Level up your dragons to make them more magical
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- Dragons are described as innately magical, but they don't feel all that magical to me. We discuss wizards of the coast's solution in this video and I give you a solution of my own. Stay to the end to see the stat block I created for an Arcane Adult Blue Dragon.
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Arcane Adult Blue Dragon
Huge Dragon, Lawful Evil
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 225 (18d12 + 108)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 30 ft., fly 80 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHR
25 (+7) 10 (+0) 23 (+6) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 19 (+4)
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Saving Throws DEX +6, CON +12, WIS +8, CHA +10
Skills Perception +12, Stealth +5
Damage Immunities Lightning
Senses Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 22
Languages Common, Draconic
Challenge 18 (20,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +6
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Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Innate Spellcasting. The dragon's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
1st level (2 slots): thunderwave, bane
2nd level (2 slots): invisibility, silence
3rd level (2 slots): thunder step, lightning bolt
4th level (2 slots): storm sphere, greater invisibility
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Actions
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d10 + 7) piercing damage plus 5 (1d10) lightning damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) slashing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the start of the dragons next turn.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Lightning Breath (Recharge 5-6). The dragon exhales lightning in a 90-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw, taking 66 (12d10) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
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Bonus Actions
Lightning Lure. You create a lash of lightning energy that strikes at one creature of your choice that you can see within 15 feet of you. The target must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 10 feet in a straight line toward you and then take (1d8) lightning damage. if it is within 5 feet of you.
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Reactions
Counterspell. You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell. If the creature is casting a spell of 3rd level or lower, its spell fails and has no effect. If it is casting a spell of 4th level or higher, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a success, the creature's spell fails and has no effect.
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Legendary Actions
The dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Detect. The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Tail Attack. The dragon makes a tail attack.
First level spell. The dragon can cast one of it's first level spells.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 10 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or take 14 (2d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
Second Level Spell. (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon can cast one of it's second level spells.
Third Level Spell. (Costs 3 Actions). The dragon can cast one of it's third level spells.
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I think this is what has been missing from 5e when it comes to dragons, in older editions like 2e/3e/ 3.5 they were more menacing and a more challenging encounter due to their casting abilities and their increasing magic resistance as they aged
I've never been a fan of the 'slap a bunch of PC spells on the Dragon' method. In past editions, the game had given Dragons long spell list and such to increase the power and prestige of Dragons. What happened was that it made Dragons more difficult to run and largely turned them into wizards with scaled cloaks. If you want to see some really thematic and cool dragons, I would look at later 4e dragons. They had unique abilities that were not spells per se, but were in keeping with the theme and power of these powerful creatures.
Yeah, I didn't want to just add a bunch of spells, that is why I also adjusted the methods for using the spells. I also added effects to the tail and claw attacks to make them more than just spells. I wanted to create a method that someone could easily update their dragons without having to do a bunch of research into previous editions, and the best way to do that was to use the stuff they are currently familiar with, current spells. If you have the time and knowledge then updating dragons with unique abilities would be ideal.
Absolutely love this technique of focusing on action economy - Thanks for posting!
Action economy is one of the biggest hurdles to solo bosses.
I like where you’re going with this
That’s one reason I like 3.5, it gave dragons a caster level
That is one thing I loved about dragons in 2E and 3e/3.5 as they aged they became more powerful spell casters
Also 3.5e had the draconomicon, that gave dragons prestige class levels and special feats.
The first thing I did was make ALL of my dragon far more intelligent. Having them be able to fully comprehend what the party does elevates them drastically. I also make them Sorcerers of the same level as their HD so I give them loads of spells to use. They are akin to demi-gods in the game and are truly the endgame encounters in my world. Also, I include the ability to polymorph to most of them and my Players know that it is entirely possible that there could very well be a dragon in any house in a major city, especially if that person is involved with art or research or science. With amazingly long lifespans they tend to go do interesting things that could take a long time to complete.
I never throw in a Dragon as an idle encounter. They are my most meaningful encounters both for their power levels as well as the story elements dealing with one might bring. They are also the Elder Gods in my settings. Ancient Dragons ruled the world long before Elves and Dwarves learned how to make clothes and cook food. Most have faded away but still encounters with them should be awe inspiring and fear inducing every singl time.
I agree that dragons should be way more powerful than they are. It is part of the reason I made this particular video.
I've always been under the impression that blue dragons were the most magically inclined of most/all the dragons
I know i always felt that way
@@hackthedungeon It's gold dragons that are inclined towards the study of magic, but typically when it comes to sorcerous power it's red dragons as it generally scales with general power
I have made similar adjustments to my dragons. One problem with your system is three legendary actions of an ancient dragon is not worth casting fireball or most any other 3rd level spell including haste, because 3 legendary actions is three claw attacks. So I scale this up alot, an ancient dragon or legendary creatures of CR 17 or higher will have access to 9th level spells. They may use three legendary actions to cast a spell of 6th level or higher, 2 legendary actions, for 3rd-5th level spells and one legendary actions for a 2nd lv or less spell including cantrips. Even with that power dragons probably wont use their main action to cast a spell. Maybe an 8th or 9th level spell, but they will only have one spell slot for each.
With this power you dont have to arbitrarily add status effects to claw attacks. One legendary action for a 2nd level blindness spell is far more interesting for players to face because they understand that spell, and they can counterspell it if they choose. When fighters are going sword and shield versus the claws of a dragon and multiple spell casters are trying to counterspell the dragons spells every round, that becomes an epic fight. Every character regardless of their class is pushed to the extremes of the physical and magical might of the dragon.
I kicked around the idea of higher level spells but haven't had a chance to test it out yet. Sounds like it works pretty good for you so maybe i will punish my players with it soon.
@@hackthedungeon Look at it this way, a CR 17 Adult red dragons breathweapon deals 18d6 fire damage (av63) the only spell in the game that deals more damage than that is meteor Swarm. So I dont recommend giving dragons meteor swarm, but casting invulnerability will really surprise the players until they can dispel it. You have to know how your players can attempt to counter any high level magic you through at them. If a dragon casts invulnerability and no 17th level caster in the party can cast dispel magic then its TPK. And casting spells like reverse gravity or having a red dragon hide in an incendiary cloud is more fun than doing the dragon fly-by and breath weapon tactic. Never liked dragons using that tactic to deal with a party of 4-6
What was most annoyed about 5e was how they stripped down dragons. They used to have 12 age categories, but now they only have 4.
Yeah, dragons were always so terrifying, now not as much.
I just give my dragons spellcasting class levels. 🤷
For my homebrew I use a number of levels or spell caster for every Dragon. Yes I differentiate "True Dragons" and they get spell casting and spell like abilities. They are not gods, but by adulthood, it's about like facing a 12th level or so wizard. Dragon hunting is just not a thing in my world. On the point of cantrips, they can do that before they hatch.
Shape-shifting abilities and battlefield control spells and feather fall
solid choices. It was always strange to me that chromatic dragons didn't get shape shifting but metallic dragons did.
@hackthedungeon probably trying to make them different.