Chromatic dragon4/19/2023 ![]() In addition to general suggestions to add flavor to a dragon campaign, Draconomicon offers nine different dragon lairs to assault, with 3 at each level of play. Curses, slippery piles of treasure, enemy prisoners, and other ideas help to spice up an encounter to be more than just some difficult terrain and a dragon. Not just impairing movement, some ideas such as Dazzling Treasure blinds characters that stand too close to the highly reflective metallic objects in a dragon's hoard. My favorite addition here, though, is the use of weird terrain in a dragon's hoard. Examples of how various dragon-focused campaigns may play out at each tier of play are helpful, as are suggested skill challenges that may be worked into a dragon campaign. However, those who have been with Dungeons and Dragons for some time may not care so much for changes in old favorites.Īs for Dming advice, it tends to be a little bland but on the whole is helpful for any DM looking to get a game off the ground. There's nothing wrong with the 4E alterations, indeed many of them make a good deal of sense or are quite creative. Changes continue through here, with such alterations as blue dragons now being associated with storms and coastal areas rather than deserts. While some of the discussion focuses on the physical properties of the dragon, most of it is more interested in where the dragon lairs, how it feeds, and generally what a dragon does to the environment it dwells in. For those that like to consider the possibilities of what a dragon could do in war, simply dying this way may be the most effective means of neutralizing an enemy's key resources.Įach of the five chromatic dragons, as well as some new dragons such as the brown dragon, receives a few pages of discussion. Indeed, it's even possible that a feature such as a volcano might exist solely because it's a place where one or more red dragons have gone to die rather than it being a place that already existed that simply drew dragons there. I quite like this addition as it results in dragon graveyards taking on the elemental aspect of the dragon. One possible way dragons may die is through a process called elemental diffusion where the dragon's associated element continues to grow within until it overwhelms the dragon, causing local devastation as that element takes control. For example, a dragon who eats a magic item can make use of that item for some time after consuming it and this allows a dragon to super charge itself when faced with grave danger.Īnother change is in the lifecycle of the dragon. ![]() Those dragons who are unable to find enough meat to sustain their lives can instead eat their hoard, and doing so can also confer certain powerful benefits. Of particular note, discussion of dragon physiology focuses in on the role the dragon hoard plays in their development. This information, and the book as a whole, deviates sharply from previous presentations of dragons in a variety of ways. Right off the bat the reader is provided with more information on dragon society, physiology, hoards, and similar background information on these creatures. Basic background information on dragons, including their physiology, is presented before moving on to a variety of encounter areas, new monsters, and signature dragons. Under the Cover Draconomicon focuses in on presenting information on the evil Chromatic Dragons and is meant to be an antagonist accessory for 4E Dungeons and Dragons. Good editing and useful formatting have made this book easy to work with while at the gaming table. Beautiful illustrations of dragons really do a great job of setting mood and inspiring the reader, while many helpful map illustrations flesh out the encounters. The Physical Thing Draconomicon includes a lot of beautiful content in its 256 pages, but for $39.95 it's only slightly nicer than what I would expect. The book doesn't quite measure up to the 3.5 Draconomicon, but then this is meant to be a product much more focused on evil dragons and dragons in play rather than a general aid. A few paragon-tier named dragons would have been a nice addition. ![]() The Bad: The named dragons are mostly 30+, which makes sense but does limit the usefulness of the material for some campaigns. The Good: Lots of worthwhile support material greatly expands a DM's options when it comes to dragon-focused campaigns. ![]() With monster stats, encounter maps, and worthwhile discussion on the nature of dragons this book is an excellent resource for any campaign featuring frequent encounters with dragons. Featuring the classic five evil dragons along with a variety of alternatives, such as Brown and Purple dragons, Draconomicon offers comprehensive coverage of all evil dragon types. In Short Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons sets out to provide a DM with a host of interesting encounters with evil dragons. ![]()
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