The creative folks behind the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game system have a knack for blending their own original content with that of their mythological influences. They’re able to take creatures from mythology such as elves, dwarves, demons and, of course, dragons and create new breeds/races/types that fit right in with their mythic counterparts.
Dragons are still the most popular and enduring species in the game, and although most campaigns don't involve fighting a dragon the addition of a draconian presence can quickly change a group's tone from "we own this quest!" to "we'l! never survive this encounter!"
Add one of the bizarre breeds that made io9's list of The 16 Strangest Dragons in Dungeons & Dragons to your campaign and watch player characters flee with terror when faced with the mindless horror of the Brainstealer Dragon or the undying stench of the rotten Zombie Dragon!