Epic Dragons

[Masterbard Alyster Darkharp]

Epic Dragons

Like other dragons, force and prismatic dragons are gigantic, winged, reptilian creatures. The epic dragons entirely outside the commonly accepted categories of chromatic and metallic dragons, and may originate on another plane of existence. They are further distinguished from the common dragons described in the Monster Manual by their tremendous size (even at hatching), their longer life span (with correspondingly greater increases in power as they age), and their mastery of unusual energy forms—force and prismatic energy.

While common dragons are easily categorized by alignment and temperament, epic dragons display much more individual variation in these areas. Dragons of both varieties are usually neutral, pursuing their own interests rather than the great causes of alignment conflict. Some are extremely selfish and ill-tempered, while others are as beneficent as gold dragons. Like other dragons, however, almost all epic dragons covet and hoard wealth.
All epic dragons speak Draconic.

Combat

Epic dragons share all the combat characteristics of standart dragons, as described in the Monster Manual. Even wyrmling epic dragons are Huge, however, and are capable of making tail sweep and crush attacks. Although there is no size category larger than Colossal, the oldest epic dragons have a greater reach and deal more damage with their attacks than other Colossal dragons, as shown on the Epic Dragon Face and Reach and Epic Dragon Attacks tables below. In addition, the breath weapon of the oldest epic dragons is a larger cone than most Colossal dragons possess. The size modifier for these dragons remains –8.

Wyrmling epic dragons possess certain abilities that common dragons do not acquire until later in life, including frightful presence, spellcasting, and spell resistance. An epic dragon with a caster level above 20th gains the Improved Spell Capacity feat as a bonus feat once for every three caster levels above 20th. Any epic dragon can choose epic feats for which it otherwise meets the prerequisites. Epic dragons also have access to the dragon feats in the Monster Manual, as well as the additional feats described in this book.

Empower Spell-Like Ability: An epic dragon can apply the Empower Spell feat to one of its spell-like abilities that it can use at least twice per day. If the dragon has limited use of the spell-like ability (3/day, for example), the empowered ability uses up two uses of the ability. If the dragon can use the ability at will, there is no cost for empowering the ability. The dragon does not need to specify a spell-like ability when it chooses this feat; it can apply the feat to any spell-like ability it possesses.

Maximize Spell-Like Ability: The dragon can apply the Maximize Spell feat to one of its spell-like abilities that it can use at least three times per day. If the dragon has limited use of the spell-like ability (3/day, for example), the maximized ability uses up three uses of the ability. If the dragon can use the ability at will, there is no cost for maximizing the ability. The dragon does not need to specify a spell-like ability when it chooses this feat; it can apply the feat to any spell-like ability it possesses.

Epic dragons fly even faster than common dragons, and can cover greater distances. Except as noted here, epic dragons conform to the general information that applies to all dragons given in the Monster Manual.

Source: Epic Level Handbook

[Masterbard Alyster Darkharp]

Force Dragons

Damage Reduction correction from Epic Level Handbook 3.5 Update

Force Dragon
Dragon
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Wyrmling, very young, young, juvenile and young adult: solitary or clutch (2–5); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, or family (1–2 and 2–5 offspring)
Challenge Rating: Wyrmling 13; very young 19; young 21; juvenile 25; young adult 28; adult 31; mature adult 35; old 37; very old 39; ancient 43; wyrm 50; great wyrm 59
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement Range: Wyrmling 21–24 HD (Huge);
very young 26–29 HD (Huge); young 31–34 HD (Gargantuan); juvenile 36–39 HD (Gargantuan); young adult 41–44 HD (Gargantuan); adult 46–49 HD (Gargantuan); mature adult 51–54 HD (Colossal); old 56–59 HD (Colossal); very old 61–64 HD (Colossal); ancient 66–69 HD (Colossal); wyrm 71–74 HD (Colossal+); great wyrm 76+ HD (Colossal+)

Force dragons are arrogant and aloof, tending to prefer solitude and isolation from the masses of what they consider lesser creatures. The only other creatures they respect are prismatic dragons and certain deities.

