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D&D Gem Dragons Are Officially Back
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<blockquote data-quote="Urriak Uruk" data-source="post: 7853358" data-attributes="member: 7015558"><p>Ferrous Dragons:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Chrome: With scales that initially resemble tarnished silver and grow shinier as they age, it should be no surprise that Chrome Dragons are often mistaken for Silver Dragons. That would be a terrible mistake to make, as Chromium Dragons are known for their greed, malice and cruelty, which gives them a Chaotic Evil alignment in AD&D and a Lawful Evil one in 3e.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Avaricious enough to give a Red Dragon pause and sadistic enough to make a Black Dragon take notes, Chrome Dragons live for the sake of hunting treasure and killing anything that catches their attention. Although fully capable of living off of nothing but ice and snow, they vastly prefer raw, bloody meat.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Nickel: The swamp and marsh-dwelling Nickel Dragons are the smallest and weakest of their family, although they're still highly dangerous opponents who make up for physical deficits with deceitfulness, tenacity and sheer viciousness. In AD&D, they are known for being extremely fickle and unpredictable, giving them a Chaotic Neutral nature. In 3rd edition, instead, they are just jerks who enjoy harassing and bullying others, making them Lawful Neutral. In fact, the AD&D version of the Nickel Dragon is pretty Chaotic Stupid, especially when it comes to rearing its offspring, which is contributing to the race's decline.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tungsten: Tungsten Dragons are unique amongst the Ferrous Dragons for having a racial alignment of Good. However, it's not exactly a nice form of good. In a nutshell, Tungsten Dragons believe the adage "the ends justify the means"; after all, if evil will stop at nothing to win, then good must stop at nothing to defeat evil. This is why they are Neutral Good in AD&D, and Lawful Good in 3e. Of course, in a typical display of draconic hypocrisy/incompetence, that dedication to preserving and expanding good typically ends at the borders of a Tungsten Dragon's territory. Furthermore, they deal harshly with intruders, unless somehow convinced that their potential victims are actually working for the side of good.</li> </ul><p>Greater Gem Dragons:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Amethyst: Diplomatic and easy-going by nature, the purple-hued amethyst dragons favor the psionic disciplines of psychokinesis and psychometabolism, although they also possess skills in telepathy and metapsionics. Feeding on fish and gemstones, their breath weapon is a "faceted lozenge" of violet-hued energy, which functions more like a fireball than the traditional draconic breath weapon. This kinetic glob is spat at a target point, whereupon it erupts in a powerful concussive force-blast that can knock creatures clean off their feet and blow down buildings like a bomb. Given their predominantly piscovorous diet, amethyst dragons favor the shores of isolated mountain lakes and pools, sometimes going so far as to dig out caves underwater to dwell - they have an instinctive ability to breathe water.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Crystal: Easily distinguished by their lack of wings and spinal frill, the lizard-like crystal dragons are amongst the most friendly and gregarious of all the gem dragons, with their Chaotic Neutral tendencies fitting their intense curiosity about the world around them. Obviously, their psionics skill lies in the field of clairsentience, although they are amongst the weakest of the gem dragons. Born with glossy white scales, they turn increasingly translucent as the crystal dragon ages, which causes them to sparkle and glitter in any sort of light.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Emerald: Known as the most paranoid of the gem dragons, emerald dragons use their innate affinity for telepathy and clairstentience to indulge their love of studying history without having to actually interact with other races. These scintillating green-scaled dragons favor lairing on extinct or rarely-active volcanoes, where they feed on lizards and giants - especially fire giants, whom they absolutely detest for some reason. Immune to sound-based attacks and with innate Flame Walking abilities, emerald dragons possess a medley of enchantment and fire-based spell-like abilities. Their breath weapon is a brain-scrambling sonic shriek.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Obsidian: Not one of the original five breeds of Gem Dragons, Obsidian Dragons were invented in 3rd edition as part of the Mind's Eye article series on the WotC website. These Gem Dragons are the most intelligent of their family, but also the most vicious; extremely haughty, easily angered and with a sadistic streak that manifests in a love of "toying" with their prey before finishing it off, their mandated alignment is Neutral Evil.