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

[Hriston]

So metagaming then?

No, not really. Why wouldn't characters know anything about dragons?

 

[Crimson Longinus]

No, not really. Why wouldn't characters know anything about dragons?

They might. But your initial post said it was specifically about the player knowledge:

Player skill, when the DM plunks down a dragon mini painted (or describes a dragon of) a particular color, players with the experience will know what type of breath weapon to expect.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

I try to obscure everything I can about the monsters. We're as likely to encounter a four-legged black wyvern as we are a dragon with scales so deep blue they're black, that spits acidic fireballs and has a scorpion tail. I see it as a duty to my Players. To keep things fresh.

 

[mixmastashizz]

The latter is roleplaying and the former is not, which I find rather salient distinction whilst attempting to play a roleplaying game

I think you underestimate how many people roleplay without speaking in the third person or using a funny voice.

 

[Chaltab]

...Are we seriously saying that using fire on a troll is metagame knowledge in 2025?

D&D Video Games insulted you for not knowing that in the 1990s!

 

[Hriston]

They might. But your initial post said it was specifically about the player knowledge:

Player knowledge doesn't preclude character knowledge. It's just orthogonal, as is your tangent about metagaming.