Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Finarin Panjoro 01-29-05, 02:31 PM	Hi all, I'm preparing an adventure in which the PCs encounter a dragon that has been permanently polymorphed into a human. The dragon has been hiding from very powerful enemies for decades in human form. So he is doing everything he can to conceal his true nature. As such he willingly had himself polymorphed into a human and had it made permanent (you can do that in my campiagn). So he CAN NOT assume dragon form unless someone else dispels he permanency effect. My question is what would be the CR for this encounter. Here are his stats: Vastarkulani, young adult green dragon (polymorphed human form, Spot DC 39 to pierce disguise). HD 17, Hp 110, AC 10, Init +4, Spd 30 ft, Saves +10/+10/+12 +17/+12/+7/+2 melee (1d3 unarmed) Str 10, Dex 10, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 14. Skills and Feats: Bluff +22, Disguise +19 (+29 while polymorphed), Diplomacy +26, Forgery +4, Hide +15, Listen +24, Move Silently +15, Perform (entertainer) +12, Search +172, Sense Motive +17, Spot +24. Alertness, Skill focus: disguise, deceitful, power attack*, improved initiative, cleave*. Special Attacks: breath weapon (40 ft. cone of acid, 10d6 damage, Ref DC 18) Special Qualities: DR 5/magic, SR 19, immunity to sleep, paralysis, and acid, low-light vision (x4), darkvision 120 ft, water breathing. Spells per day (caster level 3): (6/6, Save DC 12+spell level) Cantrips- arcane mark, message, detect magic, read magic, ray of frost. 1st- expeditious retreat (+30 ft), burning hands (3d4), hypnotism (2d4 HD of creatures). *feats not available in human form (due to ability score reduction). The normal CR for a young adult green dragon is 11. This is way higher than my PCs (5th level). The problem I have is that polymorph still allows him access to his breath weapon (10d6 acid cone) which is capable of wiping out the entire party in one shot (with some lucky rolls for him and bad save rolls for them). Fortunately he would be extremely reluctant to use it since it would almost certainly give away his true identity. Since he can't assume dragon form his hit points are much lower (-68 from lower con), his AC is much lower (no natural armor), he doesn't have access to his frightful presence, or his physical attack routines, and can't even use all of his feats due to not meeting ability prereqs. Because he's in disguise and doesn't want to attract the wrong sort of attention he doesn't carry much gold, no weapons, no armor, and no magic items. So these really are his stats. However his saves, skills, and especially his special abilities still make him a very formidable opponent. Right now I'm thinking CR 7 or 8 (7 really 8 is a dragon one age category lower which I think could tear him apart). Anyone have any suggestions on how to rate this challenge?
Finarin Panjoro 01-30-05, 09:32 PM	Any thoughts at all would be appreciated?