A wyrmling force dragon hatches from an egg the size of a farmer’s hut, and emerges covered in glittering scales like tiny diamonds. As it ages, its scales become less brilliant, but they still refract light—often surrounding the dragon in a shimmering haze of light. Great wyrm force dragons are naturally invisible, since their light passes smoothly through their bodies. A force dragon’s translucent scales thicken and harden as it ages, making a great dragon’s hide nearly as impenetrable as a wall of force. Unlike nonepic dragons, force dragons have no odor whatsoever.

Force dragons lair in remote regions far from civilization, but show no marked preference for one terrain type over any other. Ancient forests, forbidding mountains, vast deserts, and yawning subterranean chasms are all potential lairs for these reclusive beings. Despite their massive size, force dragons eat very little, alternating periods of active eating with long sleeps. They eat any kind of meat, but sages speculate that they also feed on force effects or even on raw magical power.

Combat

Force dragons rarely seek out combat, but they lash out against intruders in their domains with incredibly ferociry, attacking unceasingly until the foes are dead or driven away. They have little interest in conversation, since they doubt that any lesser intellect could possess knowledge that would surpass its own. They prefer using their breath weapons for attack, and use their spell-like abilities to separate their opponents and confine dangerous foes.

Breath Weapon (Su): A force dragon has one type of breath weapon, a cone of force that tears through creatures and objects in its area to devastating effect.

Immune to Force (Ex): A force dragon cannot be harmed by any force effect, including magic missiles, explosive runes, Mordenkainen’s sword, the Otiluke’s sphere spells, or any other spell or effect with the Force descriptor. It can move freely through barriers made of force, such as a wall of force.

Deflecting Force (Su): A force dragon is protected by a shield of force that provides a deflection bonus to its AC. The deflection bonus is equal to the dragon’s Charisma bonus.

Blur (Su): When a force dragon reaches juvenile age, the force surrounding its body distorts the light around it so that it is hard to discern the dragon’s exact location. This functions as a continuous blur spell, giving the dragon one half concealment (20% miss chance).

Displacement (Su): An old force dragon’s deflecting force bends light even more extremely, giving the dragon the benefit of the displacement spell (total concealment, 50% miss chance). This supersedes its blur ability.

Invisibility (Su): A great wyrm force dragon is a creature of pure force, and is completely invisible (as though protected by improved invisibility). A creature that can see invisible creatures must still contend with the dragon’s displacement ability.

Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day—forcecage, maze, Otiluke’s resilient sphere, Otiluke’s telekinetic sphere, wall of force.

Force Dragons are True Dragons with the extraplanar subtype and gain all the additional combat abilities, immunities, class skills, skill points, and feat selections of True Dragons.

Source: Epic Level Handbook, Epic Level Handbook 3.5 Update

[Masterbard Alyster Darkharp]

Prismatic Dragons

Damage Reduction correction from Epic Level Handbook 3.5 Update

Prismatic Dragon
Dragon
Climate/Terrain: Any land and underground
Organization: Wyrmling, very young, young, juvenile and young adult: solitary or clutch (2–5); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, or family (1–2 and 2–5 offspring)
Challenge Rating: Wyrmling 14; very young 16; young 22; juvenile 30; young adult 34; adult 39; mature adult 43; old 48; very old 52; ancient 57; wyrm 61; great wyrm 66
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement Range: Wyrmling 24–27 HD (Huge); very young 29–32 HD (Huge); young 34–37 HD (Gargantuan); juvenile 39–42 HD (Gargantuan); young adult 44–47 HD (Gargantuan); adult 49–52 HD (Gargantuan); mature adult 54–57 HD (Colossal); old 59–62 HD (Colossal); very old 64–67 HD (Colossal); ancient 69–72 HD (Colossal*); wyrm 74–77 HD (Colossal+); great wyrm 79+ HD (Colossal+)

Prismatic dragons are flamboyant, personable, and charming, quite unlike the aloof force dragons, despite being their undeniable superiors. They enjoy the wild diversity of life, particularly the incredible spectrum of human personality. Though they rarely venture into humanoid communities, they enjoy visitors to their remote lairs and rarely attack any creature unless provoked.

