Making Dragons From How To Train Your Dragon Franchise (Need Critique)

[warm sky]

Hello everyone👋,

I am currently working on creating dragons from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise for Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition, and I would greatly appreciate any feedback or criticism you may have to offer (or simply compliments). My goal is to make them as lore-accurate as possible, which may result in some unusual or unexpected features.

I would be thrilled if you would consider using them in your own D&D 5e campaigns or one-shots, even if it's just for encounters. Afterward, I would love to hear your thoughts on whether you found them enjoyable and balanced, or if there are any changes or additions you believe would improve them.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[finite smelt]

Hey nice you made a thread

[marble spruce]

I am excited to see what else you make

[soft brook]

Same, I really wanna see that is made.

[warm sky]

Alright, here's how we're gonna do this: I'll post one dragon at a time, and we'll wait for everyone to give their feedback and critiques. Together, we can make this stat block the best it can be. Once we've exhausted all the improvements and changes, we'll move on to the next one.

Hopefully, I'll post the first one today😄.

[knotty void]

If it helps any @full shore made a bunch of How to Train your Dragon statblocks many moons ago, though iunno if they ever finished that project

I did do tokens for all of em though

which should help you for sizes if nothing else

[warm sky]

Wow! Very cool tokens!

[warm sky]

#1 The Skrill, one of the most feared dragons in the Book of Dragons, is aggressive, powerful, and nearly untrainable. Instead of breathing fire, Skrills channel lightning down their metallic spines, releasing it in destructive blasts. They can store this electrical power and release it later, often gravitating towards stormy weather. Skrills are tough, enduring significant damage in battle. However, they cannot fire lightning from the water, losing their advantage if forced into the ocean. They can also hibernate in icy glaciers for decades, emerging as fierce as ever.

I'm not really sure what the CR is, but I think it might be a 10.

[soft brook]

Challenge rating 10 or 12 in my opinion, interesting that it has thunder resistance and lightning immunity and not just pure lightning immunity.

[hardy shuttle]

Looks balanced. Maybe use the dragon book art for the vibes?

[soft brook]

That could be a cool visual suggestion.

[warm sky]

Can you please send me the image?

[warm sky]

I think he might be used to thunder damage since he's so strong and recharges in storms. What do you think? Does that make sense?

I also think it should be only lightning 🌩️

[hardy shuttle]

Just look up concept art of the skrill made by Dreamworks

[soft brook]

Well thunder damage in dnd is just incredibly loud sounds or noises. Basically you are being hit with very noisy shcokwaves.

[warm sky]

So does it not make sense? Or should I remove it?

In your opinion of course 🙂

Found it!

[soft brook]

Personally not really, it's interesting but it would make sense that it just has pure lightning immunity in my opinion.

[warm sky]

Thank you for your honesty 🙂

[soft brook]

Np man, I don't mind helping at all.

[finite smelt]

Might be a bit too much but I think it'd be cool if the bite attack could hit 2 targets, dealing a little lightning damage to the 2nd target independent of multiattack options

Scratch that probably straight up is, still leaving the sentiment though

[soft brook]

Would probably need to make the damage drop of a good bit though for this. Because that could be pretty abusable by the dm.

[finite smelt]

Yeah I just think it fits the electric dragon

[warm sky]

Agree

[soft brook]

It would fit yeah but the skrill is already pretty alright as is. Maybe for a titanwing skrill that could work.

[soft brook]

Also iloi I have a question, do you go in any particular order for the dragons or are basically yolo-ing this? Because I have consumed so many hotd media that I have a few I'd kill for you do to.

[warm sky]

I think he has enough AOR damage. If he didn't have the electric burst, I would have added your small AOE damage for the bite.

[warm sky]

I do what i have inspiration for, so hit me with your best dragons. Let's see what you got!

[soft brook]

Okay no joke, I actually used to play a crap-ton of rise of berk back in the day and I absolutely loved the sweet death and sand wraith. Just something about them just hooked me.

[hardy shuttle]

Boneknapper please

[marble spruce]

I believe in dnd, thunder damage is effectively "sound" damage. So it might be worth reversing the two to make it lightning immunity and thunder resistance

I just caught up to the convo, and saw that someone already pointed this out. My bad for being an echo 😅

[warm sky]

So far this is the latest version of the Skrill, any improvements? or shall we proceed to the next dragon?

[hardy shuttle]

Looks good

[soft brook]

Looks solid, the only things I'd add that is that it can understand draconic but it can't speak it. It's perfectly fine as is though.

[warm sky]

I always write it that way because it shows they can understand draconic but can't speak it. But also, I don't want to say they can't learn it or write it, because, you know, magical fantasy world and all. Talking dragons exist, so I don't want to limit any DMs, haha. 😅😅

@soft brook

Anyway! I will start to write the Sand Wraith 🙂

[soft brook]

Yeah that makes sense, living it up like that might be more idea then if you want the dragon to me more modifiable.

