So he calls himself "Dragonslayer"...

[Endur]

Its not an exaggeration to call yourself a Dragonslayer if you killed a dragon.

Even if there was an army with you, you can still call yourself a dragonslayer.

And yes, someone who kills a sorceror, can himself a sorceror-slayer.

By singlehandedly I wanted to say: he was the only one who dealt damage to the dragon. He was not alone in the fight, nor was he the sole target of the dragon. He isn't lying when he says he killed the dragon, but he couldn't have done it alone, so it's at least an exaggeration.

 

[Ace]

Here's the story: in a recent game the party faced a bunch of human mercenaries with a very young red dragon ally (and it wasn't a true dragon - it was sort of a "cavern" variant: it hadn't got wings).

The party's paladin defeated the dragon nearly single-handed. So far so good.
But now the paladin calls himself "Dragonslayer".

Granted, a very young red dragon is a large creature, but it's still very young. Somehow it seems wrong to take on the title of "Dragonslayer" if you basically killed a whelp... so I tried to talk the paladin out of it, but he's pretty stubborn on the subject - or am I?

Is it justified for the paladin to call himself "Dragonslayer"? Or should a dragon at least be a young adult, or even older? Or is it a silly title anyway (my POW)? Should I smack the paladin's player silly, or should he smack me?
In short: what's your opinion?

well a little bragging makes a Paladin more interesting and while its not strictly kosher for a Paladin to brag -- I doubt the Gods have the time or interest to get give him trouble over it

OTOH if he wants to be known as a Dragon Slayer -- well he is in for a lot of complications
Some folks here have mentioned trouble from Dragons. I like this myself but don't forget all those people in need coming from miles around with Dragon Problems (TM)

Barbara Hambleys Novel "Dragonsbane " covers all of the bad stuff nicely

If I felt the need IMC to do anything about it I would have a superior take him aside and give him a lecture about humility --

Otherwise let him make his own trouble -- after all the player just gave you months of plot hooks and a whole new cool direction to go in

Down the line -- maybe if everyone enjoys add a few more Dragons into your Dungeosn and Dragons a few levels of Dragonslayer PRC's a few maidens

Hey you'll be busy for months

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Allow me to make a case in point...

Below you see a typical painting of one of the most famous 'dragon slayers', St. George. You may notice that the dragon he is slaying is smaller than his horse, and is hardly bigger than he is. In fact, a few quick Google image searches will find several paintings of St. George slaying the dragon. In every single one of them, the dragon is no smaller then George, but never larger than his horse either... This is a dragon roughly equivalent to the one your paladin killed.

I'd let him keep the Dragonslayer title. It is well-deserved and hard-earned. Just remember that with any fame, you gain many friends and many enemies. I wouldn't out right punish or reward the character, but there is a lot of potential for some character building plot hooks here.

Work together with the player, and you could have some great games come from this.

 

[Hypersmurf]

We're so disappointed in our paladin.

We took on a Draconomiconed-up Young White (CR 5, apparently - the Draconomicon additions bumped it up a CR) with a 2nd level party yesterday.

Points in our favour - there were seven of us, and we have a couple of items in advance of our expected wealth - a Ring of Minor Cold Resistance and a +1 Flaming Mace - that are fairly well-fitted to fighting a White.

Points against - it was in its lair, and we were 2nd level

The White was hiding in a cavern, up the top of a 30' ice cliff rising above a freezing cold underground river. We had to keep it distracted from below while a couple of our fighters scaled a rope up to the top of the cliff.

The White, obviously, had no problem with letting us split the party so it could take the melee types on where everyone else couldn't support them. The first one over the top was the Ranger, who took a full-blast breath weapon all by himself... which was rendered completely useless by a Natural 20 on the saving throw, and the Ring of Cold Resistance. But even so, the dragon was fairly confident taking on a single fighter in close melee...

... until the first full attack, where the Ranger landed a critical hit with the flaming mace (and a hit with his shortsword as well).

On top of the magic missiles and arrows the dragon had already taken, it decided it didn't like this game any more, and dove off the ledge into the river, where it could swim out through its escape tunnel.

The paladin had just reached the top of the rope.

"This is a campaign-defining moment," we assured the player. "This is where you get to shout out a battle-prayer, leap from the cliff, and swan-dive sword-first 30 feet down into that dragon. You'll land in the water, so you'll be fine, and there are plenty of people to pull you out before you drown. You're a paladin. This will quite possibly be the single coolest moment of your life. Jump. Jump. Jump. Do it. Do it. Do it."

"... I climb back down the rope," the paladin decided.

Damn it! It would have been awesome!

-Hyp.

