Alchemyprime's Monstrous Contest: Here Thar Be Dragons [CLOSED]

[alchemyprime]

Challenge: Stat up a 3.5 dragon using whatever tools are at your disposal and make it easy to use without a library of books.

Entrys: In this thread in a spoiler block. Up to three entries per member.

Deadline: July 1st, 2009!

Okay, as the title indicates, this is a Monster Contest.

As you know, in 3.5, dragons were not prestatted. You had to make them. I mean the reds, the silvers, the blues, none of those dragon turtles...

That is your challenge. You have until 1st of July (extending the deadline from the original 24th of June). Stat up a dragon. Any CR, any fluff. Use as many WotC, Green Ronin, Paradigm Press, or Mongoose Publishing books you want, as well as Dragon or Dungeon magazines. If you use something else, go for it. JYou know what, use ANY ust note where the things are from and format it so that a guy with just the core 3 can use it easily.



The Judging:

• Fluff: The more original or invocative the fluff of the dragon, the better. Possible Points: 35
• Crunch: Whatever dragon seems the best statted out with the coolest powers to toss at players for its CR. Possible Points: 35
• Ease of Access: If a DM with only the core books can pick up your dragon and use it, you get a lot of points. So all that extra stuff, make notes about it. Possible Points: 15
• Sheer Awesomeness: Exactly what it says on the tin. Possible Points: 15

The prizes will be thus:

1. Best CR 1-10 Dragon (Whichever of these gets closest to 100)
2. Best CR 11-20 Dragon (Whichever gets closest to 100)
3. Best CR 20+ dragon (Whichever gets closest to 100)
4. Most Awesome Fluffed Dragon (Highest Fluff Score)
5. Best Templated Dragon (Highest to 100 that uses a template and did not already win a Best CR or Best Overall)
6. Best Munchkinized Dragon (Most highly optimized dragon)
7. Best Overall Dragon (Highest General Score. THis winner will not win a CR prize.)

The Running

Spoiler

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Castor and Pollux, a pair of twin Wing Dragons. ECL 15, separate CRs 13.

Lilatanthiss Matrikaless , a dragon of the Diamond Throne, updated for 3.5. She's a peculiar dragon, to be sure. CR 14.

Rosenrot, a Spirit Dragon. CR 22.

Who shall challenge this? Who's beast shall reign supreme!

[DracoDei]

I might see about coming up with a Wing Dragon for this...

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

All shall fall beneath the gaze of the Crown Dragon!

When do we have to have it done by?

[alchemyprime]

Until Wednesday June 24th July the 1st. I won't accept dragons past that.

[Xefas]

I'll attempt to make something for this. I have something in mind, at least. Do we post the dragon here, or is there somewhere else to do so?

EDIT: I'm not good with names, but I'm planning to make a mechanical dragon that hails from the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus. Inevitable-Dragon-esque

[alchemyprime]

Post it here in a spoiler block please.

[Innis Cabal]

Will be posting

Araktalush'Kariuraa the Shadow Hammer

[Gorgondantess]

Ha-hah! An excellent chance for me to show off....
DRACTHULHU!^TM

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Actually, wait, a pseudodragon probably isn't the best idea.

Humph.

[Celebrochan]

May we use the dragons from Arcana Evolved and reverse engineer it back to 3.5?

[alchemyprime]

Celebrochan: I suppose... but make it 3.5 user firendly!

[alchemyprime]

RAWR!

(That's Draconic for Bump)

[Zeta Kai]

Can this be a dragon that was posted before? I made a nice dragon for one of my VUAM contests, & I'd like to submit it.

[DracoDei]

Can I do a pair of identical twins who are never far from each other?

[alchemyprime]

@ Zeta Kai: Yes. Dracthulhu was posted before I beleive.

@ DracoDei: Sure... if you think you can pull off the crunch for it.

[DracoDei]

You mean doing two full character sheets instead of one? Since they are identical twins and have a very specific combat style, I can copy a lot of it from one to the other.

[Zeta Kai]

@ Zeta Kai: Yes. Dracthulhu was posted before I beleive.

I know, I posted it.

But that wasn't what I was going to enter, unless multiple entries were allowed. I was actually planning on doing something else...

[alchemyprime]

@ DracoDei: Yeah, I figured. I just say, make it however you want just make sure it is a true dragon (ie. from a breed with age categories) and that it's awesome.

@ ZetaKai: I'lll look at something else. That'd be fine.

[DracoDei]

The twins will be Wing Dragons which are, indeed, true dragons.

[alchemyprime]

Ah. Didn't know you were keeping the wing dragon concept too. Okay, yeah. Go for it.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Alrighty. Hey DracoDrei, I spent hours looking for this one template in every single book I have, when I could have just clicked your sig. Permission to use the Empty Skin template?

