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This will be the central writings on how Dragons will be handled within my campaign. Other users are more than welcome to take and adapt these ideas to their campaigns.
I'll be limiting the dragons to the classic Chromatic and Metallic Dragons. The Homebrew changes below will account for other looks and appearances, as I intend for dragons to be more detailed than standard monsters and each capable of being unique.
The first major change from standard 5E will be that as noted in the base homebrew rules, every dragon may take a single class. Since dragons are a very powerful race to begin with, player characters and NPCs directed through campaigns can advance with these classes at a rate of 1 level per 50,000 experience points. They can achieve level 20 with this class.
(Note: Since we use Roll20, you can update the character sheets with said information, once creating a base character sheet. https://roll20.net/ The class will still advance under the standard values, so the homebrew advancement rate will have to be tracked separately.)
Dragons start with base total stats that are too high to allow for level related gains. Dragons will gain neither attributes nor feats from their classes. They can still improve from wishes, magic items and blessings, just like normal characters.
Under homebrew, they may use Hero or Dark points equal to their hit dice + level. This is up to the potential cap of 50 Hero points or Dark points.
Under homebrew, they may use the number of additional attunement slots equal to their hit dice + level. This is up to the potential cap of 9 attunement slots at 20th level.
Every dragon will have a background, regardless of whether they have a class or not. Dragons older than Wyrmling will have the option to hide within the humanoid and natural world. From this time, in their younger, more vulnerable state, dragons will learn the background to survive.
Dragon Age Categories
Wyrmling (5 years or less)
Young (6-100 years) *capable of shape changing and assuming a false identity
Adult (101-800 years) *capable of reproduction
Ancient (801 years or more) *assumed to be a possible 3,000 year lifespan
Matching what is written above, as the homebrew answer to the actual origin of every Sorcerer Bloodline and the actual origin of the Dragonborn, any chromatic or metallic dragon listed herein may change shape as a silver or gold dragon. These forms can age normally or not age at all, per the dragons preference.
The age of the form is not limited to the actual dragon age. That said a young dragon assuming an adult form will not be capable of reproduction, nor will it have any drive to reproduce in the first place. Dragons effectively go through puberty, both mentally and physically, in their 101st year.
Roll20 summary:
Change Shape: The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the dragon's choice).
In a new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.
Dragons must hide from the hyper competitive nature of the chromatic dragons, once they leave the nest. Chromatic Dragons will not only kill weaker Metallic Dragons on site, they will kill weaker Chromatic Dragons on site, including those of their own breed as long as they are not of their own Brood.
Thus, they can spend large parts of their lives moving in the worlds of the wild or those of humanoids. A dragon in an alternate form, will not be noticed by anything less than something using True Seeing or True Sight. Most things that can identify a dragon in the middle of a town will take great care not to provoke the dragon's paranoia or wrath.
Dragons in these pretend lifetimes of posing to be a different race sometimes fall into the desires of the body they have assumed. Any male dragon that mates with a human, demi-human or humanoid will impregnate the female involved with a child that carries the blood of a sorcerer bloodline. Any female dragon that does the same will give birth to the same if she keeps the form throughout that races standard pregnancy. If she can't, the child inside her will also transmute and become a Dragonborn for whom she now must lay the egg for and guard if she still hopes for it to hatch.
A shape changed dragon story from a South Korean Author told by Mystery Manhwa:
Chromatic Dragon
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Chromatic_dragon
Chromatic dragons were a type of dragon distinguished typically by a solid, non-reflective coloring of their scales, hence the name. They were generally evil, greedy, and predatory, and usually worshiped Tiamat, whom they regarded as their queen.[2]
It was believed by scholars from Candlekeep that all species of chromatic dragons evolved from the proto-dragon species of the inficedraco genus.[4]
Types
Although there were many chromatic dragon species, the following are the ones known by sages of Faerûn:
- Red dragons
- Red dragons were greedy, chaotic evil creatures, interested only in their own well-being, vanity, and the extension of their treasure hoards. They were supremely confident, being the largest and most powerful of the chromatic dragons. Typically found living in mountainous regions, they breathed a cone of fire.[5]
- Black dragons
- Black dragons, or skull dragons, were the most vile-tempered and cruel of all chromatic dragons. Excellent swimmers who normally lived in swamps and marshes, they preferred ambush attacks. They had a corrosiveacidbreath weapon.[6]
- Blue dragons
- Blue dragons, or storm dragons, were manipulative, lawful evil chromatics who were infamous for their skill at creating hallucinations, and their cruel use of such things. They preferred aerial combat, which allowed them to use their electrical breath weapon most efficiently. Blue dragons most often lived in arid wastelands and deserts.[7]They were the second most powerful of the chromatic dragons.
