CHAPTER 2:
A DM’S GUIDE TO DRAGONS
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A Colossal+ dragon has a space of 30 feet, like any other Colossal dragon, but its reach is 10 feet longer than normal with each attack form, and it has a proportionately longer tail slap and tail sweep. A Colossal+ dragon deals 6d6 points of damage with its bite attack, 4d8 with its claws, 4d6 with its wings, 4d8 with its tail slap, 6d6 with its crush, and 4d6 with its tail sweep. A Colossal+ dragon’s line-shaped breath weapon extends 160 feet (5 feet high and 5 feet wide, as normal). A Colossal+ dragon’s cone-shaped breath weapon is 80 feet long, 80 feet high, and 80 feet wide. The size modifier for these dragons remains –8. Armor Class: An advanced dragon’s natural armor bonus increases by +1 for every Hit Die it gains beyond the great wyrm stage. (You can use this rule for lesser dragon advancement as well, since natural armor and Hit Dice always increase at the same rate.) Breath Weapon: If an advanced dragon’s breath weapon deals damage, the damage typically increases by 2 dice for every virtual age category the dragon gains. The two exceptions in the Monster Manual are the brass and white dragons, whose breath weapon damage increases by only 1 die per age category. The saving throw DC against the breath weapon remains 10 + 1/2 the dragon’s HD + its Con modifier. Spell Resistance: An advanced dragon’s spell resistance increases by 2 per additional age category. Speed: An advanced dragon’s fly speed, maneuverability, land speed, and other special movement types (swim, burrow, and so on) do not change. Ability Scores: A great wyrm’s Strength and Constitution scores both increase by 2 points for every virtual age category the dragon gains. Its Dexterity remains unchanged. Its Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma increase by 2 points for every two virtual age categories the dragon gains. Special Abilities: Dragons do not gain additional spelllike abilities. When a dragon gains one virtual age category beyond the great wyrm stage, its damage reduction improves to 20/epic. Caster Level: A great wyrm’s sorcerer caster level increases by 2 for every virtual age category the dragon gains. Feats: Like ordinary dragons, advanced dragons receive one feat for every 4 Hit Dice they have. Any feats gained after the dragon reaches old age can be epic feats (see the descriptions earlier in this chapter). Challenge Rating: An advanced dragon’s Challenge Rating increases by 2 per additional virtual age category. All other dragon statistics are as presented for dragons in general and specific dragon varieties in the Monster Manual and other sources.
SAMPLE ADVANCED DRAGON This example uses a red dragon advanced to 61 Hit Dice. This advance represents an increase of 21 HD, or seven virtual age categories.
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Advanced Red Great Wyrm: Male great wyrm red dragon; CR 40; Colossal+ dragon (fire); HD 61d12+1,037, hp 1,433; Init +3; Spd 40 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy); AC 70, touch 5, flat-footed 67; Base Atk +77; Grp +101; Atk +77 melee (6d6+24, bite); Full Atk +77 melee (6d6+24, bite), +72 melee (4d8+12, 2 claws), +72 melee (4d6+12, 2 wings), +72 melee (4d8+36, tail slap); Space/Reach 30 ft./30 ft.; SA breath weapon, crush, frightful presence, snatch, spell-like abilities, spells, tail sweep; SQ blindsense 60 ft., damage reduction 20/epic, darkvision 120 ft., immunity to fire, magic sleep effects, and paralysis, low-light vision, spell resistance 46, vulnerability to cold; AL CE; SV Fort +49, Ref +35, Will +43; Str 59, Dex 16 (with gloves), Con 45, Int 32, Wis 33, Cha 32. Skills and Feats: Appraise +44, Balance +33, Bluff +75, Climb +54, Concentration +81, Diplomacy +79, Escape Artist +36, Heal +41, Intimidate +77, Jump +92, Knowledge (arcana) +75, Knowledge (history) +72, Knowledge (local) +72, Knowledge (nature) +72, Listen +72, Search +72, Sense Motive +72, Spellcraft +74, Spot +72, Survival +26, Swim +39; Blind-fight, Cleave, Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Flyby Attack, Great Cleave, Hover, Improved Spell Capacity (10th), Improved Spell Capacity (11th), Improved Spell Capacity (12th), Improved Spell Capacity (13th), Mobility, Power Attack, Quicken Spell, Quicken Spell-Like Ability, Rend, Snatch, Spell Opportunity, Spellcasting Harrier, Wingover. Breath Weapon (Su): 80-ft. cone, 38d10 fire, Reflex DC 57. Crush (Ex): Area 30 ft. by 30 ft.; Huge or smaller opponents take 6d6+36 points of bludgeoning damage, and must succeed on a DC 57 Reflex save or be pinned. Frightful Presence (Ex): 570-ft. radius, HD 60 or fewer, Will DC 51 negates. Rend (Ex): Extra damage 8d8+36. Snatch (Ex): Against Huge or smaller creatures, bite for 6d6+24/round or claw for 4d8+12/round. Spell-Like Abilities: 19/day—locate object; 3/day—suggestion; 1/day—discern location. Caster level 33rd; save DC 21 + spell level. Spells: As 33rd-level sorcerer. Tail Sweep (Ex): Half-circle 40 ft. in diameter, Large or smaller opponents take 4d6+36 points of bludgeoning damage, Reflex DC 57 half. Sorcerer Spells Known (6/9/9/9/8/8/8/8/7/7/2/2/1/1; save DC 21 + spell level): 0—arcane mark, daze, detect magic, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost, read magic, resistance; 1st—cause fear, expeditious retreat, magic missile, shield, ventriloquism; 2nd—darkness, detect thoughts, mirror image, see invisibility, web; 3rd—fireball, fly, haste, wind wall; 4th—confusion, polymorph, stoneskin; 5th—magic jar, passwall, teleport, wall of force; 6th—greater dispel magic, flesh to stone, true seeing; 7th—control undead, delayed blast fireball, prismatic spray; 8th—etherealness, horrid wilting, symbol of death; 9th—meteor swarm, power word kill, wish. Possessions: Bracers of armor +5, gloves of Dexterity +6, ring of spell turning, major ring of elemental resistance (cold), chaos diamond, 2,000 gp.
