D&D General Companion Thread to D&D Survivor: Dragons, Metallic

[dave2008]

The Iron Dragon in 4e was the metallic equivalent of the White Dragon. Like the White Dragon, they weren't as intelligent as the other metallic dragons and relied more on brute force. Why did WoTC replace the Bronze and Brass dragons in 4e with the Iron Dragon?

The most likely reason they were replaced in the MM2 is that brass and bronze look very similar (and fairly close to copper and gold too). The came back in the Draconomicon 2 though.

 

[Corinnguard]

The most likely reason they were replaced in the MM2 is that brass and bronze look very similar (and fairly close to copper and gold too). The came back in the Draconomicon 2 though.

In terms of scale color, they do look very similar. However, the shapes of their heads and wings set them apart from each other. Then there is the location where each of them can be found and their breath weapons.

A DM would be quick to take advantage of this confusion. DM: "Okay, everyone, I need a Nature or an Arcana check from everybody..."

 

[RoughCoronet0]

In terms of scale color, they do look very similar. However, the shapes of their heads and wings set them apart from each other. Then there is the location where each of them can be found and their breath weapons.

A DM would be quick to take advantage of this confusion. DM: "Okay, everyone, I need a Nature or an Arcana check from everybody..."

Yeah, I'll admit I never really understood the complaint that the Metallic Dragons all looked the same and are boring. All five of the main Metallic Dragons have quite a few things that physically distinguish them and each of their personalities, quirks, and general subspecies philosophies are as different to each other as their Chromatic counterparts are to each other. This goes for the other Metallics as well. I also don't see them as boring just because they are "good", the fact that they aren't so typically prone to evil acts but still can suffer from the arrogance of their power and status and lack of full understanding of the minds and ways of the "lesser races" as they typically call the humanoid races can lead to many interesting conflicts and encounters that don't just begin and end with "evil dragon, must be slain" (This goes for Chromatics as well, but this thread is for the Metallics).

Now grant it, I'm a dragon fanatic and have read up on every lore bit I could find on them all, so I have a lot to work with and I really like to dig deep into all the obvious and subtle differences of each dragon type. I also currently have a campaign going where the Metallic Dragons are seen as major antagonists alongside their Metallic goddess, so I'm also very invested in exploring all the nuances of this sub category of dragon, including having various shrines, trials, and text speaking on all these different nuances.

 

[Corinnguard]

Now grant it, I'm a dragon fanatic and have read up on every lore bit I could find on them all, so I have a lot to work with and I really like to dig deep into all the obvious and subtle differences of each dragon type.

Does your interest in Dragons extend to non-D&D/non-RPG books? curious I ask because there happens to be a book that covers dragons and their kin. Dracopedia: A Guide to Drawing the Dragons of the World . It's a non-RPG book that imagines an Earth where humanity co-exists with several species of dragons. Creatures with the Dragon type in this book are:

1. Amphiptere
2. Arctic Dragon
3. Asian Dragon
4. Basilisk
5. Coatyl
6. Dragon
7. Dragonette (domesticated)
8. Drake (domesticated, in this setting they're 'Man's Best Friend. )
9. Feydragon
10. Hydra
11. Sea Orc (not an Orc, just an aquatic species of dragon)
12. Wyrm
13. Wyvern

 

[RoughCoronet0]

Does your interest in Dragons extend to non-D&D/non-RPG books? curious I ask because there happens to be a book that covers dragons and their kin. Dracopedia: A Guide to Drawing the Dragons of the World . It's a non-RPG book that imagines an Earth where humanity co-exists with several species of dragons. Creatures with the Dragon type in this book are:

1. Amphiptere
2. Arctic Dragon
3. Asian Dragon
4. Basilisk
5. Coatyl
6. Dragon
7. Dragonette (domesticated)
8. Drake (domesticated, in this setting they're 'Man's Best Friend. )
9. Feydragon
10. Hydra
11. Sea Orc (not an Orc, just an aquatic species of dragon)
12. Wyrm
13. Wyvern

I love that book, I still love reading it from time to time to get inspiration!

I also do like taking inspiration from dragons from other media as well. Currently my campaign also takes inspiration from the Skyrim dragons and their words of power, Dragon Age and their archdemons and High Dragons, and the Inheritance series of books with the order of dragon riders just to name a few.

 

[Mecheon]

what would the base them of metallics be then? alchemical metals?

Well, precious metals was the starting point but bringing in Iron and Cobalt, which were important metals in medieval times and you could understand them being used for names

Also uh, Adamantine as well which was just a D&D thing and to have another Underdark dragon

 

[Mind of tempest]

Well, precious metals was the starting point but bringing in Iron and Cobalt, which were important metals in medieval times and you could understand them being used for names

Also uh, Adamantine as well which was just a D&D thing and to have another Underdark dragon

adamantine means the diamond metal more or less

 

[Mind of tempest]

So which dragons from 4e would you replace them with? curious

I could work with a black iron one who feels like an odd counterpart to white dragons both being the least mystical but for very different reasons.
I would make it almost bettle like armour largely ground-based.
no idea about the second one

 

[RealAlHazred]

You want very, very different Dragons, go to the Iron Kingdoms setting from Privateer Press. Dragons actively blight the land and all creatures that encounter them or live in their domains. There's a whole nation of monstrous, body-horror humanoids called Cryx that are all caused by Lord Toruk the Dragonfather, an immortal dragon and possibly the most powerful creature in the world. Despite being mutated by Toruk, all creatures in Cryx serve him and many worship him as a living god. Other regions in the world have been blighted by Dragons that were slain; not only does the land still bear their taint thousands of years later, but they might even be reborn if explorers find the shards of their soul and combine them.

 

[Seramus]

blue is out of place deserts are not known for blue past the sky nor lightning for that matter.

Deserts are known for a great deal of lightning, especially dry thunderstorms. It's also the perfect place to find Fulgerite. Hot dry places in general are great for static electricity.

So deserts really do fit. But I agree making them coastal storm dragons would be more intuitive.