often wear either a silver, gold, or gem-studded collar bestowed upon them by their masters.
When encountered in the wild, a hawkdragon will be either a lone male, a mated pair, or a mated pair and young. There is a 40% chance that a mated pair of hawkdragons also has a clutch of 1-3 eggs. If sold, hawkdragon eggs can bring over 1,000 gp on the market, and young 3,000 gp. Adult hawkdragons will defend their eggs or young to the death, and cannot be subdued.
Hawkdragons range in color from dark green for young ones to brown for adult ones. They are sized and gain hit points as do normal dragons; i.e., an 8-sided die is rolled: 1-2 = small (1 + 1 HD), 3-7 = average (2 + 2 HD), 8 = large (3 + 3 HD). Ancient hawkdragons live to be 140 years old, and each growth stage is as follows:
Very young 0-3 years
Young 4-7 years
Sub-adult 8-18 years
Young adult 19-30 years
Adult 31-60 years
Old 61-90 years
Very old 91-120 years
Ancient 121+ years
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #101 (1985).
RavinRay
Explorer
Had some technical issues so I couldn't join in for the rest of the bestial dragon talk, but now I'm back. Some quick impressions on the hawkdragon:
- Seems like a small critter; it should only be modestly-sized at great wyrm.
- It ages rapidly, maybe as fast as the rattelyr in Shining South.
- Flying maneuverability is high, not below average perhaps. Plus it makes good use of the dive rules for flying. If it has an elemental subtype Air is an obvious choice.
- It seems to have a form of protection from arrows ability.
- A nice stinking cloud breath in a spread. If 2/day is too limiting we can just increase the rounds between breaths from 1d4.
- No spellcasting abilities.
Cleon
Legend
I like giving them Jump as a class skill, I just think they should have Climb as well.
Cleon
Legend
Yes, that's pretty much what I was thinking.
The main question is do we really need to give these little darlings with age categories?
I would just stat them as a 2HD Small or Tiny Dragon, using the SRD's Pseudodragon and Hawk for inspiration. Their Intelligence of Low-Average cover an Int range from 5 to 10.
Ability Scores:
Pseudodragon: Str 6, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10
Hawk: Str 6, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6
Hmm, a Str 6 means they will do negligible damage with their attacks. I think I'd up them to Eagle size (Small) and Strength (Str 10).
So, how about:
Hawkdragon
Small Dragon
Hit Dice: 2d12+2 (15)
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 100 ft. (good)
Armor Class: 16 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural)
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 10
Attacks: Bite 1d4, 2 claws 1d2, tail 1d2
Combat
Breath Weapon (Su) - Fort save vs nausea for X rounds, usable once every 1d4+1 rounds.
Eye Gouge (Ex) - If it hits with a critical, target must save (vs Ref?) or lose an eye. Treat as permanently dazzled if they still have a functional eye, or blinded if all eyes lost?
Protection From Arrows (Su) - continuous DR 10/magic versus ranged weapons?
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
We only get to choose 3 class skills, though, right? I don't know off-hand any precedent for more; are there any?
Off to the hawkdragon:
Well, you could make an argument to make them a normal monster, but I believe we've done pretty small true dragons before (the paper dragon, right?). These don't have a lot of special abilities to space through the age categories, though.
RavinRay, Shade, what do you guys think? I'm happy either way.
RavinRay
Explorer
Off the top of my head, there's a desert-dwelling dragon, the brown one I think, whose SLA were mostly summoning more powerful earth elementals as it ages, so that's a narrow set of SLAs for a true dragon. If we're going to give the hawkdragon SLAs at all we can merely increment the effect as it ages, or likewise for any Ex or Su abilities.
There's another comparatively puny true dragon, coincidentally named the red hawk dragon from Mystara's Savage Coast that has piddling abilities. I guess there's room on the low-end for such beasties. Shade?
There's another comparatively puny true dragon, coincidentally named the red hawk dragon from Mystara's Savage Coast that has piddling abilities. I guess there's room on the low-end for such beasties. Shade?
