Eberron dragons still love the bling? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Eberron dragons still love the bling? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Recovering_Blackguard
05-05-07, 10:47 PM Minor spoilers for Eyes of the Lich Queen follow:

**************************************** ****

So, I can understand that not all dragons in Eberron are members of the Chamber or busy contemplating their navels, er, the prophecy over in Argonessan, but did anyone else find the notion of dragons laying on top of piles of coin (i.e., in the temple in Q'barra) just a bit non-Eberronian? I'm having trouble reconciling dragons as the uber-race from the dawn of time with this strange gold fetish.

Anyone (Keith especiallY) care to suggest an explanation? Or am I the only one wondering about this?
Nived
05-05-07, 11:26 PM It's as much a part of dragons as flying and having scales. Dragons love shiny things, not for practical purposes, but for the shear aesthetic of it.
iKitten
05-06-07, 12:29 AM I always prefered the Flight of Dragons reasoning. Gold is relatively soft and non-flammable.

Still, I don't see any reason why the dragons of the Chamber wouldn't have hordes. For one, it attacts all these walking prophecy fleshbags up to your doorstep so you don't have to polymorph into a smaller form and study them in their own enviroment. For seconds, every other race without a hive mind or that's totally insane on the face (and below) of Eberron has a form of economy of some sort, from egalitarian barter to precious metal-backed currency, so why not the Dragons?
ArcTan
05-06-07, 01:15 AM Draconomicon clarifies, with all this stuff about how Dragons' hoards hold this metaphysical or spiritual significance to them beyond the actual practical value of the items -- owning stuff that other people want to own and holds value because of people's desire for it feeds a Dragon's power.
Just another user
05-06-07, 12:04 PM I see it partly even as a cultural thing, between dragons to be someone you must have an hoard, the bigger the hoard, the more important you are because it mean that you are able enough to collect all that stuff and powerful enough to keep someone else either dragons or adventurers to steal it from you. "A dragon without a hoard is a dragon without respect" as they use to say.

Of course partly is also an instinct, dragon like shiny and precious things, like uh, magpies for example, that's why they collect them, not for their trade value.
Cifer
05-06-07, 02:46 PM I prefer Eberron dragons to use the be a bit more intelligent and less instinct-driven than their normal counterparts, meaning that they will be hoarding stuff when they can do something with it. Since they're pretty intelligent, I could easily see Argonessen being riddled with a complex web of favors owed to some other dragons - somewhen in all the millenia you and your debtor will still see, you will be able to collect it. Thus, coins would be reserved for those who interact with mortals.
Edymnion
05-06-07, 10:08 PM Is it really any differant from what humans do?
Guys with wives, how many pairs of shoes does she own? Have you ever seen her actually WEAR all of them? Guys, honestly, do you know where every remote for every electronic gadget you own is? D&D players, can any of you say that you've never bought a book that you have never actually used in game?

Its human nature to horde things, it makes us feel more secure and increases our sense of self-worth. And like any "monster" in D&D or "alien" in Star Trek, they are always simply extensions of human mindsets with differant aspects emphasized and others scaled back.

A dragon's horde isn't really any differant from a high school kid's sports car, a guy's new plasma TV, or a girl's $300 pair of shoes. Its just something we want because it makes us feel more important, and gives us a tangible aspect to be "better" than other people.

Why would we assume that any sentient race would not also have similiar mental hangups? Dragons just happen to like coins instead of shoes and electronics.
Nived
05-07-07, 02:05 AM Wow Edy you certainly know how to clarify a point while similtaniously making feel ashamed of my spending habbits.
Logos7
05-07-07, 08:16 AM Blame Tolkien, but i like my dragons lounging on piles of gold

Not to say that they dont also have wing in their lair with works of art of various kinds or a list of mortals who crap themselves when they here the dragons name but when it comes down to it, if you were a giant winged four legged scaled magic spitter, why wouldn't you have a bed of gold? Whatelese is that keen sight used for it not counting cash

Logos
Wymarc
05-07-07, 03:02 PM also these particular dragons are not the dragons. they are not part of the dragon society of Argonnesen
Macrovore
05-07-07, 08:41 PM Wow Edy you certainly know how to clarify a point while similtaniously making feel ashamed of my spending habbits.

