Half-Dragon Chimera
Taking a short break from adventure-writing (boy, I never knew what a slog it could be, but I'm learning how to speed it up!) to return to these conversions. For comparison purposes when converting the dracimera, here's a half-dragon chimera (stablock only for now, text when I get time):
Half-Dragon Chimera
Large Dragon (Augmented Magical Beast)
Hit Dice: 9d12+36 (94 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 60 ft. (average)
Armor Class: 23 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +13 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 22
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+17
Attack: Bite +17 melee (2d6+8)
Full Attack: Bite +17 melee (2d6+8) and bite +17 melee (1d8+8) and gore +17 melee (1d8+8) and 2 claws +15 melee (1d6+4)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Breath weapon (see table)
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent, immunity to sleep, paralysis, and energy (see table)
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +7, Will +6
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 13, Con 19, Int 6, Wis 13, Cha 12
Skills: Hide +9*, Listen +17, Spot +17, Intimidate +7
Feats: Alertness, Hover, Iron Will, Multiattack
Environment: Temperate hills
Organization: Solitary, pride (3-5), or flight (6-13)
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always LE or CE (see table)
Advancement: 10-13 HD (Large); 14-27 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: +5 (cohort)
This is a strange creature, perhaps 5 feet tall and 10 feet long, probably weighing several tons. It has the body of a very large lion with wings and the back legs of a goat. Where its head should be are three heads: a fiendish-looking goat’s head, a feral lion’s head, and a dragon’s head. The entire body is covered in scales.
A half-dragon chimera is the offspring of a pairing between a chimera and a dragon. Good or neutral dragons will only very rarely mate with the already rare good or neutral chimera, so good or neutral half-dragon chimera are unheard-of.
An oddity of half-dragon chimeras is that they have two dragon varieties: one associated with thechimera parent and one with the dragon parent. The dragon head of the half-dragon chimera will resemble the chimera parent’s dragon head, but all the heads and body of the half-dragon will take on some characteristics of the dragon parent.
Combat Stragegies and Tactics
A half-dragon chimera is a brute, pure and simple, much as its parent chimera would be. It typically prefers to closed to hover just out of melee reach to use its breath weapons and then close the distance. In melee, the half-dragon chimera will make full attacks every round possible, using its breath weapon to deal with foes that keep at distance. Since a half-dragon chimera is not particularly bright, it might use its greater breath weapon on a less powerful foe if that opponent keeps at a great range.
Breath Weapon (Su): A half-dragon chimera has two breath weapons based on the varieties of its dragon head and its dragon parent (see the table). The chimera's breath weapon is usable every 1d4 rounds and does 3d8 points of damage (lines are 40 feet in length, while cones are 20 feet in length). The half-dragon breath weapon can be used once per day (and not within 1d4 rounds of the other breath weapon) and deals 6d8 points of damage (lines are 60 feet long and cones 30 feet). A successful DC18 Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 racial HD + Con modifier) reduces damage by half for either breath weapon.
Skills: A half-dragon chimera has a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of scrubland or brush.
Alignment, Immunity, and Breath Weapon by Variety
Code:
Dragon Align. Breath Weapon Immunity
Black CE Line of acid Acid
Blue LE Line of lightning Electricity
Green LE Cone of acid Acid
Red CE Cone of fire Fire
White CE Cone of cold Cold
Sample Encounters
Half-dragon chimera are often found by themselves, but they also might live with their chimera brethren. Every once in a while, one may be a servant to its dragon parent and can be found as one of a number of creatures guarding the dragon's lair.
Pride (EL 11-12):A half-dragon chimera is the natural leader of a pride (family unit)
of chimera, just because it is usually much stronger than its half-syblings. However, the half-dragon, while smarter than a normal chimera, isn't all that bright, so the chimerae will follow their usual group tactics --- each for itself.
EL 11: A half-dragon chimera and two syblings haved moved in near a small town on the Rezghed Plain, and they're demanding tribute. Since the town is running short on money, the leaders are worried that they'll have to flee or else start handing over sacrifices. What will the party do?
Flight (EL 13-15):A flight is a large grouping of several chimera families, numbering into the teens. They are that much more devastating when they include a half-dragon.
EL 15: A large flight (12 chimerae plus the half-dragon) has rampaged through a pastoral nation for over a fortnight. When the PCs try to strike at one of the chimerae alone, the half-dragon chimera brings its flight together and counterattacks. The half-dragon leads the charge, closing quickly with the most powerful appearing character.
Ecology & Society
Half-dragon chimerae, like their chimera parents, prefer to live in temperate hills, usually in brushy areas, where they can take advantage of their Hide bonus to set up ambushes. However, they can be found in almost any environment, especially warmer ones. As a result, half-white-dragon chimerae are rare, and half-red-dragon chimerae are the most common.
Like chimerae, half-dragon chimerae speak Draconic, though they don't usually bother.
A chimera parent is often quite proud to have a half-dragon child, and it is common for the parent to feed its half-dragon child the choicest food and to favor the half-dragon over its other offspring. As a result, the half-dragon typically assumes a brutish form of control over
its pride once it reaches adulthood, and it is relatively normal for the half-dragon to be advanced by a hit die or more.
If the dragon is the mother, however, she will typically keep the half-dragon chimera as a sort of pet, much as a human might keep a particularly viscious, foul-tempered dog. Dragons are certainly smart enough to value an effective guardian! As the dragon ages, though, the half-dragon chimera will be pushed to the periphery of the dragon's territory, guarding less and less important areas. At this point, the half-dragon chimera will likely head off on its own, becoming a solitary hunter. The dragon mother will usually not be bothered with such a trivial matter by that point.
Alignment: The half-dragon chimera has the alignment of its dragon parent (see table).
Treasure: Half-dragon chimerae keep standard treasure, usually in their lairs. While they might not need weapons, they are just as likely to keep magic or mundane weapons as they are gold or jewels to serve as reminders of past victories.
Lore A Knowledge (Arcana) check reveals
Code:
DC Result
15 This appears to be a chimera, a fearsome blend of dragon, goat, and lion.
20 Actually, it is a half-dragon. Reveals dragon traits and type of dragon parent.
15 This half-dragon has two breath weapons, one weaker and one stronger.
It can use the stronger one only once a day.
---------------------------------------------
As always, comments or corrections welcome.