[DracoDei]

Hey DracoDrei, I spent hours looking for this one template in every single book I have, when I could have just clicked your sig. Permission to use the Empty Skin template?

You certainly may. That is why I post them after all... all I ask is play-test reports fed back to me... but that doesn't apply in this case until and unless your idea gets used. And may I also say that I feel complimented that it took you that long to realize that it wasn't an commercially published monster (well... until and unless Victorious Press is ready to move Monsters in the Playground forward).

I do find myself wondering if you are going to play to the fact that they have an INT of 5 or somehow alter that with another template stacked on top, or maybe just making an exception to that? I look forward to finding that out when you post it.

[alchemyprime]

I'm just bumping the thread. THough I'd love to see what work has been done so far...

[Zeta Kai]

I'll be posting two entries ASAP.

A question though: Do you want the monsters posted here, or is a link elsewhere sufficient?

[alchemyprime]

I'll be posting two entries ASAP.

A question though: Do you want the monsters posted here, or is a link elsewhere sufficient?

Um... link is sufficient, but I would prefer to have a stat block in [spoiler] tags here in the thread. But you don't risk losing points if you just link it.

[Celebrochan]

Lilatanthiss Matrikaless (Lilat for short) is a dragon from an alternate prime material plane where the colour of a dragon’s scales have no meaning, all dragons from her plane of existence are the same species. Each individual dragon of her type develops a different breath weapon based on personal preferences. Lilat has a mixture of bright blue, purple and golden scales.

Lilat has formed a contract with the City of New Keshi. In exchange for her protection (both from her own activities and any invading armies) the people of New Keshi offer her tribute, in the form of live stock, labor and gold. Because of her patronage the city has grown quite rich for the region, while surrounding cities have had their fortunes decline.

The People of New Keshi are helpful to Lilat and see their contract with her as the cause of their good fortune. Anyone asking too many questions regarding Lilat is likely to attract the attention of the authorities (low level paladins). Lilat sees the city as a long term investment worth protecting but not at any substantial risk to herself.

(Let me know if I made any mistakes )

Spoiler

Show

(Arcana Evolved Dragon converted to 3.5)

Lilatanthiss Matrikaless, Young Adult Alt. Prime Dragon
Size/Type: Huge Dragon
Hit Dice: 20d12+100 (230 hp)
Initiative:+7
Speed: 60 ft., fly 200 ft. (poor), Swim 60 feet
Armor Class: 38* (-2 size, +19 natural,+3 dexterity, +4 shield spell, Ring of protection +4), touch 19*, flat-footed 35*
*with shield spell active, subtract 4 from all values otherwise.

Base Attack/Grapple: +20/+38
Attack: +28
Full Attack: Bite (2d6+10), 2 Claws (1d8+10), 2 Wings (1d6+10), Tail Slap (1d8+10)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: 40’ Cone of Acid (DC27) (10d10), Frightful Presence DC 24, Spells (As fifth level wizard)
Special Qualities: Dragon Traits (Darkvision 120 ft., Low light vision, Blind Sense 60’, Immunity to sleep and paralysis), Damage Reduction 5/magic, Spell Immunity 24, Immunity to Acid
Saves: Fort+ 21, Reflex +16, Will +20
Abilities: Str 31, Dex 17, Con 21, Int 18, Wis 19, Cha 18

Skills: Appraise +16, Bluff +23, Diplomacy +29, Hide +16, Concentration +26, Knowledge (Arcana +26)((The Planes+16) (Architecture+11) (Nature +11) (Royalty +11) (History +11), Move Silently +24, Sense Motive +24, Spot +24, Spell Craft +26

Feats: Ability Focus (Breath), Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Craft Wondrous Item, Great Cleave, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Scribe Scroll
Environment:

Challenge Rating:14(?)
Treasure: Double Standard, Plus ring of protection +4, Metamagic rod of extend.
Alignment: lawful evil or Neutral (See the Non-Aligned section below)

Combat
Lilat avoids combat if at all possible, preferring to parlay and negotiate. If combat seems unavoidable then she will not hesitate to strike preemptively.

If reduced to half of her hit points or less she will attempt to flee, either by flying away, hiding underwater or assuming Gaseous form.

Breath Weapon (Su)
Lilat’s breath weapon is a cone of acid. Lilat must wait 1d4 rounds after using her breath weapon to use it again.

Water Breathing (Ex)
Lilat may breathe underwater indefinitely and can freely use her breath weapon, spells, and other abilities while submerged.

