Comments on: Making dragons…DRAGONS!

By: Christopher Letzelter

Christopher Letzelter — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:42:09 +0000

I’m with DM Nick on this one – in fact, I’m in the middle of developing a dragon’s lair adventure in an abandoned mine, and have the referenced Dragon magazine article. Besides beefing up the dragon’s combat ability, I was inspired by reading Gygax’s ideas to use 10- and 12-sided hit dice for larger, stronger, older creatures, so I’m toying with the idea of the adult Green Dragon having more hp/die. This would also adjust it’s breath weapon damage upward, making it more formidable.
Another trick to use is to give the dragon some minions, whether they are Charmed, cowed into servitude, or admirers of the beasts’ power; these can serve as front-line troops which allows the dragon more tactical opportunities. Reptilian minions, such as troglodytes, lizard men, or firenewts may be more disposed to allying with a dragon than orcs or goblins. Other large reptiles, such as giant lizards, wyverns, basilisks, and dracolisks are natural fits for this service.
As mentioned in the article, an intelligent dragon whose hoard contains magic items would certainly make use of any items compatible with it’s bulk, vocal ability, and manipulative claws. I can see a dragon putting on a magic ring, using a magic staff, even an Ioun Stone or drinking a potion.
While the dragon’s reputation as one of the most fearsome opponents precedes it, I’ve seen dragons fall way too easily to moderate-level parties.
No longer NPC Braaaydon the Mule, just ChrisL from Pittsburgh….

By: DM Nick

DM Nick — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:05:31 +0000

Yes, that’s correct! The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting boxed set for 1st ed AD&D has info for dragons specific to the setting (pg 15 of the DM book):

-2x normal attacks as listed in the MM.
-may split attacks to multiple targets within 15′
-only split attacks when outnumbered by 3x their HD
-may use breath weapon as many time as they wish in a day, up to 3x their maximum hit points

there are some other changes (older dragons, subduel, etc.) but these are the combat related ones.

I might use the breath weapon option in my campaign.

By: DM Nate

DM Nate — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:58:29 +0000

I seem to remember that the 1E version of the Forgotten Realms (the “grey box”) had rules for beefing up dragons. Sadly I dont have a copy any longer but I think it was along the lines of “max hp, double attacks, etc.”. Anyone have that handy?

By: DM Jakey Danger

DM Jakey Danger — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 06:24:34 +0000

This article was exactly what I’m looking for. All of the players in my current campaign are still pretty new to the world of tabletop roleplaying and have been jaded by MMOs, so I want to put the terror into them that I felt the first time I ran into a dragon. And the second. And third. And fourth. And so on

By: DM Nick

DM Nick — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:35:39 +0000

I think that the article on the time in which it was written (June 1981, about four years before UA came out) proves that dragons were seen as not the most dangerous and powerful of monsters to be encountered.

You may disagree, and that’s fine, but I’ll stand by what I’ve written.

I think it has merit and well worth experimenting with in any given campaign.

By: Todd Hughes

Todd Hughes — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:37:41 +0000

Dragons didn’t start being seen as weak until things like specialization and the UA methods of ability score generation was introduced. Dragons as they are work well against charcaters generated using just the PHB and DMG.