How are Iron Kingdoms Dragons Different?

[HeavenShallBurn]

I haven't used Iron Kingdoms and don't have the books. But I've been considering it for a while and I'll probably get them maybe later in January once I've recovered from the holidays. Really like the entire vibe they give off.

But I noticed that someone else that's run Iron Kingdoms games mentioned them. I think he said something along the lines that they were tougher or just plain different from stock D&D dragons if so could someone kindly point out how they're different at least generally? Would greatly appreciate it

 

[Graf]

The shortest answer is "completely".

They’re so powerful as to make putting stats on them fairly absurd. The CRs are IIRC like 30+
They're more like environment polluting evilish demi-gods.

They're so powerful that it's a little bid weird they wasted so many pages stating them out in the Monster book actually.
They might turn up in some sort of Titan-class Warmachine game (i.e. a team of 12 mechs and 'casters vs a dragon) type thing.

 

[Stormborn]

Dragons are nothing short of demi-gods in the setting. Each one is unique. In the orignal Monsternomicon there were 3 with stats, having CR 44, 60, and 66. There are, however, dragonblighted creatures (more now that Hordes the minisgame has come out and should be more in Monsternomicon 2 when and if it comes) that have been corrupted by dragonmagics and can have a fairly wide range of CRs. Only a large, well equipped, and very high if not epic level party of PCs are going to be able to deal with even the weakest of the dragons, but an adventuring party might be able to go against dragon cultists for a few levels in one of the main cities and then leading to the dragonblighted lands outside the Iron Kingdoms proper and various things there.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Dragons are indeed powerful, unique entities that are like unto god-kings of old and have their own followers with unique abilities and powers.

The Monsternomicon 2 is indeed coming out (according to the No Quarter magazine) and looks to update some of the monsters that have been in No Quarter as well as adding new ones to the game.

 

[Karl Green]

…also they seem to be radioactive or something as they poison the land they inhabit.

They can also create ‘dragonspawn’ from their blood that are dragon-like but they are blind (with a big blind-sight radius) and are also unique… some have wings, some can breath some kind of attack, etc.

They are very cool indeed, and I can’t wait for Monsternomicon 2

 

[Skade]

the dragons are few in number, and each one is for the purposes of the game world very nearly demi gods. Lord Turok the first dragon is sometimes thought of as the God of Caen (the name of the planet IK is set), and is immortal, godlike, possesses a priesthood, and with no known exceptions practically invulnerable. He has destroyed armies in his past. The other dragons were all made from his own athanc (a magical stone that is his heart) and while iminicable to their father are nearly as dangerous. Only a few have ever been felled, only once known for certain. That time the dragon was killed by an army who had conquered all of the iron kingdoms. They placed his athanc in a temple to remember their deeds, only to find that the dragon one day rebirthed itself and destroyed them all in vengeance.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

Thanks for the feedback, let me see if I've got this right
1.) Dragons are unique creatures, each one different like demon lords or demon princes
2.) Their CR levels put them varying between high Demon Lord and middle Demon Prince (I go by the Dicefreak take on deities and cosmic entities)
3.) D&D dragon=bane of towns & villages Iron Kingdoms dragon=bane of nations and demigods
4.) D&D dragon=can destroy town guard Iron Kingdoms dragon=can destroy a national army

A very different take on the idea of Dragons, I think I like it.

 

[Cergorach]

Am i right to asume that they are more akin to yje dragons of Darksun then the Dragons of standard D&D?

 

[Stormborn]

Am i right to asume that they are more akin to yje dragons of Darksun then the Dragons of standard D&D?

With the clarification that my familiarity with Dark Sun is limited to Dragon article in the last few years I am going to say "no" in so much as my understanding of the Dark Sun versions is that they are the rulers of cities and nations and thus play a big part in the daily life of the people in the setting. This is not the case with the dragons in IK.

 

[Desdichado]

The Monsternomicon 2 is indeed coming out (according to the No Quarter magazine) and looks to update some of the monsters that have been in No Quarter as well as adding new ones to the game.

HOLY CRAP, ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!? When? I'm a little behind on my No Quarter issues, so I guess I haven't seen this announcement.

Man, I just about had an orgasm reading this post. That's the best news I've heard (gamingwise, anyway) in a long, long time.