Shade
Monster Junkie
Honestly, it makes no difference to me either way. The advantage to using age categories is that it allows for easier reference for the DM for different-sized critters. On the downside, it's much, much more work for us.
Realistically, if linnorms don't need/get age categories, about half the former true dragons really don't either.
I'd say the lack of magical ability combined with the really small size makes these a good fit for the category-less response.
Since so few true dragons remain unconverted, shall we go ahead and tackle 'em here anyway?
Realistically, if linnorms don't need/get age categories, about half the former true dragons really don't either.
I'd say the lack of magical ability combined with the really small size makes these a good fit for the category-less response.
Since so few true dragons remain unconverted, shall we go ahead and tackle 'em here anyway?
Cleon
Legend
Sounds like a plan!
So first things first, do you prefer Small or Tiny?
Upon reflection, Tiny would fit the quoted size better, since they're as big as Pseudodragons or Hawks.
How about we keep the original's 1-3 HD range and have them start as Tiny 1HD beasties and advance to Small at 2HD?
Hmm, following standard Advancement rules that would mean a Small hawkdragon would have AC 14 due to its Dex and size bonuses being 1 lower. I'd be tempted to include a note they have non-standard Advancement, with no loss of Dex and a point higher NA.
Revising my previous proposal:
Hawkdragon
Tiny Dragon
Hit Dice: 1d12+1 (7)
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 100 ft. (good)
Armor Class: 16 (+2 size, +2 Dex, +2 natural)
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 10
Attacks: Bite 1d4, 2 claws 1d2, tail 1d2
Advancement: 2-3 HD (Small)
Advanced Hawkdragon?
Small Dragon
Hit Dice: 2d12+4 (15)
Armor Class: 16 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural)
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 10
Attacks: Bite 1d6, 2 claws 1d3, tail 1d3
Combat
Breath Weapon (Su) - 10-foot cube of toxic vapours usable once every 1d4+1 rounds. All creatures inside must succeed at a DC X Fort save or be nauseated for 1d4+1 rounds. Hawkdragons and creatures with immunity to poison are not affected. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Eye Gouge (Ex) - If it hits with a critical, target must save (vs Ref?) or lose an eye. Treat as permanently dazzled if they still have a functional eye, or blinded if all eyes lost? The save DC is Dexterity based?
Protection From Arrows (Su) - continuous DR 10/magic versus ranged weapons?
So first things first, do you prefer Small or Tiny?
Upon reflection, Tiny would fit the quoted size better, since they're as big as Pseudodragons or Hawks.
How about we keep the original's 1-3 HD range and have them start as Tiny 1HD beasties and advance to Small at 2HD?
Hmm, following standard Advancement rules that would mean a Small hawkdragon would have AC 14 due to its Dex and size bonuses being 1 lower. I'd be tempted to include a note they have non-standard Advancement, with no loss of Dex and a point higher NA.
Revising my previous proposal:
Hawkdragon
Tiny Dragon
Hit Dice: 1d12+1 (7)
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 100 ft. (good)
Armor Class: 16 (+2 size, +2 Dex, +2 natural)
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 10
Attacks: Bite 1d4, 2 claws 1d2, tail 1d2
Advancement: 2-3 HD (Small)
Advanced Hawkdragon?
Small Dragon
Hit Dice: 2d12+4 (15)
Armor Class: 16 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural)
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 10
Attacks: Bite 1d6, 2 claws 1d3, tail 1d3
Combat
Breath Weapon (Su) - 10-foot cube of toxic vapours usable once every 1d4+1 rounds. All creatures inside must succeed at a DC X Fort save or be nauseated for 1d4+1 rounds. Hawkdragons and creatures with immunity to poison are not affected. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Eye Gouge (Ex) - If it hits with a critical, target must save (vs Ref?) or lose an eye. Treat as permanently dazzled if they still have a functional eye, or blinded if all eyes lost? The save DC is Dexterity based?
Protection From Arrows (Su) - continuous DR 10/magic versus ranged weapons?
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