How common ARE Dragonmarks? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How common ARE Dragonmarks? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
St. George
07-20-04, 11:38 AM I'm getting the impression that the majority of PC's want to have Dragonmarks, but what statistically should be the number of "regular" people to those with Dragonmarks, lesser or greater?

It would seem to me that they should be rare to the point of only one in ten if that should have one, or am I reading this wrong?

In addition - I'm confuseded about the Houses - can you be a member of a House and not have a Dragonmark? If you just work for them, do you have access to all the abilities of those members who do have the Marks; or are you just hirelings who basically collect a paycheck and are expendable?

thanks in advance for the help!

:D
Ezekiel
07-20-04, 11:46 AM This has been answered by Keith, the number is about 1/200. Of the dragonmarked races, of course, not the entire population.
Bluebrush
07-20-04, 12:23 PM Originally posted by St. George
In addition - I'm confuseded about the Houses - can you be a member of a House and not have a Dragonmark? If you just work for them, do you have access to all the abilities of those members who do have the Marks; or are you just hirelings who basically collect a paycheck and are expendable?

Yes. A lot of (If not most) house members are workers who specialise in the House's field. Expert blacksmiths in House Cannith for example.
Some of the unmarked members are from outside the families, and some are descended from other house members (Who may be marked or unmarked). It is possible for someone to join a house family by marrying a member of the family (This is likely partially encouraged to prevent inbreeding) but marriages between members of different houses may be looked down upon.

You could presumably get a discount on dragonmark services if you're a member of the relevant house.

And you're not exactly expendable. A house member is likely someone with useful skills, but how expendable you are is going to be dependent on how much in the way of useful skills you have.
For instance, a common labourer (Those who lift boxes and such for a living) can easily be fired and replaced because it's a job any ninny can do. A modern day equivalent would be working the tills at McDonalds. (There are smart people working the tills, yes, but they could just as easily be replaced by anyone else willing to take up the job.)
Someone with rarer skills, like a skilled blacksmith, will be less expendable, since it's harder to replace them. (Modern day equivalent: Mechanic or plumber)

So the stableboys of that house with the mark of handling might be pretty expendable, since all the job reuires is someone who knows how to use a shovel. A professional groom is less expendable, and an expert with rare creatures possibly totally indispensable.
jake_lex
07-20-04, 06:14 PM I'm planning an Eberron campaign soon, and the players in that are going to have to give me a really good backstory if they want a Dragonmark. And they will be expected to live up to the reputation/dealings of their house if they do get it.

I might just say that if you want a Dragonmark, you'll have to get it via the prestige class, and you just can't take the feat.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
St. George 07-20-04, 11:38 AM	I'm getting the impression that the majority of PC's want to have Dragonmarks, but what statistically should be the number of "regular" people to those with Dragonmarks, lesser or greater? It would seem to me that they should be rare to the point of only one in ten if that should have one, or am I reading this wrong? In addition - I'm confuseded about the Houses - can you be a member of a House and not have a Dragonmark? If you just work for them, do you have access to all the abilities of those members who do have the Marks; or are you just hirelings who basically collect a paycheck and are expendable? thanks in advance for the help! :D
Ezekiel 07-20-04, 11:46 AM	This has been answered by Keith, the number is about 1/200. Of the dragonmarked races, of course, not the entire population.
Bluebrush 07-20-04, 12:23 PM	Originally posted by St. George In addition - I'm confuseded about the Houses - can you be a member of a House and not have a Dragonmark? If you just work for them, do you have access to all the abilities of those members who do have the Marks; or are you just hirelings who basically collect a paycheck and are expendable? Yes. A lot of (If not most) house members are workers who specialise in the House's field. Expert blacksmiths in House Cannith for example. Some of the unmarked members are from outside the families, and some are descended from other house members (Who may be marked or unmarked). It is possible for someone to join a house family by marrying a member of the family (This is likely partially encouraged to prevent inbreeding) but marriages between members of different houses may be looked down upon. You could presumably get a discount on dragonmark services if you're a member of the relevant house. And you're not exactly expendable. A house member is likely someone with useful skills, but how expendable you are is going to be dependent on how much in the way of useful skills you have. For instance, a common labourer (Those who lift boxes and such for a living) can easily be fired and replaced because it's a job any ninny can do. A modern day equivalent would be working the tills at McDonalds. (There are smart people working the tills, yes, but they could just as easily be replaced by anyone else willing to take up the job.) Someone with rarer skills, like a skilled blacksmith, will be less expendable, since it's harder to replace them. (Modern day equivalent: Mechanic or plumber) So the stableboys of that house with the mark of handling might be pretty expendable, since all the job reuires is someone who knows how to use a shovel. A professional groom is less expendable, and an expert with rare creatures possibly totally indispensable.
jake_lex 07-20-04, 06:14 PM	I'm planning an Eberron campaign soon, and the players in that are going to have to give me a really good backstory if they want a Dragonmark. And they will be expected to live up to the reputation/dealings of their house if they do get it. I might just say that if you want a Dragonmark, you'll have to get it via the prestige class, and you just can't take the feat.