Draconomicon Dragon Characters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Draconomicon Dragon Characters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Anaxim
08-25-07, 08:39 AM So the thing is like this. I decided to let my players play Dragons in the campaign.
Thing is, I'm getting confused with the Draconomicon rules.
One of my players wants to Kindred a dragon, thus making it effectively an extra character.
The Draconomicon says the usually Dragon and Kindred are seperate, and the other receives 25% EXP while inactive. Means 100% for active, 25% for inactive, if I understood right.
Now assume the Dragon is tiny and can only function whilst traveling with the party: is it considered a full member and entitled to a complete share of the EXP? Or is it alternating between the two or maybe even prioritized, to either party (Dragon or Kindred)?

I have no idea what to do in this regard.

A swift answer would be nice.

EDIT: The player skipped wanting a Dragon. He mainly wanted the Dragon as a mount, and was surprised to know that Dragons require yearly payment, and large ones at that, to allow (N)PCs to ride them. So problem solved.
Xiuhcoatl
08-25-07, 09:20 AM What is a Kindred?
Magrus
08-25-07, 09:20 AM I'm not quite sure I grasped what you are thinking of, but I believe it is something to do with a non-dragon befriending a dragon, and teaming up? If so, your player wants to play as the dragon and/or his team mate? No. If this is your first time running a dragon game, tell him to stick with the basics. It's enough to learn to deal with for everyone sticking to a dragon. If he whines, ask him if he wants to play a goblin instead.
Raiden Drake
08-25-07, 09:27 AM As i see it you have 2 options...
#1 you allow it and deal with it. (I wouldn't)

And #2, tell him no, try to give him some alternative, for example to take the dragon familiar feat or the dragon cohort feat.
Also you can point him to dragon magazine 320 and 332 where you can find the monster advancement for dragons (metallic and chromatics), that way he can actually play a dragon if he want to.
Anaxim
08-25-07, 09:39 AM Both of you misunderstood my problem.
I allowed dragons to add variety to the group, so far I have only him potentially walking around with a dragon. What I do not grasp are the rules in the Draconomicon.
He's a Gnome Bard and wants to Kindred a Dragon, an making the dragon and effective character with personal levels.
The thing I'm not understanding is such - The book describes that both Dragon and Kindred (The Bard) are usually split up and act alone with the party: Bard for places where the dragon is and dragon for where it can fly freely and bring out it's full potential.
What my player has is a Tiny Brass or Fang Dragon. Given the Bard and Dragon will usually travel together, does the Dragon advance as a normal character?
Magrus
08-25-07, 09:42 AM I would have to read the rules in the book. I'm checking the index, and I see no "Kindred" mentioned. Do you mean the Dragonkith prestige class, or a cohort?
Anaxim
08-25-07, 09:48 AM Kindred is mentioned on page 141.
And I'm gonna suggest to him to use up 2 feats to get his Dragon, will benefit the party better, not to mention he'd have Leadership.
Magrus
08-26-07, 01:10 AM Kindred isn't mentioned on that page, at all. You need to be more specific in using the proper terms when asking for clarification on rules for that term.

Dragon Familiars are, as well as the beginning of the Dragon's as PC's section. If you are talking about Dragon Familiars? Just follow the rules for them between the PHB and that section. Make sure you keep a tight reign on what the dragon is doing. It's smarter than your average human, even though it is only a year or so old. It won't risk itself, and when it grows up, it will take off on it's own. No having a large dragon as a familiar for your player's character.
Anaxim
08-26-07, 02:46 AM "In one effective campaign model, each player has 2 effective characters in a campaign: a dragon and a member of a standard race who is bonded to the dragon as a kindred."
As we can see, the bottom right of page 141 does have this word and term.
Regardless, the edit on the first post states the problem has been solved as the player wanted a dragon mount mostly, and not a real dragon character.
Dazzer
08-26-07, 03:04 AM It's a campaign model, in the kindred model, ALL the players would play

1 Dragon
and
1 Normal Character

You would then follow the rules for inactive/active. In this model, games would follow 2 possible themes.

Follow the Dragons life (lots of downtime, lots of in-character dragon stuff...)
This would also mean the normal character would be around for 1-7 adventures, and then die of old-age, and a new normal character (young and fresh!) would walk in!. Dragons would advance as they age, and would be forced to do stuff to gain the necessary XP with which to age, as well as develop a hoard sized for a dragon appropriate to their age. (essentially, dragons only take dragon HD, normal characters take class-levels) This type of campaign would quickly become an epic campaign where eventually players are playing great-wyrms (a long time in the future!)

Follow the Kindred (a normal campaign; with a bit of a twist).
This would mean you follow the normal characters. Dragons would not have the time to age, and would therefore take class-levels to make up the difference in levels. This would follow the normal campaign down-time issues, and would follow the normal campaign progression. It would likely end pre-epic, but it is possible to go into epic. The dragons would only take dragon-hitdice when/if they age.