[warm sky]

#2 The Sand Wraith: The Desert Phantom

Beneath scorching suns, the Sand Wraith lies hidden—its scales mirroring the dunes. Master of ambush, it erupts from the sand, claws seeking prey. But its deadliest trick? Flaming sandballs hurled from afar, blinding foes.

Facing a Sand Wraith? Not a day at the beach.

I tried to make it very deadly when it surprises you, but not very difficult to fight if you survive it's surprise round. I took this approach because that's how it works in the real world, ambusher animals will try to jump and kill you as quickly as possible.

Also, in the new version of dnd surprise round is not a thing any more, you just get advantage on attack rolls, so a change will be needed on the future, but for now its alright I think 🤔

[warm sky]

I did not specify the range of its reaction, I will change it. What do you think it's a fair range for it?

I thought about 30 feet.

[soft brook]

30 to 35 in my opinion, all it's stats seem good to me but I am surprised by it's high intelligence score. That's in adult dragon or weaker ancient dragon territory.

[warm sky]

Hmm, maybe I should lower it?

I believe it is quite intelligent for a dragon with a beast-like personality. Perhaps it is around 14 or 15
?

[soft brook]

Well beats like would mean around 6 or 8 in the intelligence department, if you want them more beast-like then having them be smarter then wyverns but dumber then dragons would be a fine enough sweet spot.

[warm sky]

The dragons in this franchise act more like very smart animals and some even like human beings, so this is why I always struggle with their intelligence, they are smart and can learn a lot of things humans does, but also act more dog or cat like or more smart animalistic.

[soft brook]

I'd say around 6 or 8 intelligence would be a good point then, it's smarter then dogs and cats anyhow, basically around ape level intelligence.

[warm sky]

Actually even more, they understand Draconic, and concepts, they can even laugh and understand emotions, even some of them are working like humans, and understand vulnerability of items, so like 8 up 12, that's how I see it.

[soft brook]

In that case I think that might work then. I'd still keep it lowish personally but that can work.

[warm sky]

This is the correct version! Shall we move on to the next dragon or are there any changes to be made? 🤔

I have added a small bonus action to make ambush encounters more exciting and also provided him with mobility, as I felt it would be more effective in a real encounter. In my opinion, it felt a bit dry in actual encounter.

[soft brook]

Seems good to me, nothing stands out as overtuned or overdone. I think the sand wraith is solid.

[finite smelt]

The multiattack implies it makes three attacks not two, is that intended? Because it says the sand wraith makes two so I'm wondering which is right

[warm sky]

Yeah you are right! I will change it quickly

[warm sky]

Finely Done

[warm sky]

#3 The Sweat Death, In the forest’s heart, where shadows weave their secrets, the Sweet Death waits—a paradox of allure and peril. This Mystery Class ambusher conceals itself beneath the loamy earth, its tongue a twisted mimicry of tree bark, yet infused with sickly sweetness. When the air grows thick with honeyed scent, curiosity tugs at unwary wanderers. The Sweet Death’s tongue unfurls, promising nectar. But beware! To yield is to court doom. It takes more than strength to resist—it takes wisdom. So, traveler, if sweetness beckons, remember the Sweet Death. For within its embrace lies both temptation and oblivion.

Any thoughts?

Especially from you @soft brook lol

I would not have known about the existence of those dragons if you had not informed me lol.

[soft brook]

Just curious about the party feature, does it mean it can add three to it's ac every turn or is there a limit?

[warm sky]

It's a reaction, so it means it can use it once per round.

It's AC becomes 17 once per round, for one attack, not for the whole round.

[soft brook]

That clears it up a it thanks, maybe putting that in so that some confusion is avoided would be a good idea?

[warm sky]

It's in the Reactions section, so it's pretty obvious what it does. This is how official creatures are written. Can you give me an example of how to write it more clearly?

@soft brook

[soft brook]

Maybe something like this? "once per round as a reaction to a attack, the ac of the sweet death increases by 3."

[warm sky]

Hey, so, if something is in the reaction section, you don't have to say "once per round as a reaction." I mean, you can, but that's not how it's officially written. Like, if something's in the action section, you don't have to write, "As an action, the X attacks two times with its Y and Z." Did I explained it right?

[soft brook]

That's fair, and to be fair I am probably just nitpicking, it probably is nowhere the bug deal I am making it out to be.

[warm sky]

Hey, no matter how big or small the issue is, that's why we're here, right? To critique each other and learn from it so we can improve our skills and make these awesome dragons we're working on even better. ❤️

[soft brook]

That's true and I'm just attempting to be objective about this and propose avenues that mught ah e solutions for possible problems. My don't have a problem with the statblock on of itself. I'm just offering some suggestions for possible quality of life changes.

[warm sky]

So... anyone got anything to say about the dragon? @finite smelt @hardy shuttle ? Or should we move on to the Bonenapper?

[finite smelt]

Looking super quick since I'm at work but the sweet death looks pretty sweet to me

[warm sky]

Thank you Gorou.

[soft brook]

Also boneknapper, sick really like the boneknapper and I think a cool thing you could do for it is make it have a variable statblock, like a boneknapper with or without it's bone armor.

