You are absolutely not lying. The first time I fought one of these, my DM was literally rubbing his hands together at the start. Like some kind of cartoon villain. Half of us died within 45 minutes.
Just thinking of a elder brain masquerading as a dragon to lure the pcs into a ambush then have all the tentacles burts out and the brain itself to surge out a hole in the back of the dragon does sound awesome
That'd be a cool, a different route to go down for sure. You could even be reaaaally mean, and have the party reduce the Elder Brain Dragon to 25% hit points (or 0% if you wanted to be extra cruel), only to then have the Elder Brain burst out the back, and make it a super brutal, Dark Souls style, multi-stage combat!
Good spot. The art in the thumbnail is the official piece for the monster, so other artists probably followed suit for consistency. It is a Wyvern depicted though for sure (unless there are some tiny front legs hiding somewhere!)
It does surprise me that it doesnt have innate Magic Resistance, but then, as a DM you could always include it anyway. It would make the fight waaay harder, but it would fit the creature. It does also have Legendary Resistances, so could shrug off a few pesky spells that break through. The saves are still pretty solid though, with DEX being its only real downfall. It needs to have some kind of weakness... right? 😂
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG with the saves being as low as they are, it fails one, poof encounter is over. an SR would at least make level requirements AC is also incredibly low
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG I've been thinking about what would be the strongest monster technically possible under vanilla rules. Guess I'm off to a good start!
@@joshvonboschbyt elder brain was itself too huge to mount on back of dragon. Dragons looked like toys near it, so it would be impossible to merge with one
as cool as this is, i do feel like there’s something lost in just making the brain a big dragon brain monster at the expense of its colony control abilities The whole thing that makes an elder brain scary in the first place is that your fighting the whole colony with it. A colony that’s designed it’s base with intent to kill intruders. Pincer manoeuvres with elite guards and intellect devourers. Passage ways that are just smooth vertical tunnels. Psychic barriers meant to funnel people into kill rooms. The sort of usually unfair tactics bad DMs would use are the sorts of tactics Mind Flayers would actually use. All the while turning the party against itself by having the brain worm into their brain. And part of that does rely on the elder brain’s ability to easily get information about intruders being near it, distribute that information out, and coordinate counter measures. Hindering those abilities to just make it another big scary monster that roars at you kind of take away from the fun a little
That’s totally valid, and I absolutely get where you are coming from. The Elder Brain is a VERY different monster, that as you said, is dangerous because of its control over its surroundings and underlings. This thing is very much an extension of that strength, but the whole gaining control of a dragon thing is why I think the designers of the monster have done away with so many of the things that makes an Elder Brain special. Controlling the dragon would be taxing, even for something as psychically capable as an Elder Brain, so it would likely be forced to let down some of its magical guard in favour of gaining things like the breath weapon, flight and the dragons raw strength. That being said, the DM of any individual game has the final word, so there is absolutely nothing in the way of someone including all of the Elder Brain features as well, having the party slog through a hell pit of Mind Flayers, Intellect Devourers and Cranium Rats, only to emerge into the main brine pool chamber to find an Elder Brain Dragon wallowing in wait… As a DM myself and someone who loves the horrifyingly cunning nature of the Illithids, I do totally understand your point. Thanks for the comment!
It could be a good BBEG for Spelljammer. I mean, dragons are used all the time, and having a space adventure where you have to fight this thing in the end would be very memorable for your group. (If not traumatise them)
100%. These things would be great for a darker campaign too, something with a bit of a Dead Space feel to it featuring the Elder Brain Dragon would go hard!
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG Yeah, what i really mean are monsters from other settings like Athas, Mystara and whatnot are. You think Mindflayers are scary, wait until you see the *Hivebrood.*
I think that ray of enfeeblement would be difficult to get working on the EBD, mostly because it relies on the creature failing a CON save which is quite high! Synaptic static could be an option, or… if you’re feeling really powerful, feeblemind! Getting that to land would essentially reduce the EBDs mind function to nothing more than pure bestial nature, which, depending how you could look at it, could make things better or worse 😂
I like to put the extra DEX down to there now being a whipping set of tentacles protruding from the dragon. It also has massively increased psychic power, so this could provide it with some kind of premonition for oncoming attacks!
