Gundark
Explorer
Okay I've created a Dragon mount I call a Wardrake. You can see the creature here : http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=188683
Dragon riders done right?
- Thread starter Gundark
- Start date
Baron Opal
First Post
If it were me...
I would have a symbiotic relationship too. Perhaps the bond that develops between dragon and human is what gives dragons their intelligence? Wild dragons are almost always mere beasts, cunning, certainly, but just powerful animals. The ritual that binds them allows for the boost in intellect. Then you have to decide what happens when the human dies...
I would almost certainly make a prestige class for the dragon riders. Probably 3 or 5 level one that focuses on their empathic bond, boost to INT for the dragon, and perfected flying / fighting coordination. It would be designed so that it would give an edge to a dragon rider, not a requirement to be one. Say, 3/4 BAB, Good Reflex, Bonus to Ride equal to twice class level, d8 HD... other stuff.
Adventures would involve perhaps a 1st level adventure that lets them "earn" their place as a dragon rider or otherwise shows what qualities are needed to be a good one. Then there is the bonding. The second adventure would be while they are still too small to be a mount; a training mission perhaps to strengthen their bond. Next mission would be their first actual flying adventure. There would be some significant downtime between these adventures, actually. Enough perhaps where I would consider having the first adventure be at 1st level, then 3rd, and then true riders at 5th. Normal progression would follow from there.
I would have a symbiotic relationship too. Perhaps the bond that develops between dragon and human is what gives dragons their intelligence? Wild dragons are almost always mere beasts, cunning, certainly, but just powerful animals. The ritual that binds them allows for the boost in intellect. Then you have to decide what happens when the human dies...
I would almost certainly make a prestige class for the dragon riders. Probably 3 or 5 level one that focuses on their empathic bond, boost to INT for the dragon, and perfected flying / fighting coordination. It would be designed so that it would give an edge to a dragon rider, not a requirement to be one. Say, 3/4 BAB, Good Reflex, Bonus to Ride equal to twice class level, d8 HD... other stuff.
Adventures would involve perhaps a 1st level adventure that lets them "earn" their place as a dragon rider or otherwise shows what qualities are needed to be a good one. Then there is the bonding. The second adventure would be while they are still too small to be a mount; a training mission perhaps to strengthen their bond. Next mission would be their first actual flying adventure. There would be some significant downtime between these adventures, actually. Enough perhaps where I would consider having the first adventure be at 1st level, then 3rd, and then true riders at 5th. Normal progression would follow from there.
Doghead Thirteen
First Post
... shades of McCaffrey, with the dragon suiciding? Hmm.Baron Opal said:
One thing for sure, the dragons would need to advance along with the characters. There's another possibility for a truly symbiotic relationship; the dragon increases in power along with the bonded rider. Therefore, it's in the dragon's best interests to keep the rider alive - a healthy rider means the dragon's getting bigger, stronger, and becoming a more attractive mate.
Just make sure that if the dragons have more than Int 6 you make it clear what's in it for them.
This was always a problem for me in the Dragonlance novels, as it made very little sense why the dragons would put a little being on their backs that didn't significantly increase the dragons "firepower".
BTW, I really like the wardrake at the link. A few years ago I created a dragon horse (warhorse with half-red dragon template) to fill this same role. There were lots of RP opportunities, as adding essence of red dragon added power but also malice to the breed. The beasts weren't all that smart but were very difficult to control, and the more intelligent ones were evil. This made the dragon horses more than just transportation, as I was able to give them personality.
This was always a problem for me in the Dragonlance novels, as it made very little sense why the dragons would put a little being on their backs that didn't significantly increase the dragons "firepower".
BTW, I really like the wardrake at the link. A few years ago I created a dragon horse (warhorse with half-red dragon template) to fill this same role. There were lots of RP opportunities, as adding essence of red dragon added power but also malice to the breed. The beasts weren't all that smart but were very difficult to control, and the more intelligent ones were evil. This made the dragon horses more than just transportation, as I was able to give them personality.
Klaus
First Post
I created a breed of dragons that serve as mounts. Stat-wise, they're half-dragon heavy warhorses. A Paladin can call one as a mount, but his effective paladin level is 3 lower for this purpose (so the ability is either gained at 8th level, or the mount suffers a -3 to all d20 rolls at 5th level, -2 at 6th and -1 at 7th).
Read the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. Napoleonic earth, with dragon riders (who end up functioning a bit like World War One aces).
The dragons "imprint" upon their pilot at birth. Different breeds are different sizes, and hence have different roles, from fast courier/scouts to huge airborne war-dragons that have crews in addition to the pilot, who climb around in baskets and such hung from the dragon like a harness.
Kinda nifty.
The dragons "imprint" upon their pilot at birth. Different breeds are different sizes, and hence have different roles, from fast courier/scouts to huge airborne war-dragons that have crews in addition to the pilot, who climb around in baskets and such hung from the dragon like a harness.
Kinda nifty.
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