Dragon Breath Weapons
The basic breath weapon, included in the template, is a blast of magical fire, in a cone as wide at its end as the dragon, and as long as the dragon. Damage increases with age. The various levels are summarized below. Dragons may swap out fire for any of these other types, paying the difference in cost, if any. Some dragons have more than one breath weapon, these should be bought as Alternate Attacks, which makes it a free action to switch between types in a turn, but only one type of breath weapon can be used per turn. What breath weapons a dragon has should be set by the GM by type of dragon. Dragons with Imbue 1 (Magical -10%) [9] may take additional breath weapons in play, but must apply Requires Skill Roll -10% to the new weapons (still buying them as alternate attacks though). The skill is different for each type of breath weapon, receives a bonus from Magery or Eldritch Talent, and has no defaults. This acts as an Unusual Background for a dragon that can surprise opponents with different energy types, as most dragon hunters come prepared to be immune to their targets breath weapon at a minimum!
Dragons sometimes learn Power Techniques (Powers p. 172). Increasing Area of Effect or Cone width, adding Selective Area, or adding Cyclic to Fire or Acid breath are popular. Dragons who intend to do that kind of thing regularly should buy Selectivity +10% and the appropriate enhancements on their breath weapon. Techniques default from HT.
A note on damage: Breath Weapon damage, especially for very large dragons, may seem underpowered, but before increasing it, carefully consider the following: All breath weapons tend to reduce or ignore DR; Cones and AoEs are large area injury and so average Torso and the lowest armored area facing the attack, which is often the eyes at DR 0, thus effectively halving Torso DR. The only normal active defense allowed is a Dive for Cover, which is effectively a dodge, but that requires there to BE cover within 1 step of the target, usually 1 yard. Finally dragons do not pay FP for their attacks, and so can do them as often as they like. Even 1d of attack can be potent under those circumstance, particularly since the combination of Long Neck (breath weapons naturally emanate from the mouth) and the breath weapons basic range means the dragon can often remain out of melee reach while using it. Against Monstrous dragons, it is expected opponents will be immune to any breath weapons they know it uses, forcing the dragon to use melee or spells. Non-immune attackers are not opponents, they are victims.
Fire Breath: This is a cone attack (Basic p. 413) and is thus a large-area injury attack, using the average of a targets Torso DR and least protected, exposed, hit location. For a target hit from the front, this is usually the eyes. Only active defense normally allowed is a Dive for Cover (Basic p. 377). Only apply DR useful against Fire damage, and note that this can set things on fire, most notably clothing if the attack inflicts 10 points of damage or more, and flesh if it inflicts 30 points. However, the Resist Fire spell protects against all damage automatically!
Hatchling (+20%): Burning Attack 1d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 2 yards -15%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%) [6]
Young (+20%): Burning Attack 2d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect- Range is actually 3 yards -15%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%) [12]
Adolescent (+20%): Burning Attack 3d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect- Actual Range is 3 yards -15%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%) [18]
Young Adult (+45%): Burning Attack 5d (Cone, 3 yards, +80%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect- Actual Range is 5 yards -10%; Reduced Max Range x1/10, -15%) [37]
Adult (+45%): Burning Attack 6d (Cone, 3 yards, +80%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect- Actual Range is 7 yards -10%; Reduced Max Range x1/10, -15%) [44]
Old Adult (+55%): Burning Attack 7d (Cone, 3 yards, +80%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Reduced Max Range x1/10, -15%) [55];
Monstrous (+75%): Burning Attack 9d (Cone, 4 yards, +90%; Increased 1/2D range x2 +5%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Reduced Max Range x1/5, -10%) [79]
Truly Horrific Dragon Fire: Some dragons breath the very essence of flame. Add Incendiary 2 +20% for +1 point per die of damage. This will set clothing on fire with 1 point of damage, flesh with 3 points, and even rock or metal with 10 points. Double the FP cost for Resist Fire.
Cold Breath: This is also a cone attack, see above. It causes burn damage but will not set fires. The Resist Cold spell protects completely!