[hardy shuttle]

It looks good

[warm sky]

i cooked something tonight, i will send right away💀

[warm sky]

#4 The Boneknapper is a rare and unusual dragon species. It scavenges the bones of dead dragons to create a unique coat of armor, protecting its delicate body. This choice of armor makes it unpopular with other dragons. Without its bone armor, the Boneknapper resembles a “big boneless chicken” and is vulnerable. The bones are essential for its protection and abilities, such as roaring. The Boneknapper can spend years searching for the perfect bone to complete its armor, and it uses this protection to get close to enemies and unleash a potent stream of fire.

It was challenging to develop a compelling concept💡 for its bone armor. I tried to make it exceptional and convey a sense of vulnerability without its protective covering.

Any thoughts? Especially from you @hardy shuttle since you asked for it🙏

I really liked working on it, I also saw it has VARIANTS, I will make them after we finish this version of it.

[warm sky]

Could you please let me know if this is better? I did not want to create separate stat blocks because, in my opinion, the changes are not significant enough to warrant two different ones.

[soft brook]

I actually think that it a pretty smart way of working it's ac out and making it feel different enough when it doesn't have it's armor.

[hardy shuttle]

Looks great!

[warm sky]

This is the final version, let's move on to the next dragon.

[warm sky]

So, this Boneknapper is a bit different. It uses magma and bones to make its armor.

[soft brook]

That's... Actually a pretty cool variant, I do like how you are using the environment to make statblock variants of dragons and the boneknapper variant as presented is pretty damn cool.

[warm sky]

Thank you, there are like 4 more i think

[soft brook]

Kinda excited to see them then lol.

[hardy shuttle]

Loving the variant

[warm sky]

This Boneknapper uses ice and and and bones to make its armor.

any thoughts?

[soft brook]

Hmm, maybe instead of resistance fire damage it could partially heal it's born and ice armor if it takes cold damage? It already is immune to cold so having it heal in some fashion from that damage type wouldn't be too powerful if say, fire damage then hard counters it.

[warm sky]

It is a good idea 💡

I will change it.
, thank you ✊️.

[soft brook]

No prob iloi, happy to help.

[warm sky]

Ok, made the moss variation ans some little changes.

The two final variations are coming soon!

[warm sky]

And finally, the last one!

@soft brook @hardy shuttle any thoughts?

[soft brook]

I'd increase the challenge rating to 12 or 14 based on it's new attacks and traits. But apart from that it is solid.

[hardy shuttle]

Increase its CR to 12 and it’s solid

[warm sky]

Now let's move to our next dragon! The Night Terror!

Though nocturnal and bat-like, Night Terrors become a formidable force when united. These incredibly fast and strong fliers can transform into a larger dragon, posing a significant threat to predators. As sentries of Dragon’s Edge, they are invaluable. Like other pack-traveling dragons, Night Terrors follow an Alpha—a slightly larger white dragon. Without the Alpha, they lose their strength and become easy prey.

Any thoughts about?

[warm sky]

single one.

[soft brook]

I want one as a pet.

[warm sky]

lol

[finite smelt]

Pack leader seems reliant on players asking the dm to do something specific regarding the white one

[warm sky]

If the players are aware of the presence of a pack leader, the DM may assign a DC for them to search for it. Typically, players may not consider searching for the pack leader, but if they do, it could lead to an interesting encounter.

[warm sky]

Forgot to send a pic 📸 🙏

[warm sky]

Alright it's time for the Deadly Naddar!

The Deadly Nadder is a fearsome and agile dragon known for its vibrant colors and deadly spines. With sharp senses and an innate affinity for fire, this dragon can unleash devastating breath attacks and hurl poisonous spikes with deadly precision. Its most distinctive feature, however, is its coat of toxic spines, which not only pierce the toughest of armor but also deliver a potent poison that can paralyze its foes in excruciating pain. Highly territorial and cunning, the Deadly Nadder is a formidable opponent that combines the ferocity of a dragon with the agility of a bird of prey. Adventurers who encounter this beast must tread carefully, as one wrong move could mean a quick and fiery end.

I will put those pictures 📸 on the stat block once we done.

Any thoughts?

[heady rain]

• there's no clear definition of "right in front" in 5e
• paralyzing is quite strong, you also need to specify when on the turn
• poisonous spines is a trait, not an ability
• 5e only uses amounts of time of 1 round, 1 minute, or other increments divisible by 10

[warm sky]

1. And that's exactly why I wrote it in a way everyone could understand (at least i tried)

2. Thank you, I will change it to the poisoned condition, will it make it better?

3. Yeah but 5 is to strong and 1 is way to weak, so it is what is unless you have an idea 💡 on how to make it better.

[heady rain]

less damage over 1 minute

as for 1., it'll require extra legwork for the DM as creatures in 5e are essentially cubes.

[warm sky]

Idk, seems pretty self explanatory, but alright. I except your opinion about it, it is fair.

[warm sky]

What do you mean?

