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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CapnZapp" data-source="post: 6805110" data-attributes="member: 12731">Thank you. The way you discuss the matter is just the way I had hoped!On one hand, of course I can "do whatever I want, I'm the DM". But I don't want to do so without first finding out more about the "behind the scenes" reasoning of the D&D creators.On the other hand, I will absolutely do it, if the alternative is a magic ring (or somesuch). First off, such an item would be incredibly powerful in the hands of the player characters, and I have enough experience to know better than to equip a NPC with something that "can't" fall into the grubby hands of the heroes...But more importantly, I absolutely detest the grand tradition of old D&D editions to hand out "frak you" items. Hats of non-detection is perhaps the most egregious example (why first give PCs "detect evil" and then make the BBEG immune to that ability?)Now, I know I'm kicking in open doors here. 5E has most wisely done away with such crap. But that is precisely why I will definitely not use the option to give my NPC a wand of polymorph or somesuch. (That the item is either too weak and restricted to work for story purposes; such as the one hour and concentration limits on the DMG wand, or that it is too strong to ever fall into the PCs hands is only a secondary consideration.)---So where do we stand? It does seem each and every "case" discussed use a work-around. Previous editions simply gave powerful items. The current edition tries a little harder, using illusions and what not. It starts to look like my options are limited. Perhaps the best solution is to invent a story reason for "my" blue dragon to be special? I guess I could say she's a brass dragon with a "special" kind of very selfish kind of chaotic good alignment. But since the level range dictates a young dragon that isn't too helpful - even the dragons that DO get "Change Shape" only gets it at more mature stages (well into the double digits Challenge Ratings).A curse perhaps? Nah - an inquisitive and intellectual dragon would see that more as a boon than a bane. A mixed parentage then? Have there ever been "neutral" dragons? Have there ever been "unheard of" offspring between a metallic and a chromatic? Feel free to continue bringing up previous edition examples. (We all agree this edition will provide more options as time goes by, so I am fully intent on not limiting myself to only what's in the MM)</blockquote>

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