Awakened Zombie Dragon [Archive] - Wizards Community

Awakened Zombie Dragon [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Arturius1
04-12-07, 08:06 PM At the end of the last game, my dread necromancer animated an ancient black dragon that we defeated. When she levels, she'll awaken the zombie dragon and make it her cohort. I have Undead Leadership and recently lost my cohort, and my DM okayed it. Unfortunately, the spellcasting abilities it had are lost forever, and even so, it's charisma is only 10. But what abilities will it gain back once awakened? Also, what is the damage it'd do with its breath weapon? The zombie dragon entry in Draconomicon makes no mention of it and the example dragon has a breath weapon with different damage than the base dragon.
Malfean
04-12-07, 08:28 PM It will gain all extraordinary abilities. Breath weapon is supernatural so no normal breath weapon. Blinsense and flight for example are extraordinary so it will have these. It will also have all the skill points AND feats it had in life.

Just a question: Why make it a cohort? It is animated from you and under your complete control... so no need to make it a cohort. Its your slave.
Arturius1
04-12-07, 08:53 PM Slave, yes. But the party beat it and we're going into epic levels soon. If I awaken it and make it my cohort it can gain character levels.
PhaedrusXY
04-12-07, 08:57 PM The zombie dragon stuff in Draconomicon explicitly gives them back their breath weapon. I think it is at half strength, but I don't actually own that book.

Even if you Awaken it, it is still your slave. Nothing in the Awaken Undead description, or anything else, says you lose control of it when you Awaken it. Dragons have hideously huge ECLs. I'd just keep it as your slave, and get a more useful cohort (i.e. one with a lower level adjustment).
Arturius1
04-12-07, 09:03 PM Actually, because it's a zombie, its ECL is much lower than its HD. Libris Mortis talks about undead and their ECL. While the chart doesn't go to 31 HD (the dragon's HD), you can follow the progression and it leads you to ECL 17.
PhaedrusXY
04-12-07, 09:07 PM Actually, because it's a zombie, its ECL is much lower than its HD. Libris Mortis talks about undead and their ECL. While the chart doesn't go to 31 HD (the dragon's HD), you can follow the progression and it leads you to ECL 17.Ah, I own that book, but I guess I'd overlooked/forgotten that. Good for you, then. :P
Arturius1
04-12-07, 09:16 PM How about DR and SR? Are they gone for good or would they return with upon awakening?
Malfean
04-13-07, 06:49 AM Aha I see, if you follow the table in libris mortis then yes it is a worthy cohort.

SR is always extraordinary so yes he keeps it, damage reduction is some times extraordinary some times supernatural, but i would say no.

Keep in mind that frightful presence is extraordinary too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Arturius1 04-12-07, 08:06 PM	At the end of the last game, my dread necromancer animated an ancient black dragon that we defeated. When she levels, she'll awaken the zombie dragon and make it her cohort. I have Undead Leadership and recently lost my cohort, and my DM okayed it. Unfortunately, the spellcasting abilities it had are lost forever, and even so, it's charisma is only 10. But what abilities will it gain back once awakened? Also, what is the damage it'd do with its breath weapon? The zombie dragon entry in Draconomicon makes no mention of it and the example dragon has a breath weapon with different damage than the base dragon.
Malfean 04-12-07, 08:28 PM	It will gain all extraordinary abilities. Breath weapon is supernatural so no normal breath weapon. Blinsense and flight for example are extraordinary so it will have these. It will also have all the skill points AND feats it had in life. Just a question: Why make it a cohort? It is animated from you and under your complete control... so no need to make it a cohort. Its your slave.
Arturius1 04-12-07, 08:53 PM	Slave, yes. But the party beat it and we're going into epic levels soon. If I awaken it and make it my cohort it can gain character levels.
PhaedrusXY 04-12-07, 08:57 PM	The zombie dragon stuff in Draconomicon explicitly gives them back their breath weapon. I think it is at half strength, but I don't actually own that book. Even if you Awaken it, it is still your slave. Nothing in the Awaken Undead description, or anything else, says you lose control of it when you Awaken it. Dragons have hideously huge ECLs. I'd just keep it as your slave, and get a more useful cohort (i.e. one with a lower level adjustment).
Arturius1 04-12-07, 09:03 PM	Actually, because it's a zombie, its ECL is much lower than its HD. Libris Mortis talks about undead and their ECL. While the chart doesn't go to 31 HD (the dragon's HD), you can follow the progression and it leads you to ECL 17.
PhaedrusXY 04-12-07, 09:07 PM	Actually, because it's a zombie, its ECL is much lower than its HD. Libris Mortis talks about undead and their ECL. While the chart doesn't go to 31 HD (the dragon's HD), you can follow the progression and it leads you to ECL 17.Ah, I own that book, but I guess I'd overlooked/forgotten that. Good for you, then. :P
Arturius1 04-12-07, 09:16 PM	How about DR and SR? Are they gone for good or would they return with upon awakening?
Malfean 04-13-07, 06:49 AM	Aha I see, if you follow the table in libris mortis then yes it is a worthy cohort. SR is always extraordinary so yes he keeps it, damage reduction is some times extraordinary some times supernatural, but i would say no. Keep in mind that frightful presence is extraordinary too.