Vampiric Dragon (3.5e Template)
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Vampiric Dragon[edit]
Vampirism is generally a curse associated with humanity, so what dire events could lead to vampirism infecting the blood of dragons? The vampiric curse works differently on these great scaled beasts than most, and the result is no less terrifying. Common vampires are not sufficient to bring dragon blood to vampirism, so it is believed to be the result of some unknown ritual or curse. When the curse takes hold the dragon faces an internal stuggle to keep its ego, and by embracing the monster they ascend to vampirism. Those who fail become something else, craven and lowly.
Vampiric dragons resemble paler versions of their original kin, often gaunt and with blood red and striking eyes. Their fangs have extended even longer, but unlike many vampircs blood is more of a desire than a need. Indeed their hunger for blood is no different than their hunger for gold and they show no ill effect if starved for vital fluids. This is perhaps a blessing for the amount of blood that would be needed to feed such a massive creature would be terrible indeed. Any blood will suffice, but blood from sapient beings is the most sweet. The creature devoured is often killed as the finesse of biting a neck is not often available to things smaller than it. Instead victims are crushed, ground, and squeezed of blood if not simply eaten whole.
Other dragons find vampiric dragons to be anathema, and they have reason to fear them as well for the vampiric dragon is possessed by the spirit and will to dominate all that it sees, and its domination abilities are especially effective on their draconic kin. Like their humanoid counterparts they cast no shadows and throw no reflections in mirrors.
Creating a Vampiric Dragon[edit]
“Vampiric Dragon” is an acquired template that can be added to any true dragon (referred to hereafter as the base creature).
A vampiric dragon uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type[edit]
The creature’s type changes to undead (augmented dragon) and Unliving subtype. Do not recalculate base attack bonus, saves, or skill points. Size is unchanged.
Hit Dice[edit]
Hit dice is unchanged, and due to their unliving subtype they retain their Constitution score.
Attack[edit]
A vampiric dragon retains all the attacks of the base creature, and its bite attack increases in damage by one size category as well as gain an extraordinary Wounding enhancement. Every time they deal Constitution damage via their bite, they heal 5 hp and restore 1 point of ability damage of their choice.
Special Attacks[edit]
A vampiric dragon retains all the special attacks of the base creature and gains those described below. Saves have a DC of 10 + 1/2 vampire’s HD + creature’s Cha modifier unless noted otherwise.
Blood Drain (Ex): A vampiric dragon can suck blood from a living victim more vigorously than its normal bite attack by making a successful grapple check. If it pins the foe, it drains blood, dealing 1d4 points of Constitution damage each round the pin is maintained in addition to any other damage caused that round. On each such successful attack, the vampiric dragon gains 5 hp.
Demanding Presence (Su): Vampiric dragons have an overwhelming authority and may use greater command once every 5 rounds. Creatures in a dangerous situation or in battle have a +4 bonus on the saving throw to resist. Creatures of the Dragon type and kobolds take a -4 penalty on their saving throw.
Dominate (Su): A vampiric dragon of at least 12 HD can crush an opponent’s will just by looking onto his or her eyes. This is similar to a gaze attack, except that the vampiric dragon must use a standard action, and those merely looking at it are not affected. Anyone the vampire targets must succeed on a Will save or fall instantly under the vampire’s influence as though by a dominate monster spell (caster level 12th). A successful save confers immunity for 24 hours. The ability has a range of 30 feet and is particularly effective on other dragons. Creatures of the Dragon type and kobolds take a -4 penalty on their saving throw.
Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): A vampiric dragon gains a number of spell-like abilities based on their age categories. They can use these spell-like abilities 1/day and can choose from any list so long as they are Enchantment, Necromancy, or have the Evil descriptor. They gain a 1st level spell-like ability at Wyrmling, another at Very Young, a 2nd level at Young, a 3rd level at Juvenile and again at Young Adult, a 4th level at Adult, a 5th level at Mature Adult and again at Old, a 6th level at Very Old, a 7th level at Ancient and again at Wyrm, and an 8th level at Great Wyrm.
Vampiric Breath (Su): A vampiric dragon gains two alterations to their breath weapon. They can choose to have their breath weapon deal negative energy damage instead of its normal damage type. In addition they gain a new breath weapon with the same dimensions and range of their primary breath weapon. Creatures who have fewer hp than their maximum within the area must make a Fortitude save or suddenly bleedout losing 20% of their maximum hp, and granting the dragon 5 hp per creature it successfully bled out. A successful save deals 1d4+1 points of bleedout instead. This counts as a use of their breath weapon and has the same DC as its breath weapon.