- Green dragons
- Green dragons were highly territorial, deceptive, forest-dwelling creatures who loved secrets and intrigue. Although lawful evil, they were duplicitous and cunning foes who loved combat. They were the third most powerful of the chromatic dragons. Their breath weapon was a cone of poisonous green gas.[8]
- White dragons White dragons, also called ice dragons or glacial wyrms, were the smallest and weakest of the classic chromatic dragons. However, they were by no means harmless. White dragons were extremely well-suited to their arctic habitat and had excellent memories. They were more feral than other dragons, though, and always chaotic evil. They breathed a cone of ice or frost.[9]
AJ Pickett's Tiamat
Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Tiamat
Black Dragon
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Black_dragon
Black dragons, also known as skull dragons,[9]were far and away the most vile tempered and cruel of all chromatic dragons. They were solitary creatures[10]that lived in the swamps and marshlands all around Toril, from the Flooded Forest in Sembiato the jungles of Chult.[11]
Black dragons appeared abnormally slender in comparison to other chromatic dragons—wiry, but not gaunt. Physically, they were most distinguished by their horns, which protruded from the sides of their heads and wrapped around, projecting forward. A large frill adorned the upper part of the neck. They smelled like rotting vegetation and foul water. A black dragon grew up to a maximum size of 16 feet (4.9 meters) tall, 85 feet (26 meters) in length, with a wingspan of 80 feet (24 meters). They weighed up to 159,000 pounds (72,100 kilograms).[12]
Personality
Solitary and extremely territorial in their nature, black dragons would seldom form clans, opting to do so only when they lived in the most hazardous of environments or when faced with a danger that could wipe out large swaths of their population.[10]
Combat
Black dragons preferred ambushes to straightforward fighting.[9]
Breath Weapon
Black dragons breathed a stream of acid.[6][5]
Ecology
Lair
Black dragons lived in swamps, jungles and fetid marshlands.[11]They were cunning creatures who lived to inspire fear and rule by intimidation. The black, glossy scales of black dragons added to their camouflage within swamp lands. They preferred to ambush their targets, using darkness or water as their cover. They were excellent swimmers and often made their lairs in submerged caves or underground chambers near swamps or murky ponds. Their lairs always had two entrances: one underwater through the adjacent swamp or pond, and one above-ground, disguised amidst the undergrowth.[13]
Parenting & Development
Female dragons took the lead when it came to breeding, choosing their mate largely based on the size of the hoard of prospective males. Because of this, male black dragons would often brag about their accumulated wealth to communicative creatures or others of their own kind, in the hopes that rumors of their hoard would spread to any females in the area that were looking to mate. When two or more females selected the same male as their partner, they would fight for dominance high in the air above the lair of the male, allowing him to gaze upon his future mate's victory in admiration.[10]
Black dragons were not noted as good parents, relying more upon disguise and hiding to protect their eggs than upon guarding them personally. Black dragon eggs must be submerged in strong acid while growing, which helped protect the dragon as well.[14]Black dragons would only protect their young so long as that responsibility didn't threaten their own life. If they had to choose between saving their own life or those of their clutch or spawn, they would most certainly choose the former; though they would assuredly seek revenge afterwards.[10]
Diet
A black dragon's diet consisted of fish, mollusks, aquatic critters and some red meat from terrestrial animals.[13]
Regions
The skies over the southwestern Bay of Chessenta and southern Chondalwood have been the source of multiple sightings of black dragons. Reports from the jungles of Chult of dense, multi-layered tropical forest complete with its own ecosystem, were highlighted with tales of black dragons living within the canopy.[11]
Cultural Significance
The iconography of the Purple Dragon Knights of Cormyr stemmed from the legend of the great black dragon Thauglor, who once dominated the area upon which the kingdom was built.[15]
Black dragons sometimes served the dark Chultan demigod Eshowdow, and were seen as good omens by his followers.[16]
Trivia
According to Fizban the Fabulous, black dragons took the longest time for Tiamat to craft and create.[3]
Notable Black Dragons
- Alglaudyx, a former black dragon that achieved lichdom before being destroyed.[17]
- Amnemis, who allied herself with the Cult of the Dragon and dwelled within the Well of Dragons.[17]
- Arlauthra, known as "Many talons".[17]
- Arngalor, a black wyrm who lived in a cave near Arkhen Falls.[17]
- Boglarmanthor, also known as "Acridtooth", who lived in the Marsh of Deception.[18][19]
- Chardansearavitriol, also known as "Ebondeath."[20]
- Daurgothoth, also known as “The Creeping Doom”, who embraced undeath and hunted the world as a dracolich.[21]
- Despayr, son of Skurge.
- Hethcypressarvil[22], a dracolich formally known as Cypress the Black, finally destroyed in1362 DR.
- Insithryllaxan ally of the red wizard Marek Rymüt.
