Dragons! Copyright (c) 1996 by Sean Punch Dragons are winged, fire-breathing monsters of fearsome aspect and awesome power, clad in gleaming scales. Although they bear a superficial resemblance to some dinosaurs, or perhaps to gigantic lizards, they have little or nothing in common with these creatures; in fact, they are intelligent, magic-using beings. Dragons can be any color; red and gold are common, but their glittering armor can be deep green, shiny black, silver or even translucent and rainbow-hued. They have mighty, venomnous fangs, sharp talons, and a tail capable of striking lethal blows. Their senses are superior in every way, and the senses of old and powerful Dragons are rumored to extend into the supernatural sphere. Since Dragons assume ever-more-powerful forms as they age, each age category (Young, Adult, Old and Ancient) will be treated as a separate racial template, with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. As a Dragon gets older, it will gradually gain the capabilities of the next highest age category; Dragon PCs (if such are permitted) should probably dedicate most of their earned character points to buying these traits, or to improving spells. To determine the height (length) of a Dragon character in inches, figure its height normally, before adding any racial ST modifiers (but after adding personal ST modifiers), then multiply by 2.1 for Young Dragons, 3.7 for Adult Dragons, 5.2 for Old Dragons and 7.3 for Ancient Dragons. Weight (in lbs.) is 7*length (in inches) - 380 lbs. Advantages and Disadvantages Regardless of their age category, all Dragons share certain features. Firstly, Dragons have sinuous, heavily-muscled bodies with huge, bat-like wings and moderately agile foreclaws; they prefer to either walk on all four legs or to fly. As a result, all Dragons have the advantages 4 Legs (5 points), Extra Encumbrance (5 points), Flexibility (15 points) and Flight (Winged, Cannot Hover; 24 points), and the disadvantages Horizontal (-10 points), Inconvenient Size (-10 points) and Poor Grip (-5 points). As well, at each age category, Dragons gain increasingly fearsome natural armor and weaponry (see below). The senses of a Dragon are superior to those of almost any natural creature, giving Dragons the advantages of Alertness +4 (20 points), Discriminatory Smell (15 points), Infravision (15 points), Peripheral Vision (15 points) and Telescopic Vision (4x; 12 points). Older Dragons may have even more advanced sensory capabilities (see below). In addition, since Dragons are virtually immortal, not to mention supernaturally tough, they qualify for the additional advantages of Cast Iron Stomach (15 points), Hard to Kill +2 (10 points), High Pain Threshold (10 points), Immunity to Disease (10 points), Regeneration (1 HT/hour; 25 points), Temperature Tolerance x 1 (10 points) and Unaging (15 points). Built for combat, all Dragons have Combat Reflexes (15 points), and can attack up to three times per turn with any combination of claws, teeth, tail and flame breath, giving them Full Coordination x 2 (100 points). Dragons are magical creatures and have Magery 1 (15 points) as well as a fear-inducing roar -- treat as a Penetrating Call (5 points). However, they also have the disadvantage of a constant Dependency on Mana (common; -25 points). Finally, although extremely intelligent, Dragons are still rapacious monsters who see themselves as being superior to every other race. They are greedy and lofty by nature, and are not above killing and eating anyone who gets in their way! The Dragon personality is defined by the disadvantages Bloodlust (-10 points), Gluttony (-5 points), Greed (-15 points), Intolerance (-10 points), Jealousy (-10 points), Megalomania (-10 points), Odious Racial Habit -- Eats Sentients (-15 points), Pyromania (-5 points) and Stubbornness (-5 points). Dragons have the racial quirk Like Reptile Men (-1 point). This "basic Dragon package" is worth 220 points, and is assumed to be included in the specific description for each age category (below). Young Dragons (under 200 years old) Young Dragons have ST +10 (110 points), HT +4 (45 points) and 6 Extra Hit Points (30 points). As well, their long limbs give them a level of Enhanced Move -- Running (10 points). Young Dragons have 1 yard of Extra Reach (total 2 yards) with their two forelimbs (20 points). Their natural weaponry includes Claws (15 points), Sharp Teeth (5 points), which inflict cutting damage and deliver a Corrosive Venom (level 1; 15 points), and a tail Striker with 2 yards of reach (15 points). They can also breathe fire (roll vs. DX) for 1d damage at up to 3 yards of range (20 points). A Young Dragon's hide provides PD 1 (25 points) and DR 4 (12 points), with an extra DR 4 versus fire (4 points). Their eyes are protected by a Nictating Membrane (PD 2/DR 1; 10 points). Young Dragons have Fearlessness +2 (4 points) and Monstrous Appearance (-5 on reaction rolls; -25 points). It costs 535 points to play a Young Dragon. Average Young Dragon: ST 20, DX 10, IQ 10, HT 14/20, PD 1, DR 4 Speed: 6.0, Move: 12 (land), 12 (air) Th: 2d-1 / Sw: 3d+2 Claw: Cr 2d-1, Bite: Cut 1d + 1d venom Tail Smash: Cr 2d-1, Flame: 1d Adult Dragons (c.200 to 400 years old) Adult Dragons have ST +20 (175 points), IQ +1 (10 points), HT +4 (45 points) and 16 Extra Hit Points (80 points). As well, their long limbs give them a level of Enhanced Move -- Running (10 points), and they are strong fliers, with 1 level of Enhanced Move -- Flight (10 points). Adult Dragons have 2 yards of Extra Reach (total 3 yards) with their two forelimbs (40 points). Their natural weaponry includes Talons (40 points), Sharp Teeth (5 points), which inflict cutting damage and deliver a Corrosive Venom (level 2; 30 points), and a tail Striker with 3 yards of reach (20 points). They can also breathe fire (roll vs. DX) for 2d damage at up to 6 yards of range (26 points). An Adult Dragon's hide provides PD 2 (50 points) and DR 5 (15 points), with an extra DR 5 versus fire (5 points). Their eyes are protected by a Nictating Membrane (PD 4/DR 2; 20 points). Adult Dragons have Fearlessness +2 (4 points) and Monstrous Appearance (-5 on reaction rolls; -25 points). It costs 780 points to play an Adult Dragon. Average Adult Dragon: ST 30, DX 10, IQ 11, HT 14/30, PD 2, DR 5 Speed: 6.0, Move: 12 (land), 24 (air) Th: 3d / Sw: 5d+2 Claw: Imp 3d/Cut 5d+2, Bite: Cut 1d+2 + 2d venom Tail Smash: Cr 3d, Flame: 2d Old Dragons (c.400 to 1000 years old) Old Dragons have ST +40 (185 points), IQ +2 (20 points), HT +5 (60 points) and 35 Extra Hit Points (165 points). As well, their long limbs give them 2 levels of Enhanced Move -- Running (20 points), and they are strong fliers, with 1 level of Enhanced Move -- Flight (10 points). Old Dragons have 3 yards of Extra Reach (total 4 yards) with their two forelimbs (60 points). Their natural weaponry includes Long Talons (55 points), Fangs (10 points), which inflict impaling damage and deliver a Corrosive Venom (level 2; 30 points), and a tail Striker with 4 yards of reach (25 points). They can also breathe fire (roll vs. DX) for 3d damage at up to 9 yards of range (32 points). An Old Dragon's hide provides PD 3 (75 points) and DR 7 (21 points), with an extra DR 7 versus fire (7 points). Their eyes are protected by a Nictating Membrane (PD 6/DR 3; 30 points). Old Dragons have Danger Sense (15 points), Fearlessness +5 (10 points) and Horrifying Appearance (-6 on reaction rolls and requires a Fright Check; -30 points). It costs 1020 points to play an Old Dragon. Average Old Dragon: ST 50, DX 10, IQ 12, HT 15/50, PD 3, DR 7 Speed: 6.25, Move: 18 (land), 24 (air) Th: 5d+2 / Sw: 8d-1 Claw: Imp 5d+4/Cut 8d+1, Bite: Cut 2d+2 + 2d venom Tail Smash: Cr 5d+2, Flame: 3d Ancient Dragons (over 1000 years old) Ancient Dragons have ST +80 (205 points), IQ +3 (30 points), HT +6 (80 points) and 74 Extra Hit Points (370 points). As well, their long limbs give them 2 levels of Enhanced Move -- Running (20 points), and they are strong fliers, with 2 levels of Enhanced Move -- Flight (20 points). Ancient Dragons have 4 yards of Extra Reach (total 5 yards) with their two forelimbs (80 points). Their natural weaponry includes Long Talons (55 points), Fangs (10 points), which inflict impaling damage and deliver a Corrosive Venom (level 3; 45 points), and a tail Striker with 5 yards of reach (30 points). They can also breathe fire (roll vs. DX) for 4d damage at up to 12 yards of range (38 points). An Ancient Dragon's hide provides PD 4 (100 points) and DR 11 (33 points), with an extra DR 9 versus fire (9 points). Their eyes are protected by a Nictating Membrane (PD 6/DR 3; 30 points). Ancient Dragons have Danger Sense (15 points), See Invisible (15 points), Unfazeable (15 points) and Horrifying Appearance (-6 on reaction rolls and requires a Fright Check; -30 points). It costs 1390 points to play an Ancient Dragon. Average Ancient Dragon: ST 90, DX 10, IQ 13, HT 16/90, PD 4, DR 11 Speed: 6.5, Move: 18 (land), 36 (air) Th: 10d / Sw: 12d Claw: Imp 10d+2/Cut 12d+2, Bite: Cut 4d+2 + 3d venom Tail Smash: Cr 10d, Flame: 4d