Pseudodragon
| Pseudodragon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Characteristics | |
| Alignment | Usually Neutral Good |
| Type | Dragon |
| Image | Wizards.com image |
| Stats | Open Game License stats |
A pseudodragon is a small dragon-like creature in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Pseudodragons are not true dragons and are stereotypically wizard's familiars.
Publication history
The pseudodragon appeared in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the original Monster Manual (1977).[1]
The pseudodragon appeared in the second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989),[2] and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993) under the "dragonet" heading.[3] The pseudodragon was further detailed in Dragon #269 (March 2000).[4]
The pseudodragon appeared in the third edition Monster Manual (2000),[5] and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003).[6] The pseudodragon familiar appeared in Tome and Blood (2001), and later in the revised 3.5 Dungeon Master's Guide (2003).
The pseudodragon also appears in the fifth edition Player's Handbook, as a pet optionally received at level three as a warlock.
Ecology
Environment
Pseudodragons inhabit temperate forests in the wild, but they can be found as familiars in nearly any environment.
Typical physical characteristics
Pseudodragons typically have bodies about one foot long, with a two foot tail and weigh seven pounds. They can communicate telepathically and can also vocalize animal noises. While pseudodragons can bite, their main weapon is a stinging, poisonous tail. They are found in temperate forests and have chameleon like abilities, though their color is usually a brownish red.
Alignment
Pseudodragons in third and fifth edition are always neutral good. In fourth edition, they are listed as "unaligned".
Society
Pseudodragons are described as playful and curious with the personality of a common house cat.[7] They are highly valued as familiars.
Pseudodragons can vocalize animal noises, as well as communicate with creatures that speak Common or Sylvan via telepathy.
Pseudodragons in Greyhawk
Pseudodragons, though rare, are most often seen in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting as familiars, though some are known to exist in the wild. The best known pseudodragon in the setting is Edwina, familiar of Jallarzi Sallivarian.
Pseudodragons in Dragonlance
Pseudodragons are extremely rare in this world, and occasionally serve as familiars to Wizards of High Sorcery. They are known to be found on the Dragon Isles and in Ravenwood Forest on the border between Neraka and Thrott. The best known pseudodragon in the setting of Krynn is Fafnir, familiar of Jasryn Storm, a White Robe mage, possessor of Arion, the Staff of Elemental Control, of Air.
Footnotes
- ↑ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977)
- ↑ Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume One. TSR, 1989
- ↑ Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)
- ↑ Richards, Jonathan M. "The Ecology of the Pseudodragon: The Sting." Dragon #269 (TSR, 2000)
- ↑ Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual. Wizards of the Coast, 2000
- ↑ Williams, Skip; Tweet, Jonathan; and Cook, Monte. Monster Manual 3.5 (Wizards of the Coast, Inc; July 2003)
- ↑ Neverwinter Nights: Pseudodragon