Special Qualities[edit]
A vampiric dragon retains all the special qualities of the base creature and gains those described below.
Alternate Form (Su): A vampiric dragon can assume the shape of a dire bat, dire wolf, or kobold as a standard action. While in its alternate form, the vampiric dragon loses its normal natural attacks and dominate ability, but it gains the natural weapons and extraordinary special attacks of its new form. It can remain in that form until it assumes another or until the next sunrise.
Damage Reduction (Su): A vampiric dragon's gains damage reduction 5/silver and magic, or its current inherent damage reduction increases by 5 and becomes bypassed by silver and magic. A vampiric dragon’s natural weapons are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Fast Healing (Ex): A vampiric dragon heals 5 points of damage each round so long as it has at least 1 hit point. If reduced to 0 hit points in combat, it automatically assumes gaseous form and attempts to escape. It must reach its lair within 2 hours or be utterly destroyed. (It can travel up to nine miles in 2 hours.) Any additional damage dealt to a vampiric dragon forced into gaseous form has no effect. Once at rest in its lair, a vampiric dragon is helpless. It regains 1 hit point after 1 hour, then is no longer helpless and resumes healing at the rate of 5 hit points per round. Its fast healing is suppressed while in the presence of sunlight.
Gaseous Form (Su): As a standard action, a vampiric dragon can assume gaseous form at will as the spell (caster level 5th), but it can remain gaseous indefinitely and has a fly speed of 20 feet with perfect maneuverability.
Resistances (Ex): A vampiric dragon has resistance to cold 10 and electricity 10. If they are immune to either cold or electric damage, they gain resistance 10 in another energy type of their choice.
Spider Climb (Ex): A vampiric dragon can climb sheer surfaces as though with a spider climb spell.
Turn Resistance (Ex): A vampiric dragon has +4 turn resistance.
Vampiric Weaknesses: For all their power, vampiric dragons have a number of weaknesses though not all are shared with their normal humanoid kin.
Repelling a Vampiric Dragon: Vampiric dragons cannot tolerate the strong odor of garlic and will not enter an area laced with it. Similarly, the recoil from a mirror or a strongly presented holy symbol. These things don’t harm the vampiric dragon—they merely keep it at bay. A recoiling vampiric dragon must stay at least 5 feet away from a creature holding the mirror or holy symbol and cannot touch or make melee attacks against the creature holding the item. Holding a vampiric dragon at bay takes a standard action.
They have no issues with running water or entering homes. They do not immediately fall prey to sunlight but do not benefit from their fast healing and in fact cannot heal while in sunlight.
Slaying a Vampiric Dragon: Reducing a vampiric dragon’s hit points to 0 or lower incapacitates it but doesn’t always destroy it (see the note on fast healing). However, certain attacks can slay vampiric dragons. A coup de grace action with a wooden piercing weapon, Dragon Bane, or good aligned weapon slays it, reducing the body to ash. Taking all valuables from its lair removes its status as a lair, leaving it vulnerable. A vampiric dragon's lair must have at least 1000 gp of valuables per HD in it, or it does not count as its lair for the purposes of respawning. As a result, vampiric dragons are perhaps even more averacious than their counterparts as their lives literally depend on it.
Abilities[edit]
Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +6, Dex +4, Int +2, Wis +2, Cha +4. They retain their Constitution due to the Unliving subtype.
Skills[edit]
Vampiric dragons have a +8 racial bonus on Bluff, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, and Spot checks. Otherwise same as the base creature.
Feats[edit]
Vampires gain Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, and Lightning Reflexes, assuming the base creature meets the prerequisites and doesn’t already have these feats.
Environment[edit]
Any, usually same as base creature.
Organization[edit]
Solitary, often with various dominated thralls.
Challenge Rating[edit]
+3
Treasure[edit]
As base creature.
Alignment[edit]
Always evil (any).
Advancement[edit]
By character class or normal dragon advancement.
Level Adjustment[edit]
+3
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Monsters → Templates
| Eiji-kunv |
|---|
| Author | Eiji-kun + |
| CR | 3 + |
| Identifier | 3.5e Template + |
| Level Adjustment | 3 + |
| Rating | Undiscussed + |
| Summary | Vampirism is generally a curse associated with humanity, so what dire events could lead to vampirism infecting the blood of dragons? + |
| Title | Vampiric Dragon + |
