Special Conversion Thread: Dragonets!
Shade
Monster Junkie
Dragonet, Crow's-nest Dragon
Climate/Terrain: Coastal waters
Freq: Rare
Org: Flock
Activity Cycle: Day
Diet: Fish
Int: Average (8-10)
Treasure: R
Alignment: Chaotic good
# App: 2-20
AC: 6
Move: 3, fly 24 (B), swim 9
HD: 1+2
THAC0: 19
# Att: 1
Dmg/Att: 1-6
SA: Dive
SD: Fog cloud
MR: 15%
Size: T (2 feet long)
Morale: Average (8)
XP Value: 270
These coastal dragonets are known for their habit of following ships to feed on the fish disturbed by the vessel's passing, much like sea gulls. This has earned them their name, as they tend to swoop around the crow's nest of a ship and sometimes perch on it. They occasinoally take seafaring wizards or other sailors as companions, becoming a familiar or henchman to such characters.
Crow's-nest dragons are small reptiles very similar in appearance to pseudodragons, though they lack that creature's poisonous stinger. Their scales are iridescent white, like pearls, and their tails are as long as their snakelike bodies, reaching out an additional 2 feet behind them. Their wings are long and wide, resembling a pelican's, but they fold them close to their bodies when diving for fish.
Combat: The crow's-nest dragon has large, powerful jaws with which it can inflict a fierce bite. They ordinarily swallow fish in one gulp, but a flock sometimes cooperates to kill larger fish such as tuna or even swordfish. Their favorite tactic is to dive form a great height onto their prey, attacking with a +4 bonus and inflicting double damage with their bite. Their small front claws are useless in combat, though a dragonet can pick up and maniupulate small objects with them.
When threatened, crow's-nest dragons usually fly away. If prusued by a flying predator, however, they migh tuse their ability to breathe out a fog cloud as a 9th-level caster. Although the cloud usually blows away quickly in ocean winds, it can give the dragonets time to escape. Each dragonet can use this magical breath only once per day.
Crow's-nest dragons are speedy fliers and can swim fairly quickly at the end of their dives. They cannot breathe water but can remain underwater fo rup to 10 minutes in pursuit of prey.
Habitat/Society: Crow's-nest dragons occasionally respond to find familiar spells cast at sea or otherwise attach themselves to human or demihuman dcompanions. They make excellent scouts for sailors, as they can transmit their bird's-eye-view via telepathy to a single comapnion within 240 yards. Otherwise, their telepathic communication is limited to empathy, for unlike pseoudodragons, crow's-nest dragons cannot transmit sound to their comapnions. THeir vocal range is more limited than the vocal range of pseudodragons; they can only chirp in varying tones to make their wishes known.
Crow's-nest dragons tend to be loyal to their companions, though they are more flighty and chaotic than pseudodragons. They do not require much pampering and are prone to mischieff even when treated well. Their curiosity is insatiable, and sailors say their hunger is as well.
Ecology: Crow's-nest dragons build nest near the tops of rugged sea cliffs among the rocks. They mate for life, and a pair shares the responsibility of rearing the clutch of 3-5 young. They eat fish and cephalopods, but favor cuttlefish and squid. Large marine predators such as sharks or whales and aerial hunters like giant eagles or manticores are natural enemies.
Sailors consider crow's-nest dragons a sign of good fortune, and indeed some magical power seems to bestow protection on a ship when thse dragonets are near. If a flock of crow's-nest dragons travels with a ship, the vessel's seaworthiness rating is increased by 15%, reflecting the fortunate influence of the dragonets. If someone aboard a ship kills a crow's-nest dragon, the flock departs immediately, never to return.
Crow's-nest dragons have a natural lifespan of 11-20 years.
Climate/Terrain: Coastal waters
Freq: Rare
Org: Flock
Activity Cycle: Day
Diet: Fish
Int: Average (8-10)
Treasure: R
Alignment: Chaotic good
# App: 2-20
AC: 6
Move: 3, fly 24 (B), swim 9
HD: 1+2
THAC0: 19
# Att: 1
Dmg/Att: 1-6
SA: Dive
SD: Fog cloud
MR: 15%
Size: T (2 feet long)
Morale: Average (8)
XP Value: 270
These coastal dragonets are known for their habit of following ships to feed on the fish disturbed by the vessel's passing, much like sea gulls. This has earned them their name, as they tend to swoop around the crow's nest of a ship and sometimes perch on it. They occasinoally take seafaring wizards or other sailors as companions, becoming a familiar or henchman to such characters.
Crow's-nest dragons are small reptiles very similar in appearance to pseudodragons, though they lack that creature's poisonous stinger. Their scales are iridescent white, like pearls, and their tails are as long as their snakelike bodies, reaching out an additional 2 feet behind them. Their wings are long and wide, resembling a pelican's, but they fold them close to their bodies when diving for fish.
Combat: The crow's-nest dragon has large, powerful jaws with which it can inflict a fierce bite. They ordinarily swallow fish in one gulp, but a flock sometimes cooperates to kill larger fish such as tuna or even swordfish. Their favorite tactic is to dive form a great height onto their prey, attacking with a +4 bonus and inflicting double damage with their bite. Their small front claws are useless in combat, though a dragonet can pick up and maniupulate small objects with them.
When threatened, crow's-nest dragons usually fly away. If prusued by a flying predator, however, they migh tuse their ability to breathe out a fog cloud as a 9th-level caster. Although the cloud usually blows away quickly in ocean winds, it can give the dragonets time to escape. Each dragonet can use this magical breath only once per day.
Crow's-nest dragons are speedy fliers and can swim fairly quickly at the end of their dives. They cannot breathe water but can remain underwater fo rup to 10 minutes in pursuit of prey.