Non-Aligned (Ex)
For all intents and purposes Lilat is mechanically considered a Neutral alignment even though her philosophy would label her a Lawful Evil individual.

Spell-Like Abilities
Lilat possesses the ability to "alter self" once a day with a caster level of 20. Lilat is able to assume the forms of other dragons with this ability and assumes the form of a black dragon when hunting the herds of neighboring towns.

Spells
Lilat possesses spell casting ability equivalent to that of a 5th level wizard

Most commonly Prepared
0th Resistance, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mending
1st Shield, Charm Person, Obscuring mist
2nd Protection from Arrows, Darkness (to cancel out light spells)
3rd Gaseous form

Her Lair
Lilat’s lair includes a “greeting lair” where she meets humans who come to see her. This lair also exists so that if humans do intend to steal from her that the greater portion of her treasure will be untouched.

Her main lair is located through a passage under the lake in her greeting lair. Her main lair liberally uses an over abundance phantom trap spells. The over use of the phantom trap spell is meant to lull intruders into a false sense of security before they are suddenly struck by a deadly trap. She has few mechanical traps but the ones she does have are especially lethal.

She has memorized the type, value and location of every single coin and item in her collection. She has several potions of healing stashed through out her lair along with scrolls and wondrous items that she has crafted.

Guarding her greeting lair are also several of the guards from the city of Keshi. Stats for these guards are below. From the point of view of these guards, Lilat is the protector of their city, the mayor listens to her advice, and she has always seems to have only the best of intentions towards them. Lilat works hard to keep a good public image and it requires direct proof of her wrong doing to convince these guards that she is something other than what she appears. The city is contractually obligated to have these guards present to protect Lilat’s hoard from thieves, render any aid Lilat may require in the defense of her home and to keep people from accidently wandering in to her cave.

Guards
Size/Type:
Medium Human
Hit Dice:
4d10+1 (24) (Paladin 2 / fighter 2)
Initiative:+1
Speed: 30 ft.
Armor Class: 22-26 (23-27 on dodge target) (+8 armor,+1 dexterity, enhancement +1, +2 shield, +0 to +4 combat expertise, +1 dodge)), touch 12, flat-footed 21
Base Attack/Grapple: +4
Attack: +9
Full Attack: Long Sword +9 (1d8 +4)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Smite Evil
Special Qualities: Detect Evil, Divine Grace, Lay on hands (4 hp)
Saves: Fort+ 8, Reflex +2, Will +4
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 15
Skills: Diplomacy +7 , Heal +5, Intimidate +2, Sense Motive +5, Swim +4 (-8 with armor penalty)
Feats: Blind fighting, Combat expertise, Dodge, Iron will, Weapon focus (long sword)
Environment: Lilat’s greeting lair
Organization: There are five groups of four patrolling the greeting lair
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: Long sword +1, Full plate +1, Shield +1, Boots of water walking
Alignment: lawful Good

All guards carry horns that are sounded if intruders are found in the lair. The other groups of patrolling guards will arrive 1d6 rounds after a horn is blown.

[DracoDei]

Well... as is often heard on the inter-tubes: "I have been busy".

Just now put in a few hours of work on my twins and so here is your first look:

Castor and Pollux (These are no longer the lastest versions, see later in this thread for more a up-to-date and verbose version of each).

And, yes, I will (edit: probably) be giving them much more Draconic sounding names. The "Gemini Strike" feat I invented will allow them to take their turns simultaniously to use fly-by attack to gain flanking (and perhaps an extra 1d6 sneak attack) without exposing themselves to any serious counter-attack other than readied actions used to attack them as they fly past, usually in opposite directions. The arc vest + arcing chain shirt will allow them generate a 10d6 lightningbolt up to 30 feet long between the two of them, which gives them a similar option if the PCs group up to prevent effective flanking...

CR 10 each without the class levels gives CR 13 each with them, for a total Encounter level of 15.

Suggestions welcome.


EDIT: Lilat seems nothing to write home about so far... nice variations, but nothing really memorable.

[alchemyprime]

@DracoDei: Please, post them as Monsters, not in Character Sheets.

Here's why. This is low on Ease of Access for both. A stat block (ie. what celebrochan posted) has a higher Ease of Acess. I'm just saying, for you own benefit, make it a stat block.

@ Celebrochan: Thanks for the entry. I'll post the link at the top of the page, and you are more than welcome to keep editing it until July 1st as you wish!

[DracoDei]

I had already intended to transfer them to a more monster-type format unless I run out of time. The sheet does a lot of the calculations automatically which is why I am using it as a starting point.

Anything else?

[alchemyprime]

@ DracoDei: Um... I suppose detail the feat in the information for the monster. Beyond that... I got nothing...