[Dragon] Dragons need armor and weapons?

[SemperJase]

As I flip through the current issue of Dragon and get to page 28, the full page of a Dragon in armor with a sword-like weapon on its tail seems strange to me.

Then it dawns on me, would any self respecting dragon wear armor or use a weapon like this?

Dragons in most fantasy literature are confident in their abililties to the point of arrogance. Think back to the quintessential dragon Smaug. He tells Bilbo:
"My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are wards, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane and my breath death!"

Does anyone else think a dragon with armor and a weapon takes away from the awe a dragon should have?

 

[CCamfield]

Depends on the source. In fantasy novels generally, no, I don't see it. However, in a book of Russian fairy tales I have, dragons fight with swords and even ride horses(!).

 

[Anabstercorian]

"What the hell's that...?"
Galaron raised his lantern cautiously as he looked over what appeared to be a hill - A hill made of solid plates of steel, oft spiked. Apparently shaped... "It's just a statue, Meryl. some metalwork of a dragon... Rather big, though."

The armored dragon abruptly reared up to its full height of ten manlengths, gleaming like a blood-oiled broadsword with a frightening grin on its face. "I will be merciful and choose to take that as flattery..."

 

[Leopold]

no chance in hell would i disgrace my dragons with petty stuff like that. Rings? Amulets? Bracers? You bet. Armor and weapons? You got to be kidding, he would be laughed at all the way to the back of his cave where he would be slaughtered like the fool he was.


sorry, these guys are at the top of the food chain, they don't need petty things like that to keep their house safe, they've got all the natural tools they need at hand.

 

[Cedric]

Just like there are rare individuals among people...I'm sure there are rare individuals among dragons.

And showcasing something like this once in a game, with a particular dragon would be interesting.

But all in all, I have to say that this is not how I envision Dragons.

Cedric

 

[Nightfall]

Not sure about armor or weapons, but sure, amulets, rings, charms, various wondrous items, heck even a rod or two or a staff is fine. But nothing else.

 

[SemperJase]

The armored dragon abruptly reared up to its full height of ten manlengths, gleaming like a blood-oiled broadsword with a frightening grin on its face. "I will be merciful and choose to take that as flattery..."

I'm not familiar with this story. What is it from?

 

[Saeviomagy]

If dragons are territorial as is indicated by a lot of the works on them, and they are intelligent, and they have other facilities to make and use tools (ie - a method of manipulating them etc), then I can't see how you could say that none of them would ever use tools. I could see arrogant dragons not using tools, but conversely I could also see them getting ripped to shreds by the practical ones.

 

[jonesy]

I think that a dragon posing as a human would definately use
armor and weapons, if only to maintain the image, but in
dragon form? Not unless it was preparing for a foe so dangerous
it would actually be afraid of facing it in combat.

 

[satori01]

There was an old story in a Dragon magazine about a fading planar spanning Dragon empire, that had been destroyed and oppressed that featured a Dragon Champion that wore Dragon sized armor. The idea has captured my attention ever since.

Considering that Dragons are extremely intelligent why wouldnt they use tools to enhance their already fearsome abillities?

Considering that Dragons are wealthy why wouldnt they spend their wealth intelligently on servitors to help design, craft, and act as squires to Dragons?