Habitat/Society: Crow's-nest dragons occasionally respond to find familiar spells cast at sea or otherwise attach themselves to human or demihuman dcompanions. They make excellent scouts for sailors, as they can transmit their bird's-eye-view via telepathy to a single comapnion within 240 yards. Otherwise, their telepathic communication is limited to empathy, for unlike pseoudodragons, crow's-nest dragons cannot transmit sound to their comapnions. THeir vocal range is more limited than the vocal range of pseudodragons; they can only chirp in varying tones to make their wishes known.
Crow's-nest dragons tend to be loyal to their companions, though they are more flighty and chaotic than pseudodragons. They do not require much pampering and are prone to mischieff even when treated well. Their curiosity is insatiable, and sailors say their hunger is as well.
Ecology: Crow's-nest dragons build nest near the tops of rugged sea cliffs among the rocks. They mate for life, and a pair shares the responsibility of rearing the clutch of 3-5 young. They eat fish and cephalopods, but favor cuttlefish and squid. Large marine predators such as sharks or whales and aerial hunters like giant eagles or manticores are natural enemies.
Sailors consider crow's-nest dragons a sign of good fortune, and indeed some magical power seems to bestow protection on a ship when thse dragonets are near. If a flock of crow's-nest dragons travels with a ship, the vessel's seaworthiness rating is increased by 15%, reflecting the fortunate influence of the dragonets. If someone aboard a ship kills a crow's-nest dragon, the flock departs immediately, never to return.
Crow's-nest dragons have a natural lifespan of 11-20 years.
Shade
Monster Junkie
These critters are the closest to pseudodragons of the lot, so should be fairly simple to convert.
Pseudodragon ability scores: Str 6, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10
Based on the HD line, I could see raising Con by 2. Otherwise, I don't see much need to vary the pseudo's stats, do you?
It sounds like they should have the Hold Breath ability, and should probably get to use Dex modifier for Swim checks.
Pseudodragon ability scores: Str 6, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10
Based on the HD line, I could see raising Con by 2. Otherwise, I don't see much need to vary the pseudo's stats, do you?
It sounds like they should have the Hold Breath ability, and should probably get to use Dex modifier for Swim checks.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
Agreed to all that. (Glad you raised this thread, I was about to have to do it!)
For melee these should have a good bite. It's listed as 1d6, but with 1-1/2 Str, that's -3 (even -2 isn't good). Do we want to improve that a little?
Fog Breath (Su): Once per day, a crow's-nest dragon can breathe out a fog cloud (as the spell at caster level 9?).
Do we want to add some other benefit for the dragon from the breath?
Same level for improved familiar as the pseudodragon?
For melee these should have a good bite. It's listed as 1d6, but with 1-1/2 Str, that's -3 (even -2 isn't good). Do we want to improve that a little?
Fog Breath (Su): Once per day, a crow's-nest dragon can breathe out a fog cloud (as the spell at caster level 9?).
Do we want to add some other benefit for the dragon from the breath?
Same level for improved familiar as the pseudodragon?
Shade
Monster Junkie
Added to Homebrews.
1d6 should suffice for the bite. That's already the equivalent of two size categories larger. I don't believe that you have to take an additional half penalty to Str for a single attack. So it's just -2. 4 points still isn't bad for Tiny. Plus, if we modify this feat from Draconomicon into a special ability...
Power Dive [General]
You can fall upon an oppenent from the sky.
Prerequisite: Str 15, fly speed (average maneuverability).
Benefit: When flying, you can dive and land on an opponent to deal extra damage. This is a standard action that can only affect creatures that are smaller than you. You make an overrun attack, but the opponent cannot choose to avoid you. If you knock down the target, you may make an additional slam attack, dealing the indicated damage plus 1-1/2 times your Strength bonus (rounded down). This attack is at the usual +4 bonus against prone opponents.
Size / Power Dive Damage
Tiny / 1d4
Normal: Without this feat, you can attack with just one natural weapon and do not have a chance to knock down the opponent.
Special: If you fail in the overrun attempt and are tripped in turn, you are instead knocked down and deal the indicated damage to yourself.
...it will get extra damage with its preferred attack mode.
1d6 should suffice for the bite. That's already the equivalent of two size categories larger. I don't believe that you have to take an additional half penalty to Str for a single attack. So it's just -2. 4 points still isn't bad for Tiny. Plus, if we modify this feat from Draconomicon into a special ability...
Power Dive [General]
You can fall upon an oppenent from the sky.
Prerequisite: Str 15, fly speed (average maneuverability).
Benefit: When flying, you can dive and land on an opponent to deal extra damage. This is a standard action that can only affect creatures that are smaller than you. You make an overrun attack, but the opponent cannot choose to avoid you. If you knock down the target, you may make an additional slam attack, dealing the indicated damage plus 1-1/2 times your Strength bonus (rounded down). This attack is at the usual +4 bonus against prone opponents.
Size / Power Dive Damage
Tiny / 1d4
Normal: Without this feat, you can attack with just one natural weapon and do not have a chance to knock down the opponent.
Special: If you fail in the overrun attempt and are tripped in turn, you are instead knocked down and deal the indicated damage to yourself.
...it will get extra damage with its preferred attack mode.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
Let's make a special ability based on that. Seems like that would fit how these (and the birds they're like) actually would go fishing. Maybe something like a downsized powerful charge. Here's a go at it:
Diving Attack (Ex): When a crow's-nest dragon dives at least 30 ft and makes a successful bite attack at the end of the dive, it does an extra 1d4 damage.
Diving Attack (Ex): When a crow's-nest dragon dives at least 30 ft and makes a successful bite attack at the end of the dive, it does an extra 1d4 damage.
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