Dragons

Dragons are, in many ways, the archetypal adversaries in OSRIC-compatible games. Some dragons are weak enough that even a relatively low level party can have a chance to fight a dragon—while others are powerful enough to pose a challenge even to a high-level party. Even parties of very high average level may well struggle to defeat a mated pair, or family group, of elder dragons!

Dragons come in various colours. In many campaigns, these colours are literal—fire-breathing dragons really do always have red scales—but in others, they may be metaphorical, allowing (for example) a green or brown "red" dragon. Some campaigns also allow the possibility of dragons with more than 8 hp per die and dragons with d10, d12 or even larger Hit Die are possible.

There are some traits that are generally common to all dragons, no matter the colour or alignment. First, if issued with a formal challenge, a dragon will sometimes agree to fight until subdued rather than to the death. The GM should rule about the likelihood of the dragon’s acceptance and the conditions that apply, since these will depend on the nature of the challenge and the alignment of the dragon. Second, dragons grow more powerful as they age. Generally, a newly-hatched dragon should be given 1 hp per die, while a very ancient one (defined as being in excess of 400 years of age) will have 8. Third, dragons radiate an aura of fear (as the 4th level magic user spell) affecting creatures of less than 5th level unless they save vs magic. Last, dragons with 5 or more hp per die gain a bonus of +1 to their saving throw rolls per hp/die in excess of 4. Thus an ancient dragon with 8 hp per die saves at +4.

Dragon, Black

Viking champions such as Ragnar Loþbrok and Sigurd the Volsung fought fearsome dragons that spewed a corrosive venom, deadly to the touch. These dragons are the deadly black dragons. Black dragons are found mostly in swamps, marshes and deep, dark caves.

Black dragons only occasionally (30%) are known to speak, only rarely (10%) cast magic, but often (50%) will be found asleep. If the dragon is asleep, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it will awaken in the presence of adventurers. Dragons also sometimes feign sleep.

If a black dragon can cast spells, it will gain spells as a magic user of a level equal to one half of its age category. So, an ancient black dragon casts as a 4th level magic user.

Black dragon breath is a stream of corrosive, acidic venom, 50 ft long and 5 ft wide. It does damage equal to the dragon’s hit points (but a save vs dragon breath halves this amount). The dragon may use this breath weapon up to three times per day.

Treasure: (For a typical individual) 5d6×1,000 cp (25%), 1d100×1,000 sp (40%), 1d4×10,000 ep (40%), 1d6×10,000 gp (55%), 5d10×100 pp (25%), 1d100 gems (50%), 1d4×10 jewellery (50%), 4 magic items plus 1 potion and 1 scroll (15%).

Dragon, Blue

The deserts of the southern lands are home to the deadly blue dragons. These creatures dwell in vast caves in arid lands coming forth to visit their enemies and innocent victims with deadly lightning attacks.

Blue dragons often (60%) are known to speak, only sometimes (30%) cast magic, but sometimes will (30%) be found asleep. If the dragon is asleep, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it will awaken in the presence of adventurers. Dragons also sometimes feign sleep.

If a blue dragon can cast spells, it gains spells as if it were a wizard of a level equal to its age category.

Blue dragon breath is a bolt of lighting, 100 ft long and 5 ft wide. It does damage equal to the dragon’s hit points (but a save vs dragon breath halves this amount). The dragon may use this breath weapon up to three times per day.

Treasure: (For a typical individual) 5d6×1,000 cp (25%), 1d100×1,000 sp (40%), 1d4×10,000 ep (40%), 1d6×10,000 gp (55%), 5d10×100 pp (25%), 1d100 gems (50%), 1d4×10 jewellery (50%), 4 magic items plus 1 potion and 1 scroll (15%), 2d4 potions (40%).

Dragon, Brass

The blue dragons of the desert must contend with their deadly rivals, the brass dragons, who love the same arid caves. The brass dragons are not the vicious killers that the blue dragons are, although their good nature is sometimes overcome with doses of greed and self-interest.

Brass dragons sometimes (30%) are known to speak, only sometimes (30%) cast magic, but oftentimes will (50%) be found asleep. If the dragon is asleep, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it will awaken in the presence of adventurers. Dragons also sometimes feign sleep.

If a brass dragon can cast spells, it gains spells as if it were a wizard of a level equal to one-half of its age category.

Brass dragon breath is either a cone of sleep-inducing gas (70 ft by 20 ft), or a cone of fear gas (40 ft by 50 ft, by 20 ft). Anyone within the cloud must save or fall deeply asleep or run in fear (duration of either effect is 10 minutes). Saves against a small dragon’s breath are at a +2, but against a large dragon’s breath are at a –2.