- Kazmil-urshula-kelloakizilian, also known as "Urshula the Black", "The Black Beast of Vaasa" and "The Beast of the Bog".[23]
- Maelestor Rex, the ancient dragon of the High Moor.[24]
- Mergandevinasander, who lived on the Chultan peninsula.[17][25]
- Rakor, a dragon who dealt with the Cult of the Dragonand sought the helmet of disjunction.[26][27]
- Ralas, who lived in the swamp of Karatorn.[28]
- Shift, of the Farsea Marshesin Cormyr.[29]
- Sjachmalsvir, also known as "Thoss Fyurnen" and "Sun Swallower" who was the self-proclaimed Chosen of Talona.[30]
- Skurge, who dominated much of the tunlands.
- Thauglorimorgorus, also known as "Thauglor", "Black Doom" and "King of the Forest Country"[31]
- Tyra, Daughter of Skurge
- Ueurwen, who lived in the swamp of Karatorn with her mate Ralas.[28]
- Voaraghamanthar, also known as “The Black Death” and "Weszlum". He shared the title of "Wyrm of the Mere" with his twin sibling Waervaerendor.[21]
- Waervaerendor, also known as "Wuzlor" and who shared the title of "Wyrm of the Mere" with his twin sibling Voaraghamanthar. Also the self-proclaimed "Rapacious Raider".[21]
- Zarlandris, who died in1373 DR when he attacked Highmoon.[32]
AJ Pickett's
Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Black Dragon
Black Dragon Wyrmling
These D&D 5E Free Basic Rules only contain a fraction of the races, subclasses, backgrounds, feats, items, monsters, spells, and other content available on Roll20. Check out the Player's Handbook to add dozens of more player options to the Charactermancer, the Dungeon Master's Guide to expand on the tools available for DMs, and the Monster Manual to add hundreds of more unique creatures (including token artwork) to fightTraits
Amphibious: The dragon can breathe air and water.
Actions
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage plus 2 (1d4) acid damage.
Acid Breath (Recharge 5-6): The dragon exhales acid in a 15-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (5d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Attributes
Young Black Dragon
These D&D 5E Free Basic Rules only contain a fraction of the races, subclasses, backgrounds, feats, items, monsters, spells, and other content available on Roll20. Check out the Player's Handbook to add dozens of more player options to the Charactermancer, the Dungeon Master's Guide to expand on the tools available for DMs, and the Monster Manual to add hundreds of more unique creatures (including token artwork) to fight!
Traits
Amphibious: The dragon can breathe air and water.
Actions
Multiattack: The dragon makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) acid damage.
Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
Acid Breath (Recharge 5-6): The dragon exhales acid in a 30-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 49 (11d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Attributes
Adult Black Dragon
These D&D 5E Free Basic Rules only contain a fraction of the races, subclasses, backgrounds, feats, items, monsters, spells, and other content available on Roll20. Check out the Player's Handbook to add dozens of more player options to the Charactermancer, the Dungeon Master's Guide to expand on the tools available for DMs, and the Monster Manual to add hundreds of more unique creatures (including token artwork) to fight! Traits
Amphibious: The dragon can breathe air and water.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack: The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) acid damage.
Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.
Tail: Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Frightful Presence: Each creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Acid Breath (Recharge 5-6): The dragon exhales acid in a 60-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 54 (12d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Legendary Actions
Can take 3 Legendary Actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature's turn. Spent legendary actions are regained at the start of each turn.
Detect: The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Tail Attack: The dragon makes a tail attack.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions): The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 10 ft. of the dragon must succeed on a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or take 13 (2d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
Attributes
Ancient Black Dragon
These D&D 5E Free Basic Rules only contain a fraction of the races, subclasses, backgrounds, feats, items, monsters, spells, and other content available on Roll20. Check out the Player's Handbook to add dozens of more player options to the Charactermancer, the Dungeon Master's Guide to expand on the tools available for DMs, and the Monster Manual to add hundreds of more unique creatures (including token artwork) to fight! Traits
Amphibious: The dragon can breathe air and water.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack: The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) piercing damage plus 9 (2d8) acid damage.
Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 8) slashing damage.
Tail: Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage.
Frightful Presence: Each creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Acid Breath (Recharge 5-6): The dragon exhales acid in a 90-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 22 Dexterity saving throw, taking 67 (15d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Legendary Actions
Can take 3 Legendary Actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature's turn. Spent legendary actions are regained at the start of each turn.
