Dragon Breath Weapon [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragon Breath Weapon [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lilinthra
03-28-08, 09:37 AM I know I've seen a source that specifically spelled this out, but I couldn't find it after a quick look through the Draconomicon this morning.

Dragon (or dragon shaman or a creature with a dragon-ish breath weapon) uses its breath weapon, and rolls a 1 on the recharge roll of 1d4 rounds. Does this mean it can breath again on the next round or not?

Myself and another player think it can, but back in 3.0 we were playing that it would be available two rounds later (and I can't remember what the reason for that was). Another player thought that this delay was still the case.
Merestil Haye
03-28-08, 09:53 AM I think, from reading the relevant texts, that the way to treat dragon breath weapons did not change from 3.0 to 3.5.

The 3.5 SRD says this.Breath Weapon (Su)
Using a breath weapon is a standard action. Once a dragon breathes, it can’t breathe again until 1d4 rounds later. If a dragon has more than one type of breath weapon, it still can breathe only once every 1d4 rounds.The 3.0 SRD phrases it like this.Breath Weapon (Su): Using a breath weapon is a standard action. Once a dragon breathes, it can’t breathe again until 1d4 rounds later. If the dragon has more than one type of breath weapon, it still can breathe only once every 1d4 rounds.They're identical, so I cannot see any justification for changing the way breath weapons are treated in moving from 3.0 to 3.5.

I've always treated it as you did in 3.0 : the dragon's breath weapon is unusable for 1d4 rounds.
DeathlessJuan
03-28-08, 03:08 PM once every 1d4 rounds

1) Once every 1 round (once a round)
2) Once every 2 rounds (every other round)
3) Once every 3 rounds (every 3rd round)
4) Once every 4 rounds (every 4th round)

Rolling a one would allow the dragon to use the breath weapon on its next turn.
nlentz88
03-28-08, 05:23 PM Rolling a one would allow the dragon to use the breath weapon on its next turn.

Agreed. "Once a dragon breathes, it can’t breathe again until 1d4 rounds later." That makes things clear, I think.
mvincent
04-01-08, 05:35 PM Rolling a one would allow the dragon to use the breath weapon on its next turn.Agreed
Magrus
04-01-08, 11:12 PM Personally, I've done it the opposite way. So, round 1, a dragon breathes, rolls a 1. Then in Round 2, it casts a spell or full attacks, and then round 3, it breathes again. I really don't think there's that much difference, most especially when a real dragon is concerned. Dealing with say, a Dragonborn character at low levels with a breath weapon can make a big difference with the shape breath feat and low rolls on the recharge end. Spacing things out makes combats a bit more entertaining than roasting everyone in front of you every round at level 3.
Lilinthra
04-02-08, 03:30 PM The reason this came up is that in the previous GM's final session had a dragon breathe two rounds in a row, while the party's dragon shaman had been using the more conservative recharge rule since gaining a breath weapon. Wanted a consistent interpretation for my campaign.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lilinthra 03-28-08, 09:37 AM	I know I've seen a source that specifically spelled this out, but I couldn't find it after a quick look through the Draconomicon this morning. Dragon (or dragon shaman or a creature with a dragon-ish breath weapon) uses its breath weapon, and rolls a 1 on the recharge roll of 1d4 rounds. Does this mean it can breath again on the next round or not? Myself and another player think it can, but back in 3.0 we were playing that it would be available two rounds later (and I can't remember what the reason for that was). Another player thought that this delay was still the case.
Merestil Haye 03-28-08, 09:53 AM	I think, from reading the relevant texts, that the way to treat dragon breath weapons did not change from 3.0 to 3.5. The 3.5 SRD says this.Breath Weapon (Su) Using a breath weapon is a standard action. Once a dragon breathes, it can’t breathe again until 1d4 rounds later. If a dragon has more than one type of breath weapon, it still can breathe only once every 1d4 rounds.The 3.0 SRD phrases it like this.Breath Weapon (Su): Using a breath weapon is a standard action. Once a dragon breathes, it can’t breathe again until 1d4 rounds later. If the dragon has more than one type of breath weapon, it still can breathe only once every 1d4 rounds.They're identical, so I cannot see any justification for changing the way breath weapons are treated in moving from 3.0 to 3.5. I've always treated it as you did in 3.0 : the dragon's breath weapon is unusable for 1d4 rounds.
DeathlessJuan 03-28-08, 03:08 PM	once every 1d4 rounds 1) Once every 1 round (once a round) 2) Once every 2 rounds (every other round) 3) Once every 3 rounds (every 3rd round) 4) Once every 4 rounds (every 4th round) Rolling a one would allow the dragon to use the breath weapon on its next turn.
nlentz88 03-28-08, 05:23 PM	Rolling a one would allow the dragon to use the breath weapon on its next turn. Agreed. "Once a dragon breathes, it can’t breathe again until 1d4 rounds later." That makes things clear, I think.
mvincent 04-01-08, 05:35 PM	Rolling a one would allow the dragon to use the breath weapon on its next turn.Agreed
Magrus 04-01-08, 11:12 PM	Personally, I've done it the opposite way. So, round 1, a dragon breathes, rolls a 1. Then in Round 2, it casts a spell or full attacks, and then round 3, it breathes again. I really don't think there's that much difference, most especially when a real dragon is concerned. Dealing with say, a Dragonborn character at low levels with a breath weapon can make a big difference with the shape breath feat and low rolls on the recharge end. Spacing things out makes combats a bit more entertaining than roasting everyone in front of you every round at level 3.
Lilinthra 04-02-08, 03:30 PM	The reason this came up is that in the previous GM's final session had a dragon breathe two rounds in a row, while the party's dragon shaman had been using the more conservative recharge rule since gaining a breath weapon. Wanted a consistent interpretation for my campaign.