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Shapeshifting dragons - only metallic?
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<blockquote data-quote="Ilbranteloth" data-source="post: 6807400" data-attributes="member: 6778044"><p>Actually, the ability of metallic dragons goes all the way back to Original D&D. There were 6 types of dragons, in order of intelligence and strength: White, Black, Green, Blue, Red, and Golden. The chromatic dragons had a small chance of being spell casters (5-15% depending on type) of up to 3rd level spells in the case of the Red Dragon. Golden Dragons are noted as being far more intelligent, capable of 6th level spells, and often found in human or some other form. The Greyhawk supplement adds the missing metallic dragons and The King of Dragons (platinum) and the Queen of Dragons (chromatic - with a comment on women's lib!). Only the Platinum Dragon is noted as being able to shape change, and the metallic dragons' spell casting abilities exceed the chromatic dragons.</p><p></p><p>So it would appear that in the original design, the metallic dragons were more powerful and had more capabilities than the chromatic from the start. Metallic dragons also had two breath weapons, to the chromatic dragons' one.</p><p></p><p>In the 1st edition, more metallic dragons gained the ability to shape change.</p><p></p><p>In the 2nd edition, dragons became much more powerful but the shape changing ability remained with primarily the metallic dragons. Of the gem dragons, only the amethyst dragon could shape change, as a druid does. Deep, steel and mercury dragons can change shape, some inherently, some by spell. Mist and cloud dragons can both change to an alternate shape (mist or cloud), but not humanoid form. </p><p></p><p>In the Realms, the good dragons are found in human form in larger cities studying history and magic. They are also the source of half-dragons as originally presented (in the case of the shadow dragon, usually with drow). However, as things progressed, dragons that are spell casters could potentially gain access to polymorph spells if they didn't gain them automatically or have an innate ability.</p><p></p><p>There's certainly no reason why you can't make changes for your campaign, but originally it was an ability of the metallic dragons only. </p><p></p><p>Ilbranteloth</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ilbranteloth, post: 6807400, member: 6778044"] Actually, the ability of metallic dragons goes all the way back to Original D&D. There were 6 types of dragons, in order of intelligence and strength: White, Black, Green, Blue, Red, and Golden. The chromatic dragons had a small chance of being spell casters (5-15% depending on type) of up to 3rd level spells in the case of the Red Dragon. Golden Dragons are noted as being far more intelligent, capable of 6th level spells, and often found in human or some other form. The Greyhawk supplement adds the missing metallic dragons and The King of Dragons (platinum) and the Queen of Dragons (chromatic - with a comment on women's lib!). Only the Platinum Dragon is noted as being able to shape change, and the metallic dragons' spell casting abilities exceed the chromatic dragons. So it would appear that in the original design, the metallic dragons were more powerful and had more capabilities than the chromatic from the start. Metallic dragons also had two breath weapons, to the chromatic dragons' one. In the 1st edition, more metallic dragons gained the ability to shape change. In the 2nd edition, dragons became much more powerful but the shape changing ability remained with primarily the metallic dragons. Of the gem dragons, only the amethyst dragon could shape change, as a druid does. Deep, steel and mercury dragons can change shape, some inherently, some by spell. Mist and cloud dragons can both change to an alternate shape (mist or cloud), but not humanoid form. In the Realms, the good dragons are found in human form in larger cities studying history and magic. They are also the source of half-dragons as originally presented (in the case of the shadow dragon, usually with drow). However, as things progressed, dragons that are spell casters could potentially gain access to polymorph spells if they didn't gain them automatically or have an innate ability. There's certainly no reason why you can't make changes for your campaign, but originally it was an ability of the metallic dragons only. Ilbranteloth [/QUOTE]
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