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sapphire: Naturally adept in clairsentience, psychokinesis and psychoportation (favoring the latter) and militantly territorial, few have any real hopes of sneaking up on a sapphire dragon. Favoring subterranean regions, these dragons are sometimes mistaken for blue dragons by those who either forget where the Chromatics live or fail to notice the difference in horns (blues have a single nasal horn, sapphires have two curved horns on the sides of their heads, like blacks). Despite how fiercely they protect their turf, unless you're a known hostile (such as a <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Drow" target="_blank">drow</a>, <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Duergar" target="_blank">duergar</a>, <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Aboleth" target="_blank">aboleth</a> or <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Illithid" target="_blank">illithid</a>), the sapphire's typical approach is to convince you to leave first, then attack if you won't go.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Topaz: Unfriendly, selfish and highly erratic, the topaz dragons are perhaps the biggest jerks of the gem dragons, and certainly some of the least desireable to meet. Able to breathe water and immune to cold, their breath weapon is a ray that evaporates water, fatally desiccating living creatures caught in it. They also possess various spell-like abilities relating to manipulating water, which increase as they age. Native to oceanic coastlines, they have a peculiar enmity for bronze dragons and will attack them on sight, making them unique amongst the gem dragons in that regard.</li> </ul><p>Lesser Gem Dragons:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Amber: Denizens of the deep forest, amber dragons are "neutral" in the sense a force of nature is neutral; they just do what they like and don't give a naughty word about anyone else. Uniquely amongst dragons, they actually disdain material possessions, and so neither form hoards nor establish permanent lairs. Feeding on coniferous tree sap, they are territorial, but don't seek to actively protect nature as a driving goal. Still, they're apparently close enough to the balance for nature to reward them, given that all amber dragons can cast <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Druid" target="_blank">druidic</a> spells. Their breath weapon is a conical gout of scalding hot tree sap, which rapidly solidifies into amber when exposed to cooler air.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Jacinth: Distinguished by their shimmering, flame-bright orange hides, jacinth dragons are amongst the rarest of all gem dragons, something not helped by their natural preference for isolationism. Amongst the smallest of the dragons, to the point it negatively impacts on their fearful aura, they are nonetheless very magically powerful - their innate spellcasting ability gives them the combined spells and caster level of both a <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Wizard" target="_blank">wizard</a> <em><a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Mystic_Theurge" target="_blank">and</a></em> a <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Cleric" target="_blank">cleric</a>. They can't shapeshift, but they can Blink, as per a 10th level caster, 6 times a day.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Jade: Described as an "oriental cousin" to the Emerald Dragon, jade dragons have the traditional "<a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Oriental_dragon" target="_blank">oriental dragon</a>" body-structure - a wingless, four-limbed serpent with somewhat leonic facial features. Smaller and weaker than emerald dragons, and lacking their psionic powers, they possess the spellcasting ability of a <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Mystic_Theurge" target="_blank">multiclassed wizard/cleric</a> and retain the deadly sonic shriek of their relatives. They can also hypnotize others simply by talking, much like the jacinth dragon, although with less aptitude. They also share the jacinth's inability to shapeshift without preparing spells in advance, and their ability to blink.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Moonstone: The largest of the lesser gem dragons, moonstone dragons normally dwell in the <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Plane_of_Faerie" target="_blank">Plane of Faerie</a> and the <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Plane_of_Dreams" target="_blank">Plane of Dreams</a>, or at least on the <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Ethereal_Plane" target="_blank">Ethereal Plane</a>, very rarely coming to the material world. Interested predominantly in the affairs of the <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Fey" target="_blank">fey</a> over that of humans, <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Mystic_Theurge" target="_blank">they have access to both wizardly and priestly spells</a> (something that seems to be a running theme for Neutral Dragons), although restricted in what they can wield. They can use <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Wizard" target="_blank">wizardly</a> <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Enchanter" target="_blank">enchantment/charm</a> and <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Illusionist" target="_blank">illusion</a> spells, <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Shadow_Magic" target="_blank">alteration spells of dim light and shadow</a>, and spells of dreams and dreaming, as well as <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Cleric" target="_blank">priestly</a> spells from the spheres of all, healing, <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Necromancer" target="_blank">necromancy</a> (good only), and <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Diviner" target="_blank">divination</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Pearl: The wingless sea-dwelling pearl dragon is a creature content with the simple life, seeking to avoid trouble and feed on fish whilst gathering its beloved pearls. Unusually for an oceanic dragon, it has no innate water-breathing ability, and instead simply has an enormous capacity for holding its breath - over an hour at a time. They are quasi-nomadic, moving on as they deplete pearl beds in their territory, but because of their need to meticulously take every single piece from one lair to the other, transferring lairs takes a pretty damn long time, as you might expect.