They are very similar creatures, but do have their differences: An Elder Brain Dragon has been directly taken over by an Elder Brain, which essentially burrows its tendrils into the dragon and uses it like a macabre puppet, all while using its own DNA to alter the structure of the host dragons biology. This completely alters it’s appearance and abilities, essentially transforming the dragon into a flying platform that an Elder Brain can use to move around and reign down terror from! The Brainstealer Dragon is the result of a dragon becoming infected with an Illithid tadpole and then going through a more typical form of ceremorphosis. In most cases, this process alters them in different ways than the EBD, destroying their wings for example, and they draw more heavily from the Mind Flayer attack / ability pool rather than the Elder Brain, with attacks like Mind Blast being available to them. So far, I don’t think there is an official stat block for the Brainstealer Dragon in 5e… might have to have a go at converting the 3e block!
The appearance of an Elder Brain Dragon is a sure sign that the DM has had enough.
Ain’t that the truth! 🦑🐉
You are absolutely not lying. The first time I fought one of these, my DM was literally rubbing his hands together at the start. Like some kind of cartoon villain. Half of us died within 45 minutes.
That’s one way of setting the scene 😂
@@cernunnos_lives So, have you fought these more than once?
Just thinking of a elder brain masquerading as a dragon to lure the pcs into a ambush then have all the tentacles burts out and the brain itself to surge out a hole in the back of the dragon does sound awesome
That'd be a cool, a different route to go down for sure.
You could even be reaaaally mean, and have the party reduce the Elder Brain Dragon to 25% hit points (or 0% if you wanted to be extra cruel), only to then have the Elder Brain burst out the back, and make it a super brutal, Dark Souls style, multi-stage combat!
Why is the art showing a wyvern yet claiming it's a dragon?
Good spot. The art in the thumbnail is the official piece for the monster, so other artists probably followed suit for consistency. It is a Wyvern depicted though for sure (unless there are some tiny front legs hiding somewhere!)
so you have a 2/3 chance to kill it with one spell at level 2
why is its saves so low
it don't even have an SR
It does surprise me that it doesnt have innate Magic Resistance, but then, as a DM you could always include it anyway. It would make the fight waaay harder, but it would fit the creature. It does also have Legendary Resistances, so could shrug off a few pesky spells that break through.
The saves are still pretty solid though, with DEX being its only real downfall. It needs to have some kind of weakness... right? 😂
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG with the saves being as low as they are, it fails one, poof encounter is over. an SR would at least make level requirements AC is also incredibly low
This monster is probably more stress inducing than living in Romania
I couldn’t possibly comment 😂
Probably.
Elder Brain Beholder?
Oh!….
Elder Brain Astral dreadnought!
Elder Brain Astral Dreadnought sounds terrifying… might have to stat one up..!
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG Elder brain half dragon lycantrhope tarrasque lich?
@@marcopohl4875 That would be absolutely insane 😂
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG I've been thinking about what would be the strongest monster technically possible under vanilla rules. Guess I'm off to a good start!
Could you imagine fighting a dragon, it breathes on you and BOOM
Impregnated
Not an ideal situation, that’s for sure.
Technically it's what the bard asked for
This beast might be the final boss for my campaign, very excited
A horrifically, excellent choice!
Are you my DM, cause he made our BBEG an elder brain dragon (granted, he revealed that a month and a half ago but still)
This boss was what I was expecting from Ansur in BG3.
Now that would have been something!
I can also imagine this one taking a spot as an upgrade to the final boss…
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG The nether brain did subdue a dragon after all
@@joshvonboschbyt elder brain was itself too huge to mount on back of dragon. Dragons looked like toys near it, so it would be impossible to merge with one
as cool as this is, i do feel like there’s something lost in just making the brain a big dragon brain monster at the expense of its colony control abilities
The whole thing that makes an elder brain scary in the first place is that your fighting the whole colony with it. A colony that’s designed it’s base with intent to kill intruders. Pincer manoeuvres with elite guards and intellect devourers. Passage ways that are just smooth vertical tunnels. Psychic barriers meant to funnel people into kill rooms. The sort of usually unfair tactics bad DMs would use are the sorts of tactics Mind Flayers would actually use. All the while turning the party against itself by having the brain worm into their brain. And part of that does rely on the elder brain’s ability to easily get information about intruders being near it, distribute that information out, and coordinate counter measures.
Hindering those abilities to just make it another big scary monster that roars at you kind of take away from the fun a little
That’s totally valid, and I absolutely get where you are coming from. The Elder Brain is a VERY different monster, that as you said, is dangerous because of its control over its surroundings and underlings.
