brian 333
2014-10-04, 04:24 PM
Here's one I made for my low-level 1st ed. campaign, and it's been revised and re-revised since. It was inspired by a player informing me that we were playing Dungeons and Dragons, and while we had plenty of Dungeons, he wanted to know where the Dragons were. Well, at the time, even White Dragons were hideously powerful beings capable of wiping out the low level parties we were running. So, I thought on it, and here is the result:
Brown Dragon (Camouflaged Dragon) (Proto-dragon)
Dragon
Climate/Terrain: Temperate to tropical saltwater marshes
Organization: Wyrmling (1-10), Very Young (1-4), or Solitary
Challenge Ratings: Wyrmling 1/3, Very Young 1/2, Young 1, Juvenile 2, Young Adult 3, Adult 4, Mature Adult 5, Old 6, Very Old 8, Ancient 10, Wyrm 11, Great Wyrm 12
Treasure: Nonstandard, (non-perishables only)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (True Neutral)
Advancement: Wyrmling 1HD (Tiny), Very Young 2HD (Tiny), Young 3HD (Small), Juvenile 4HD (Small), Young Adult 5HD (Small), Adult 6HD (Medium), Mature Adult 7HD (Medium), Old 8HD (Medium), Very Old 9HD (Large), Ancient 10HD (Large), Wyrm 11HD (Large), Great Wyrm 12HD (Huge)
Sages disagree on the origin of Brown Dragons. Some speculate they are a degenerate mongrel race descended from true dragons, while others argue that they are the original dragon species from which all others evolved. Because of their nature and preferred habitat, studies of Brown Dragons have of necessity been conducted largely upon corpses or by adventurers who have hunted them for their valuable waterproof hides, their teeth, or their treasures. Upon one point there is no debate: they are, without a doubt, dragons.
Brown dragons are ambush predators which use their naturally camouflaged hides and draconic patience to await suitable prey. They are similar in appearance to crocodiles or alligators, having long slender bodies and stumpy legs, but with vestigial wings and a single row of short, thick spikes along the spine from forehead to tail tip. One major difference is the Brown Dragon's long, serpentine neck and tail, and one who is familiar with crocodilians will instantly recognize the difference on sight. The females of the species tend to become heavy and thick-bodied, with vestigial wings that never fully develop, while the males tend to maintain the serpentine shape of the juveniles with more pronounced wing development.
A feature unique to this species is it's chameleon-like skin composed of many tiny color-cells which it can either reflexively or consciously alter to suit it's environment. These color-cells, which range from green to yellow to tawny brown, may also be used in mating displays, but as the brown dragon ages a coating of olive-colored algae begins to grow in the crevices on the upper part of it's body, eventually covering most of the hide exposed to sunlight.
They are able to hold their breath for extended periods of time: at least an hour for the very young, while the oldest can spend several hours between breaths. Because of this ability they tend to await their prey on the bottoms of flowing channels or within mud-pools where their camouflage most effectively conceals them from even the most alert prey.
The lairs of brown dragons are typically scrapes in mud-banks near tidal channels, but if soil conditions permit they will excavate entire chambers. They will usually create mud-wallows and sunning beaches near their lairs as well.
Females also build mounds of rotting vegetation into which they lay their eggs. They will fiercely attack anything which disturbs these mounds, but other than dragging a corpse or two to the mound to feed her young when they are ready to hatch, she will take no further notice of them. These young quickly begin to leave the area, as within a year at best the mother will have forgotten they are her young and begin to eat them.
Brown dragons are carnivorous and territorial but seldom do any but the most ancient and intelligent gather treasure, (and with their limited intelligence they are far more attracted to shiny objects than to valuable ones.) The nature of their lairs quickly renders perishable items such as clothing and scrolls useless, but other treasures may survive being buried in mud.
