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

[Dr. Prunesquallor]

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

I like to think of the dragonborn as an empire tainted by the presence of an Iron-Kingdomsesque dragon in the earth below their lands. Sort of a Dragon/Cthulhu. "That is not dead which can eternal lie..." and all that. Makes them more of a Howardian serpent folk than draconians, which I never cared for.

Also accounts for the desert, which was caused by the dragon's wasting presence. The "outer" border dragonborn are basically human/1st level, while the dragonborn further in are more shaped by the power of their monstrous god and centuries of inbreeding. The dragonborn at "ground zero" might be a family of godlings including Takhisis and Paladine, or facets of the sleeping dragon's personality.

This doen't really account for the presence of "normal" dragons, though. Maybe they are escapees from the central areas of the empire who fled for political reasons? This would go to the motivations of the dragonborn themselves. Maybe some want to escape the the empire and some want to extend its borders. Some might hope to destroy it, as Elric destroyed Melnibone, and eventually slay/banish the sleeping dragon/god. Maybe that's too close to tieflings?

I don't know, as long as they're not draconians. Draconians and Krynn-style riding dragons are right up there with pretty Anne Rice vampires for me. They just rub me the wrong way. YMMV.

On that note, I can just see the faces of my friends if I (as a Warlord) said something along the lines of, "Cut them down, brothers! NOW!"

They'd tell me to **** up a rope. Probably save more goblins than a TPK. They'd heal the little buggers just to spite me. It's one thing if it's a Bard going, "God for England, Harry, and St. George!" or, "Remember the Alamo!" But if I tell them they'll do it better because I'm telling them to do it, they won't do it. Contrary devils.

 

[Andor]

Boingk!

That just gave me an idea for incorporating dragonborn into a campaign...

Dragonborn are simply very young dragons that have not yet reached full adulthood... At higher levels, once they gain a breath weapon and wings, they have finally reached adolescence and begin molting into a form that can continue growing into a true, adult dragon.


Hrm... I'll think more about that.

It's been done. Gloranthan Dragonnewts work pretty much just like this, except the life cycles is extended across multiple reincarnations.

Of course in Glorantha dragons don't eat adventuring parties, they eat armies. (The tale of the empire of Dragon Friends ended when the adult Dragons shook the mountains off of their backs and ate them.)