Hatchling (+10%): Burning Attack 1d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Incendiary Effect -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 2 yards -15%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%) [6]
Young (+10%): Burning Attack 2d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Incendiary Effect -10%; Nuisance Effect- Range is actually 3 yards -15%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%) [11]
Adolescent (+10%): Burning Attack 3d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Incendiary Effect -10%; Nuisance Effect- Range is actually 3 yards -15%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%) [17]
Young Adult (+35%): Burning Attack 5d (Cone, 3 yard, +80%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Incendiary Effect -10%; Nuisance Effect- Actual Range is 5 yards -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%) [34]
Adult (+35%): Burning Attack 6d (Cone, 3 yard, +80%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Incendiary Effect -10%; Nuisance Effect- Actual Range is 7 yards -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%) [41]
Old Adult (+45%): Burning Attack 7d (Cone, 3 yard, +80%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Incendiary Effect -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%) [30]
Monstrous (+65%): Burning Attack 9d (Cone, 4 yard, +90%; Increased 1/2D range x2 +5%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Incendiary Effect -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/5, -10%) [39]
Ice Blast: This is a possibly less traditional cone of rapidly freezing water, coating everything in the area in ice. This is a cone attack (as above) inflicting crushing damage with no knockback or blunt trauma. Make a HT roll, at -1 per 2 points of penetrating damage. Failure inflicts Paralysis for (20-HT) seconds, minimum 1 second. Resist Cold provides no protection to this breath weapon! Walk Through Water prevents Paralysis, but not damage.
Hatchling (+155%): Crushing Attack 1d-2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Blunt trauma, -20%, No Knockback -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 2 yards -15%; Reduced Duration 1/60 -35%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Side Effect: Paralysis +200%) [6]
Young (+155%): Crushing Attack 1d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Blunt trauma, -20%, No Knockback -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 2 yards -15%; Reduced Duration 1/60 -35%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Side Effect: Paralysis +200%) [13]
Adolescent (+155%): Crushing Attack 1d+1 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Blunt trauma, -20%, No Knockback -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 3 yards -15%; Reduced Duration 1/60 -35%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Side Effect: Paralysis +200%) [17]
Young Adult (+180%): Crushing Attack 2d+2 (Cone, 3 yard, +80%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Blunt trauma, -20%, No Knockback -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 5 yards -10%; Reduced Duration 1/60 -35%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Side Effect: Paralysis +200%) [37]
Adult (+180%): Crushing Attack 3d (Cone, 3 yard, +80%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Blunt trauma, -20%, No Knockback -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 7 yards -10%; Reduced Duration 1/60 -35%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Side Effect: Paralysis +200%) [42]
Old Adult (+190%): Crushing Attack 3d+2 (Cone, 3 yard, +80%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Blunt trauma, -20%, No Knockback -10%; Reduced Duration 1/60 -35%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Side Effect: Paralysis +200%) [53]
Monstrous (+210%): Crushing Attack 4d+2 (Cone, 4 yard, +90%; Increased 1/2D Range x2 +5%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; No Blunt trauma, -20%, No Knockback -10%; Reduced Duration 1/60 -35%; Reduced Max Range, x1/5, -10%; Side Effect: Paralysis +200%) [31]
Lightning Bolt: This is an electrical attack extending in a line 1 hex wide to a range twice as long as the dragon itself. Treat as a cone attack (as above) that can set fires (as above), but metal armor only protects with DR 1 (still averaging Torso and least protected area!), and living creatures hit must make a HT roll, at -1 per 2 points of damage, or be Stunned (Basic p. 420). Resist Lightning protects fully!