Treasure: (For a typical individual) 5d6×1,000 cp (25%), 1d100×1,000 sp (40%), 1d4×10,000 ep (40%), 1d6×10,000 gp (55%), 5d10×100 pp (25%), 1d100 gems (50%), 1d4×10 jewellery (50%), 4 magic items plus 1 potion and 1 scroll (15%).

Dragon, Bronze

The reclusive bronze dragons live in caverns in temperate climates. They are interested in the ways of humanity and often use shape-changing powers to watch, observe and help people. They prefer to have their lairs in places isolated from prying eyes, however, and thus often place their entrances in lakes or ponds. They have found that their treasure hordes are tempting targets for evil or even neutral adventurers.

Bronze dragons often (60%) are known to speak, and (60%) cast magic, but sometimes will (25%) be found asleep. If the dragon is asleep, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it will awaken in the presence of adventurers. Dragons also sometimes feign sleep.

If a bronze dragon can cast spells, it gains spells as if it were a wizard of a level equal to its age category.

Bronze dragon breath is a bolt of lightning, 100 ft long and 5 ft wide. It does damage equal to the dragon’s hit points (but a save vs dragon breath halves this amount); or it may breathe a cloud of repulsion gas (20 × 30 × 30 ft) which requires all subjects to save vs dragon breath or be repulsed for 6 minutes. The dragon may use breath weapons up to three times per day.

Treasure: (For a typical individual) 5d6×1,000 cp (25%), 1d100×1,000 sp (40%), 1d4×10,000 ep (40%), 1d6×10,000 gp (55%), 5d10×100 pp (25%), 1d100 gems (50%), 1d4×10 jewellery (50%), 4 magic items plus 1 potion and 1 scroll (15%), 2d4 potions (40%), 1d4 scrolls (50%).

Dragon, Copper

Copper dragons live in a similar climate to blue dragons.

Copper dragons often (45%) are known to speak, and sometimes (40%) cast magic, but sometimes (40%) will be found asleep. If the dragon is asleep, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it will awaken in the presence of adventurers. Dragons also sometimes feign sleep.

If a copper dragon can cast spells, it gains spells as if it were a magic user of a level equal to its age category.

Copper dragon breath is a blast of acid like a black dragon’s breath that does damage equal to the dragon’s hit points (but a save vs dragon breath halves this amount); or it may breathe a cloud of slowing gas (20 × 30 × 30 ft) which requires all subjects to save vs breath weapon or be slowed (as the spell) for 6 minutes. The dragon may use breath weapons up to three times per day.

Treasure: (For a typical individual) 5d6×1,000 cp (25%), 1d100×1,000 sp (40%), 1d4×10,000 ep (40%), 1d6×10,000 gp (55%), 5d10×100 pp (25%), 1d100 gems (50%), 1d4×10 jewellery (50%), 4 magic items plus 1 potion and 1 scroll (15%), 2d4 potions (40%).

Dragon, Gold

Often shaped like the sinuous dragons of oriental myth, gold dragons epitomize law and goodness, and are typically just and kindly. They are interested in the ways of man and often use shape-changing powers to watch, observe and help people. They prefer to have their lairs in places isolated from prying eyes, however, and thus often place their entrances in lakes or ponds. They have found that their treasure hordes are tempting targets for evil or even neutral adventurers.

Gold dragons almost always speak (90%), and if they can speak, always (100%) cast magic. Occasionally (10%), they will be found asleep. If the dragon is asleep, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it will awaken in the presence of adventurers. Dragons also sometimes feign sleep.

A gold dragon gains spells as if it were a magic user of a level equal to its age category.

Gold dragon breath is a blast of fire (like that of a red dragon) or a cloud of poison gas (like a green dragon), at the dragon’s option. The dragon may use breath weapons up to three times per day.

Treasure: (For a typical individual) 5d6×1,000 cp (25%), 1d100×1,000 sp (40%), 1d4×10,000 ep (40%), 2d6×10,000 gp (55%), 10d10×100 pp (25%), 7d20 gems (50%), 1d6×10 jewellery (50%), 4 magic items plus 1 potion and 1 scroll (15%), 2d4 potions (40%), 1d4 scrolls (50%).

Dragon, Green

Particularly renowned for their foul temper, which is said to be even more venomous than their breath, green dragons prefer to live in caverns or ruins in or near forests.

Green dragons sometimes (45%) speak, rarely (20%) cast magic, and will sometimes (40%) be found asleep. If the dragon is asleep, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it will awaken in the presence of adventurers. Dragons also sometimes feign sleep.