well, americans tend to have a lot of disposable income. what do you expect us to do with it? donate it? (we probably should, but few if none of do, or don't donate enough)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Recovering_Blackguard 05-05-07, 10:47 PM	Minor spoilers for Eyes of the Lich Queen follow: ************************************** ** So, I can understand that not all dragons in Eberron are members of the Chamber or busy contemplating their navels, er, the prophecy over in Argonessan, but did anyone else find the notion of dragons laying on top of piles of coin (i.e., in the temple in Q'barra) just a bit non-Eberronian? I'm having trouble reconciling dragons as the uber-race from the dawn of time with this strange gold fetish. Anyone (Keith especiallY) care to suggest an explanation? Or am I the only one wondering about this?
Nived 05-05-07, 11:26 PM	It's as much a part of dragons as flying and having scales. Dragons love shiny things, not for practical purposes, but for the shear aesthetic of it.
iKitten 05-06-07, 12:29 AM	I always prefered the Flight of Dragons reasoning. Gold is relatively soft and non-flammable. Still, I don't see any reason why the dragons of the Chamber wouldn't have hordes. For one, it attacts all these walking prophecy fleshbags up to your doorstep so you don't have to polymorph into a smaller form and study them in their own enviroment. For seconds, every other race without a hive mind or that's totally insane on the face (and below) of Eberron has a form of economy of some sort, from egalitarian barter to precious metal-backed currency, so why not the Dragons?
ArcTan 05-06-07, 01:15 AM	Draconomicon clarifies, with all this stuff about how Dragons' hoards hold this metaphysical or spiritual significance to them beyond the actual practical value of the items -- owning stuff that other people want to own and holds value because of people's desire for it feeds a Dragon's power.
Just another user 05-06-07, 12:04 PM	I see it partly even as a cultural thing, between dragons to be someone you must have an hoard, the bigger the hoard, the more important you are because it mean that you are able enough to collect all that stuff and powerful enough to keep someone else either dragons or adventurers to steal it from you. "A dragon without a hoard is a dragon without respect" as they use to say. Of course partly is also an instinct, dragon like shiny and precious things, like uh, magpies for example, that's why they collect them, not for their trade value.
Cifer 05-06-07, 02:46 PM	I prefer Eberron dragons to use the be a bit more intelligent and less instinct-driven than their normal counterparts, meaning that they will be hoarding stuff when they can do something with it. Since they're pretty intelligent, I could easily see Argonessen being riddled with a complex web of favors owed to some other dragons - somewhen in all the millenia you and your debtor will still see, you will be able to collect it. Thus, coins would be reserved for those who interact with mortals.
Edymnion 05-06-07, 10:08 PM	Is it really any differant from what humans do? Guys with wives, how many pairs of shoes does she own? Have you ever seen her actually WEAR all of them? Guys, honestly, do you know where every remote for every electronic gadget you own is? D&D players, can any of you say that you've never bought a book that you have never actually used in game? Its human nature to horde things, it makes us feel more secure and increases our sense of self-worth. And like any "monster" in D&D or "alien" in Star Trek, they are always simply extensions of human mindsets with differant aspects emphasized and others scaled back. A dragon's horde isn't really any differant from a high school kid's sports car, a guy's new plasma TV, or a girl's $300 pair of shoes. Its just something we want because it makes us feel more important, and gives us a tangible aspect to be "better" than other people. Why would we assume that any sentient race would not also have similiar mental hangups? Dragons just happen to like coins instead of shoes and electronics.
Nived 05-07-07, 02:05 AM	Wow Edy you certainly know how to clarify a point while similtaniously making feel ashamed of my spending habbits.
Logos7 05-07-07, 08:16 AM	Blame Tolkien, but i like my dragons lounging on piles of gold Not to say that they dont also have wing in their lair with works of art of various kinds or a list of mortals who crap themselves when they here the dragons name but when it comes down to it, if you were a giant winged four legged scaled magic spitter, why wouldn't you have a bed of gold? Whatelese is that keen sight used for it not counting cash Logos
Wymarc 05-07-07, 03:02 PM	also these particular dragons are not the dragons. they are not part of the dragon society of Argonnesen
Macrovore 05-07-07, 08:41 PM	Wow Edy you certainly know how to clarify a point while similtaniously making feel ashamed of my spending habbits. well, americans tend to have a lot of disposable income. what do you expect us to do with it? donate it? (we probably should, but few if none of do, or don't donate enough)