A wyrmling prismatic dragon is covered in tiny, brightly reflective scales and surrounded by a shimmering aura of multicolored light. Even the scales of great wyrm are very small and fine, making its skin appear as smooth as a snake’s, though the brilliant scales are virtually invulnerable. Like force dragons, prismatic dragons are completely odorless.

Prismatic dragons make their lairs wherever they please. While some prefer remote fastnesses far from any sign of civilization, others choose to live in sea caves just outside a port city, in the ruins overlooking a bustling trading town, or in the forest just beyond a hamlet’s pasture land. They seem to eat a small amount relative to their size, and are generally careful to hunt over a wide range of territory to avoid depleting resources or angering local cattle herders. They eat any kind of meat, and may in fact derive sustenance from light.

Combat

A prismatic dragon fights only if it is attacked, preferring to engage unwitting intruders in conversation to expand its experience of the quirks and foibles of other creatures. When one does fight, it uses its breath weapon, melee attacks, and spell-like abilities in dreadful concert, carefully selecting the right attack for the right opponent.

Breath Weapon (Su): A prismatic dragon has one type of breath weapon, a prismatic spray effect. The breath weapon’s cone is of the size indicated by the dragon’s size, not the normal cone for the spell.

Deflecting Force (Su): A prismatic dragon is protected by a shield of shimmering light similar to a cloak of chaos that provides a deflection bonus to its AC. The deflection bonus is equal to the dragon’s Charisma bonus.

Immune to Light and Blindness (Ex): Prismatic dragons cannot be harmed by any light, including Evocation [Light] spells, searing light, and the various prismatic (sphere, spray, wall) spells. In addition, they are immune to any spell or effect that causes blindness.

Spell-Like Abilities: At will—hypnotic pattern, rainbow pattern; 3/day—prismatic sphere, prismatic wall, sunbeam, sunburst.

Prismatic Dragons are True Dragons with the extraplanar subtype and gain all the additional combat abilities, immunities, class skills, skill points, and feat selections of True Dragons.

Source: Epic Level Handbook, Epic Level Handbook 3.5 Update

[Masterbard Alyster Darkharp]

Glacierdraks

Glacierdrak
Colossal Dragon
Hit Dice: 44d12+572 (858 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), burrow 40 ft. (8 squares), climb 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 34 (-8 size, -1 Dex, +33 natural), touch 1, flat-footed 34
Base Attack/Grapple: +44/+78
Attack: Bite +56 melee (2d8+18)
Full Attack: Bite +56 melee (2d8+18/19-20/plus 1d6) and 2 claws +52 (4d6+9)
Space/Reach: 30 ft./20 ft. (30 ft. with bite)
Special Attacks: Freezing gaze, frightful presence, stunning strike
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 20/--, darkvision 60 ft., ice glide, immunities (cold, mind-affecting effects, sleep, paralysis), low-light vision, spell resistance 36
Saves: Fort +37, Ref +23, Will +27
Abilities: Str 47, Dex 8, Con 36, Int 4, Wis 16, Cha 20
Skills: Climb +26, Hide +30, Listen +50, Spot +50
Feats: Awesome Blow, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Great Cleave, Greater Weapon Focus (bite), Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Improved Overrun, Improved Sunder, Multiattack, Overwhelming Critical (bite), , Track, Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Cold mountains
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 28
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: 45-132 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: --

This monstrous reptilian behemoth has scales that seem to be made of ice. Ridges of ice run down its back, and jagged horns on its head glitter coldly. The creature's massive jaws are filled with teeth the size of trees.

The unbelievably huge glacierdrak is thought to be a variation of the tundra landwyrm; in truth, the glacierdrak bears several superficial resemblance to the other landwyrms. The glacierdrak cannot fly, and, like the landwyrm, its mere presence inspires terror. But the glacierdrak is, if anything, even more primeval than the other landwyrms, and it barely acts as anything more than a monstrous force of destruction. Certainly, other landwyrms are quick to deride the glacierdrak's notorious lack of intellect, but the fact remains that the glacierdrak is a monstrously powerful and dangerous foe.