</li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Urriak Uruk, post: 7853358, member: 7015558"] Ferrous Dragons: [LIST] [*]Chrome: With scales that initially resemble tarnished silver and grow shinier as they age, it should be no surprise that Chrome Dragons are often mistaken for Silver Dragons. That would be a terrible mistake to make, as Chromium Dragons are known for their greed, malice and cruelty, which gives them a Chaotic Evil alignment in AD&D and a Lawful Evil one in 3e. [*]Avaricious enough to give a Red Dragon pause and sadistic enough to make a Black Dragon take notes, Chrome Dragons live for the sake of hunting treasure and killing anything that catches their attention. Although fully capable of living off of nothing but ice and snow, they vastly prefer raw, bloody meat. [*]Nickel: The swamp and marsh-dwelling Nickel Dragons are the smallest and weakest of their family, although they're still highly dangerous opponents who make up for physical deficits with deceitfulness, tenacity and sheer viciousness. In AD&D, they are known for being extremely fickle and unpredictable, giving them a Chaotic Neutral nature. In 3rd edition, instead, they are just jerks who enjoy harassing and bullying others, making them Lawful Neutral. In fact, the AD&D version of the Nickel Dragon is pretty Chaotic Stupid, especially when it comes to rearing its offspring, which is contributing to the race's decline. [*]Tungsten: Tungsten Dragons are unique amongst the Ferrous Dragons for having a racial alignment of Good. However, it's not exactly a nice form of good. In a nutshell, Tungsten Dragons believe the adage "the ends justify the means"; after all, if evil will stop at nothing to win, then good must stop at nothing to defeat evil. This is why they are Neutral Good in AD&D, and Lawful Good in 3e. Of course, in a typical display of draconic hypocrisy/incompetence, that dedication to preserving and expanding good typically ends at the borders of a Tungsten Dragon's territory. Furthermore, they deal harshly with intruders, unless somehow convinced that their potential victims are actually working for the side of good. [/LIST] Greater Gem Dragons: [LIST] [*]Amethyst: Diplomatic and easy-going by nature, the purple-hued amethyst dragons favor the psionic disciplines of psychokinesis and psychometabolism, although they also possess skills in telepathy and metapsionics. Feeding on fish and gemstones, their breath weapon is a "faceted lozenge" of violet-hued energy, which functions more like a fireball than the traditional draconic breath weapon. This kinetic glob is spat at a target point, whereupon it erupts in a powerful concussive force-blast that can knock creatures clean off their feet and blow down buildings like a bomb. Given their predominantly piscovorous diet, amethyst dragons favor the shores of isolated mountain lakes and pools, sometimes going so far as to dig out caves underwater to dwell - they have an instinctive ability to breathe water. [*]Crystal: Easily distinguished by their lack of wings and spinal frill, the lizard-like crystal dragons are amongst the most friendly and gregarious of all the gem dragons, with their Chaotic Neutral tendencies fitting their intense curiosity about the world around them. Obviously, their psionics skill lies in the field of clairsentience, although they are amongst the weakest of the gem dragons. Born with glossy white scales, they turn increasingly translucent as the crystal dragon ages, which causes them to sparkle and glitter in any sort of light. [*]Emerald: Known as the most paranoid of the gem dragons, emerald dragons use their innate affinity for telepathy and clairstentience to indulge their love of studying history without having to actually interact with other races. These scintillating green-scaled dragons favor lairing on extinct or rarely-active volcanoes, where they feed on lizards and giants - especially fire giants, whom they absolutely detest for some reason. Immune to sound-based attacks and with innate Flame Walking abilities, emerald dragons possess a medley of enchantment and fire-based spell-like abilities. Their breath weapon is a brain-scrambling sonic shriek. [*]Obsidian: Not one of the original five breeds of Gem Dragons, Obsidian Dragons were invented in 3rd edition as part of the Mind's Eye article series on the WotC website. These Gem Dragons are the most intelligent of their family, but also the most vicious; extremely haughty, easily angered and with a sadistic streak that manifests in a love of "toying" with their prey before finishing it off, their mandated alignment is Neutral Evil. [*]Sapphire: Naturally adept in clairsentience, psychokinesis and psychoportation (favoring the latter) and militantly territorial, few have any real hopes of sneaking up on a sapphire dragon. Favoring subterranean regions, these dragons are sometimes mistaken for blue dragons by those who either forget where the Chromatics live or fail to notice the difference in horns (blues have a single nasal horn, sapphires have two curved horns on the sides of their heads, like blacks). Despite how