D&D General Why do we color-code Dragons?

[Bagpuss]

Racism.

Next question.

 

[Corinnguard]

Now another question is why it is like that, and indeed why it is like this for dragonborn. After all, both are species only very distantly related to true dragons, so it would be a bit weird if they just happened to have the same colour categories with associated breath weapons (should they have any.)

4e originally had the Dragonborn not resembling the dragons in terms of colors, and there was no sure way to know what kind of breath weapon they had (until they used it). The association between color and breath weapon for Dragonborn is a 5e thing.

4e was also the edition where WoTC tried to fill out the color grid by having some metallic dragons with a metallic color.

Chromatic Blue
Metallic Blue (4e Cobalt Dragon)

Chromatic Red
Metallic Red (4e Orium Dragon)

Chromatic Black
Metallic Black (4e Iron Dragon)

 

[Corinnguard]

I've come across that in several adventures, going back as far as third edition. No special abilities, but colour and markings indicate tribe or draconic affiliation.

Pathfinder has the Kobolds being color-coded.

Kobold (5 RP) – d20PFSRD

www.d20pfsrd.com

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Racism.

Next question.

Is it also due racism that bluejays and robins are of different colours?

Though if you merely mean colour-coded morality, then I definitely agree with you. But not about colour-coded capabilities.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Pathfinder has the Kobolds being color-coded.

Kobold (5 RP) – d20PFSRD

www.d20pfsrd.com

Yeah, comes from 3rd edition.

Maybe the introduction of dragonborn caused mainline D&D to forget it?

 

[el-remmen]

As far as so-called meta-gaming monster knowledge goes I follow these simple steps:

1. Assume good faith from players (and probably don’t play with folks for whom you simply cannot assume good faith).
2. Let the individual player decide how much of the “classic monster knowledge” their character has.
3. Run both standard and non-standard versions of monsters at different times so the frisson of properly using such knowledge and the mystery/delight of realizing this is something different can both be experienced.