Fizban's is a great book & I'm not here to criticise it. However, it presents a number of statblocks for dragons of different flavours, some of which have notable differences from equivalent abilities of previously released dragons, for example:
Most metallic dragons from adult up have a "change shape" ability that functions as follows:
Change Shape. The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the dragon's choice).
In a new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.
However the gem dragons & metallic greatwyrm use this:
Change Shape. The dragon magically transforms into any creature that is Medium or Small, while retaining its game statistics (other than its size). This transformation ends if the dragon is reduced to 0 hit points or uses a bonus action to end it.
Infact, the metallic greatwyrm ability is an action not a bonus action, and bahamut's avatar has it as a bonus action but is limited to humanoid & beasts (But retains his stats)
Additionally, you'll notice that the frightful presence ability is not present on any statblocks in Fizban's (unless I've missed one), despite it being on almost all of the previously published dragons. Not even the metallic or chromatic greatwyrm have it.
Now Fizban's does include a section on customizing dragon abilities which tells you you can modify when dragons unlock abilities like these or to give them new ones, but it doesn't explain the inconsistency of why it seems the FP ability does not come as standard on Dragons anymore, or why CS seems to have arbitrarily varying mechanics depending on the dragon and the age.
It seems to me like the designers wanted to rewrite dragon stats, removing FP as a default ability & changing the change shape ability to be BA & function more like alter self than polymorph or wildshape, however they were too afraid to reprint all of the existing dragons, so made compromises leading to the inconsistencies above.
For older creatures you'll have to wait for Mordenkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse, due 2022, which will contain over 30 updated PC races and over 250 redesigned monsters and stat blocks.
For older creatures you'll have to wait for Mordenkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse, due 2022, which will contain over 30 updated PC races and over 250 redesigned monsters and stat blocks.
Ah that makes sense thank you. Well in that case let this serve as a pre-emptive look at the changes that are coming.
I do hope they redo the Chromatics & Metallics and give them a few more tools like skills / BA abilities / better legendary actions like they have with the gem dragons. I worry a little that the chromatics in particular are going to end up worse off than they are currently if their only major change is losing their frightening presence. Ofcourse this can always be fixed by homebrew & Fizbans does contain some suggested spell lists for all dragon categories & ages.
Also as an aside, one thing that does bug me is how the gem dragons all have 2 resistances, but the greatwyrms only get one of those as an immunity & the other they're not even resistant to :/
I did a bit of reverse engineering and figured out that a dragon's Frightful Presence ability's DC would be 8 + the dragon's proficiency bonus + the dragon's charisma modifier.
So, this would work for any of the dragons in FToD.
The MM has a chart for determining a monster's proficiency bonus. It's based on CR.
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Fizban's is a great book & I'm not here to criticise it. However, it presents a number of statblocks for dragons of different flavours, some of which have notable differences from equivalent abilities of previously released dragons, for example:
Most metallic dragons from adult up have a "change shape" ability that functions as follows:
Change Shape. The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the dragon's choice).
In a new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.
However the gem dragons & metallic greatwyrm use this:
Change Shape. The dragon magically transforms into any creature that is Medium or Small, while retaining its game statistics (other than its size). This transformation ends if the dragon is reduced to 0 hit points or uses a bonus action to end it.
Infact, the metallic greatwyrm ability is an action not a bonus action, and bahamut's avatar has it as a bonus action but is limited to humanoid & beasts (But retains his stats)
Additionally, you'll notice that the frightful presence ability is not present on any statblocks in Fizban's (unless I've missed one), despite it being on almost all of the previously published dragons. Not even the metallic or chromatic greatwyrm have it.
Now Fizban's does include a section on customizing dragon abilities which tells you you can modify when dragons unlock abilities like these or to give them new ones, but it doesn't explain the inconsistency of why it seems the FP ability does not come as standard on Dragons anymore, or why CS seems to have arbitrarily varying mechanics depending on the dragon and the age.
It seems to me like the designers wanted to rewrite dragon stats, removing FP as a default ability & changing the change shape ability to be BA & function more like alter self than polymorph or wildshape, however they were too afraid to reprint all of the existing dragons, so made compromises leading to the inconsistencies above.
Stat Blocks have been changed for new releases. (https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/sage-advice/creature-evolutions)
For older creatures you'll have to wait for Mordenkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse, due 2022, which will contain over 30 updated PC races and over 250 redesigned monsters and stat blocks.
Ah that makes sense thank you. Well in that case let this serve as a pre-emptive look at the changes that are coming.
I do hope they redo the Chromatics & Metallics and give them a few more tools like skills / BA abilities / better legendary actions like they have with the gem dragons. I worry a little that the chromatics in particular are going to end up worse off than they are currently if their only major change is losing their frightening presence. Ofcourse this can always be fixed by homebrew & Fizbans does contain some suggested spell lists for all dragon categories & ages.
Also as an aside, one thing that does bug me is how the gem dragons all have 2 resistances, but the greatwyrms only get one of those as an immunity & the other they're not even resistant to :/
I did a bit of reverse engineering and figured out that a dragon's Frightful Presence ability's DC would be 8 + the dragon's proficiency bonus + the dragon's charisma modifier.
So, this would work for any of the dragons in FToD.
The MM has a chart for determining a monster's proficiency bonus. It's based on CR.
Dungeonmastering since 1992!