How do dragons choose spells?

[Always_a_DM]

I've never run a tough dragon and I was reading through the MM and I was not sure on how to do spell casting for dragons.

This is how I think it works: Dragons have an arcane caster level equivalent as Sorcerors. So if the description says it has a caster level of 3 then I pick spells as though it was a 3rd lvl sorceror. The known spells that I can pick for the dragon can be any arcane spell, any clerical spell and somtimes the spells can come from clerical domain lists as well.

Since a 3rd lvl sorceror can know 3x1st lvl spells, I could have the dragon know : magic missle, cure light wounds and comprehend languages.

Now a 3rd lvl sorceror can cast five 1st lvl spells per day so this dragon in question could do five magic missles or five cure light wounds or a combination in between.

Is this accurate ?

 

[Tewligan]

Yes.

 

[Wolf72]

you could try rolling on the scroll table for arcane spells if you wanted random results.

if a dragon can cast divine spells ... um, do the scroll tables include domain spells?

right up a quick table for a d20: arcane 1-9, divine 10-17, domain 18-20 ???

 

[Celebrim]

Intelligently.

 

[Ketjak]

Intelligently.

...and "any way they want."

- Ketjak

 

[GuardianLurker]

...and "any way they want."

- Ketjak

... and especially while breathing (heavily).

 

[dcollins]

The known spells that I can pick for the dragon can be any arcane spell, any clerical spell and somtimes the spells can come from clerical domain lists as well.

I'll just point out that (as I read my MM) not all dragons get clerical spell access: clerical spells go hand-in-hand with domain access (you either get both or you get neither). Black, green, and white dragons fail to have the language which grants them clerical spell access.

 

[Always_a_DM]

I am planning to have the group encounter a Juvenile Brass Dragon.....

... With a Vampire Template




B.A.D.D. to the bone

 

[Jeremy]

Ooo Ooo! Plug time!

By going to see Charles Greathouse's dragon generator and seeing the spells chosen for dragons based on a month of talented EN board'ers discussing exactly what spells would aid a dragon's survival the most.

http://mwtools.thyle.net/d_gen.html

So you'll get something like this you can add the vampire template to.

Juvenile brass dragon: CR 7; Medium-size Dragon (Fire); HD 13d12+26; hp 110; Init +0; Spd 60 ft, fly 200 ft (poor), burrow 30 ft; AC 22 (+12 natural); Melee bite +16 (1d8+3), 2 claws +11 (1d6+1), 2 wings +11 (1d4+1); SA breath weapon; SQ fire subtype, immunities, blindsight, keen senses; AL CG; SV Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +9; Str 17, Dex 10, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 12.

Skills and Feats: Bluff +14, Concentration +15, Diplomacy +14, Escape Artist +13, Listen +14, Search +14, Spellcraft +14, Spot +14; Hover, Flyby Attack, Power Attack, Cleave.

SA–Breath Weapon (Su): Line of fire, 60 feet long, every 1d4 rounds; damage 4d6, Reflex half DC 18. This dragon can use a cone of sleep instead, forcing subjects who fail a Will save to fall asleep for 1d6+4 rounds.

SA–Spell-Like Abilities: At will - speak with animals; 3/day - endure elements (radius 40 ft).

SQ–Immunities (Ex): Immune to sleep, paralysis.

SQ–Blindsight (Ex): Dragons can ascertain creatures by nonvisual means (mostly hearing and scent, but also by noticing vibrations and other environmental clues); this dragon's range is 120 feet.

SQ–Keen Senses (Ex): Dragons can see four times as well as humans in low-light conditions and twice as well in normal light. They also have darkvision (range 400 feet).

SQ–Fire Subtype (Ex): Fire immunity, double damage from cold except on a successful save.

Spells Known (cast 6/6; as a level 3 sorcerer):

0–detect magic, resistance, detect poison, read magic, dancing lights

1–inflict light wounds, mage armor, divine favor.

 

[Always_a_DM]

Is the inflict light wounds considered a separate spell from cure light wounds ? Would a dragon need to learn both to be able to cast both ?