Astral dreadnought
Encyclopedia
The astral dreadnought is an outsider
in the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing
game.
, 1987). Although the book contained no statistics for the creature, it did make mention of the creature as an "ethereal dreadnought".
The astral dreadnought was first described in second edition for the Planescape
setting in the Planescape Monstrous Compendium II (TSR
, 1994), by Rich Baker
.
The astral dreadnought appeared in the third edition Manual of the Planes (2001).
The astral dreadnought appeared in the fourth edition Manual of the Planes (2008), again appearing on the cover in this edition.
by attacking their silver cords (the link between a character's physical body and their astral form, which, if severed, will kill the character instantly). They also make use of powerful anti-magic to weaken characters who are dependent on magic items and spells as sources of power.
Astral dreadnoughts are solitary creatures, with no form of society, and seem to lack any form of motivation other than to devour any astral travellers who are unfortunate enough to cross its path. Very few have ever encountered an astral dreadnought; nobody has ever managed to communicate with such a creature and lived to tell the tale.
Astral dreadnoughts are, without exception, chaotic neutral creatures.
. It has a single, black eye in the middle of its face (similar to that of a cyclops
), and a gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth. Its tongue is dark blue. Its armored carapace is a reddish-brown colour, covered with a multitude of horn-like spikes. It has two muscular forearms, which end in huge pincer-like claws. Its lower body is serpentine.
Some speculate that the astral dreadnought may not be a native of the Astral Plane
, because its tail appears to have no end; rather, the infinitely long, silver cord which trails off from the creature's 'tail' would imply that the astral dreadnought is, in fact, projecting its spirit from some unknown, material world.
The astral dreadnought’s eye continually produces an anti-magic cone, with extends in front of the creature at a range of up to 60 feet.
It also uses fear gaze to terrify its opponents, with a range of 60 feet (with effects equivalent to those of a fear spell cast by a 20th level sorcerer
).
All magical and supernatural powers and effects within the creature's anti-magic cone are suppressed — including the astral dreadnought's own fear gaze. Therefore, the astral dreadnought must choose whether to activate or deactivate its anti-magic cone in order to allow the use of fear gaze.
Outsider (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, an outsider is a type of creature, or "creature type". Outsiders are at least partially composed of the essence of a plane other than the Prime Material Plane....
in the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing
Role-playing
Role-playing refers to the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role...
game.
Publication history
The creature was first depicted on the cover of the original first edition Manual of the Planes (Jeff GrubbJeff Grubb
Jeff Grubb is an author and game designer. He has worked on a number of computer and role-playing games and has written a number of successful novels, short stories and comics...
, 1987). Although the book contained no statistics for the creature, it did make mention of the creature as an "ethereal dreadnought".
The astral dreadnought was first described in second edition for the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
setting in the Planescape Monstrous Compendium II (TSR
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, 1994), by Rich Baker
Richard Baker (game designer)
Richard Baker is an American author and a game designer who has worked on many Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings.-Early life, education, and military:...
.
The astral dreadnought appeared in the third edition Manual of the Planes (2001).
The astral dreadnought appeared in the fourth edition Manual of the Planes (2008), again appearing on the cover in this edition.
Depiction
They attack characters wandering around the Astral PlaneAstral plane
The astral plane, also called the astral world, is a plane of existence postulated by classical , medieval, oriental and esoteric philosophies and mystery religions...
by attacking their silver cords (the link between a character's physical body and their astral form, which, if severed, will kill the character instantly). They also make use of powerful anti-magic to weaken characters who are dependent on magic items and spells as sources of power.
Astral dreadnoughts are solitary creatures, with no form of society, and seem to lack any form of motivation other than to devour any astral travellers who are unfortunate enough to cross its path. Very few have ever encountered an astral dreadnought; nobody has ever managed to communicate with such a creature and lived to tell the tale.
Astral dreadnoughts are, without exception, chaotic neutral creatures.
Physical description
The astral dreadnought is a gargantuan creature, reaching approximately the same size as a storm giantGiant (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, giant is a type of creature, or "creature type." Giants are humanoid-shaped creatures of great strength and size.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
. It has a single, black eye in the middle of its face (similar to that of a cyclops
Cyclops
A cyclops , in Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, was a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the middle of his forehead...
), and a gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth. Its tongue is dark blue. Its armored carapace is a reddish-brown colour, covered with a multitude of horn-like spikes. It has two muscular forearms, which end in huge pincer-like claws. Its lower body is serpentine.
Some speculate that the astral dreadnought may not be a native of the Astral Plane
Astral plane
The astral plane, also called the astral world, is a plane of existence postulated by classical , medieval, oriental and esoteric philosophies and mystery religions...
, because its tail appears to have no end; rather, the infinitely long, silver cord which trails off from the creature's 'tail' would imply that the astral dreadnought is, in fact, projecting its spirit from some unknown, material world.
Combat
The astral dreadnought attacks using its claws and teeth in melee combat. It may try to devour its opponent by grabbing them with its claws and stuffing them into its gaping mouth, swallowing them whole. Whilst a swallowed opponent may cut its way out of the creature's belly (despite suffering large amounts of crushing and acid damage), the Astral Dreadnought may chew through and sever their opponent's silver cord.The astral dreadnought’s eye continually produces an anti-magic cone, with extends in front of the creature at a range of up to 60 feet.
It also uses fear gaze to terrify its opponents, with a range of 60 feet (with effects equivalent to those of a fear spell cast by a 20th level sorcerer
Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)
The sorcerer is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A sorcerer is weak in melee combat, but a master of arcane magic, the most generally powerful form of D&D magic. Sorcerers' magical ability is innate rather than studied...
).
All magical and supernatural powers and effects within the creature's anti-magic cone are suppressed — including the astral dreadnought's own fear gaze. Therefore, the astral dreadnought must choose whether to activate or deactivate its anti-magic cone in order to allow the use of fear gaze.
Trivia
- The astral dreadnought is often cited as one of the inspirations for the design of the original CacodemonCacodemonA cacodemon is an evil spirit or a demon. The opposite of a cacodemon is an agathodaemon or eudaemon, a good spirit or angel...
enemies from the Doom series of first-person shooterFirst-person shooterFirst-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
video games. In fact, the artwork used for the original Cacodemon sprites is widely considered to be a replication of an illustration of an astral dreadnought from the Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
Manual of the PlanesManual of the PlanesThe Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
1.