Hatchling (+170%): Burning Attack 1d-2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 4 yards -15%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Side Effect: Stunning, +50%; Surge, Arcing +100%) [6]
Young (+175%): Burning Attack 1d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 6 yards -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Side Effect: Stunning, +50%; Surge, Arcing +100%) [14]
Adolescent (+175%): Burning Attack 1d+2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 6 yards -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Side Effect: Stunning, +50%; Surge, Arcing +100%) [22]
Young Adult (+185%): Burning Attack 2d+2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Side Effect: Stunning, +50%; Surge, Arcing +100%) [37]
Adult (+187.5%): Burning Attack 3d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 14 yards -2.5%; Reduced Max Range, x1/5, -10%; Side Effect: Stunning, +50%; Surge, Arcing +100%) [44]
Old Adult (+190%): Burning Attack 3d+2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/5, -10%; Side Effect: Stunning, +50%; Surge, Arcing +100%) [53]
Monstrous (+197.5%): Burning Attack 4d+2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Increased 1/2 Range x2 +5%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 40 yards -2.5%; Reduced Max Range, x1/2, -5%; Side Effect: Stunning, +50%; Surge, Arcing +100%) [69]
Ball Lightning: Make a normal attack roll to place this breath weapons AoE. Targets take damage unless they can get out of the AoE with a Dive for Cover. Other effects are as for Lightning Bolt, above. Replace Cone with AoE, 2 yards +50%. Costs become 6, 14, 22, 35, 42, 50, 67.
Acid Stream: This is a stream of acid extending in a line 1 hex wide to a range twice as long as the dragon itself. Treat as a cone attack (as above). Damage reduces targets DR by 1 point per 5 points of rolled damage. Resist Acid prevents all damage, including damage to armor!
Hatchling (+20%): Corrosive Attack 1d-2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 4 yards -15%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%;) [5]
Young (+25%): Corrosive Attack 1d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 6 yards -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%;) [13]
Adolescent (+25%): Corrosive Attack 1d+2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 6 yards -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%;) [20]
Young Adult (+35%): Corrosive Attack 2d+2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%;) [36]
Adult (+37.5%): Corrosive Attack 3d (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 14 yards -2.5%; Reduced Max Range, x1/5, -10%;) [42]
Old Adult: Corrosive Attack 3d+2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Reduced Max Range, x1/5, -10%;) [51]
Monstrous (+47.5%): Corrosive Attack 4d+2 (Cone, 1 yard, +60%; Increased 1/2 Range x2 +5%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 40 yards -2.5%; Reduced Max Range, x1/2, -5%;) [68]
Poison Gas: This is a billowing cloud of poisonous gas with a radius equal to the length of the dragon, and its center placed that length away from the dragon. This is a Respiratory agent, make a Sense roll to notice the attack in time to hold your breath (Basic, p.351). If you fail to hold your breath, you take full damage, DR doesnt protect! Each cloud persists for 10 seconds. Dragons with poison gas breath weapons may buy Immunity to Dragon Poison Gas [1]. Resistant/Immunity to Poison protects, Purify Air can remove, Resist Poison protects completely.
Hatchling (+100%): Toxic Attack 1d-1 (Area, 2 yards +50%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 2 yards -15%; Persistent +40%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Respiratory Agent +50%;) [6]
Young (+125%): Toxic Attack 1d+1 (Area, 3 yards +75%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 3 yards -15%; Persistent +40%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Respiratory Agent +50%;) [12]
Adolescent (+125%): Toxic Attack 2d (Area, 3 yards +75%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 3 yards -15%; Persistent +40%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Respiratory Agent +50%;) [18]
Young Adult (+162.5%): Toxic Attack 3d (Area, 5 yards +112.5%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 5 yards -15%; Persistent +40%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Respiratory Agent +50%;) [32]
Adult (+192.5%): Toxic Attack 4d (Area, 7 yards +137.5%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Nuisance Effect, Range is actually 7 yards -10%; Persistent +40%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Respiratory Agent +50%;) [47]
Old Adult (+227.5%): Toxic Attack 5d (Area, 10 yards +162.5%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Persistent +40%; Reduced Max Range, x1/10, -15%; Respiratory Agent +50%;) [66]
Monstrous (+287.5%): Toxic Attack 7d (Area, 20 yards +212.5%; Increased 1/2D Range x2 +5%; Mana-Sensitive -10%; Persistent +40%; Reduced Max Range, x1/5, -10%; Respiratory Agent +50%;) [109]