Dammit, Warlord, Warlock, Tiefling, and Dragonborn are growing on me.

[Pbartender]

http://dresdencodak.com/cartoons/dc_035.htm

Specifically, the sepia-toned section towards the bottom.

Exactly.

However, I doubt that idea would work very well for a race as common as the Dragonborn are apparently supposed to be.

Why not? Allow me to reiterate...

Second, it allows you to keep dragonborn as a modestly common race, with all the ancient empires that may entail, while still keeping dragons relatively few and far between. The limiting factors being: A) As with any race, few will ever take up adventuring the only pratical way to quickly gain the required experience. B) Even amongst those who adventure, fewer will survive until the higher levels needed to gain those feats. C) Not all those dragonborn who gain enough experience may choose those feats and become a dragon.

Metagame-wise, the need to attain high enough levels to gain the two feats that grant wings and breath weapon in order to become a fully-fledged dragon is what lets you keep dragonborn as a common "juvenile dragon" race, while still keeping "adult" dragons a rarity.

 

[Derren]

Metagame-wise, the need to attain high enough levels to gain the two feats that grant wings and breath weapon in order to become a fully-fledged dragon is what lets you keep dragonborn as a common "juvenile dragon" race, while still keeping "adult" dragons a rarity.

The "More about Wizards" news talks about Epic Destinies which apparenly look like powerfull abilities which also tell you how you "exit the game" after lvl 30 (so for example one Epic Destiny could give you some kick-ass ability and say that after your adventuring career you become a demigod). At least thats how I interpret the news.
Maybe one "racial epic destiny" (if such things exists) for dragonborn is becoming a true dragon? (but to be honest, compared to becoming a demigod it does sound a little weak).

 

[Commonblade]

Neat!

I had similar ideas about the PHB races in 3.5, actually: humans adventure for power (whether for good or ill); dwarves, for honor and gold; halflings, because of wanderlust; elves, to experience new things; half-orcs, because their blood makes them restless. (Never could come up with good, stereotypical motivations for half-elves and gnomes.)

I use these concepts for the current missing races...

Half-Elves are motivated by a need to find acceptance.

Half-Orcs are motivated by a need to prove they are not monsters.

Gnomes are motivated by curiosity.

Warforged are motivated by the need to feel useful.

Shifters are motivated by their struggle with the inner beast.

Changelings are motivated by a need to discover who they are personally.

Kalashtar are motivated by their struggle with the Quori.

 

[Derren]

Imo those are crude generalizations. Every being with humanlike intelligence would have its own motivations which goes beyond such broad statements.

 

[Commonblade]

Imo those are crude generalizations. Every being with humanlike intelligence would have its own motivations which goes beyond such broad statements.

It's just what I use. I have no doubt that each being would have their own twist on their beliefs, but I am just trying to capture the way I feel about each race in one sentence. When I start an NPC, this is where they begin, its the seed I get from the race. When combined with class and goal, I usually end up with a believable NPC.

 

[Pbartender]

Maybe one "racial epic destiny" (if such things exists) for dragonborn is becoming a true dragon?

Exactly.

 

[sirwmholder]

...That was helpful. Also helpful would be to hear from players or DMs who've created living cultures based in the lizard races/classes.

Although not terribly original, I designed a home-brew Dragon based race... very close to Dragonborns... depending on their unique areas of study they would develop different characteristics (Scouts would develop wings but their scales became brittle... magic users learned the secrets of internal fire... fighter types learned to use their bulk and tails to their advantage ) . Their society was a conquering one that saw itself as a Roman/Egyptian Empire... without the Gods. They conquered because they felt they were above the other races and should be served by them.

Great Dragons had faded from the world long ago... then this army appeared sweeping fast through the mountains... then on toward the other races. They destroyed every civilization along the way and took slaves. Ogres and some giants tried to align with them but ultimately were subjugated with the rest. A few of units in this army took note of the culture of these lesser races... they were mostly the guards and peace-keepers. After a while they began to sympathize with the fleshies and turned on their own kind calling themselves Scalebanes. A brutal civil war ignited which finally broke the army. All that remained of this tide of destruction was a shaky alliance between all the races that had been conquered.

Each race started the healing process and began to rebuild... the Dragonmen that had betrayed their own kind had to find a place in this new world... for "Scalebanes" could never go home.

Hope this helps,
Wm. Holder

 

[renevq]

Imo those are crude generalizations. Every being with humanlike intelligence would have its own motivations which goes beyond such broad statements.

Except for kalashtar. They aren't just motivated, they are defined by their struggle with the quori.

 

[Cyronax]

I approve this message.

I like the Buddy motif.


As to the new stuff growing on one, I totally agree.

The more I hear that dragonborn are a race that breeds true..............and the more I hear that tieflings are varied .................... the more i like them.

I think that gnomes were a great race and i'll miss them, but at least they're in MM 4e!

C.I.D.

 

[DM_Blake]

Warlord: "Cut them down, brothers! NOW!" (muscles bulging from his huge battle axe).

Lol, is that a new 4e magic battle axe with muscles?

I like this whole new "Magic is strange and wierd" concept...

Seriously though, I have also noticed that some of this flavor smacks of Warhammer-esque flavor.

I liked the WFRP setting, but not so much the game mechanics. Maybe 4e D&D will be a best-of-both-worlds kind of thing.