[heady rain]

instead of 2d6 over 1d4 rounds, lower the damage and make it one minute

or vice versa

[warm sky]

Oh

[heady rain]

https://tenor.com/view/agenturleben-agencylife-hannover-kochstrasse-kstr-gif-27424221

[warm sky]

Something like this?

[heady rain]

yes

[warm sky]

Alright, any other thoughts?

[heady rain]

not right now

[soft brook]

Looks fine to me, nothing pops out to my eyes.

[finite smelt]

I'm curious how people would rp the blindspot

[soft brook]

Follow the T-Rex rule I guess.

[warm sky]

Same, that's why I like to do lore accurate stuff lol

Welp, so the next dragon will be the hideous zippleback 🙏👀

[hardy shuttle]

Looks good

[warm sky]

he Hideous Zippleback is a unique and terrifying two-headed dragon species known from the world of How to Train Your Dragon. Native to dense forests and swamps, this dragon is renowned for its stealth, using its fog and gas abilities to blend into its surroundings before launching surprise attacks. Each head of the Zippleback has a distinct role: one head breathes a noxious gas while the other ignites it with a spark, creating explosive results. Despite their fearsome abilities, Zipplebacks are known for being highly intelligent and cunning, often outsmarting foes with their complex coordination and ability to create diversions.

In combat, the Hideous Zippleback is a formidable opponent, capable of targeting multiple enemies at once and using its environment to its advantage. It’s a creature of chaos and strategy, making it both a challenging and unpredictable foe. Its ability to produce and ignite various gases, along with its fearsome bite and skull bump attacks, make it a dangerous adversary in both one-on-one combat and large-scale battles. Highly territorial and protective of its domain, the Hideous Zippleback is a creature that commands respect and fear in equal measure.

Any thoughts?

I tried to make the fact they have two heads that works coordinated with each other as the main point, idk of I got it.

[soft brook]

It can potentially lead to some confusion on how it works but if anyone is in anyway familiar with a hydra I think the zippleback is pretty okay for now.

[warm sky]

So I did a test with three level 8 characters, a monk/barbarian, a ranger, and a bard/rogue. Out of the three, only the monk/barbarian went down to 0 HP. The rogue/bard ended up with 34 HP, and the ranger didn't even get touched. I guess if you can get the breath weapon out first and then focus on the ones who look hurt or weaker, you should be good. 😅

[warm sky]

If there are no other ideas for the dragon, we should probably move on to another one.🙏

@hardy shuttle @heady rain

[heady rain]

gaseous breath should be a cone
everything else would be a nitpick

[warm sky]

In order to maintain lore accuracy, I have written this in a manner that emulates the shapeshifting abilities of their breath weapon as depicted in the movies and series. This approach allows for a wide range of configurations, ensuring versatility and adaptability.versatility and adaptability.

But you're right. Usually, it would be a cone.

So for now, this is the hideous zippleback.

[warm sky]

Alright, tomorrow the Monstrous Nightmare will be ready, one of the most feard dragons! 🔥🐲

[soft brook]

Ah yes, burning man in dragon form.

[finite smelt]

https://tenor.com/view/burning-man-man-on-fire-hot-flames-walking-gif-17323643

[warm sky]

Gather 'round and hear the tale of the Monstrous Nightmare, a dragon born of fire and fury. Its dark scales ignite into a living inferno at the slightest provocation, turning the beast into a blazing terror. Warriors tell of battles where the very air scorched with heat as it vanished into thick smoke, striking unseen from the shadows. Known for its fiery temper, the Nightmare thrives in chaos, leaving only ashes in its wake.

Some whisper of a long-forgotten barbarian who once tamed this beast, proving that even the fiercest fire can be tamed—but never truly controlled.

@finite smelt @soft brook

Any thoughts?

[finite smelt]

long forgotten barbarian

I don't have much comment on this one actually. Maybe a generic comment about "can you put it out, does that hurt it more?"

[warm sky]

You are referring to the Fired Up trait?

[finite smelt]

Oh yes

[warm sky]

The slime that the creature's body is constantly producing is the source of its ignition. Therefore, in order to extinguish it, one must find a way to eliminate all of the slime.

This is the reason why it has the ability Slippery.

[finite smelt]

I remember but that's the only thing I could think so say about this since they're being ported into 5e

[warm sky]

Ohhhh

My bad

I will add it.

[finite smelt]

Oh just thought of something kinda funny, make a note suggesting "hey if it takes fire damage roll to see if fired up recharges"

That is not a serious comment, I just find it amusing

[warm sky]

It appears to be quite realistic, I will add it.

[warm sky]

So this is the current version of the Monstrous Nightmare.

[warm sky]

Welp, the Scauldron is the next one.

[warm sky]

Arr mateys, gather 'round and listen close, for I’ve got a tale that'll chill ye to the bone—a tale of the Scauldron, the devil of the deep!

It was many a year ago, when I was a young, foolish buccaneer, sailin' the treacherous waters near the Viking archipelago. We were huntin' for treasure, thinkin' we'd fill our holds with gold and jewels. Aye, but what we found was no riches—no, what we found was somethin' far more deadly: a beast from the depths o' the sea itself—a Scauldron, they call it.