Glacierdraks understand a few words of Draconic, but they generally have little interest in conversation.

Combat

A glacierdrak, despite its size, has a shockingly effective ability to hide. Onlookers can easily mistake a motionless glacierdrak for a glacier or mountain of ice. When the creature attacks, it moves to crush large concentrations of smaller enemies and lashes out at single targets all around with its physical attacks. Generally too stupid to retreat from combat, a glacierdrak is not often put in a position where retreat is a wise tactical move.

Freezing Gaze (Su): A glacierdrak's gaze has the terrible power to freeze opponents solid. This gaze weapon has a range of 120 feet, and any creature that succumbs to it immediately takes 6d6 points of temporary Dexterity damage as its limbs and muscles freeze. A successful Fortitude save (DC 37) negates the Dexterity damage for that round. The save DC is Charisma-based.

When a creature with 0 Dexterity (or no Dexterity) is subjected to the gaze again, it takes temporary Constitution damage instead of Dexterity damage. Creatures killed in this manner are permanently frozen solid; even application of fire cannot thaw them. A frozen creature cannot be brought back to life by raise dead. Creatures that are immune to cold are immune to this attack, but those with resistance to cold are affected fully. Creatures with cold vulnerability take a -4 penalty on the saving throw.

Frightful Presence (Ex): Whenever a glacierdrak attacks, charges, or flies overhead, each creature in a 500-foot radius that has fewer HD than it does must make a DC 37 Will save. Failure indicates that the creature is panicked for 4d6 rounds (if it has 4 or fewer HD) or shaken for 4d6 rounds (if it has 5 or more HD).

Stunning Strike (Ex): Any creature that is critically hit by a glacierdrak's bite or claw attack must make a DC 50 Fortitude saving throw or be stunned for 2d6 rounds. The save DC is Strength-based.

Ice Glide (Su): A glacierdrak can move through frozen liquid as easily as a fish swims through water. Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, and it does not create any ripple or other signs of its presence. A glacierdrak cannot burrow through other solid materials.

Glacierdraks are Lesser Dragons and share none of the additional combat abilities, immunities, feats, class skills, or skill points that True Dragons posses.

Source: Epic Insights - Dragons of the Glacier and the Grave

[Masterbard Alyster Darkharp]

Gravewyrms

Gravewyrm
Huge Dragon
Hit Dice: 60d12+1020 (1,410 hp)
Initiative: +28
Speed: 90 ft. (18 squares), fly 150 (30 squares) (perfect)
Armor Class: 58 (-2 size, +20 Dex, +20 natural, +10 insight), touch 38, flat-footed 38
Base Attack/Grapple: +60/+84
Attack: Bite +74 melee (2d8+16)
Full Attack: Bite +74 melee (2d8+16) and 4 claws +72 melee (2d6+8) and 2 wings +72 melee (1d8+8) and 3 tails +72 melee (2d6+8)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: Breath weapon, command undead, death knell aura, energy drain, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: Blindsight 120 ft., damage reduction 25/epic and good and silver, darkvision 60 ft., immunities (death effects, paralysis, sleep), low-light vision, negative energy affinity, resistance to acid 30, cold 30, electricity 30, spell resistance 56
Saves: Fort +49, Ref +52, Will +46
Abilities: Str 42, Dex 50, Con 44, Int 33, Wis 38, Cha 56
Skills: Balance +26, Bluff +86, Concentration +80, Decipher Script +74, Diplomacy +98, Gather Information +29, Hide +12, Intimidate +92, Jump +22, Knowledge (arcana) +74, Knowledge (architecture and engineering) +74, Knowledge (history) +74, Knowledge (local) +74, Knowledge (religion) +74, Knowledge (the planes) +74, Listen +77, Sense Motive +77, Spellcraft +80, Spot +77, Tumble +83, Use Magic Device +86
Feats: Cleave, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dire Charge, Dodge, Great Cleave, Improved Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved Whirlwind Attack, Mobility, Multiattack, , Quicken Spell-Like Ability (inflict critical wounds), Quicken Spell-Like Ability (heal), Spellcasting Harrier, Spring Attack, Superior Initiative, Undead Mastery, Whirlwind Attack, Zone of Animation
Environment: Any battlefield or graveyard
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 45
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 61-80 HD (Huge), 81-130 HD (Gargantuan), 131-180 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: --

