D&D 5E (2014) effects of dragons becoming more numerous in the world

[GlassJaw]

I'm in the very early stages of brainstorming on a campaign in which dragons feature prominently. Something has increased their numbers significantly and made them more hostile. I'm thinking the Cult of the Dragon (from Forgotten Realms) gone wrong meets the movie Reign of Fire (if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it! ).

Oh, and no "good" dragons.

So what would happen to a standard fantasy world that suddenly finds itself with, say 10 or 20 times the amount of dragons? How would people live and survive? What would the economy look like? Would governments still function? What about big cities?

I have some ideas but want to keep it wide open to hear what others think. Thanks!

 

[Sunseeker]

It'd really be a case-by case basis. Did 20 dragons just pop out of nowhere? Or is this something where dragon numbers have been increasing steadily over time? Remember that until they are mature, your average dragon isn't much of a threat at all to a powerful nation. Smaller kingdoms would likely br ruined quite quickly, but the dragons may not be evenly spread around the world. Some places may have much higher concentrations of them than others, while some areas may have no dragons at all and be highly skeptic about increasing dragon numbers.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I would love to see a cause effect when hundreds of dragons are hatched... infact that is my main plot idea, imagine each color dragon hatches 1d4x100 baby dragons in one year...

 

[Minigiant]

Regular minded dragons or D&D dragons?

Because D&D dragons are selfish territorial jerks and will "thin the ranks" for more land and power. Especially if you remove the good ones (or make the good ones just as selfish like 4e did).

Tiamat is basically what keeps the dragon race in numbers because she will scream "HEY QUIT IT YOU GUYS!!" if their off too many of them.

Basically, it would take divine action for it to even happen and thus a Holy War sponsored by the other gods.

 

[Jester David]

It depends if it was a sudden influx or slow natural increase over a few centuries.

Sudden is more impressive, so we'll go with that.
Most dragons wouldn't initially care about mortals, considering them pests. There might be struggles for the best lairs, which might have sone Godzilla style consequences as giant beasts fight. Dragons would displace other monsters, shifting them into other lands. When the red dragon takes over a fire giant stronghold, the giants move onto orc valleys, who spill out into human lands. Smaller settlements would be lost as would a lot of farmlands. Trade would be disrupted and nations destabilized.
The weaker dragons (the losers and weaker dragons) might take over human land, seizing cities and their treasuries.

After the initial border wars and fights with waves of homeless humanoids, some dragons might try and spread their influence or expand their hoards. Others might demand tributes from nearby humans and humanoids. Opportunistic individuals would also take the chance to enact schemes or try and seize power or wealth, further distabilizing things.

It'd basically be all the worst effects of natural diasters without the accompanying natural disasters. Nations would fall or shrink, power would change hands, and danger would be common.

 

[Umbran]

Dragons of what age categories?

What is the "biology" of dragons? Do they have to eat like a normal warm-blooded predator of the same size, or do they eat like reptiles? Do they eat sheep, elephants, or gemstones?

If, for example, you have a swarm of hatchlings, but dragons can be subdued and trained, what you have is city-states armed with trained dragons. If, on the other hand, these are huge ancient beasts, that's another question entirely.

 

[transtemporal]

Are they organised? Do they have plans? Did they appear suddenly and how many are there? How old are they?

Past say, a 100 ancient dragons attacking at the same time and you're talking apocalypse basically, Reign of Fire styles. Bugger all anyone could do about that, barring intervention by the gods.

 

[Ahrimon]

Food would probably be scarce as the dragons ravaged the wilderness and farmlands. Who would be willing to work a field when there are dragons running around looking for a meal. Dwarven citadel's could either be a bastion or a deathtrap since they're fortified but they also make great lairs for dragons.

Society would probably become more nomadic. Or at least consist of small isolated pockets of civilization.

 

[was]

...Whether for simple hunting, or for ruling, Dragons will need to claim large areas of territory. Civilized dragons may feel the need to conquer kingdoms to 'civilize' the inhabitants living there..sort of the dragon overlord model. These new kingdoms wil of course come into conflict with neighboring kingdoms ruled by dragons.

 

[PnPgamer]

I'm in the very early stages of brainstorming on a campaign in which dragons feature prominently. Something has increased their numbers significantly and made them more hostile. I'm thinking the Cult of the Dragon (from Forgotten Realms) gone wrong meets the movie Reign of Fire (if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it! ).

Oh, and no "good" dragons.

So what would happen to a standard fantasy world that suddenly finds itself with, say 10 or 20 times the amount of dragons? How would people live and survive? What would the economy look like? Would governments still function? What about big cities?

I have some ideas but want to keep it wide open to hear what others think. Thanks!

Things start to get extinct. Fast.

This iw a very good premise for a fantasy post apocalypse setting.