fiercely they protect their turf, unless you're a known hostile (such as a [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Drow']drow[/URL], [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Duergar']duergar[/URL], [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Aboleth']aboleth[/URL] or [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Illithid']illithid[/URL]), the sapphire's typical approach is to convince you to leave first, then attack if you won't go. [*]Topaz: Unfriendly, selfish and highly erratic, the topaz dragons are perhaps the biggest jerks of the gem dragons, and certainly some of the least desireable to meet. Able to breathe water and immune to cold, their breath weapon is a ray that evaporates water, fatally desiccating living creatures caught in it. They also possess various spell-like abilities relating to manipulating water, which increase as they age. Native to oceanic coastlines, they have a peculiar enmity for bronze dragons and will attack them on sight, making them unique amongst the gem dragons in that regard. [/LIST] Lesser Gem Dragons: [LIST] [*]Amber: Denizens of the deep forest, amber dragons are "neutral" in the sense a force of nature is neutral; they just do what they like and don't give a naughty word about anyone else. Uniquely amongst dragons, they actually disdain material possessions, and so neither form hoards nor establish permanent lairs. Feeding on coniferous tree sap, they are territorial, but don't seek to actively protect nature as a driving goal. Still, they're apparently close enough to the balance for nature to reward them, given that all amber dragons can cast [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Druid']druidic[/URL] spells. Their breath weapon is a conical gout of scalding hot tree sap, which rapidly solidifies into amber when exposed to cooler air. [*]Jacinth: Distinguished by their shimmering, flame-bright orange hides, jacinth dragons are amongst the rarest of all gem dragons, something not helped by their natural preference for isolationism. Amongst the smallest of the dragons, to the point it negatively impacts on their fearful aura, they are nonetheless very magically powerful - their innate spellcasting ability gives them the combined spells and caster level of both a [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Wizard']wizard[/URL] [I][URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Mystic_Theurge']and[/URL][/I] a [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Cleric']cleric[/URL]. They can't shapeshift, but they can Blink, as per a 10th level caster, 6 times a day. [*]Jade: Described as an "oriental cousin" to the Emerald Dragon, jade dragons have the traditional "[URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Oriental_dragon']oriental dragon[/URL]" body-structure - a wingless, four-limbed serpent with somewhat leonic facial features. Smaller and weaker than emerald dragons, and lacking their psionic powers, they possess the spellcasting ability of a [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Mystic_Theurge']multiclassed wizard/cleric[/URL] and retain the deadly sonic shriek of their relatives. They can also hypnotize others simply by talking, much like the jacinth dragon, although with less aptitude. They also share the jacinth's inability to shapeshift without preparing spells in advance, and their ability to blink. [*]Moonstone: The largest of the lesser gem dragons, moonstone dragons normally dwell in the [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Plane_of_Faerie']Plane of Faerie[/URL] and the [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Plane_of_Dreams']Plane of Dreams[/URL], or at least on the [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Ethereal_Plane']Ethereal Plane[/URL], very rarely coming to the material world. Interested predominantly in the affairs of the [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Fey']fey[/URL] over that of humans, [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Mystic_Theurge']they have access to both wizardly and priestly spells[/URL] (something that seems to be a running theme for Neutral Dragons), although restricted in what they can wield. They can use [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Wizard']wizardly[/URL] [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Enchanter']enchantment/charm[/URL] and [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Illusionist']illusion[/URL] spells, [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Shadow_Magic']alteration spells of dim light and shadow[/URL], and spells of dreams and dreaming, as well as [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Cleric']priestly[/URL] spells from the spheres of all, healing, [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Necromancer']necromancy[/URL] (good only), and [URL='https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Diviner']divination[/URL]. [*]Pearl: The wingless sea-dwelling pearl dragon is a creature content with the simple life, seeking to avoid trouble and feed on fish whilst gathering its beloved pearls. Unusually for an oceanic dragon, it has no innate water-breathing ability, and instead simply has an enormous capacity for holding its breath - over an hour at a time. They are quasi-nomadic, moving on as they deplete pearl beds in their territory, but because of their need to meticulously take every single piece from one lair to the other, transferring lairs takes a pretty damn long time, as you might expect. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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