This pallid creature looks like a long, skeletally thin dragon. Its head has large, lidless, solid white orbs for eyes, and numerous bones that look almost like ribs protrude along its head and shoulders. The creature's mouth is more like a cruelly hooked beak, and it contains three long rows of bony ridges instead of teeth. A massive pair of wings with hundreds of tiny bone barbs along the edges fan from its back, and it balances on its legless body. Its body eventually splits into three separate tails, each of which is covered with numerous bony barbs like those on the wings. The cloying stink of open graves exudes from the creature, and lumps of soggy earth seem constantly to dribble from its body.

The gravewyrm is a truly fearsome foe that lurks in massive graveyards and battlefields found on the Outer Planes, particularly those found on the Lower Planes where the Blood War has raged for countless eons. This dragon feeds on the negative energy that animates undead creatures, and while one may suppose that its ravenous appetite for the undead might make it an ally of good, nothing could be further from the truth. The gravewyrm prefers freshly created undead, and it takes great delight in transforming living victims into undead so it can feast on their dead twitching bodies.

Yet gravewyrms are not driven solely by hunger. They are quite intelligent and have forceful, imposing personalities. Many gravewyrms establish massive empires on the sites of huge battlefields or planar necropolises, where they are served by their own armies of undead deemed too old for proper consumption. Many gravewyrms seek portals to the Material Plane and send their undead armies through to harvest the living; countless civilizations through the ages have been depopulated in a manner of weeks by these unholy attentions.

Gravewyrms prefer to speak Draconic, but they usually know a large number of additional languages as well.

Combat

Although gravewyrms are empire builders, they relish the act of combat since it is the best way to get to fresh undead created by its breath weapon. As a result, they are quick to enter a battle alongside their undead minions rather than direct the battle from afar. In combat, a gravewyrm opens with its breath weapon and then follows up with its physical attacks. A gravewyrm often deliberately surrounds itself with its foes so it can make full use of feats like Improved Whirlwind Attack. Its spell-like abilities are used against those few foes it has trouble dealing with in physical combat, and the abilities also help it prepare itself for battle.

Breath Weapon (Su): 90-ft. cone of negative energy, damage 3d6 negative levels; Reflex DC 57 half. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Command Undead (Su): A gravewyrm commands undead as a 60th-level cleric. It can use this ability at will.

Death Knell Aura(Su): Any living creature reduced to negative hit points within a 30-foot-radius of a gravewyrm must make a Fortitude save (DC 57) or immediately suffer the effects of a death knell as if cast by the gravewyrm at caster level 60. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a gravewyrm's melee attacks gain four negative levels. The DC is 63 for the Fortitude save to remove a negative level. The save DC is Charisma-based. For each such negative level bestowed, the gravewyrm gains 5 temporary hit points.

Spell-Like Abilities: At will -- detect undead, displacement, greater teleport, haste, inflict critical wounds (DC 27). 3/day -- destruction (DC 30), heal, harm (DC 29), wail of the banshee (DC 32). 1/day -- demise unseen (DC 33). Caster level 60th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Negative Energy Affinity (Ex): Negative energy damage heals a gravewyrm as if it were an undead creature.


Glacierdraks are Lesser Dragons and share none of the additional combat abilities, immunities, feats, class skills, or skill points that True Dragons posses.

Source: Epic Insights - Dragons of the Glacier and the Grave

[Deleted]

Time Dragon















Source: Dragon Magazine#359