Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rommel013 04-05-07, 04:27 AM	Alright, I'm going to go ahead and appologize ahead of time for this post. I fully understand that when mixing science principles and DnD monsters, many things no long work. That said, how is it a monster (I'll use a Blue Dragon for examples) that has an electrical breath weapon can aim it? It would seem that as soon as the electricity is unleashed, it would go for the closest, non-insulated item or creature that is touching the ground... usually the creature that used the breath weapon. So, show me where my logic goes wrong, or where this priniciple is over-ridden somewhere. And no, I'm not trying to say Blue Dragons or anything else that has an electrical based breath attack should kill itself when it uses that attack, I'm trying to understand how it works for a project I'm working on. Thank you for your time.
Azar_of_Faerun 04-05-07, 04:33 AM	You forget that while it is electrical in nature, it is also magical in nature.
Rommel013 04-05-07, 04:35 AM	So essentially, it is electrical current channeled magically?
Azar_of_Faerun 04-05-07, 04:41 AM	Although it's not core in the sense of the word (Players Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master's Guide) the Draconomicon states there is an organ that produces elemental energy within each of the 10 basic Chromatic and Metallic dragons. Since this is magical as well as biological in nature, yes, there is undoubtedly a degree of the arcane that directs it's breath to prevent such mishaps. There is no other explanation in said book regarding the Blue Dragon's ability to guide it's electricity breath.
LivingShadow 04-05-07, 08:05 AM	Possibly the Blue can control magnetic fields slightly thus allowing the breath weapon. It builds up a negitive charge in its mouth and then builds up a positive charge at the target square followed by instant lightning.
Ebonyte 04-05-07, 02:17 PM	Rumor has it they are designing a projectile-free taser weapon. NOt sure, but it's suposed to shoot a pair of lasers or something to ionize the air, then pass an electrical current through that space to shock the target. So, maybe the ionization concept is applicable, and the "breath" of the dragon is conductive to electrical currents like the breath of a red is flamable. Hmm... you think harvesting dragon breath would be feasable to craft weapons like Alchemist Fire?
Captain_Kobold 04-05-07, 02:35 PM	I assume the dragon uses naturally whatever the Lightning Bolt spell uses to keep the lightning channeled and on track. If you need a more "natural" explanation, how about: Moments before the lightning stroke, the dragon sprays a thin stream of water/ionic fluid/statically charged sand down the intended path of the bolt. As the Draconis fundamentum discharges, this stream provides a conductive path of least resistance down which the electricity can flow. Arcing from the path onto anything within a few feet of the bolt does occur however. Once at the limit of the stream, (a distance generally determined by the size and lungpower of the dragon) the remaining energy either grounds out into the earth, or back into the dragon, where it is reabsorbed by the Fundamentum.