dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 4
DRACONIC
BEASTS
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Upper Planes; see the Draconomicon), but any good-aligned
dragon can have it.
Corrupting Presence (Ex): Waves of sickness emanate
from the dragon, mirroring the corruption in its heart. Whenever
the dragon attacks, charges, or flies overhead, creatures
within range that have fewer Hit Dice than the dragon become
sickened for 2d6 rounds. Creatures with 4 or fewer Hit Dice
instead become nauseated for 2d6 rounds. A successful Fortitude
save negates this effect and renders the creature immune
to that dragon’s corrupting presence for 24 hours. Dragons
ignore the corrupting presence of other dragons.
This variant presence is most common among black
dragons, though any evil dragon can have it.
Dissolving Presence (Su): The air around the dragon
becomes caustic, burning the flesh of all those nearby.
Each creature within 30 feet of the dragon at the start of
the dragon’s turn takes a number of points of acid damage
equal to one-half the dragon’s age category (Reflex negates).
Creatures with 4 or fewer Hit Dice that take damage from this
effect are also nauseated for 1 round. A dragon can render this
presence inactive (or reactivate it again) as a swift action.
Only dragons whose breath weapon deals acid damage can
have this variant presence.
Fatiguing Presence (Ex): The shock of the dragon’s presence
saps the strength of onlookers. Whenever the dragon
attacks, charges, or flies overhead, creatures within range
that have fewer Hit Dice than the dragon become fatigued
for 2d6 rounds. Creatures with 4 or fewer Hit Dice instead
become exhausted for 2d6 rounds. A successful Fortitude
save negates this effect and renders the creature immune to
that dragon’s fatiguing presence for 24 hours. Dragons ignore
the fatiguing presence of other dragons.
Fiendish Presence (Su): The profane horror within the
dragon’s soul permeates its surroundings, warping those
who don’t share its evil nature. Whenever the dragon attacks,
charges, or flies overhead, non-evil creatures within range
that have fewer Hit Dice than the dragon take a number of
points of damage equal to the dragon’s age category and are
sickened for 1 round. Non-evil creatures with 4 or fewer Hit
Dice instead become sickened for 2d4 rounds. A successful
Fortitude save halves the damage, negates the sickened effect,
and renders the creature immune to that dragon’s fiendish
presence for 24 hours.
This variant presence is most common among fiendish
and half-fiend dragons (as well as planar dragons native to
the Lower Planes; see the Draconomicon), but any evil-aligned
dragon can have it.
Freezing Presence (Su): An aura of unearthly cold surrounds
the dragon, turning the blood of its enemies to ice.
Each creature within 30 feet of the dragon at the start of the
dragon’s turn takes a number of points of cold damage equal
to one-half the dragon’s age category (Fortitude negates).
Creatures with 4 or fewer Hit Dice that take damage from this
effect are also stunned for 1 round. A dragon can render this
presence inactive (or reactivate it again) as a swift action.
Only dragons of the cold subtype, or whose breath weapon
deals cold damage, can have this variant presence.
Necrotic Presence (Ex): The dragon clutches to unlife so
strongly that its presence instills nearby undead creatures
with vigor. Each undead creature (other than the dragon
itself) within 30 feet of the dragon at the start of the dragon’s
turn regains a number of hit points equal to one-half the
dragon’s age category (similar to the effect of an inflict spell).
A dragon can render this presence inactive (or reactivate it
again) as a swift action.
Only undead dragons (such as dracoliches, ghostly dragons,
and vampiric dragons; see the Draconomicon) can have this
presence. Upon becoming undead, a dragon that would
normally retain its frightful presence can choose instead to
replace it with necrotic presence.
Shocking Presence (Su): The air around the dragon
crackles with tiny bolts of blue-white lightning. Each creature
within 60 feet of the dragon at the start of the dragon’s
turn takes a number of points of electricity damage equal to
one-half the dragon’s age category (Reflex negates). Creatures
with 4 or fewer Hit Dice that take damage from this effect
are also dazed for 1 round. A dragon can render this presence
inactive (or reactivate it again) as a swift action.
Only dragons whose breath weapon deals electricity
damage can have this variant presence.
Thundering Presence (Su): The dragon’s voice, its mighty
wingbeats, and the creaking of its scales produce an earsplitting
tumult. Each creature within 60 feet of the dragon at the
start of the dragon’s turn takes a number of points of sonic
damage equal to one-half the dragon’s age category (Fortitude
negates). Creatures with 4 or fewer Hit Dice that take damage
from this effect are also deafened for 5 rounds. Creatures in
the area of a silence spell (or similar effect) are immune to
thundering presence, and a dragon entirely within such an
area does not gain the benefit of its thundering presence.
A dragon can render this presence inactive (or reactivate it
again) as a swift action.
Only dragons with a roar or similar special ability—such
as the li lung (see Oriental Adventures) or the mountain landwyrm
(see the Draconomicon)—or whose breath weapon deals
sonic damage can have this variant presence.
VARIANT DRAGON
SPECIAL ABILITIES
The Monster Manual describes special or spell-like abilities
for each kind of dragon, but many of these are hard to use in
a typical encounter or just aren’t very interesting. To make
a dragon encounter run more smoothly or to put a twist on
the predictable array of special abilities, consider using the
variant special abilities below. Each offers a story-based reason
for including it in your campaign, but those details aren’t necessary.
It’s enough just to say, “This green dragon is unusual,”
without creating an elaborate excuse to justify its existence
(though such reasons can add flavor to the game).