While brown dragons prefer habitats similar to those preferred by crocodilian reptiles, they do not tolerate these creatures in their territory, either driving them off or being driven off themselves. Thus more brown dragons inhabit temperate regions where cold-blooded reptiles have a harder time surviving cold winters.
Combat
Brown dragons are ambush predators, either lunging from the water or leaping from a tree or other high place to attack prey with their powerful jaws. They almost never use their front claws in a fight unless executing a leap/fall attack. When over matched the brown dragon will flee underwater (or by flying if possible,) to hide itself in silt and mud to wait for it's foe to leave. They will typically attack creatures similar in size to themselves then drag the creature back to their lairs to devour at their leisure.
Breath Weapon (Su): Adult and older female brown dragons develop a breath weapon which may cause incidental damage, but which primarily lays an obscuring cloud of steam that offers 90% concealment, (above the water only!) This steam-cloud only does damage when first breathed, but the cloud itself persists for 3D6 rounds in calm conditions, being dissipated in one round when blown by a breeze.
Flying: The vestigial wings of the brown dragon begin to develop and fill out on adult and older males. This allows them to fly, but they are always classed as clumsy fliers for purposes of maneuverability. A brown dragon capable of flying can remain airborne for as long as one turn per point of constitution, and thereafter must rest a number of turns equal to it's flying time.
Leap/Fall: All brown dragons of any age may leap from ambush to attack. If there are no obstacles to it's outspread wings, the dragon may leap a distance equal to twice it's listed ground speed and it may also fall in a controlled fashion from a height of this distance without taking damage. Falls from greater heights are calculated by subtracting the allowed falling distance from the actual distance fallen to determine the distance to which falling damage applies. Dragons capable of flight may fall from any height without taking damage. The dragon which lands after a leap/fall adjacent to or on top of it's target may execute a full attack, though that is all it may do in that round. (Leap/Fall may provoke an attack of opportunity if the foe is not caught flat-footed.)
Fear (Sp): Mature adult brown dragons begin to use an effect similar to a 'Fear' spell cast as a sorcerer of the same level as the dragon's hit dice which it may cast as a readied spell.
Other Draconic Abilities: The Frightful Presence, Immunities, and Spell Resistance common to other dragons are never found in the Brown Dragon, but they have exhibited Blindsight and Keen Senses. Although their spell-like Fear ability is cast as a sorcerer, they never learn other spells of any kind.
Brown Dragons by Age
Age Size Hit Dice (hp) AC
Wyrmling T 1d8+1 (5) 15 (+2 Size, +3 Natural)
Very Young T 2d8+2 (11) 16 (+2 Size, +4 Natural)
Young S 3d8+3 (16) 16 (+1 Size, +5 Natural)
Juvenile S 4d8+4 (22) 17 (+1 Size, +6 Natural)
Young Adult S 5d8+10 (32) 18 (+1 Size, +7 Natural)
Adult M 6d8+12 (39) 18 (+8 Natural)
Mature Adult M 7d8+14 (45) 19 (+9 Natural)
Old M 8d8+16 (52) 20 (+10 Natural)
Very Old L 9d8+27 (67) 20 (-1 Size, +11 Natural)
Ancient L 10d8+30 (75) 21 (-1 Size, +12 Natural)
Wyrm L 11d8+33 (82) 22 (-1 Size, +13 Natural)
Great Wyrm H 12d8+36 (90) 22 (-2 Size, +14 Natural)
Brown Dragons by Age
