Since the dawning of time... oh, to hell with the lengthy speech. Dragons are known to have powerful wideranging attacks. Period. These are usually in the form of (bad) breath weapons.

Dragons can use breath weapon attacks once per day per 20 sides they have. (Makorna (4d59) can use his breath weapon three times per day, for example.) A breath weapon attack costs 5 EP (energy) to start with. Note: You can use more than your standard number of attacks per day, but it is very harmful... you take 1/4 the damage your breath does and subtract it from your -maximum- HP.

This attack is considered "hit many" - if aimed well, and if the GM deems it logical, anyone can be hit for full damage, no divisors. You too can toast an army of skeletons in one powerful arc attack.

Now, for "holding your breath" (charging your attack like a battery). A dragon can hold his breath (safely) for up to three turns. This costs an extra 5 EP per turn. The first turn of holding adds +5 to sides, the second turn adds +10, and each additional turn adds an additional +10.

There are two dangers to overcharging/holding too long... One is that when you exhale/release, you tend to injure yourself; half
the damage that strikes your foes is also inflicted on you, regardless of any immunity to that attack you might have.

The other is that if the energy drain knocks you out, the attack is released immediately into the area. You and anything nearby take full damage from it. This is why you simply cannot charge up for very long - even 10 rounds is too much for most.

It -is- possible to release the blast safely - this takes 5 rounds per round you let it build up, and does 1 point of damage to anything nearby as you release it slowly. You do not get drained of energy while releasing the blast.

The primary disadvantage to breath weapons is that it takes a lot of concentration - if charging, you cannot use other attacks, and dodge is halved.