This ain’t no ordinary dragon, lads. The Scauldron be a creature o' the ocean, as big as a ship and twice as deadly. It don’t fly through the skies; it glides through the water, silent and swift, with scales tougher than any armor ye've ever seen.

Its most fearsome weapon, though, be its breath—boilin' water, hot enough to cook a man alive, spews from its jaws. One blast of that, and yer deck’ll be a searin' mess, with crewmen blistered and screamin'. But that ain’t all, oh no. The Scauldron commands the sea like it’s an extension o' itself. It can churn up whirlpools, smash yer ship with waves, and drag ye down to the depths before ye even know what hit ye.

Now, ye might think such a beast is rare, and ye’d be right. But when it strikes, it strikes with the fury of the gods themselves. It don’t come at ye with brute force alone; it’s cunning, usin' the darkness, the storms, and the sea itself to take ye by surprise. It’s got a particular hate for ships and sailors, like it’s got a vendetta against those who dare to sail its waters.

And here’s somethin’ that'll freeze the blood in yer veins—they say a Scauldron can sense heat from miles away. It’s drawn to the fires ye light on deck, to the warmth of a crew huddled together. Once it’s got yer scent, there’s little chance of escape. The seas start to bubble and boil, the water churns, and before ye know it, the Scauldron's upon ye.

So heed my warnin', ye brave adventurers. If ever ye find yerselves sailin' the cold northern waters, and the sea begins to steam and bubble, don’t wait to find out what’s comin’. Turn tail and flee, for the Scauldron is a terror like no other, and it’ll take more than a sharp sword and a steady hand to survive an encounter with this devil of the deep.

Any thoughts?

[finite smelt]

nitpicky but Gulp should probably say gallons not liters

[warm sky]

oops

you are right!

[finite smelt]

Tidal Counter might be better worded as ...or the spell or ability fails to be used, and...

[warm sky]

cool

i am on it!

Apologies for the confusion. In my country, we utilize the metric system, specifically liters, as opposed to gallons.

[finite smelt]

I use a weird mix of metric and imperial, it's a little weird for me too

[warm sky]

Lol

(It was very hard to find good art for it)

[heady rain]

just remember WOTC is from 🍔 🦅 nation

[warm sky]

True

[soft brook]

Looks way better now in my opinion.

[finite smelt]

I live there

[warm sky]

Well, the next dragon will be the Cavern Crasher!

[warm sky]

We thought it was just another day in the mines. Me and the lads, we’d dug deep, breakin' through to a massive chamber, walls slick with some strange slime. The air was thick with a stench that made our guts twist, but we pressed on, greedy for the riches we thought were just beyond.

Then it hit us—dark, massive, movin' like a shadow through the stone. The Cavern Crasher. A dragon, but not one of flame and flight. No, this one’s blind, but it don’t need eyes. It crawls through cracks no bigger than a foot wide, collapsin' its bones to fit, and climbs walls like a spider.

We didn’t stand a chance. It came at us with a blast of fire and a spray of slime, a deadly mix. The lore says they’re drawn to food, addicted to it—mad for it. But if you get between it and its meal, you’re done for. My mates... they were engulfed in flames, the slime ignitin' and burnin' them alive.

I barely escaped, leavin' them behind, their screams echoing in my ears. The Crasher tore through us like we were naught but dirt in its path. It’s said they’re immune to poison, resistant to cold and acid, and they hunt by smell and sound, their blind eyes seein' more than we ever could.

So listen to me—if you’re deep in the dark and the air starts to choke you, leave. Don’t be a fool like us. That beast is a nightmare you can’t escape.

[warm sky]

@finite smelt @soft brook @marble spruce

[finite smelt]

why am I awake at 1am

[finite smelt]

When is the slime from slime toss burned away?

It implies that the slime doesn't burn away in it's entirely the first time it ignites

Vaporable mucus has an extra c in cooked

[warm sky]

covered in slime takes an additional 14 (4d6) fire damage whenever it takes fire damage until the slime is burned away. The slime can also be washed off by taking 1 minute to clean it.

Upon sustaining fire damage or undergoing a washing process

[finite smelt]

As written it just keeps dealing extra fire damage until washed off

[warm sky]

Hmmm

Alright I will clarify that. Thank you🙏

[warm sky]

The next one is gonna be the Armorwing

[soft brook]

I dig it(pun intended) after the armorwing you could maybe do the silkspinner next. Great dragon design in my opinion.

[warm sky]

Dude, forget about the Armorwing! The Slikspinner is so much cooler! 😎 I'm totally making that next!

[soft brook]

Well glad you liked my suggestion man! After that maybe a scuttleclaw or grapplegrounder?

[warm sky]

I will definitely check them out later.

For now....

@soft brook

I'll make the titan wing versions after I finish the normal dragons. There won't be any pack leaders for now.

[soft brook]

Roger that, but I don't i was stalking about pack leaders at all.