If you are not playing this campaign model. You must take a feat, or other such ability, to have a dragon friend who adventures with you (and is not just an NPC who may or may not help you; DM's discretion). If you play a dragon, follow the draconomicon rules for doing so (gaining hitdice only as you age, and have the appropriate XP to do so). Gaining class-levels otherwise to make up the gap.
Ace_of_time
08-27-07, 04:37 AM If I reading right he is talking about linked person. that is 100% to the one active and 25% to the one inactive. If they are both being used at the same time then I wouldn't give the 25%. It is really for when people play one PC and then switch the other one. But that is your call. They share the experiences between each other. Their is also a Pro class in there that does that too.
Anaxim
08-27-07, 06:15 AM Did no one read the edit at the first page?
It states there, and very clearly, that the issue has been solved, seeing as the player skipped having a dragon.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Anaxim 08-25-07, 08:39 AM	So the thing is like this. I decided to let my players play Dragons in the campaign. Thing is, I'm getting confused with the Draconomicon rules. One of my players wants to Kindred a dragon, thus making it effectively an extra character. The Draconomicon says the usually Dragon and Kindred are seperate, and the other receives 25% EXP while inactive. Means 100% for active, 25% for inactive, if I understood right. Now assume the Dragon is tiny and can only function whilst traveling with the party: is it considered a full member and entitled to a complete share of the EXP? Or is it alternating between the two or maybe even prioritized, to either party (Dragon or Kindred)? I have no idea what to do in this regard. A swift answer would be nice. EDIT: The player skipped wanting a Dragon. He mainly wanted the Dragon as a mount, and was surprised to know that Dragons require yearly payment, and large ones at that, to allow (N)PCs to ride them. So problem solved.
Xiuhcoatl 08-25-07, 09:20 AM	What is a Kindred?
Magrus 08-25-07, 09:20 AM	I'm not quite sure I grasped what you are thinking of, but I believe it is something to do with a non-dragon befriending a dragon, and teaming up? If so, your player wants to play as the dragon and/or his team mate? No. If this is your first time running a dragon game, tell him to stick with the basics. It's enough to learn to deal with for everyone sticking to a dragon. If he whines, ask him if he wants to play a goblin instead.
Raiden Drake 08-25-07, 09:27 AM	As i see it you have 2 options... #1 you allow it and deal with it. (I wouldn't) And #2, tell him no, try to give him some alternative, for example to take the dragon familiar feat or the dragon cohort feat. Also you can point him to dragon magazine 320 and 332 where you can find the monster advancement for dragons (metallic and chromatics), that way he can actually play a dragon if he want to.
Anaxim 08-25-07, 09:39 AM	Both of you misunderstood my problem. I allowed dragons to add variety to the group, so far I have only him potentially walking around with a dragon. What I do not grasp are the rules in the Draconomicon. He's a Gnome Bard and wants to Kindred a Dragon, an making the dragon and effective character with personal levels. The thing I'm not understanding is such - The book describes that both Dragon and Kindred (The Bard) are usually split up and act alone with the party: Bard for places where the dragon is and dragon for where it can fly freely and bring out it's full potential. What my player has is a Tiny Brass or Fang Dragon. Given the Bard and Dragon will usually travel together, does the Dragon advance as a normal character?
Magrus 08-25-07, 09:42 AM	I would have to read the rules in the book. I'm checking the index, and I see no "Kindred" mentioned. Do you mean the Dragonkith prestige class, or a cohort?
Anaxim 08-25-07, 09:48 AM	Kindred is mentioned on page 141. And I'm gonna suggest to him to use up 2 feats to get his Dragon, will benefit the party better, not to mention he'd have Leadership.
Magrus 08-26-07, 01:10 AM	Kindred isn't mentioned on that page, at all. You need to be more specific in using the proper terms when asking for clarification on rules for that term. Dragon Familiars are, as well as the beginning of the Dragon's as PC's section. If you are talking about Dragon Familiars? Just follow the rules for them between the PHB and that section. Make sure you keep a tight reign on what the dragon is doing. It's smarter than your average human, even though it is only a year or so old. It won't risk itself, and when it grows up, it will take off on it's own. No having a large dragon as a familiar for your player's character.
Anaxim 08-26-07, 02:46 AM	"In one effective campaign model, each player has 2 effective characters in a campaign: a dragon and a member of a standard race who is bonded to the dragon as a kindred." As we can see, the bottom right of page 141 does have this word and term. Regardless, the edit on the first post states the problem has been solved as the player wanted a dragon mount mostly, and not a real dragon character.
Dazzer 08-26-07, 03:04 AM	It's a campaign model, in the kindred model, ALL the players would play 1 Dragon and 1 Normal Character You would then follow the rules for inactive/active. In this model, games would follow 2 possible themes. Follow the Dragons life (lots of downtime, lots of in-character dragon stuff...) This would also mean the normal character would be around for 1-7 adventures, and then die of old-age, and a new normal character (young and fresh!) would walk in!. Dragons would advance as they age, and would be forced to do stuff to gain the necessary XP with which to age, as well as develop a hoard sized for a dragon appropriate to their age. (essentially, dragons only take dragon HD, normal characters take class-levels) This type of campaign would quickly become an epic campaign where eventually players are playing great-wyrms (a long time in the future!) Follow the Kindred (a normal campaign; with a bit of a twist). This would mean you follow the normal characters. Dragons would not have the time to age, and would therefore take class-levels to make up the difference in levels. This would follow the normal campaign down-time issues, and would follow the normal campaign progression. It would likely end pre-epic, but it is possible to go into epic. The dragons would only take dragon-hitdice when/if they age. If you are not playing this campaign model. You must take a feat, or other such ability, to have a dragon friend who adventures with you (and is not just an NPC who may or may not help you; DM's discretion). If you play a dragon, follow the draconomicon rules for doing so (gaining hitdice only as you age, and have the appropriate XP to do so). Gaining class-levels otherwise to make up the gap.
Ace_of_time 08-27-07, 04:37 AM	If I reading right he is talking about linked person. that is 100% to the one active and 25% to the one inactive. If they are both being used at the same time then I wouldn't give the 25%. It is really for when people play one PC and then switch the other one. But that is your call. They share the experiences between each other. Their is also a Pro class in there that does that too.
Anaxim 08-27-07, 06:15 AM	Did no one read the edit at the first page? It states there, and very clearly, that the issue has been solved, seeing as the player skipped having a dragon.