Detect: The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Tail Attack: The dragon makes a tail attack.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions): The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 15 ft. of the dragon must succeed on a DC 23 Dexterity saving throw or take 15 (2d6 + 8) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
Attributes
Reserved
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Blue_dragon
Blue dragons, also known as storm dragons,[7] were orderly creatures and are unusual for chromatics in that they keep fairly well-ordered, hierarchical societies. They were more likely to be mocking and manipulative than outrightly cruel or murderous to 'lesser' creatures, aided greatly by their natural talents for hallucination. They were infamous for tricking desert travelers into drinking sand or going miles out of their way to avoid nonexistent dust basins. Their breath weapon was a line of lightning or a large electrical discharge.
Blue dragons were physically distinguished by the single large horn protruding from their heads and also by their ears, which were rather large and frilled. The neck is short and broad, with spines growing from it. The tail is thick and bumpy, like that of a crocodile. The wings are more pronounced than most other species'. They smelled like electricity or sand.
A dragon egg could be identified as belonging to a blue by the web of thin blue lines seen when held in front of an intense white light.[8]
Combat
The blue dragon excelled at aerial combat, perhaps more so than any other species of dragon. Their lightning discharges were very easy to aim at other aerial foes, or at creatures below them on the ground. They were also extremely adept at burrowing in sand, and often lie in wait just below the surface of the desert for prey. When they were so burrowed, their large horns could easily be mistaken for pointed desert rocks.
Breath weapon
Blue dragons used a shocking burst of lightning.
Lair
Blue dragons were native to arid wastelands and deserts. They made their lairs in underground caves; easily accessible to the dragons, as they could burrow through the ground. These dragons would fly above their territory, using the bleak landscape and its sparse terrain features as their best chance of spotting opponents. The typical blue dragon lair was dug into one of the towering rock formations that dominate desert landscapes. As with all dragon lairs, the blue dragon's lair would have two entrances: one at ground level and hidden by the sand, and one opening onto a high ledge on which it could perch and survey its territory. Each lair also had a large subterranean cavern with a large pool of water and a sandy beach, which its inhabitant would use for drinking and relaxation.
Parenting and development
Despite their evil nature, blue dragons were actually excellent parents to their young, and would rarely leave their eggs unattended. Blue dragon eggs must be buried in warm sand to incubate. Blue wyrmlings were actually quite cute, but they were quick to taunt any other creature, and even quicker to hunt small desert creatures for food.
Notable Blue dragons
- Abazigal, a Bhaalspawn Dragon (some consider half-dragon) that was a member of "The Five" during Year of the Gauntlet, 1369 DR (From Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal)
- Alasklerbanbastos, also known as "The Great Bone Wyrm", a dracolich ruling Threskel
- Anaxaster and Chezzaran, offspring of Iymrith, living in Ascore
- Araugauthos, also known as "The Bluetalon", imprisoned in the ruins of Undermountain
- Arharzel, the offspring of Roraurim and Faenphaele[9]
- Clytemorrenestrix, also known as "Nestrix" and "The Terror of the Calim" who was turned into a human during the Spellplague
- Eshaedra, the mate of Nahaunglaroth.[9]
- Faenphaele, Roraurim's mate.[9]
- Gloriankithsanus
- Idrizraele, Kizilpazar's mate.[9]
- Iryklathagra, also known as "Sharpfangs" who plagued the Lands of Intrigue.
- Iymrith, also known as "The Doom of the Desert" in Anauroch.[10]
- Kizilpazar, patriarch of the Morueme clan, from 1018 DR to 1371 DR.[11][9]
- Krashos Morueme, who professed to be "Quevven Jusztiirn", a venerable drowmage.[12]
- Lennithon, an participant in the raid on Greenest and associate of the Cult of the Dragon in the 1480s DR.[13]
- Maldraedior
- Nahaunglaroth, co-leader of the Blood of Morueme since 1371 DR.[9]
- Nystalancer, transformed into a human by the archmage Arcturia in the Arcturiadoom level of Undermountain.[14]
- Olothontor, also known as "The Minstrel Wyrm", whose lair was not far from Waterdeep.[15]
- Roraurim, co-leader of the Blood of Morueme since 1371 DR[9]
- Saluuknir, also known as "The Blue Vishap", trapped within the Urn of the Blue Vishap[16]
- Sapphiraktar the Blue, an ancient male blue dracolich.
- Venasorrn, transformed into a human by the archmage Arcturia in the Arcturiadoom level of Undermountain.[14]
- Anwir Dupretiskava, an ancient blue dragon and the disguised head of state of Var the Golden.
AJ Pickett's
Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon Wyrmling
These D&D 5E Free Basic Rules only contain a fraction of the races, subclasses, backgrounds, feats, items, monsters, spells, and other content available on Roll20. Check out the Player's Handbook to add dozens of more player options to the Charactermancer, the Dungeon Master's Guide to expand on the tools available for DMs, and the Monster Manual to add hundreds of more unique creatures (including token artwork) to fight
Actions
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) lightning damage.
Lightning Breath (Recharge 5-6): The dragon exhales lightning in a 30-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Attributes
