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Message: <blockquote data-quote="dave2008" data-source="post: 9542631" data-attributes="member: 83242">As an amateur artist, professional designer, and avid animal lover* I am very passionate about monster design and in particular dragons as well.I am not going to go through all of your post, but I want to make a few quick points.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">IMO, limiting fantasy monsters (like dragons) to what is possible or probably IRL is a mistake.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">However, I do like if a monster design has a theme and the physical manifestation of that theme is present in the design.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">What is most important in a monster design for me, and paramount for dragons, is that it looks good. I am less interested in pseudo-biological integrity than I am a cool looking monster. Fit the theme and make it cool, that is the number one job IMO. Of course, that is very subjective.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Regarding dragons:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I think relying on bird-themes to much is a mistake. Dragons are traditionally chimeras or sorts without being overly reliant on one creature type. The one exception may be serpents, but not birds. I think dragons should be more reptilian than avian (though there are obviously similarities all around). That is a thing I think they got correct with the many of the new designs. I see a lot of serpent and lizard influences.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I am not fond of the preponderance of big chins in these redesigns.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I have some small issues with all of the redesigns, but I think they are all improvements except...</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I don't like the copper design. The long neck and small head don't fit to my eye.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I agree the white is less bird-like, but that is a good thing IMO. To me it resembles a polar savannah monitor in a good way. I think this is a big improvement over the 3e design. It is very different, but on par for me with the 1e design (which is one of my favorite D&D dragon designs). I really like the 1e design, but I love this new direction for my probably my 2nd favorite dragon after the red.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I agree the white dragons dorsal frill/fin has been mostly removed. I too think this is to the determent of the design. I appreciate them redesigning it (as opposed removing the "ears" of the blue) to fit theme (or what I assume theme will be), but I wish they could have kept it closer to the original (1e).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I plan to commission my own redesigns for the chromatic dragons. Keeping a lot of the 2024 designs, but adding back some 1e flavor too were needed  (IMO0 and making a few other tweaks. When I get those done some time in 2025 I will post them.</li> </ol></li> </ol>[spoiler=* Animal husbandry reference]Here are the animals I have had as pets or relationships with:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">garter snakes (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">rat snake (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">corn snake (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">king snake (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">ball python (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Anoles (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">chameleon (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">iguanas (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">basilisks (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">nile monitor (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">water monitor (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">savannah monitor (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">caimans (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">alligator (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">cats (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">dogs (pet)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">horses (family owned)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">timber wolves (zoo staff)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">cheetahs (zoo staff)</li> </ul>[/spoiler]</blockquote>

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