 

[Creamsteak]

I would have made the dive in a heartbeat. I don't care what level character I have and what the consequences of character death are, that was just SCREAMING opportunity.

Damn it! It would have been awesome!

 

[Hypersmurf]

I would have made the dive in a heartbeat. I don't care what level character I have and what the consequences of character death are, that was just SCREAMING opportunity.

Damn it! It would have been awesome!

After the session, everyone else left, and the DM, the Ranger's player, and I sat around lamenting for a while. So much for Aura of Courage!

It should be mentioned for the sake of completeness that the Ranger, after the Paladin wussed out, did make the screaming leap off the cliff... and rolled a 2, or something equally dire, on his attack roll. But at least he tried!

The dragon, realising that there was now nobody up on the ledge, scuttled back up there (Icewalk - Draconomicon) and used its breath weapon a couple more times, then burrowed into the ice and camouflaged itself (more funky Draconomicon abilities). The paladin and the ranger both went back up the cliff... couldn't see the dragon... then it appeared and bullrushed the Paladin off the cliff (again ) into the river... but took an AoO from the Ranger's flaming mace and died.

(The DM forgot that while Improved Bullrush prevents the defender getting an AoO, it doesn't prevent AoOs from anyone else who might be threatening... oops!)

-Hyp.

 

[Derulbaskul]

A paladin called Dragonslayer...?

Do you have the Book of Fiends by GR? If so, I think he may just about be ready to be tempted by Pride... while the rest of the party are prey for Envy. Anyway, let him have his title... and let you have a hook for some fiendish ideas.

PS: In one of my FR campaigns, the party's paladin almost singlehandedly slew a blue dragon of the Morueme family of dragons in the Silver Marches. Rather than boasting they bullied the PC bard into ensuring that the deed is NEVER mentioned while they continue to adventure in the Silver Marches region.

 

[Agback]

I think it's pretty lame to call yourself "dragonslayer" for killing a baby dragon

I think it's pretty lame to call yourself 'dragonslayer' no matter what you've done.

Regards,


Agback

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Allow me to make a case in point...

Below you see a typical painting of one of the most famous 'dragon slayers', St. George. You may notice that the dragon he is slaying is smaller than his horse, and is hardly bigger than he is. In fact, a few quick Google image searches will find several paintings of St. George slaying the dragon. In every single one of them, the dragon is no smaller then George, but never larger than his horse either... This is a dragon roughly equivalent to the one your paladin killed.

I'd let him keep the Dragonslayer title. It is well-deserved and hard-earned. Just remember that with any fame, you gain many friends and many enemies. I wouldn't out right punish or reward the character, but there is a lot of potential for some character building plot hooks here.

Work together with the player, and you could have some great games come from this.

Waaaahhhh! Beaten to it!

In most pictures of St. George the dragon is pretty durned small. Other examples : http://www.paintedchurch.org/bannigeo.htm
http://www.paintedchurch.org/horntgeo.htm (This last fits under his feet! And look, no wings.)

A website of paintings of ST. George - with and without dragon - can be found at: http://www.ucc.ie/milmart/grgwstart.html

I rather like the idea of letting the fame of the dragonslayer spread, it can lead the PCs to new adventures - just don't use these adventures as a means to punish the players.

The Auld Grump

Dragon: So let me get this straight - you want to fight me, and if you beat me I must use my firey breath to reforge the ancient sword of kings?

Hero: Yes!

Dragon: And if I beat you, what do I get out of it?

Hero: You may devour my mortal remains!

Dragon: So if you win, you regain a sword that has been famed for a hunded generations, and when reforged will spread for a hundred more. While if I win, I get a meal?

Hero: Ummm?

Dragon: You will have to come up with a better bargain than that. And don't offer me sheep from the village below, I have my own agreement with the peasants in regards to their sheep...

 

[Hecabus]

My name comes from one of my characters who LOVED titles. If the group introduced themselves first, he would be bored and then go into his titles. Usually though, he would step forward (large Ogre Magi form in immaculate spledid regalia) and introduce himself as:

"I am Hecabus, Lord of the Hellfire & 7th Ring, Follower and High Priest of the One Untrue God, Chaosmarque, Strifebringer, Firebrand, Duke of the Rising Sun, Keeper of the East Gate, Hero of the Gnoll Uprising, Defender of the Realm, Scion of Justice, Chief Executioner of the King, Wyrm Slayer, Alien Gouger, Weasel God, Honorary Jester of the Realm, Royal Pain & Foot Stomper of Opposition!!!.......Oh, and these are my companions...."

He earned some, claimed some and made some up. His follower and leader of his fledgling religion went by The Grand Apostle Vex. Both character's were a tad bit over the top.