Age Attack Bonus Fort Ref Wil Breath Weapon (DC)
Wyrmling +2 +3 +0 +1 -
Very Young +4 +4 +0 +2 -
Young +4 +5 +1 +2 -
Juvenile +6 +6 +1 +3 -
Young Adult +7 +6 +1 +3 -
Adult +8/+3 +7 +2 +5 1d2 -15ft cone- (15)
Mature Adult +9/+4 +8 +2 +5 1d3 -15ft cone- (16)
Old +11/+6 +9 +2 +6 1d4 -15ft cone- (17)
Very Old +11/+6 +9 +3 +6 1d6 -20ft cone- (19)
Ancient +13/+8 +10 +3 +7 1d8 -20ft cone- (21)
Wyrm +14/+9/+4 +11 +3 +7 1d10 -20ft cone-(23)
Great Wyrm +15/+10/+5 +12 +4 +9 1d12 -25ft cone-(25)
Brown Dragons by Age
Age Speed
Wyrmling 5 ft, climb 5 ft, swim 15 ft
Very Young 5 ft, climb 5 ft, swim 15 ft
Young 10 ft, climb 10 ft, swim 20 ft
Juvenile 10 ft, climb 10 ft, swim 20 ft
Young Adult 15 ft, climb 10 ft, swim 25 ft
Adult 15 ft, climb 5 ft, fly 50 ft (clumsy), swim 25 ft
Mature Adult 20 ft, climb 5 ft, fly 50 ft (clumsy), swim 30 ft
Old 20 ft, climb 5 ft, fly 50 ft (clumsy), swim 30 ft
Very Old 25 ft, climb 5 ft, fly 100 ft (clumsy), swim 35 ft
Ancient 25 ft, climb 0 ft, fly 100 ft (clumsy), swim 35 ft
Wyrm 30 ft, climb 0 ft, fly 150 ft (clumsy), swim 40 ft
Great Wyrm 30 ft, fly 150 ft (clumsy), swim 40 ft
Brown Dragons by Age
Age Str Dex Con Int Wis Cha Special Abilities
Wyrmling 9 10 13 1 8 10 Camoflage (+10 Hide)
Very Young 10 10 13 2 8 10
Young 11 10 14 2 9 10
Juvenile 12 10 14 3 9 10
Young Adult 13 10 15 3 9 11
Adult 14 10 15 3 10 11 Breath Weapon or Flight
Mature Adult 15 10 16 4 10 11 Fear (sp)
Old 16 10 16 4 10 11
Very Old 17 10 17 4 11 12
Ancient 18 10 17 4 11 12 Damage Reduction 5/+1
Wyrm 19 10 18 5 11 12
Great Wyrm 20 10 18 5 12 12 Damage Reduction 10/+1
Brown Dragon (Camouflaged Dragon) (Proto-dragon)
Dragon
Climate/Terrain: Temperate to tropical saltwater marshes
Organization: Wyrmling (1-10), Very Young (1-4), or Solitary
Challenge Ratings: Wyrmling 1/3, Very Young 1/2, Young 1, Juvenile 2, Young Adult 3, Adult 4, Mature Adult 5, Old 6, Very Old 8, Ancient 10, Wyrm 11, Great Wyrm 12
Treasure: Nonstandard, (non-perishables only)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (True Neutral)
Advancement: Wyrmling 1HD (Tiny), Very Young 2HD (Tiny), Young 3HD (Small), Juvenile 4HD (Small), Young Adult 5HD (Small), Adult 6HD (Medium), Mature Adult 7HD (Medium), Old 8HD (Medium), Very Old 9HD (Large), Ancient 10HD (Large), Wyrm 11HD (Large), Great Wyrm 12HD (Huge)
Sages disagree on the origin of Brown Dragons. Some speculate they are a degenerate mongrel race descended from true dragons, while others argue that they are the original dragon species from which all others evolved. Because of their nature and preferred habitat, studies of Brown Dragons have of necessity been conducted largely upon corpses or by adventurers who have hunted them for their valuable waterproof hides, their teeth, or their treasures. Upon one point there is no debate: they are, without a doubt, dragons.
Brown dragons are ambush predators which use their naturally camouflaged hides and draconic patience to await suitable prey. They are similar in appearance to crocodiles or alligators, having long slender bodies and stumpy legs, but with vestigial wings and a single row of short, thick spikes along the spine from forehead to tail tip. One major difference is the Brown Dragon's long, serpentine neck and tail, and one who is familiar with crocodilians will instantly recognize the difference on sight. The females of the species tend to become heavy and thick-bodied, with vestigial wings that never fully develop, while the males tend to maintain the serpentine shape of the juveniles with more pronounced wing development.
