Dragons are kinda boring...

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I imagine that you could probably give a dragon a couple of encounter (or even perhaps daily) powers from a class power list without making it unbeatable, but giving it a bit more interest in a fight.

I'm interested to see what they look like.

Regards,

Yes, that sounds like a possible solution. It might still get a little tougher. Each extra encounter or daily power that can deal damage is a boost.

I am currently considering a Diamond Throne conversion for 4E, and this is one of the concepts I like - just steal some powers from existing monsters or classes and add it to a different one. Just ensure that the levels of the monster or the power level where you steal from are equal or lower then the monster you're creating.

 

[NMcCoy]

The Epic Destiny legacy of one of my planned 4e characters is going to be 'introducing a new species of dragon to the world'. They'll be his favored critters and living representation when he ascends to demigodhood, and most certainly not boring.

The unintentional disruption of an ecosystem is just the icing on the cake, and food-for-plot for the next generation of heroes.

 

[Kzach]

Dragons should be the coolest enemies in the game, IMO, and they just aren't.

Yeah, just like trolls...

 

[med stud]

I don't want every high level opponent to be a magic user. I want dragons to be feared because they are big, smart, mean and breath fire. Therefore I think the new dragons are alright.

 

[Keefe the Thief]

Well the Wizard Template, gives a for example level 26 Dragon (I use a high level since the amount of powers you get goes up with the level of the monster):

-1 At-Will
-2 Encounter (different levels) (gain the second at level 11)
-2 Daily (different levels) (gain the second at level 21)
-3 Utilities (different levels) (gain one at level 11, the other at level 21)

Plus: A Wizard Skill and Arcana, Arcane Implement Mastery, Cantrips, Ritual Caster, Spellbook, and all the Implements. As well as the normal pluses from Templates.

Ha! I´d either rule that Dragons get the advantages of Implements without using them OR make it a "power has consequences" approach for them: one eye is an orb, one claw doubles as a wand etc.

 

[Reynard]

Yeah, just like trolls...

EDITTED to remove knee jerk reactiony type stuff. Sorry.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I don't want every high level opponent to be a magic user. I want dragons to be feared because they are big, smart, mean and breath fire. Therefore I think the new dragons are alright.

I like that approach, but I also like the dragons as portrayed in 'Wizard of Earthsea' and I'm generally tempted to give my dragons literally charming voices or eyes, so that there is (a) reasons to talk with a dragon and (b) it is dangerous to talk with a dragon

 

[Plane Sailing]

I guess it was too much to hope that the underlying hostility on these boards had diminshed in the last couple of months.

Oh, well. Back to Azeroth then, I suppose.

I think you may be over-reacting here... isn't he just saying that he thinks that trolls ought to be cooler than they are now?

I'm just not seeing hostility there.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Yeah, I like the non-magical Dragon as well, be it the village raiding, simply a brute kind. Or the Draco kind from Dragonheart (I love that movie ).

On the subject of various portrayals of Dragons, I quite liked the Dragons in the Temeraire series. It is about the Napoleonic War, but with Dragons and a Aerial Core who fly/man the Dragons (they are large enough that Dragons have whole crews who fire muskets, kick off anyone trying to board, patch wounds in the Dragon, etc.).

The Dragons in this world range from scholarly to feral, in basically the same manner a human would which is by learning. So you got ferals who can only speak a couple words and others (especially Chinese Dragons who are viewed as full citizens) who write plays and compose poetry, etc.

There is also a possible live-action movie in the works. Since Peter Jackson wants to do it

 

[StarFyre]

strange

if your dragons are dying in 2 to 4 rounds...you guys must be using dragons just like a gelatinous cube or something. Stand there like an idiot and take hits..

even the lowest dragon encounters we've ever had have almost crushed the entire party via intelligent play/real tactics, etc.

I remember the 2e draconomicon talking about how hard it should be and how a party should be smart and prepare for fighting a dragon instead of just showing up for the fight...

Sanjay