Alternative Chromatic Dragons
I believe most people agree that the way multiple types of dragons are portrayed in trad dungeon fantasy is a bit boring. Different colors, a different element and (slightly) different personality for each one, and that's it. It's not necessarily bad, it works well, but sure there's more that can be done with the concept.
So I had this idea kicking around my head for a little while: What if, the Red Dragon is the only one that exists in that traditional manner, and all other colors are different creatures that are referred to as dragons for being somewhat similar and also absurdly dangerous?Â
Imagine, you're a average adventurer that always heard legends of the might beast that brings unparalleled destruction. You know the basics of it: It breathes fire, has scales, it's intelligent, extremely deadly and nigh unkillable.
Now that same humble adventurer is traversing through a deep forest, and it's ambushed by a massive scaled creature. It's clever and treacherous, spits a deadly poison, it dispatches multiple victims with ease, without barely being harmed. Now do you think that adventurer will carefully ponder about the nature of such creature?
Nope, Green Dragon.
The adventurer after seeing it's companions being devoured, manages to escape alive. Upon reaching the nearmost settlement, tells about the horrifying monster that slaughtered their party. The people are scared, and the story of The Green Dragon of the Forest spreads like wildfire. After a short while, it meets a similar story of a gargantuan beast from colder lands. In no time, you have a handful of "dragons" from different environments.Â
And now it's too late, even if someone manages to study those beings, the rumors are so ingrained in the people's minds that it can be undone. These creatures will be forever known as dragons.Â
After cooking this idea for a while, I made and alternative to each of the chromatic dragons, keeping most of the concept unchanged. As the usual for me, stats are for Cairn and other Mark of the Odd games. But it's easy to convert to any OSR or adjacent game (consider HP = HD and go from there).Â
Also, this is a obligatory read on the subject of running dragons.
The original one
Red Dragon
18 HP, 3 Armor, 18 STR, 12 DEX, 16 WIL, bite (d10), two claws (d8 each), Detachment Scale
- A gargantuan flaming creature, it's wingspan over a hundred feet. Arrogant and greedy, sees everything as its possession and everyone as its servant. Lairs within mountains with high volcanic activity.
- Made of pure fire, is completely unharmed by any form of heat. Any cold vanishes within its presence.
- Fire Breath: The dragon breathes a massive cone of pure flame dealing 12 damage (no roll) to all caught, the flame ignores and destroys any mundane armor. It needs a short rest before being able to do this again.
Basically a giant Atheris Hispida
Green Dragon
12 HP, 2 Armor, 13 STR, 15 DEX, 16 WIL, bite (d10), venom spit (d8, blast), Detachment Scale
- 50 ft long serpentine creature with spiked scales. Dwell in dense forests, staying atop the trees to attack it's victims from above.
- Trick victims to obey it's commands in exchange for their lives, only to devour them anyway when they're no longer useful.
- Critical Damage: The poison takes hold of the victim's body, killing it if an antidote isn't applied within one day.
Blue Dragon
14 HP, 2 Armor, 14 STR, 16 DEX, 15 WIL, bite (d10), claws (d6+d6, blast), Detachment Scale
- A 100 ft. long, centipede-like reptilian creature that dwells in deserts and rocky drylands, specially amidst sandstorms. Proud and vain, often keep victims as slaves. The more prestigious the person, the more the dragon would be interested in keeping it.
- Builds it's lairs by tunneling deep into the earth, and use said tunnels to ambush nearby travelers walking on the surface.
- Thunder Clap: The dragon releases the lightning coalesced in its mouth and claws in a large explosion centered on itself, dealing d12 blast damage and knocking prone any target hit. It needs a short rest before being able to do this again.
Komodo dragon with a dash of giant crocodille
Black Dragon
16 HP, 1 Armor, 13 STR, 18 DEX, 14 WIL, bite (d10), claws (d8+d8), Detachment Scale
- A giant amphibious reptile with glossy black scales. Dwells in swamps and other hostile flooded environments.
- Extremely cruel and violent, makes use of the dark, difficult environment and its surprising agility to separate its victims and kill them one by one.
- Any critical damage saves provoked by the dragon's bite automatically fail, due to its powerful acidic saliva.
This one hasn't changed much, the aesthetic was good enough
White Dragon
16 HP, 1 Armor, 16 STR, 16 DEX, 12 WIL, bite (d10), two claws (d8 each), Detachment Scale
- A massive winged creature of frost, it appears as if the winter itself coalesced into life. Wanders in the coldest regions, along with harsh snowstorms.
- Extremely ferocious, is at the same time a clever hunter and a bestial predator. Tracks everything that lives, as if it was trying to satiate a endless hunger.
- It's always surrounded by a storm of ice and cold wind, dealing d6 blast damage every round to everything nearby, in addition to its normal attacks.
I have thought about metallic dragons too, and I like keeping them as they are and just changing a bit of lore: These are celestial beings created on the shape of the ultimate predator, The Red Dragon. Good enough, but doesn't need much writing.
Nonetheless, now I have been thinking what other families of creatures could use a similar treatment?
For an example, how can I make giants more diverse and interesting? The easy answer will be looking to the Jotnar of norse mythology. But they're a different beast at this point, how can I work the structure of Hill/Stone/Fire/Cloud/Storm Giant into something cooler? Food for thought.
Anyway, thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy this. And tell me if you use them in your game!