If a green dragon can cast spells, it will do so as a magic user equal to its age category. Thus a green dragon with 6 hit points per die can cast spells as if it were a 6th level magic user. Owing to the magical nature of the creature, it does not require somatic or material components to its spells—it need only speak the incantation.

Green dragon breath is a cloud of toxic gas, 50 ft long, 40 ft wide, and 30 ft high. The dragon may use this breath weapon up to three times per day.

Treasure: (For a typical individual) 5d6×1,000 cp (25%), 1d100×1,000 sp (40%), 1d4×10,000 ep (40%), 1d6×10,000 gp (55%), 5d10×100 pp (25%), 1d100 gems (50%), 1d4×10 jewellery (50%), 4 magic items plus 1 potion and 1 scroll (15%), 2d4 potions (40%), 1d4 scrolls (50%).

Dragon, Red

The archetypal red dragon is Smaug from The Hobbit.

Red dragons usually (80%) speak, sometimes (40%) cast magic, and will sometimes (20%) be found asleep. If the dragon is asleep, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it will awaken in the presence of adventurers. Dragons also sometimes feign sleep.

If a red dragon can cast spells, it will do so as a magic user equal to its age category. Thus a red dragon with 6 hit points per die can cast spells as if it were a 6th level magic user. Owing to the magical nature of the creature, it does not require somatic (hand gestures) or material components to its spells—it need only speak the incantation.

Red dragon breath is a cone of flame, 90 ft long and 15 ft radius at the base, emanating from the mouth of the creature. It does damage equal to the dragon’s hit points (but a save vs dragon breath halves this amount). The dragon may use this breath weapon up to three times per day.

Treasure: (For a typical individual) 5d6×1,000 cp (25%), 1d100×1,000 sp (40%), 1d4×10,000 ep (40%), 1d6×10,000 gp (55%), 5d10×100 pp (25%), 1d100 gems (50%), 1d4×10 jewellery (50%), 4 magic items plus 1 potion and 1 scroll (15%), 2d4 potions (40%), 1d4 scrolls (50%).

Dragon, Silver

Dwelling in high places such as mountaintops or among the clouds, like gold dragons, silver dragons epitomize law and goodness. They are interested in the ways of man and often use shape-changing powers to watch, observe and help people. They prefer to have their lairs in places isolated from prying eyes, however, and thus often place their entrances in lakes or ponds. They have found that their treasure hordes are tempting targets for evil or even neutral adventurers.

Silver dragons usually speak (75%), and if they can speak, usually (75%) cast magic. Occasionally (15%), they will be found asleep. If the dragon is asleep, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it will awaken in the presence of adventurers. Dragons also sometimes feign sleep.

A silver dragon gains spells as if it were a wizard of a level equal to its age category.

Silver dragon breath is a blast of frost (like that of a white dragon) or a cloud of paralysing gas (like a green dragon except those who fail their saves are paralysed for 3d4 turns), at the dragon’s option. The dragon may use breath weapons up to three times per day.

Treasure: (For a typical individual) 5d6×1,000 cp (25%), 1d100×1,000 sp (40%), 1d4×10,000 ep (40%), 1d6×10,000 gp (55%), 5d10×100 pp (25%), 1d100 gems (50%), 1d4×10 jewellery (50%), 4 magic items plus 1 potion and 1 scroll (15%), 1d4 scrolls (50%).

Dragon, White

Almost the antithesis of the fiery red dragon is the frost-rimed white dragon of the frigid north. Although lesser than their red cousins in size, power and intelligence, they are at least as evil.

White dragons only rarely (20%) are known to speak, very rarely (5%) cast magic, but frequently (60%) will be found asleep. If the dragon is asleep, there is a 1 in 6 chance that it will awaken in the presence of adventurers. Dragons also sometimes feign sleep.

If a white dragon can cast spells, it will gain spells as a magic user of a level equal to one half of its age category. So, an ancient white dragon casts as a 4th level magic user.

White dragon breath is a cone of deadly frost, 50 ft long and 25 ft diameter at the base. It does damage equal to the dragon’s hit points (but a save vs breath weapons halves this amount). The dragon may use this breath weapon up to three times per day.

Treasure: (For a typical individual) 1d12×1,000 cp (15%), 1d20×1,000 sp (25%), 1d6×1,000 ep (25%), 1d8×1,000 gp (25%), 1d12 gems (15%), 1d8 jewellery (10%), 3 magic items plus 2d4 potions and 1 scroll (25%).