[warm sky]

Just in case someone asks lol

Any thoughts about this dragon?

If it wasn't from this franchise I would say it is a monstrosity

[soft brook]

That's fair, as foe the silkspinner, it has a lot of things going but I don't think it feels bloated to me? Although that swim speed feels...Misplaced.

[warm sky]

Thanks! Misplaced why?

[soft brook]

It's just that to my knowledge silkspinners can't swim, they can certainly catch fish with their nets and other prey items but swim? I don't think so.

[warm sky]

Hamm, alright thanks 👍

I will make the necessary adjustments.

[warm sky]

The scuttleclaw will likely be near the end, but the Grapplegrounder sounds 🔥🔥🔥

[warm sky]

Hey! Which pic 📸 do you think is more suitable?

Also, any thoughts?

Very interesting dragon🐍 @soft brook.

[soft brook]

The second pic in my opinion, I just like the colours of the grapple grounder more.

As foe the dragon, I'd say maybe lower it's breath attack and put more emphasis on it's physical kit. It grapples and pulls other dragon down afterall.

[warm sky]

👍🏼

[heady rain]

I know it's weird, but, can you slow down? I can't keep up with all of these to review them.

[warm sky]

Umm I will try but I can't promise 🙏😅

[warm sky]

For now, is there any thoughts you would like to share?

[warm sky]

Is it more accurate now @soft brook ?

[soft brook]

In my opinion? Yes.

[warm sky]

I’m Aldric, a simple fighter from a small village that once knew peace—until the Grapple Grounder came. This dragon wasn’t just any beast; it was a nightmare with a serpent-like body, wings that darkened the sky, and a breath weapon unlike anything we’d ever seen. It could spew a toxic, corrosive gas that melted anything it touched, making it all the more terrifying.

When it first attacked, it tore through our homes, killing friends and neighbors without mercy. The air filled with that deadly gas, turning wood and stone to sludge, and anyone caught in its path stood no chance. With no one else to stand against it, I took up my father’s sword and vowed to protect our village.

The next time the dragon came, just before dusk, the ground shook with its approach. We had no real defenses, only makeshift barriers and a desperate resolve. The battle that followed was brutal. The Grapple Grounder was relentless, and its breath weapon made every move a deadly gamble. I dodged its attacks as best I could, but in the chaos, its tail caught me off guard, crushing my hand. The pain was excruciating, but I couldn’t stop—I knew that if I fell, the village would be lost.

Despite the agony and the noxious fumes filling the air, I saw a weakness beneath the dragon’s wing—a small gap in its scales. With everything I had left, I drove my sword into that spot, even as blood poured from my mangled hand. The dragon let out a roar that shook the earth, then collapsed.

We had won, but the cost was steep. I lost my hand to that battle, and the village lost many lives. The memory of that fight, the searing pain, and the sight of the Grapple Grounder’s corrosive breath melting everything in its path will stay with me forever. I’m no hero, just a man who did what he had to do to protect his home, scarred in body and soul by the beast we defeated.

As per your request, I will now post the Armorwing. I will wait 24 hours or more before publishing another dragon. This is how I will proceed for now👍.

I hope this will be beneficial to both of us.

@heady rain @soft brook @marble spruce

I am not certain if I have written its abilities in a clear and comprehensible manner.

[heady rain]

• If it's body is covered in oil, why is not easier to set on fire?
• Monster's resources never recharge on a short rest, they are X/day, recharge, or at-will
  Otherwise, looks good. Honestly better than the default fire dragon.

[heady rain]

• Should not have waterborne
• Electrical pulse is vague
• Amounts of liquid are determined by size (LWH), not volume

will be back with more later

[hardy shuttle]

%’s generally don’t exist in D&D. Instead, have them roll a dice and a certain number means the object breaks. I would do a D20 and 1-4

[heady rain]

Cavern Crawler

• Blind is not needed
• What counts as food? I'd definitely tone down the scale of this feature.
• "burned away" is not defined
• Excrete Slime will definitely damage itself. Fire Blast could too, actually.
  Silkspanner
• Web Cocoon seems overcomplicated - none of the spiders in 5e have anything like it.
• Otherwise fine
  Grapple Grounder
• Why is it resistant to fire damage?
• Monster features don't come back on rests, they recharge per day
• lmao
• Large Pulse is better than Small Pulse

[warm sky]

they roll d 100 and 20 or less it is broken

[marble spruce]

I'd say the abilities are clear and easily executable

I agree with curious tabaxi on the % thing, but it's not that hard to implement tbh

Just a simple d100 roll or that one dice that has values of 10 on it (10, 20, 30 etc)

[warm sky]

Why blind is not needed? How otherwise would you know it is blind?

[warm sky]

It is only logical fire blast could hurt it too, Excrete Slime too, it is actually makes sense and gives a cool weakness that the players could use if they are smart enough.

Grapple Grounder
Why is it resistant to fire damage?, it is a that i give almost all dragons, why wouldn't it be resistance?

Large Pulse is better than Small Pulse as long the creature is not resistant or immune or something like this to fire damage.