A feature unique to this species is it's chameleon-like skin composed of many tiny color-cells which it can either reflexively or consciously alter to suit it's environment. These color-cells, which range from green to yellow to tawny brown, may also be used in mating displays, but as the brown dragon ages a coating of olive-colored algae begins to grow in the crevices on the upper part of it's body, eventually covering most of the hide exposed to sunlight.
They are able to hold their breath for extended periods of time: at least an hour for the very young, while the oldest can spend several hours between breaths. Because of this ability they tend to await their prey on the bottoms of flowing channels or within mud-pools where their camouflage most effectively conceals them from even the most alert prey.
The lairs of brown dragons are typically scrapes in mud-banks near tidal channels, but if soil conditions permit they will excavate entire chambers. They will usually create mud-wallows and sunning beaches near their lairs as well.
Females also build mounds of rotting vegetation into which they lay their eggs. They will fiercely attack anything which disturbs these mounds, but other than dragging a corpse or two to the mound to feed her young when they are ready to hatch, she will take no further notice of them. These young quickly begin to leave the area, as within a year at best the mother will have forgotten they are her young and begin to eat them.
Brown dragons are carnivorous and territorial but seldom do any but the most ancient and intelligent gather treasure, (and with their limited intelligence they are far more attracted to shiny objects than to valuable ones.) The nature of their lairs quickly renders perishable items such as clothing and scrolls useless, but other treasures may survive being buried in mud.
While brown dragons prefer habitats similar to those preferred by crocodilian reptiles, they do not tolerate these creatures in their territory, either driving them off or being driven off themselves. Thus more brown dragons inhabit temperate regions where cold-blooded reptiles have a harder time surviving cold winters.
Combat
Brown dragons are ambush predators, either lunging from the water or leaping from a tree or other high place to attack prey with their powerful jaws. They almost never use their front claws in a fight unless executing a leap/fall attack. When over matched the brown dragon will flee underwater (or by flying if possible,) to hide itself in silt and mud to wait for it's foe to leave. They will typically attack creatures similar in size to themselves then drag the creature back to their lairs to devour at their leisure.
Breath Weapon (Su): Adult and older female brown dragons develop a breath weapon which may cause incidental damage, but which primarily lays an obscuring cloud of steam that offers 90% concealment, (above the water only!) This steam-cloud only does damage when first breathed, but the cloud itself persists for 3D6 rounds in calm conditions, being dissipated in one round when blown by a breeze.
Flying: The vestigial wings of the brown dragon begin to develop and fill out on adult and older males. This allows them to fly, but they are always classed as clumsy fliers for purposes of maneuverability. A brown dragon capable of flying can remain airborne for as long as one turn per point of constitution, and thereafter must rest a number of turns equal to it's flying time.
Leap/Fall: All brown dragons of any age may leap from ambush to attack. If there are no obstacles to it's outspread wings, the dragon may leap a distance equal to twice it's listed ground speed and it may also fall in a controlled fashion from a height of this distance without taking damage. Falls from greater heights are calculated by subtracting the allowed falling distance from the actual distance fallen to determine the distance to which falling damage applies. Dragons capable of flight may fall from any height without taking damage. The dragon which lands after a leap/fall adjacent to or on top of it's target may execute a full attack, though that is all it may do in that round. (Leap/Fall may provoke an attack of opportunity if the foe is not caught flat-footed.)
Fear (Sp): Mature adult brown dragons begin to use an effect similar to a 'Fear' spell cast as a sorcerer of the same level as the dragon's hit dice which it may cast as a readied spell.
Other Draconic Abilities: The Frightful Presence, Immunities, and Spell Resistance common to other dragons are never found in the Brown Dragon, but they have exhibited Blindsight and Keen Senses. Although their spell-like Fear ability is cast as a sorcerer, they never learn other spells of any kind.
