Half-dragons, should they be allowed?

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Interspecies (esp. something like mammal-to-lizard) really fries my brain...

There's a very, very easy way to figure it out.

Magic!!! *waves hands around*

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

As a PC race, no. As NPCs, probably not. At the risk of being crass, I think it takes away from the power and majesty of dragons to imagine them humping a kobold, horse, or any other lesser race.

I'm fine with the draconic blood explanation of the sorcerer, as that's a little more vague and mythic than a PC who can say that his dad was a dragon and mum a gnome.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Or,

As my party explained when the encounterd the Half Black Dragon Legendary Toad:

"How *%$#&^ drunk (or desperate) was that dragon. Opposed Grapple Chekcs? Swallowed Whole? Its got a plus WHAT to grapple. %$#&@ stupid incedible horney dragons. Thye just sleep with anything with a pulse is that it?"

"Let me consult the MM. Yep, pretty much. If it's got pulse you can make a Half-Dragon otta it."

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Power wise I have no problem with them. However I obviously wouldn't allow one in a campaign setting in which dragons didn't exist or were not intelligent shape shifting critters.
I answered yes.

 

[Ourph]

I voted no, but before doing so, looked long and hard for a "More No" option. If possible, I would have voted "No-est".

 

[The Shaman]

Interspecies (esp. something like mammal-to-lizard) really fries my brain...

Magic!!! *waves hands around*

I agree with both of you.

The idea of monsters spreading their seed so indiscriminately offends my sense of speciation. On the other hand, I love the idea of a mad wizard creating things 'not found in nature.'

 

[radferth]

I voted no, meaning that I would not allow PCs to have the template (dragon disciple is another matter, as they earn it). I actually have half-dragon NPCs (and did long before 3rd edition), but they are nothing like the ones from MM. Basically, they only occur when a dragon shapechanges into a male creature and inpregnates a female of the species, in which case the offspring a physically normal for the most part, but may have strange gifts. The template is cool for monsters, but more as a madwizard experiment-gone-bad than as a result of odd couplings. I did once have a player ask to join a campaign I was running, but only if he could have the half-dragon (gold) template at 1st level. I thought a 6d10 breath weapon was a bit much for 1st level, but then I am a very strict DM.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Yes, but not as a product of interbreeding. I find it more likely that dragons would want "shock troops" in their image. The dragons would hang back and let the lesser race do the dying when possible.

Hmmmm. Orc half-dragons gliding down to pilliage. Hmmmmmm.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

The idea of monsters spreading their seed so indiscriminately offends my sense of speciation.'

Your modern hang-ups about "speciation" and "genetics" equally offends my fantastic sense of "only four elements" and "no such thing as DNA."

 

[Stormborn]

Given a campaign of the approrpiate level: yes.
To my mind half-dragons probablly result most often when dragons are polymorphed into something else, perhaps spending a human lifetime masquerading as a scholar, lord, adventurer, etc.
I also like the idea of half-dragons that breed true - their ancient ancestor was somehow give the half-dragon template and they have created a subspecies that has draconic traits.
Or for a unique half-dragon: have a hero who eats the heart of a dragon he has slain and slowly transforms into a half dragon (happening in a campaing of mine currenlty on hiatus, and the player is begining to figure out what is going on).