How would you improve this?

[finite smelt]

Because you have blindsight saying blind beyond this radius

[warm sky]

OK, thats nwe to me lol;

[heady rain]

make large pulsedeal 3d6 + 3d6

[warm sky]

The next one will be the Changewing!

[warm sky]

@heady rain @finite smelt @hardy shuttle @soft brook

[finite smelt]

pings at 3am are scary, I thought I forgot a birthday or something

trilling sound immediately stands out, what does determined by the creature actually mean?

is it creature type based? is it x+y then you add z based off of that creature's own scores etc

[warm sky]

The DC is set by the creature making the sounds.

[warm sky]

Do you think it may be smarter to just make a DC?

Like 15? Or 16?

[heady rain]

Not bad. Fiercly loyal and Curiosity should be flavor text exclusives though

[warm sky]

You're right. I like to add a bit of lore to the DM because some of them might not read the creature's lore.

[warm sky]

Any other thoughts or improvements?

[finite smelt]

yes, either provide a formula for a DC if you want the creature trilling to be able to effect it or set it. Setting it is likely wiser though

[warm sky]

So this is the finel version for now

[soft brook]

Looks good! Seems appropriately changewingy.

[warm sky]

The next one is the Whispering Death 👋🙂

[warm sky]

The Dragonborn warlock sat in the dimly lit cell, his eyes haunted by the memories of his past. His once-mighty spirit, now broken and bound by dark magic, carried the weight of a tale that had shaped his destiny. He began to speak, his voice trembling as he recounted the horrors that had befallen his village, destroyed by the terrifying creatures known as Whispering Deaths.

The Whispering Death is a Boulder Class dragon, infamous for its deadly underground assaults. These serpentine dragons possess a chilling ability to tunnel through solid rock with ease, using their six rows of rotating, razor-sharp teeth. Their bodies, long and sinuous, are covered in tough, scaly hide, and their eyes glow with a malevolent light. Preferring to lurk in the shadows, they avoid sunlight and rely on their heightened senses to detect vibrations in the earth, making them perfect predators from below. Whispering Deaths are not only capable of launching spines from their bodies with lethal precision but also possess a fearsome breath weapon—a ring of fire that incinerates everything in its path.

The warlock’s village had lived in peace for generations, unaware of the ancient hatred that festered beneath their feet. One dark, moonless night, the ground began to tremble. The villagers, going about their evening routines, were oblivious to the impending doom until it was too late. Without warning, the earth erupted, and from the depths below, the Whispering Deaths emerged in a maelstrom of teeth and spines.

Leading this assault was an especially gargantuan and ancient Whispering Death, its scales a ghostly white, shimmering faintly in the darkness. This dragon, larger and more fearsome than any the warlock had ever imagined, exuded an aura of malevolence and command. The white dragon’s eyes burned with a cold, calculating rage, as if it held a deep, ancient grudge against the village. Its spines, glowing with an eerie light, seemed to pulse with the rhythm of the devastation it unleashed.

As the village crumbled around him, the warlock described the chaos that ensued. The Whispering Deaths, driven by the commands of their ancient leader, tore through the streets, their teeth gnashing and their spines ripping through flesh and bone alike. The once peaceful village was reduced to ruins, and the air was filled with the screams of the dying and the roar of the dragons’ wrath.

In a desperate attempt to save his people, the warlock summoned all his magical power. He conjured fire and shadow, attempting to drive the beasts back into the ground. But the Whispering Deaths were relentless, their assault unyielding. The ancient white dragon, with a final, devastating attack, brought the warlock to his knees, its cold eyes filled with a cruel satisfaction.

The village was lost, buried beneath the earth as the Whispering Deaths retreated to their underground lairs, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake. The warlock, captured by dark forces soon after, found himself bound in servitude. Yet the memory of that night, of the monstrous white dragon that led the assault, haunted him still, a nightmare he could never escape.

After we finish with it, the next will be the Screaming Death

@soft brook @heady rain @hardy shuttle @finite smelt

[soft brook]

Feels like it should have a faster borrowing speed to me, currently it feels kinda anemic.

[warm sky]

What is anemic?

[soft brook]

It's borrowing speed, it could be a touch faster in my opinion.

[finite smelt]

Yeah I disagree with the prospect that it could fly faster than it could burrow

[warm sky]

It is worth noting that this is consistent with the established lore. However, I understand the appeal of the unique approach that has been taken.

I will change it.

[warm sky]

As of now, this is the final outcome.

[soft brook]

Looks decent to me.

[warm sky]

how would you improve it?

[soft brook]

Can't think of any improvements on the top of my head to tell the truth.

[warm sky]

Next week will continue the work oh those dragons

[warm sky]

So... in the end i was gone for more then I expected 🫢 but here it it, the Night Fury 🌙.

Any thoughts?

@soft brook @finite smelt ?

[west linden]

Why only damage on lightning fury when within 5 ft?

[soft brook]

Ye, kinda confusing if I am honest.

