Steel Dragon

[DdarkED]

i am looking for the most recent source for steel dragons in 3.5

i might be using one in a up coming game but i wana make sure the stat block in Dragons of Faerun is correct.

mostly i am curious if its polymorph ability was updated to alternate form, but would rather be using the correct source either way.

thanks in advance!

[MisterKaws]

Yes, they are. I didn't even know they updated Steel Dragons in that book. Anyhow, the only changes I can see are Alternate Form and the Immunity to Acid.

[DdarkED]

Yes, they are. I didn't even know they updated Steel Dragons in that book. Anyhow, the only changes I can see are Alternate Form and the Immunity to Acid.

Thank you for the quick response!

[Thurbane]

There's also stats online (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mm/20040328a): not sure if that was published before or after DoF?

DoF was published August 2006, and the article I linked was 28//03/2004

[hamishspence]

Before - March 2004, whereas Dragons of Faerun was August 2006.

[ThanatosZero]

For more fluff I recommend this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2BO-LtoMgs

[jintoya]

For more fluff I recommend this video.


Seconded, these videos sparked my most recent monster rework where I go and make every monster more interesting, I'm glad I ran across these and recommend them to anyone who likes monsters.

[DdarkED]

the video was very interesting, is the source for most of it 4th ed? i cant seem to find any mentions of most of that in 3.5 sources. nonetheless it will guide my RPing of the dragon at very least even if i cant simulate the mechanics. so besides the web stat block and the DoF stat block were else might i find 3.5 details on these interesting dragons.

i dont see mentions of them in draconimicon or dragon magic or races of the dragon. i am guessing some 3.5 greyhawk book?

[MisterKaws]

the video was very interesting, is the source for most of it 4th ed? i cant seem to find any mentions of most of that in 3.5 sources. nonetheless it will guide my RPing of the dragon at very least even if i cant simulate the mechanics. so besides the web stat block and the DoF stat block were else might i find 3.5 details on these interesting dragons.

i dont see mentions of them in draconimicon or dragon magic or races of the dragon. i am guessing some 3.5 greyhawk book?

Steel Dragons are Faerun-only dragons, so you want to look for Forgotten Realms books.

[DdarkED]

Steel Dragons are Faerun-only dragons, so you want to look for Forgotten Realms books.

it is my understanding that these dragons first appeared in some book for greyhawk, and then were reprinted into Forgotten realms but my understanding/knowledge of greyhawk is limited

[MisterKaws]

it is my understanding that these dragons first appeared in some book for greyhawk, and then were reprinted into Forgotten realms but my understanding/knowledge of greyhawk is limited

Ah, yes. Searching a bit more, I found out that these actually appeared in the Living Greyhawk Journal, volume #1 (https://www.dmsguild.com/product/254496/Living-Greyhawk-Journal-Volume-1-1), under the name Greyhawk Dragon, but I don't have that particular book, and the sample's ToC doesn't show it. It might be another issue, but I'm clueless.

[Thurbane]

Ah, yes. Searching a bit more, I found out that these actually appeared in the Living Greyhawk Journal, volume #1 (https://www.dmsguild.com/product/254496/Living-Greyhawk-Journal-Volume-1-1), under the name Greyhawk Dragon, but I don't have that particular book, and the sample's ToC doesn't show it. It might be another issue, but I'm clueless.

Yeah, they were originally called Greyhawk Dragons, and have been around since 2E from memory.

[Mike Miller]

Weird. The 3.5 greyhawk dragon (in dragon magazine) doesn't resemble the steel dragon (from memory, anyway)

[hamishspence]

Dragon Magazine 339 (January 2006) Greyhawk dragon (Steve Ellis)

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nleNuK5_Z9Q/WlLILmVEHSI/AAAAAAAAS9U/nNbrXpFCd7QxFMe6fu7caJezOA4GR6-6ACLcBGAs/s1600/Greyhawk_Dragon%2BDragon%2B339.jpg

Dragons of Faerun didn't have a Steel Dragon image to go with its stat line.

2e Steel Dragons appeared two-legged, but that appears to have been a mistake - that particular Monstrous Compendium artist was prone to depicting beings as two-legged even when the text said they were four-legged:

http://greyhawk22.rssing.com/chan-10654614/all_p25.html

(about 2/3 of the way down):

4e Steel dragons have rather unique wings resembling fans.

[Mato]

I loved the video link, thanks for posting it ThanatosZero.

[Thurbane]

This is how they looked in Living Greyhawk Journal Vol 1 (September 2000):

http://i67.tinypic.com/2s1m134.jpg

[Particle_Man]

Are they playable as pcs (at least the younger ones)? What would the la be?

[Thurbane]

I see them often touted as one of the more playable true dragons: a wyrmling steel dragon is 3 4 RHD and LA +2.

[MisterKaws]

I see them often touted as one of the more playable true dragons: a wyrmling steel dragon is 3 RHD and LA +2.

4 RHD, actually. With Loredrake it's the same Sorcerer level as its HD, so it goes well with high-powered campaigns, though the extra dragon shenanigans can be a nightmare to a newer GM. At-will high-speed flight out of the box, for one, can make balancing encounters a mess.

Tome Dragons are also very good for Loredrake play, especially Very Young ones, at 6RHD, +5 LA, Sorcerer level 8 and one free level of metamagic on every spell cast, plus no increased cast time, and Telepathy 100ft.

[DdarkED]

4 RHD, actually. With Loredrake it's the same Sorcerer level as its HD, so it goes well with high-powered campaigns, though the extra dragon shenanigans can be a nightmare to a newer GM. At-will high-speed flight out of the box, for one, can make balancing encounters a mess.

Tome Dragons are also very good for Loredrake play, especially Very Young ones, at 6RHD, +5 LA, Sorcerer level 8 and one free level of metamagic on every spell cast, plus no increased cast time, and Telepathy 100ft.

they Gish very well, the one i am looking to play will probably take that route then look into enter spellsword 1 into abjurant champion 5.

Good BaB and Saves from the 4 dragon HD w/o any loss of sorc casting seems good. LA 2 isnt the worst to buy off either.