Just started re-reading this book myself - hence, the Resurrect Thread spell - and it's nice to see a video by someone else who really enjoyed its excellent flavor text. My only pet peeve about the Draconomicon is that the "Dragon Psychology" section is so focused on how dragons' long lifespan impacts their mindset, it's basically just a rehash of ideas we've heard in reference to elves and gnomes and treants and so forth for decades. Yes, their lifespans will impact dragons' superior attitudes toward other races, but you'd think the minor detail that they're also *giant winged armored predatory living engines of magic and destruction* might be a factor too, right...?
Very cool book. There's a lot of great information in there. Very sharp looking still. Interesting note, the Gem Dragons in the Masters set from BECMI have choices of different breath weapons which are actually scary as hell. For example the Crystal dragon, which was related to the white dragon, could breathe cold or crystal damage. A Jade dragon could do poison gas or disease. The ruby can do Fire and Melt. Really was a nice spin. Excellent coverage of a very nice book.
I’m so glad that you decided to talk about this gem of a book. This is not only my favorite 3.5 book, but it’s among my favorite TTRPG books every written! Super nostalgic and I enjoyed hearing your personal experiences with this book. Lockwood’s art is next level and this definitely cemented him as one of the best to ever illustrate for D&D. Great video as always, Dave! Cheers!
Is the best draconomicon or dragon book ever. Honestly is the book that start my love to D&D sadly the books for now are like more for Kids the art and content is worse or simple
I've been building a D&D collection over the past few months with much help from your videos. I was able to pick up a very glossy original printing of the Draconomicon off Ebay for just under fifty bucks US, so that is possible, if you're patient and keep your eyes on the new listings. It would be wonderful to have an edition-neutral set of monster books just like this one. I have Lords of Madness and the first Fiend Codex, which are kinda similar, but the Draconomicon really seems to be the gold standard.
Same here. I just aquired it for £35 in mint condition. I had a few 3.5 books from back in the day but have recently been trying to hunt down the others. I think there are a few that are a bit more harder to find than this. ex. Drow of the underdark. I would love to see more reviews of the 3.5 books. There dosent seem to be much on youtube
Gem dragons were in Monster Manual 2, which is technically a 3rd edition book. The Draconomicon actually lists MM2 as the reference for Gem Dragons but I’m not sure they ever got an official stat block update for 3.5 and I’m not sure there was anything about them in the 3.5 Expanded Psionics Handbook.
Not really, energy resistance and Damage Reduction are different but that really shouldn't affect Dragons since they are usually immune to an energy type and their Damage Reduction was overcome by magic weapons so it would be updated to DR X/Magic
@@DravenSwiftbow generally the silly requirements needed to get in to a prestige class balanced it out a little, then again balance is not super important in a co-operative game like D&D, the players are not in competition with each other after all.
Just started re-reading this book myself - hence, the Resurrect Thread spell - and it's nice to see a video by someone else who really enjoyed its excellent flavor text. My only pet peeve about the Draconomicon is that the "Dragon Psychology" section is so focused on how dragons' long lifespan impacts their mindset, it's basically just a rehash of ideas we've heard in reference to elves and gnomes and treants and so forth for decades. Yes, their lifespans will impact dragons' superior attitudes toward other races, but you'd think the minor detail that they're also *giant winged armored predatory living engines of magic and destruction* might be a factor too, right...?
Very cool book. There's a lot of great information in there. Very sharp looking still. Interesting note, the Gem Dragons in the Masters set from BECMI have choices of different breath weapons which are actually scary as hell. For example the Crystal dragon, which was related to the white dragon, could breathe cold or crystal damage. A Jade dragon could do poison gas or disease. The ruby can do Fire and Melt. Really was a nice spin. Excellent coverage of a very nice book.
I’m so glad that you decided to talk about this gem of a book. This is not only my favorite 3.5 book, but it’s among my favorite TTRPG books every written! Super nostalgic and I enjoyed hearing your personal experiences with this book. Lockwood’s art is next level and this definitely cemented him as one of the best to ever illustrate for D&D. Great video as always, Dave! Cheers!
Is the best draconomicon or dragon book ever. Honestly is the book that start my love to D&D sadly the books for now are like more for Kids the art and content is worse or simple
I want this book for my collection
I need it for the dracolich to put up against my party
I've been building a D&D collection over the past few months with much help from your videos. I was able to pick up a very glossy original printing of the Draconomicon off Ebay for just under fifty bucks US, so that is possible, if you're patient and keep your eyes on the new listings. It would be wonderful to have an edition-neutral set of monster books just like this one. I have Lords of Madness and the first Fiend Codex, which are kinda similar, but the Draconomicon really seems to be the gold standard.
Same here. I just aquired it for £35 in mint condition. I had a few 3.5 books from back in the day but have recently been trying to hunt down the others. I think there are a few that are a bit more harder to find than this. ex. Drow of the underdark. I would love to see more reviews of the 3.5 books. There dosent seem to be much on youtube
Favourite dragon encounter?
A certain one by the name of Flaim comes to mind...
I figured you would say that
My favorite 3.5 book!! 🤩
One of my favorite books.
was there any gem dragons in 3.5?
I don't believe so. I know they came out with BECMI around 85' in the Masters DM set, because it didn't have metallic dragons.
Didn't Monster Manual 3 have Gem Dragons? Could also have been one of the Forgotten Realms books too but I'm almost positive Gem Dragons exist for 3.5
Gem dragons were in Monster Manual 2, which is technically a 3rd edition book. The Draconomicon actually lists MM2 as the reference for Gem Dragons but I’m not sure they ever got an official stat block update for 3.5 and I’m not sure there was anything about them in the 3.5 Expanded Psionics Handbook.
@@BlackDragonRPGReviews Is there a big difference in the stats from 3 - 3.5. Is it possible to make the conversions?
Not really, energy resistance and Damage Reduction are different but that really shouldn't affect Dragons since they are usually immune to an energy type and their Damage Reduction was overcome by magic weapons so it would be updated to DR X/Magic
Some of those prestige classes were busted.
For sure, a lot of prestige classes in 3rd edition were. I think that is why I never really liked them to begin with.
@@DravenSwiftbow generally the silly requirements needed to get in to a prestige class balanced it out a little,
then again balance is not super important in a co-operative game like D&D, the players are not in competition with each other after all.
The cover art of this is really 5e for being a 3e/3.5 book