Let’s Convert the Monster Manual: Metallic Dragons

Dungeon Crawl Classics doesn’t use the chromatic and metallic scheme of devising dragons which is prevalent in Dungeons & Dragons as well as in the original Monster Manual. When converting materials from D&D to DCC, I have found that completely reworking dragons into their DCC versions is the best policy. Sometimes, however, you might want to retain the original version more closely to match an environment, the dragon’s allies, or the tone of a module or module series.

Therefore, I am presenting average specimens of the metallic dragons in DCC terms, similar to what I did for the chromatic dragons. Regardless of alignment, all metallic dragons are good.

The dragon generator at Purple Sorcerer Games is highly recommended in this regard.

In my experience good-aligned dragons are used less often than adversarial (evil) ones. The obvious exception to this is the dragon that appears to be some vulnerable NPC, which is there just to teach the PCs a much-needed lesson in humility. To my mind, this is somewhat unfortunate, as trying to depict a monster’s point of view is one of the joys of role-playing.

Interestingly enough, the gold dragon is the only non-unique dragon in the original Monster Manual not to have a Latinate name. I have fixed that here.

Brass Dragon: Init +7; Atk claw +8 melee (1d8) or bite +8 melee (1d12) or breath weapon or spell; AC 17; HD 7d12; MV 50’ or fly 100’; Act 3d20 plus 1d16 (spells); SP breath weapon (3/day, 60’ cone of sleep gas with 20’ base, Fort DC 17 or fall into deep sleep for 2d6 turns), breath weapon (3/day, 20’ diameter cloud of fear gas up to 30’ away, Will DC 17 or flee in terror for 2d6 rounds), spellcasting (1d16+4, spells: enlarge, invoke patron, Nythuul's porcupine coat, and mirror image); SV Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +7; AL C.

The highly intelligent brass dragon (draco impudentus gallus) inhabits cavernous lairs in sandy desert regions. Quite forward by nature, and both selfish and greedy to boot, brass dragons love to converse with other creatures. When suitably flattered, they remember their better nature most of the time.

Bronze Dragon: Init +8; Atk claw +9 melee (1d8) or bite +9 melee (1d12) or tail slap +9 melee (1d20) or breath weapon or spell; AC 18; HD 8d12; MV 50’ or fly 100’; Act 4d20 plus 1d20 (spells); SP breath weapon (3/day, 1d4 forks of electricity 3d6x 10’ long, damage equal to hp, DC 18 Reflex for half), breath weapon (3/day, repulsion gas cloud 30’ diameter up to 60’ away, DC 20 Will or be pushed directly away from dragon 1d6 x 10’ per round for 1d6 rounds), dive bomb attack (from air, +4 to hit and +1d8 damage, claws and bite only), shapechange (animal shape), amphibious, spellcasting (1d20+4, spells: locate object, magic shield, and ropework); SV Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +8; AL L.

The rare bronze dragons (draco gerus bronzo) prefer to dwell in subterranean lairs near substantial bodies of water such as lakes or seas. Despite their love of wealth, bronze dragons are basically of beneficent nature. They often assume the form of some animal in order to observe the affairs of humans.

Copper Dragon: Init +6; Atk claw +7 melee (1d8) or bite +7 melee (1d12) or breath weapon; AC 16; HD 6d12; MV 50’ or fly 100’; Act 3d20; SP breath weapon (3/day, 60’ line of acid, damage equal to h
p, DC 16 Reflex for half), breath weapon (3/day, slowing gas up to 90’away, 1d3 x 10’ radius, DC 16 Fort or move speed and actions are halved for 1d6 minutes), poison (DC 16 Fort or 2d4Stamina damage), clear passage; SV Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +6; AL C.

The highly intelligent copper dragon (draco comes stabuli) is unfortunately rather selfish and greedy, so that their better nature is sometimes forgotten when a chance to gain treasure arises. They prefer to inhabit arid rocky regions in warmer climes, where they lair in caverns or caves if they can.

Gold Dragon: Init +12; Atk claw +13 melee (1d8) or bite +13 melee (1d12) or tail slap +13 melee (1d20) or breath weapon or spell; AC 22; HD 12d12; MV 50’ or fly 100’; Act 4d20 plus 1d24 (spells); SP breath weapon (3/day, 90’ cone of fire with 30’ base, damage equal to hp, DC 22 Reflex for half), breath weapon (3/day, cloud of poison gas up to 100’away, 1d3 x 10’ radius, 1d4 Stamina damage plus DC 22 Fort or additional damage equal to dragon’s hp), bless 1/day, shapechange (human or animal form), spellcasting (1d24+6, spells: chill touch, choking cloud, color spray, comprehend languages, ropework, and ward portal); SV Fort +12, Ref +12, Will +12; AL L.

The noble gold dragon (draco nobilis aurum) is wingless, but able to fly due to a special organ in its brain.

These dragons are geniuses, able to speak 1d5 languages (determined randomly, as wizards) in addition to the common and dragonic tongues. They average 1d8+50 feet long, and rarely sleep. Gold dragons are able to dwell in any climate, but their lairs are always of solid stone – whether a cave or a castle. Although they love precious metals and gems and use jewels and pearls as nourishment, all gold dragons are just and good, and do not allow greed to reduce them to ignoble actions.

Gold dragons are able to assume the form of animals or humanity, and when encountered are typically disguised as such. When they encounter good beings of noble purpose, they are able to bless one creature each day, granting them a +1 bonus to all rolls for 24 hours.

Silver Dragon: Init +10; Atk claw +11 melee (1d8) or bite +11 melee (1d12) or tail slap +11 melee (1d20) or wing buffer +11 melee (2d12) or breath weapon or spell; AC 20; HD 10d12; MV 50’ or fly 100’; Act 6d20 plus 1d20 (spells); SP breath weapon (3/day, 1d6 x 10’ cone of cold with 1d4 x 10’ base, damage equal to hp, DC 20 Fort for half), breath weapon (30’ cloud of paralyzing gas up to 90’ away, DC 20 Fort or paralyzed 1d6 minutes), shapechange (human or animal), immunity to cold, spellcasting (1d20+6, spells: charm person, feather fall, force manipulation, haste, invisibility, and locate object); SV Fort +10, Ref +10, Will +10; AL L.

Silver dragon (draco nobilis argentum) can sometimes be found on mountain peaks, cloud islands, and similar locations, Some sages claim that they can be found dwelling behind the winds and in the home of the King of Good Dragons as well. They can take the shapes of animals or humans, often appearing as kindly old men or fair damsels in the latter form.