D&D 5E effects of dragons becoming more numerous in the world

[GlassJaw]

This is a very good premise for a fantasy post apocalypse setting.

That's exactly what I'm going for.

Good stuff so far everyone! Let me clarify a few things:

What if you replaced the word dragon with "really big, vicious lizard-type creatures"? The dragons don't need to behave exactly as written. In fact, I was thinking that would be much less intelligence (at least the vast majority of them).

Also, whatever caused them to return or multiply also controls them in some way so they don't attack each other. They don't necessarily cooperate with each other though.

It's almost as if the dragons have been corrupted in some way. Not exactly mindless undead but certainly not the intelligent creatures they once were.

 

[Mirtek]

Well, in the history of the FR the dragons once were numerous and ruled much of the world, divided into smaller chunks ruled by dragon barons answering to dragon dukes answering to dragon kings, etc.

The dragon kingdoms were in competition with each other and more importantly the kingdoms of the giants. Eventually their conflict weakened both sides enough that the elves and dwarves could take over.

 

[Nebulous]

I'm in the very early stages of brainstorming on a campaign in which dragons feature prominently. Something has increased their numbers significantly and made them more hostile. I'm thinking the Cult of the Dragon (from Forgotten Realms) gone wrong meets the movie Reign of Fire (if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it! ).

Oh, and no "good" dragons.

So what would happen to a standard fantasy world that suddenly finds itself with, say 10 or 20 times the amount of dragons? How would people live and survive? What would the economy look like? Would governments still function? What about big cities?

I have some ideas but want to keep it wide open to hear what others think. Thanks!

Well man, you mention Reign of Fire, I'd take a cue from that . The surface world is ravaged. Cities, towns, farms and crops are demolished. Food sources are scarce to none because everything has been devoured. The default "presence" of dragons in the typical D&D world is probably not a functional ecosystem anyway, it's just a fun one to fight **** in . I mean, with so many massive predators in a small area there's no way that most ecosystems could long survive. Multiplying that by 20, and then taking into account something like 5th edition lair effects, so you would have miles upon leagues of poisoned land, sulfurous fumes, pit fires and burning gas, acidic quicksand, just a real hell of a world to exist in.

Be a great campaign to introduce some Dragonlances and combat-ready pegasi!

 

[KarinsDad]

Well, in the history of the FR the dragons once were numerous and ruled much of the world, divided into smaller chunks ruled by dragon barons answering to dragon dukes answering to dragon kings, etc.

The dragon kingdoms were in competition with each other and more importantly the kingdoms of the giants. Eventually their conflict weakened both sides enough that the elves and dwarves could take over.

I use this theme and the "flight of dragons" theme in my FR campaign.

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Rage_of_Dragons

With HotDQ and RoT, I am priming my campaign for exactly what the OP is asking about. There will be a lot of dragons coming out of the woodwork.

The population of evil dragons does not need to increase, they just need to start cooperating a bit more and showing up a bit more (and there will be a few flight of dragons before the epic conclusion). Who is going to force them to cooperate? Not the Cult of the Dragon. But, Tiamat. That's another ball of wax. In my campaign, Tiamat is using the Cult of the Dragon to bring her back, but she is preparing the way with explicit orders to many of the evil dragons and dragonkin. Young, old, ancient, it does not matter.

Plus, a lot of dragon artifacts are suddenly going to be found. Dragonscale armor, Orbs of Dragonkind, Dragon Slaying swords, etc.. As Tiamat's plans come into fruition, the good deities are going to nudge their followers and other heroes into preparing for it. Part of that is finding the magical tools (and specific spells) to defeat the dragons.

 

[Lily of the Valley]

Less food. Dragons are huge and need to eat a lot. It would mean most humanoids would be rationing since their live stock are under constant threat. Hunting wouldn't be much of an alternative since dragons hunt too.

Less food means smaller populations and vulnerability to diseases.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Self correction when food sources become rare, quickenedby increasing numbers, internecine dragon fighting leading to maybe a few remaining massive ones hunting increasingly depleted food sources

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Underground becomes the new safe, dwarves fighting off desperate incursions of the dispossessed...

 

[Nebulous]

Underground becomes the new safe, dwarves fighting off desperate incursions of the dispossessed...

Except for those pesky shadow dragons

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Except for those pesky shadow dragons

Shagons, I call them. They have many (Austin) powers.

 

[Ahrimon]

Less food. Dragons are huge and need to eat a lot. It would mean most humanoids would be rationing since their live stock are under constant threat. Hunting wouldn't be much of an alternative since dragons hunt too.

Less food means smaller populations and vulnerability to diseases.

This assumes that dragons eat like normal creatures. It's quite possible that dragons only eat meat because they enjoy it. What if grandpas cow was nothing more than a bon-bon to the dragons? Instead they could draw their energies from the elements. That's why the reds prefer hot areas, the blues desert, etc. Imagine sneaking into a dragon lair and catching it drinking from a lava fountain. That would be sort of freaky.