loading . . . The Smaug Dragon It is possible to stat up a dragon in Old School Essentials by taking Smaug’s boasts literally.
“My armor is like tenfold shields”
A shield provides a +1 bonus to AC. Multiplied by 10, this gives our dragon an Armor Class of -1 [20].
“My teeth are swords”
A sword does 1d8 damage. Smaug’s teeth are like “swords” plural: our dragon has a bite attack that does at least 2d8 damage. Let’s say it’s three swords, for 3d8.
“My claws spears”
Spears do 1d6 damage and have the “brace” and “missile” properties. Our dragon has two claw attacks that do 1d6 damage, with double damage against charging enemies (the dragon feigns distraction, then lashes out with surprising speed). Obviously it can't throw its claws, but let's say the dragon can perform a flying leap with a claw attack, moving between 5–60 feet. This leap gets +1 to-hit against opponents within 20’ and a -1 to-hit against opponents more than 40’ away. The dragon cannot leap two rounds in a row.
“The shock of my tail a thunderbolt”
Paraphrasing from the Lightning Bolt spell, our dragon can lash its tail in a 60’ line. Creatures caught by the tail attack suffer 5d6 damage, with a successful Save vs Wands indicating half damage. The dragon cannot move in a turn where it uses its tail strike, and cannot lash its tail two rounds in a row.
(This is the minimum caster level required to cast lightning bolt. You could instead use the dragon’s HD as the caster level to determine the number of d6s, or the 9th level implied by the OSE red dragon’s spell selection)
“My wings a hurricane”
From the Control Weather entry for “high winds”: the dragon’s wingbeats create powerful winds that can impede lesser creatures. Whenever the dragon flies or leaps, movement rates for smaller creatures within 180’ are halved. Missile fire and flight within this area is impossible (smaller flying creatures are knocked back, potentially taking damage if they hit a solid object). In sandy areas, may cause a sandstorm, reducing visibility to 20’.
“And my breath death!”
You could use the Death Spell here, but the OSE dragon’s breath weapon is pretty deadly already. Let’s say that the dragon’s fire ignites flammable materials and anyone who fails their Save vs Breath, dealing 1d8 damage for two rounds (as burning oil).
Smaug is red, so we'll use the Red Dragon to fill in the rest of the stat block.
Dragon
AC -1 [20]
HD 10**
Attacks [2 x claw (1d6), 1 x bite (3d8)], leap [2d6 + wingstorm], tail strike [5d6], or breath
THAC0 11 [+8]
Movement 90’ (30’) / 240’ (80’) flying
Saving Throws D6 W7 P8 B8 S10
Morale 10
Alignment Chaotic
XP 2,300
Number Appearing 1
Treasure Type H
Breath Weapon: 90’ long cone of fire, 2’ wide at the mouth and 30’ wide at the far end. All caught in the area suffer damage equal to the dragon’s current hit points (save vs breath for half). All flammable objects and any creatures that fail their save are caught on fire, suffering 1d8 damage for two rounds. Can be used 3/day.
Flying Leap: range 60’, 2d6 damage. This leap gets +1 to-hit against opponents within 20’ and a -1 to-hit against opponents more than 40’ away. The dragon’s wingstorm is active on any round where it uses its flying leap. The dragon automatically wins initiative in a round where it uses its flying leap. The dragon cannot leap two rounds in a row.
Wingstorm: the dragon’s wingbeats create powerful winds that can impede lesser creatures. Whenever the dragon flies or leaps, movement rates for smaller creatures within 180’ are halved. Missile fire and flight within this area is impossible (smaller flying creatures are knocked back, potentially taking damage if they hit a solid object). In sandy areas, may cause a sandstorm, reducing visibility to 20’.
**Swift As A Snake:** characters that charge a dragon take 2d6 damage (save vs breath for half) as the monster lashes out with its claws.
Fire Immunity
Pride: dragons are immensely proud creatures and will always listen to flattery.
Language: dragons speak their own language plus any languages used by creatures that live near their lairs.
Dragon Reaction Roll
2d6, no modifiers
2-: Attacks
3–5: Demands tribute. The dragon is hungry and impatient, and will attack if its demands are not met immediately.
6–8: Demands tribute. The dragon is interested or has recently fed, and will make a game of the interaction and only attacks if thwarted or annoyed.
9–11: Amused condescension. Demands tribute, but roll at +1.
12+: Asleep
Dragon Tribute
2d6 + CHA modifier
2–: your lives, everything you have, and the dragon is angry enough to go and destroy the nearest settlement afterwards.
3–5: one large animal or person per HD of the dragon, and/or 1,000 gp per HD.
6–8: one large animal or person and/or 500 gp per HD.
9–11: the dragon is open to proposals. What have you got?
12: the dragon falls asleep or wanders off.
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