[warm sky]

it is not supposed to be 5ft

it uses the original spell when a creature leaves its melee range

[soft brook]

Ah, in that case using that in the description might be a good idea then.

[finite smelt]

If the blindsight is sonar, shouldn't it get disabled when deafened?

[warm sky]

Yeah, I did not knew how to write it and thought this is the best way, just to add it as an ability?

[finite smelt]

I forget how it's officially worded but it should be on the bat stat block

[tawny ginkgo]

If you wouldn't mind would you care if I made a ranger subclass for this?

[heady rain]

there's already a drakewarden in fizzies btw

[tawny ginkgo]

I am thinking of something a bit different, like you raise a dragon.

[heady rain]

how is that different than having a dragon follow you around?

cause' trying to make it more realistic is overcomplicating it mostly
and if the difference is "the dragon is weaker initially but really strong later on to represent dragon ages" then that causes balance concerns

[tawny ginkgo]

It is more you get the wyrmling at level 3 and every few levels it grows and you can add different abilities and or actions

[heady rain]

ah so a more customized version of Drakewarden
Tbqh I think drakewarden is a fine subclass and adding more to the drake risks damaging the balance or overcomplciating it for new players

[tawny ginkgo]

Fair enough but how many new players want to play ranger lol

[heady rain]

plenty, it's a decent class DPR wise

[tawny ginkgo]

Fair, but still for the more experienced players it seems a bit more fun

[warm sky]

Shure dude, have fun with it, just remember to mention me if you use them or somthing

[tawny ginkgo]

Sure thing!

[warm sky]

OK the next dragon is the Slitherwing, wanted to make this classic dragon a while ago..

Any thoughts?

[heady rain]

Why does Poison Spray poison? A Green Dragon's doesn't.
also sad there are no BAs or Reactions

[warm sky]

Hamm, yeah i will change the Poison spray, fair point, reactions? hmm i wanted but idk, i didn't see anything worth in the lore.

[warm sky]

Here is the new version.

@heady rain

Any thoughts?

[mental fox]

this is a slitherwing not a green dragon, and if anything's gonna poison it'd be a poison spray (actually yeah why doesn't the poison dragon poison, wotc whyyyy)

[warm sky]

yeah, it is weird

but i will follow wotc lol

Also, i changed the reaction.

[mental fox]

Interesting evasion-nerf 👁️

[warm sky]

This is the final version 🔥

[warm sky]

The next one is the Snaptrapper!

[warm sky]

The final version for now.

[warm sky]

The next one is a stingy one!

[heady rain]

the paralyzation is very overcomplicated
see how ghouls and ghasts do it for a simple, effective way

[warm sky]

I will check this out, thank you👍🏼

I checked, and it is just normal paralyzation, nothing special . @heady rain

it may a little overwhelming, but it is quit simple, for my opinion, it is supposed to be a weaker paralyzed version

[heady rain]

the problem is the time and effort put in by the DM
with the ghoul, it goes

1. Roll to hit
2. Determine Con save
3. Paralyzed, rules in books
   a. now the player is in control of the effect
   with this monster it goes
4. Roll to hit
5. Determine Con save
   3, Determine limbs paralyzed
6. Decide the effects of having limbs paralyzed
   a. Will be an unbalanced house rule, even if the DM has memorized the DMG's injury rules
7. Keep track of when 2 rounds have passed
   a. unlike "end of turn", not really player tracked
8. Track which limbs of the player are paralyzed to determine wider paralysis
   TL;DR the DM goes from tracking one thing on their turns and none outside to, with this monster, tracking multiple things all the time and needing a new house rule to decide any effects

[warm sky]

At least from the encounter I have ran with them, it was very smooth and easy, so maybe on the paper it is complicated, but in practice its actually not that complicated . this is my opinion at least...

[heady rain]

logically, it's twice as many steps, twice the effort
Also, almost didn't notice in both your bonus actions it says 3/encounter
that equates to at will as encounters are expected to last 3 turns

[warm sky]

last 3-5 turns, but it depends on a lot of things in the end.

I imagine the party tries to flee on horses when they are spotted by the Speed Stingers.

or a Haste encounter thing

[heady rain]

in CR calculation fights are assumed to last 3 rounds
And I bet no ones going to flee cause' there's always at least one without speed buffs or vehicles.

[warm sky]

OK, anyway i will not change those, based on my play tests i think this works fine, and it is good it has uses for the whole encounter.

[west linden]

May I play test this content in my games?

[west linden]

How many speed stingers do you think I should have against a party of 5 lvl 3 for a medium challenge?

[west linden]

#928875643842736188 message

[warm sky]

yea

[warm sky]

i think 5 or 6 normals or 1 leader and 3 or 4 normals

[west linden]

How would you do the poison mechanically?

My suggestion would be -1d4 on 1d20 rolls for a turn fail 3 times end up paralyzed

[west linden]

Also I would average the to hit modifier for all attacks to make it easier to use

[warm sky]

It already explained in the stat block, this is accurate to hot it works in the show, if you want to use another, i wont stop you, use whatever is the best for your game.