Brown Dragons by Age
Age Size Hit Dice (hp) AC
Wyrmling T 1d8+1 (5) 15 (+2 Size, +3 Natural)
Very Young T 2d8+2 (11) 16 (+2 Size, +4 Natural)
Young S 3d8+3 (16) 16 (+1 Size, +5 Natural)
Juvenile S 4d8+4 (22) 17 (+1 Size, +6 Natural)
Young Adult S 5d8+10 (32) 18 (+1 Size, +7 Natural)
Adult M 6d8+12 (39) 18 (+8 Natural)
Mature Adult M 7d8+14 (45) 19 (+9 Natural)
Old M 8d8+16 (52) 20 (+10 Natural)
Very Old L 9d8+27 (67) 20 (-1 Size, +11 Natural)
Ancient L 10d8+30 (75) 21 (-1 Size, +12 Natural)
Wyrm L 11d8+33 (82) 22 (-1 Size, +13 Natural)
Great Wyrm H 12d8+36 (90) 22 (-2 Size, +14 Natural)
Brown Dragons by Age
Age Attack Bonus Fort Ref Wil Breath Weapon (DC)
Wyrmling +2 +3 +0 +1 -
Very Young +4 +4 +0 +2 -
Young +4 +5 +1 +2 -
Juvenile +6 +6 +1 +3 -
Young Adult +7 +6 +1 +3 -
Adult +8/+3 +7 +2 +5 1d2 -15ft cone- (15)
Mature Adult +9/+4 +8 +2 +5 1d3 -15ft cone- (16)
Old +11/+6 +9 +2 +6 1d4 -15ft cone- (17)
Very Old +11/+6 +9 +3 +6 1d6 -20ft cone- (19)
Ancient +13/+8 +10 +3 +7 1d8 -20ft cone- (21)
Wyrm +14/+9/+4 +11 +3 +7 1d10 -20ft cone-(23)
Great Wyrm +15/+10/+5 +12 +4 +9 1d12 -25ft cone-(25)
Brown Dragons by Age
Age Speed
Wyrmling 5 ft, climb 5 ft, swim 15 ft
Very Young 5 ft, climb 5 ft, swim 15 ft
Young 10 ft, climb 10 ft, swim 20 ft
Juvenile 10 ft, climb 10 ft, swim 20 ft
Young Adult 15 ft, climb 10 ft, swim 25 ft
Adult 15 ft, climb 5 ft, fly 50 ft (clumsy), swim 25 ft
Mature Adult 20 ft, climb 5 ft, fly 50 ft (clumsy), swim 30 ft
Old 20 ft, climb 5 ft, fly 50 ft (clumsy), swim 30 ft
Very Old 25 ft, climb 5 ft, fly 100 ft (clumsy), swim 35 ft
Ancient 25 ft, climb 0 ft, fly 100 ft (clumsy), swim 35 ft
Wyrm 30 ft, climb 0 ft, fly 150 ft (clumsy), swim 40 ft
Great Wyrm 30 ft, fly 150 ft (clumsy), swim 40 ft
Brown Dragons by Age
Age Str Dex Con Int Wis Cha Special Abilities
Wyrmling 9 10 13 1 8 10 Camoflage (+10 Hide)
Very Young 10 10 13 2 8 10
Young 11 10 14 2 9 10
Juvenile 12 10 14 3 9 10
Young Adult 13 10 15 3 9 11
Adult 14 10 15 3 10 11 Breath Weapon or Flight
Mature Adult 15 10 16 4 10 11 Fear (sp)
Old 16 10 16 4 10 11
Very Old 17 10 17 4 11 12
Ancient 18 10 17 4 11 12 Damage Reduction 5/+1
Wyrm 19 10 18 5 11 12
Great Wyrm 20 10 18 5 12 12 Damage Reduction 10/+1