Monstrous Manual

Dragon, Gem - Crystal Dragon

Dragon cristallin - Dragon de cristal

Monstrous Manual



Crystal Dragon
Climate/Terrain:Temperate and cold mountains
Frequency:Very rare
Organization:Solitary or clan
Activity Cycle:Any
Diet:Special
Intelligence:Exceptional (15-16)
Treasure:Special
Alignment:Chaotic neutral

No. Appearing:1 (2-5)
Armor Class:0 (base)
Movement:9, Fl 24 (C), Jp 3
Hit Dice:10 (base)
THAC0:11 (base)
No. of Attacks:3 + special
Damage/Attack:1-6/1-6/2-12
Special Attacks:Variable
Special Defenses:Variable
Magic Resistance:Variable
Size:L (12’ base)
Morale:Fanatic (17-18)
XP Value:Variable

Psionics Summary

LevelDis/Sci/DevAttack/DefenseScorePSPs
= HD1/1/2EW/M-= Int100

Clairsentience – Sciences: clairaudience, clairvoyance, precognition; Devotion: any.

Crystal dragons are the friendliest of the gem dragons, always curious about the world. Though they seldom seek out company, they willingly converse with visitors who do not try to steal from them.

At birth, crystal dragons have glossy white scales. As the dragons age, their scales become translucent. Moonlight and starlight causes their scales to luminesce, while bright sunlight lends them a dazzling brilliance which makes crystal dragons almost unbearable to look at.

Crystal dragons speak their own tongue and the tongue common to all gem dragons, and 10% of hatchling crystal dragons have an ability to communicate with any intelligent creature. The chance to possess this ability increases 5% per age category of the dragon.

Combat: Crystal dragons greatly prefer conversation to combat, and often use charm person early in any conversation. They do not initially hide, but if visitors become hostile, a crystal dragon will retreat immediately to observe its enemies with its special abilities, and plan an attack. Often, it uses its breath weapon first, to weaken and disorient enemies. Spells and other abilities are used as needed, with claws and bite a last resort.

Breath Weapon/Special Abilities: This dragon’s breath weapon is a cone of glowing shards; the cone is 60 feet long, 5 feet wide at the dragon’s mouth, and 25 feet wide at the base. Creatures caught in the blast can save vs. breath weapon for half damage, and must make a second saving throw vs. breath weapon or be blinded by the dazzling shards for one turn per age level of the dragon. The shards shine as bright as daylight, and can be seen for miles. Creatures within 60 feet must save vs. breath weapon or be dazzled, incurring a penalty of -2 to attack rolls for one turn per age level of the dragon. A crystal dragon casts spells and uses magical abilities at 5th level, plus its combat modifier.

Crystal dragons are born immune to light-based attacks and normal cold, and able to cast charm person at will. As they age, they gain these additional powers:

Juvenile: color spray three times a day. Mature adult: suggestion three times a day. Very old: luckscale once a day. This allows the dragon to enchant one of its scales as a stone of good luck. The enchantment lasts one hour per age category of the dragon. Such scales are given to friendly visitors. Wyrm: control winds three times a day.

Habitat/Society: Crystal dragons prefer cold, open areas with clear skies, and they enjoy stargazing. They have been known to build snow forts, create beautiful snow sculptures, and throw balls of snow at various targets. They are fun-loving and mischievous. Crystal dragons are reasonably good parents, if somewhat irresponsible.

Crystal dragons are hunted by some white dragons. However, a rare crystal dragon will adopt a young white dragon, to teach it to be friendly. Though generally friendly, they bear great enmity towards all giants, who sometimes try to enslave them.

Ecology: Crystal dragons prefer gems and metal ores to all other foods.


AgeBody Lgt. (’)Tail Lgt. (’)ACBreath WeaponSpells W/PMRTreas. TypeXP Value
1 Hatchling1-41-631d4+1NilNilNil1,400
2 Very young4-96-1122d4+2NilNilNil2,000
3 Young9-1411-1613d4+3NilNilNil3,000
4 Juvenile14-2116-2304d4+4Nil/1NilE,Q5,000
5 Young adult21-2823-30-15d4+51/15%E,Q×2,T6,000
6 Adult28-3830-40-26d4+61/1 110%H,Q×3,T7,000
7 Mature adult38-4840-50-37d4+71/1 1 115%H,Q×4,T9,000
8 Old48-5650-60-48d4+81 1/1 1 120%H,Q×5,T10,000
9 Very old56-6460-70-59d4+91 1 1/2 1 125%H,Q×6,T×212,000
10 Venerable64-7270-77-610d4+101 1 1/2 2 1 130%H,Q×7,T×213,000
11 Wyrm72-8077-84-611d4+112 1 1/2 2 2 135%H,Q×8,T×215,000
12 Great wyrm80-9284-91-812d4+122 2 1/2 2 2 240%H,Q×9,T×216,000