Tips on using Good-Aligned Dragons...

[Spiteful Dwarf]

Hey. One of the biggest challenges I've faced in my time DMing is trying to come up with creative means of introducing Metallic Dragons into my games without resorting to the tired clichés of a <i>Deus Ex Machina</i>-type NPC.

How can you give PCs the thrill of encountering a majestic Gold Wyrm or a saucy Juvenile Copper, without forcing them to either fight it, or listen to its Yoda-like musings? I want the diversity of dragons to reflect in my game, and so far, I've only been able to "successfully" portray de evil ones...

I have Draconomicon (along with most other books), but I haven't found any really good ideas for making dragon encounters without having them become the wizened sage, or the ultimate warrior.

Just curious to hear about any good-aligned dragons you've used in your campaigns... Let's see if we can brain-storm a bit.

p.s: I am going to bed! If I don't immediately reply, it's because I am asleep! (or because I don't like you!)

 

[Chronosome]

You may want to take a look at WotC's "Wyrms of the North" archive. I'm pretty sure there are a few non-standard concepts for metallic dragons.

Hope that helps.

 

[Snoweel]

Remember that Good =/= friendly.

In fact, dragons are likely to have fairly low opinions of the Player Character races, and are therefore likely to be distrustful of your PCs, and even downright rude or hostile unless the party can prove to be the Goodest they can be ('Best they can be' sounds like an advertisement for the army or something).

Note as well that it is possible for metallic dragons to be alignments other than Good, and a high Wisdom score doesn't necessarily mean your dragons will be beard-stroking gurus, constantly dispensing sage advice to would-be heroes (especially younger dragons).

Your dragon might be a gung-ho fighting machine or an arrogant recluse, completely irritated by the well-meaning but foolish bipeds who wander around getting killed by Evil beings and consequently increasing the amount of magic items in their hoards.

They likely think your humans, dwarves and elves ultimately do more harm than good in the War on Evil(TM).

 

[Ylis]

I like playing mine with personality quirks For instance (good dragons):

In the extreme interest in science (and a little boredom from life), the gold dragon has developed a fascination with a certain race. He's become a collector, putting them in little glass habitats, pampering them, etc. As a good dragon, he is completely willing to reason with those that would try to talk him out of his hobby, and at worst, he might end up throwing the PCs in a habitat....it has possibilities of a good side-quest (and then, even if the dragon lets his collection go: does the collection want to leave?!).

I picture the dragon in this instance to be almost child-like. Yes, he's intelligent, but his fascination has helped to revert his attitude back to child-like, and the world is fresh and new to him. He might be a bit hesitant to fight anything (and perhaps a bit cowardly), and could very likely be more apt to listen to the PCs rather than talk them to death....


Now, there's always the chance of using flowery description to really paint the picture of the encounter. A monster encounter doesn't mean that the PCs need to fight it. Or listen to Yoda-like musings....

You'd be surprised how much a simple personality quirk can make each dragon different. They're still dragons, but they are more than intelligence and pride...

 

[Silveras]

The PCs are wandering near a reported Dragon lair when they find a lost child, wandering unclothed in the woods. They take the child home, but no one knows who its parents are. They raise the child for about a year, not knowing that it is a wyrmling Gold or Silver in alternate form.

OR

(Variation of the above)
The PCs are wandering near a reported Dragon lair when they find a youthful warrior. They ask if he is seeking the Dragon. The youth replies that he is not, but that he is out on his own to explore and see the world. This is actually a young Bronze in alternate form.

OR

Maybe the Lawful Good sage the PCs have been visiting in town has actually been a Gold or Silver dragon in alternate form all along.

OR

(variation of the above)
Maybe the head of the town watch (or merchant's guild, wizard's guild, etc.) is actually a Bronze, Silver, or Gold in alternate form.

 

[alsih2o]

treat the dragon like a pc.

have them find it wounded and on the run.

have them cross paths while trekking after sperate evils, with the possibility of information exchange. instead of playing the dragon like yoda play him with the attitude of a noble, questing paladin in shining armor.

anything that smart has a hobby and probably produces some form of art.

play. i mean, everyhting with intelligence "plays", even animal intelligence. what is wrong with crestign the top of the valley to see two coppers wrestlign in a field of tall, green clover- just to give a sense of what a big, powerful place the world is.

this last one can eb expanded to competition. i imagine dragons come together occasionally to show off and test themselves against one another.

 

[Ylis]

what is wrong with crestign the top of the valley to see two coppers wrestlign in a field of tall, green clover- just to give a sense of what a big, powerful place the world is.

Well, most of my PCs would likely pee themselves at the sight of two dragons "wrasslin'", lol. Two dragons together (of any type) is a scary thought...I mean, you don't know when that "rough play" could come your way It does bring up a rather amusing picture, though

 

[Goobermunch]

Or, use a powerful good dragon to give the PCs a sense of just how outclassed by the bad guy they are. IMC, the PCs will meet a young silver who's willing to trade a certain magical item for the completion of a task. Once they've completed the task, the silver will hand over the item and go about its business. As it's leaving, the BBEG (in this case a very old black) will attack and kill the party's big powerful silver friend.

I can't wait to see the looks on their faces.

--G

 

[Spiteful Dwarf]

You may want to take a look at WotC's "Wyrms of the North" archive. I'm pretty sure there are a few non-standard concepts for metallic dragons.

Hope that helps.

Yeah, thanks for the tip, Chronosome. I've been using (STEALIN'!) from <i>Wyrms of the North</i> for years now. The articles are indeed good for getting an individual flavour for each dragon.

The problem is that in order to make them individual, you gotta come up with some pretty wacky personality quirks...

Like the blue dragon whose obsession with music has nearly killed him on a handful of occasions. Or the latest conversion, where a young mercury dragon likes to crash some fancy Waterdhavian parties. Good stuff, but they're a tad <i>too</i> personal. I want a more broad canvas of ideas to draw from.

 

[Ferret]

I would play most dragons as though they were talking to insects; they don't expect the characters to be able to sneeze let alone lift a sword. They'd refuse to let them face any knid of evil, because they had to protect them.