So for the campaign, I'm doing with my brother, one of the NPCs that is with his character's a young green dragon (his character does know that it is a green dragon) and I gave said dragon the ability to actually polymorph. But using the wildshape that the druids have. What sort of restrictions can I use to make it so I dont ruin everything for myself? If I give him a class, should it only be tied to his humanoid form?
Best option might by just to limit the polymorph/wild shape ability to a number of uses equal to the dragons Charisma Modifier and require its concentration, maybe also limit it to just one humanoid form that can be changed once the form has been chosen, so if its humanoid form is a human with emerald green eyes and blond hair that is 6ft tall, that is the only form the dragon can assume.
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* Need a character idea? Search for "Rob76's Unused" in the Story and Lore section.
Best option might by just to limit the polymorph/wild shape ability to a number of uses equal to the dragons Charisma Modifier and require its concentration, maybe also limit it to just one humanoid form that can be changed once the form has been chosen, so if its humanoid form is a human with emerald green eyes and blond hair that is 6ft tall, that is the only form the dragon can assume.
Ultimately an NPC can have any powers/abilities you deem appropriate as a DM, but i would not wild-shape a young dragon into a lvl 8 Wood Elf Monk, I would assume the Dragon would use its Wild-shape abilities to scout its lair or chosen domain and its humanoid form to infiltrate towns and villages.
I'd be inclined towards the following:
Young Green Dragon as described in Monster Manual + Polymorph abilities.
Through their Polymorph ability they can use an Action to assume the following forms: Any beast as per the Polymorph spell or the form of a Humanoid creature or a Green Hag.
They can Polymorph x2 per long rest and each form lasts until they decide to revert to the Dragon form as a Bonus Action or until they decide to polymorph into another form. This does not require their concentration to maintain but they lose all Draconic abilities/attacks whilst in their other form and do not gain any additional spell casting from their polymorph form but does gain any special attacks (such as poisoned stingers from a scorpion form or a claw attack from the hag form)
That ties into the Green Dragon Mythology about being LE and schemers and infiltrators, gives a few options and potentially gives the NPC a double bluff of "I'm not a Dragon I'm an (insert humanoid race) spell caster...oh no I'm actually a Green Hag trying to manipulate you through magic", you could add another spell such as Vicious Mockery (cast as a level 8 character), the spell casting variant of Dragon allows 2 spells standardly, polymorph would be one and Vicious Mockery would be thematically appropriate as a Green Hag also has it and means the humanoid form can masquerade as a bard if needed.
The Beast, Humanoid and Green Hag forms are all weaker than the Green Dragons true form, I'd give stats for Humanoid Form as: Str 13, Dex 10, Cons 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 15 and amend with the racial buffs form the PHB as needed also assume humanoid forms have +3 proficiency bonus and proficient in Deception, Perception and Stealth skills and maybe give them a weapon skill or two, HP for humanoid form =36+ cons mod, AC =11, humanoid forms appear naked and nay clothes or armour worn are destroyed if the Dragon polymorph's whilst wearing them.
I can understand, looking at how he is built now, is kinda broken. But I feel like if he has to make concentrations, it made sense to me to give him monk. And wood elf seemed natural because... nature, and forgot about the wisdom bonus.
Not having a monster manual is a bit of stumbling block, so in that case just go with what ever you feel is correct....but don't forget the Breath Weapon (a cone of poisonous gas/liquid/venom 60ft long!)
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* Need a character idea? Search for "Rob76's Unused" in the Story and Lore section.
So for the campaign, I'm doing with my brother, one of the NPCs that is with his character's a young green dragon (his character does know that it is a green dragon) and I gave said dragon the ability to actually polymorph. But using the wildshape that the druids have. What sort of restrictions can I use to make it so I dont ruin everything for myself? If I give him a class, should it only be tied to his humanoid form?
Best option might by just to limit the polymorph/wild shape ability to a number of uses equal to the dragons Charisma Modifier and require its concentration, maybe also limit it to just one humanoid form that can be changed once the form has been chosen, so if its humanoid form is a human with emerald green eyes and blond hair that is 6ft tall, that is the only form the dragon can assume.
This is the character I made as an example: https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/PatrickDees/characters/21341032
What if you also impose a level of exhaustion if the concentration fails?
Ultimately an NPC can have any powers/abilities you deem appropriate as a DM, but i would not wild-shape a young dragon into a lvl 8 Wood Elf Monk, I would assume the Dragon would use its Wild-shape abilities to scout its lair or chosen domain and its humanoid form to infiltrate towns and villages.
I'd be inclined towards the following:
Young Green Dragon as described in Monster Manual + Polymorph abilities.
Through their Polymorph ability they can use an Action to assume the following forms: Any beast as per the Polymorph spell or the form of a Humanoid creature or a Green Hag.
They can Polymorph x2 per long rest and each form lasts until they decide to revert to the Dragon form as a Bonus Action or until they decide to polymorph into another form. This does not require their concentration to maintain but they lose all Draconic abilities/attacks whilst in their other form and do not gain any additional spell casting from their polymorph form but does gain any special attacks (such as poisoned stingers from a scorpion form or a claw attack from the hag form)
That ties into the Green Dragon Mythology about being LE and schemers and infiltrators, gives a few options and potentially gives the NPC a double bluff of "I'm not a Dragon I'm an (insert humanoid race) spell caster...oh no I'm actually a Green Hag trying to manipulate you through magic", you could add another spell such as Vicious Mockery (cast as a level 8 character), the spell casting variant of Dragon allows 2 spells standardly, polymorph would be one and Vicious Mockery would be thematically appropriate as a Green Hag also has it and means the humanoid form can masquerade as a bard if needed.
The Beast, Humanoid and Green Hag forms are all weaker than the Green Dragons true form, I'd give stats for Humanoid Form as: Str 13, Dex 10, Cons 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 15 and amend with the racial buffs form the PHB as needed also assume humanoid forms have +3 proficiency bonus and proficient in Deception, Perception and Stealth skills and maybe give them a weapon skill or two, HP for humanoid form =36+ cons mod, AC =11, humanoid forms appear naked and nay clothes or armour worn are destroyed if the Dragon polymorph's whilst wearing them.
I can understand, looking at how he is built now, is kinda broken. But I feel like if he has to make concentrations, it made sense to me to give him monk. And wood elf seemed natural because... nature, and forgot about the wisdom bonus.
Sadly I don't have a monster manual
Not having a monster manual is a bit of stumbling block, so in that case just go with what ever you feel is correct....but don't forget the Breath Weapon (a cone of poisonous gas/liquid/venom 60ft long!)
I did by the reference cards for monsters of cr 0-5, and 6-16 if that helps any.