dragons and armor

[Hellefire]

I'm going to allow one of my players to have a dragon cohort, and he was asking me about dragons wearing armor. My initial reaction was no, but I can't find any rules on the subject and I've been considering it. Does anyone know any specific rules regarding dragons wearing armor? Anyone experienced this situation before?

Thanks!
Aaron

 

[MarkB]

I'm going to allow one of my players to have a dragon cohort, and he was asking me about dragons wearing armor. My initial reaction was no, but I can't find any rules on the subject and I've been considering it. Does anyone know any specific rules regarding dragons wearing armor? Anyone experienced this situation before?

You'd use the rules from the PHB for making armour for unusual creatures, and the dragon would take non-proficiency penalties unless it invested in appropriate feats or class to acquire proficiency.

 

[Zzyzx]

And watch for trying to fly with a medium or heavy load -- IIRC, in the MM most creatures that fly with wings are unable to fly with anything heavier than a light load.

 

[Hellefire]

Thanks for the pointers. Yeah I looked at the flying only with a light load, but it also specifically mentions in the Dranomicon the dragons are quadrapeds, and thus have a higher carrying capacity. Using the size modifiers, modified for quadrapeds, in the PHB adventuring section gives them the strength to carry the character plus some good armor when they get to the size necessary to carry the character (one size category larger). Armor only weighs double for non-humanoids, and another double for large size, so quadruple. I am going to rule that the twice doubling is a quadruple in this case (though by normal rules its a triple) because of physics and my version of common sense.

So the consensus so far is to allow dragons to wear armor - providing they follow normal proficiency and flying weight limits.

Thanks for the info and thoughts guys!
Aaron

 

[Darklone]

Dragons use barding. Check out the Draconomicon.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

They even have an example of barding for a dragon, even if they did make it minor artifact level. Given how intelligent dragons are I can't see none of them using any armor at all except for artifact level stuff. Even the younger ones I can see adding just a bit of simple armor to blunt attacks.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

They even have an example of barding for a dragon, even if they did make it minor artifact level. Given how intelligent dragons are I can't see none of them using any armor at all except for artifact level stuff. Even the younger ones I can see adding just a bit of simple armor to blunt attacks.

Really? That doesn't match my vision of dragons. To me Dragons would view armor as mortal, two-legs stuff, and not very effective at that. I would see DRagons using spells to accomplish armor.

But for the OP, yes, Dragons could wear barding.

 

[MarkB]

Really? That doesn't match my vision of dragons. To me Dragons would view armor as mortal, two-legs stuff, and not very effective at that. I would see DRagons using spells to accomplish armor.

Given that some dragons don't even achieve 1st-level spellcasting until Adult age, and then have a limited repertoire, I'd say it's very reasonable for them to look elsewhere for their defensive requirements until they're higher-level casters.

On the other hand, that does bring up a good reason for dragons to avoid wearing armour - there's no indication that their innate sorcerer-like spellcasting would not be subject to Arcane Spell Failure just as a normal sorcerer's, so any armour with a significant ASF chance is a bad idea.

 

[frankthedm]

Really? That doesn't match my vision of dragons. To me Dragons would view armor as mortal, two-legs stuff, and not very effective at that. I would see DRagons using spells to accomplish armor.

In previous edtions armor did not help a critter with really good natural AC. It only helped a point or two since it was assumed the creature was really well protected already in the same way the armor would protect.

In 3e where armor stacks normally with natural armor and barkskin enhances natural armor, this makes armoring up a good idea for any just about any creature.

As it happens most spellcasting dragons make due with mage armor.

IMHO having 2 or 4 legs should have nothing to do with determining the load a creature can bear while flying.

 

[Ambrus]

MarkB and Zzyzx have the right of it in my opinion. I've been playing a gold dragon wyrmling for years and the best armor he can manage conventionally is a mythral breatsplate; which I imagine is fairly fashionable as well. It counts as light armor but did inflict a -1 penalty to his attack rolls since he was non-proficient until he took a level of swordsage.

As for dragons and armor, I do imagine that dragons normally disdain the idea of wearing armor, but if used to adventuring alongside humanoids who frequently wear some it's a matter of 'when in rome'.