This thing is very much an extension of that strength, but the whole gaining control of a dragon thing is why I think the designers of the monster have done away with so many of the things that makes an Elder Brain special. Controlling the dragon would be taxing, even for something as psychically capable as an Elder Brain, so it would likely be forced to let down some of its magical guard in favour of gaining things like the breath weapon, flight and the dragons raw strength.
That being said, the DM of any individual game has the final word, so there is absolutely nothing in the way of someone including all of the Elder Brain features as well, having the party slog through a hell pit of Mind Flayers, Intellect Devourers and Cranium Rats, only to emerge into the main brine pool chamber to find an Elder Brain Dragon wallowing in wait…
As a DM myself and someone who loves the horrifyingly cunning nature of the Illithids, I do totally understand your point.
Thanks for the comment!
What in the name of Karl Marx
😂
lets see if mindflayers can fight helldivers and managed democracy
Elder brain is managing democracy.
@@xzardas5411 brain, one vote. I am the brain and I have the vote.
They can defeated them yes
As mind flayers are fated to win
It could be a good BBEG for Spelljammer.
I mean, dragons are used all the time, and having a space adventure where you have to fight this thing in the end would be very memorable for your group. (If not traumatise them)
100%. These things would be great for a darker campaign too, something with a bit of a Dead Space feel to it featuring the Elder Brain Dragon would go hard!
If you think elder brains are terrifying i encourage you to look outside of forgotten realms. there is a *Lot* more out there.
Oh for sure. I've dipped into playing Call of Cthulhu a bit, and have read up on the monsters from that setting... pretty scary stuff.
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG Yeah, what i really mean are monsters from other settings like Athas, Mystara and whatnot are. You think Mindflayers are scary, wait until you see the *Hivebrood.*
@@Cynidecia Ah , I see. I'll have to check those out for sure!
ive sent my party on a quest to de-convert the elder brain dragon. its harder to cure than to kill
Good stuff. Definitely harder to cure than kill!
great stuff as usual!
Glad to hear it, thanks for watching!
Elder Brain Tarrasque
Not a fun prospect 😂
Terrifying… ly good video
Hopefully this doesn’t appear any time soon… 😅
Wonder if you can use an enfeeblement ray to counter the elder dragons intelligence
I think that ray of enfeeblement would be difficult to get working on the EBD, mostly because it relies on the creature failing a CON save which is quite high!
Synaptic static could be an option, or… if you’re feeling really powerful, feeblemind! Getting that to land would essentially reduce the EBDs mind function to nothing more than pure bestial nature, which, depending how you could look at it, could make things better or worse 😂
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG ohhh yeah like when vox machina reduced the green dragon to pure beast form
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG tho I think that was a 1 in a million roll to win
Wow, I didn't know this was a thing. Great video!
Thanks, glad I could share it with you!
It’s one of my major villains in my ongoing Champaign love it
That’s awesome, your players are in for a treat… 🧠🐉
the set up has been fun@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG
Absolutely Disgusting.
This was the first one of your videos ive seen but i quite like the format. Subscribing now, looking forward to the rest of the series.
Thank you! Plan is to upload a Creature Feature every 2 - 3 weeks, so more coming for sure!
Dexterity should be 10 because it's a Dragon.
I like to put the extra DEX down to there now being a whipping set of tentacles protruding from the dragon. It also has massively increased psychic power, so this could provide it with some kind of premonition for oncoming attacks!
Isnt it brain stealer dragon
They are very similar creatures, but do have their differences:
An Elder Brain Dragon has been directly taken over by an Elder Brain, which essentially burrows its tendrils into the dragon and uses it like a macabre puppet, all while using its own DNA to alter the structure of the host dragons biology. This completely alters it’s appearance and abilities, essentially transforming the dragon into a flying platform that an Elder Brain can use to move around and reign down terror from!
The Brainstealer Dragon is the result of a dragon becoming infected with an Illithid tadpole and then going through a more typical form of ceremorphosis. In most cases, this process alters them in different ways than the EBD, destroying their wings for example, and they draw more heavily from the Mind Flayer attack / ability pool rather than the Elder Brain, with attacks like Mind Blast being available to them.
So far, I don’t think there is an official stat block for the Brainstealer Dragon in 5e… might have to have a go at converting the 3e block!
@@DungeonBoy-TTRPG ahhh I see that makes sense
Can we talk about how supple that dragon’s mouth looks though? 😩
✋🌱😂