? about commoners' opinions of dragons... [Archive] - Wizards Community

? about commoners' opinions of dragons... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
CrimsonPhoenix
02-21-04, 06:48 PM Im going to be running a campaign of my own soon and most of our previous DMs were lacking in detail about many issues. As usual with us there will be at least one dragon with the party and I was wondering what common people (NPCs and such) would think of a dragon (metallic). I figure the average person would look up to them and probably try to stay out of the way, more out of respect than fear. Wizards and other "higher" folk would probably consider such a dragon as a capable ally and try to befriend them (assuming the wizard/sorcerer is good). All of this is assuming the dragon is young, likely traveling without disguise through many towns and civilized areas with the rest of the party. Obviously they will use an alternate form in more dangerous areas, such as large cities known for evil acts or powerful evil mages (or the possible threat of either).

I know there really isn't a "wrong" way to do this since I'm creating the campaign setting (FR got boring for us a while back). I was just wondering what some people thought.
Seifalmasy
02-22-04, 02:42 AM Hmm... IF i was joe farmer laboring for my one sp/week to by a loaf of bread for my wife and kids, I don't think I'd have a clue what the difference between a silver and a red dragon is, much less white or something equally evil.

Tales abound of the evil dragons, so IMO, the average human commoner 1 is gonna be more then a little wary/frightened of any dragon near him (aura of fear included), if not downright hostile since he knows he's weak.
NestroEmichae
02-22-04, 03:10 AM Commoner #1: Dragons are evil! Evil I tell you! They're out to get us all!

Commoner #2: Dun' know 'bout that. One saved me sis.

Commoner #1: Your sister is an evil sorcerous.

Commoner #2: Fergot 'bout that.
CrimsonPhoenix
02-22-04, 10:54 PM Sorry forgot to say...
The setting I've made is somewhat like DL or Eberron (if I'm correct...) where dragons are a more common sight in most areas. Not an every day sight, but more common than FR or anything along those lines. Most adults will have seen at least one dragon, and considering most humans/humanoids live in cities that dragon was probably a metallic.

I do so what you mean though. I'll probably have some of the more fringe societies think of dragons like that, still not sure.
NestroEmichae
02-23-04, 12:25 AM In plenty of campaigns there are arcane spellcasters and clerics everywhere. That still doesn't mean the commoners actually understand how magic works. More than likely, ignorance rules just as much in areas where they are common as in areas where they are rare.
Toptomcat
02-25-04, 03:04 PM Run. The :censored:. Away. Now. Do not stop.
That'd be MY opinion of dragons as a commoner...
Kayli
02-25-04, 07:08 PM Most Commoners would be in awe/fear of any dragon that they encountered in dragon form. Remember that the Dragon Fear does not always have to be active, dragon can shut it off at any time he wishes. But commoner would still be in awe of said dragons sheer majesty.

That goes for evil as well as good dragons. If Dragon alignment (good or evil) is not common knowledge then char would have to make a knowledge arcana check any time they encountered a Dragon and wanted to know if they should fight it or converse with it. if PC's don't have to make a check then it should be assumed that Commoners would know this too. Actually I rather like that idea, a good DC might be say 10.

Most peasonts would probably be too dumbfounded with awe to know weather to run or cheer for dragon flying low overhead untill he started burning his villiage down. As for A Dragon in a large town or city (or even a small one) would not be able to live in the town unless he was in human form or there was a large park in the city limits du to his sheer size, and wingspan. Even Wyrmlings have to deal with their wings when trying to navigate the small corridores of the local Inn.
strenoth
02-25-04, 08:38 PM it really is a campaign oriented thing I think In the Dl campaign, given that EVERYONE knows abotu the War of the Lances (good mettalic dfragons flying against the Evil Cromatic Dragons) i would expet most people to have a brief burst of reactive fear, the, varying form person to person, get over that reaction if they realised "wait, this is a silver dragon, just like that one Huma was supposed to have fallen in love with."

heck, the good god is a platinum dragon.

in my world it is much the same, though with evne more dragon dieties. when the god fo paladins and the goddess of the moon/healing are both dragons, as well as quite a few others, people tend to not assume dragons are evil...
was_fired
02-25-04, 10:13 PM Flee from it, try to kill it, and in general consider it evil. Its a natural reaction after all it can talk and it is not humanoid thus like most things one finds when looking through the monster manual which fit this description it is evil. Since most all commoners could never actually identify a dragon for what it was (you need ranks in knowleges to get above a DC 10 and the DC to indentify a creature is 10 + HD) they would just figure it was evil like all things which are not them. People can be extremly xenophobic.
lukelightning
02-26-04, 04:32 PM Run. If it is an evil dragon, it's the best thing you can do. If it's a good dragon, well, better safe than sorry.
badger3k
02-26-04, 07:10 PM Look at Pern. It's been a few years since I read the books (and stopped after the four books), but while Dragons were pretty well known, I don't think that common (non-weyr) people really understood much about them (although later books may have expanded/changed this).

For me it's a toss up. I think most people who are aware of them and the different types might be respectful, but probably wary - imagine how a commoner would feel talking to the King or a powerful warlord (or some people today talking to any tv/movie star) - they'd probably be in shock/awe/fear/embaressment (the range is endless). If they haven't had much exposure, look at the common dragons in the area (if evil, the commoners would probably be afraid, run away/cower/etc). It really just needs to fit the game/story, as long as you have some logic to it. Different people can act differently as well (one farmer runs, his wife shakes her head and asks if they want tea).
strange_person
02-26-04, 07:54 PM The 3.5 monster manual gives a round-by-round breakdown of creature tactics. I decided to summarized a typical commoner's reactions in a simmilar format.
Round one: Paralyzed in terror (will save, DC 10, allows them to retain bladder control).
Round two: Looks around frantically for something which is both big enough to hide under and flame-retardant (spot check at -5, due to distraction)
Round three: Attempts to judge if dragon is hostile (Refocus + Sense Motive- automatic sucess if dragon has already attacked at this point)
Round four: If dragon seems hostile, run for cover. If dragon is not openly hostile, begin extremely nervous conversation.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CrimsonPhoenix 02-21-04, 06:48 PM	Im going to be running a campaign of my own soon and most of our previous DMs were lacking in detail about many issues. As usual with us there will be at least one dragon with the party and I was wondering what common people (NPCs and such) would think of a dragon (metallic). I figure the average person would look up to them and probably try to stay out of the way, more out of respect than fear. Wizards and other "higher" folk would probably consider such a dragon as a capable ally and try to befriend them (assuming the wizard/sorcerer is good). All of this is assuming the dragon is young, likely traveling without disguise through many towns and civilized areas with the rest of the party. Obviously they will use an alternate form in more dangerous areas, such as large cities known for evil acts or powerful evil mages (or the possible threat of either). I know there really isn't a "wrong" way to do this since I'm creating the campaign setting (FR got boring for us a while back). I was just wondering what some people thought.
Seifalmasy 02-22-04, 02:42 AM	Hmm... IF i was joe farmer laboring for my one sp/week to by a loaf of bread for my wife and kids, I don't think I'd have a clue what the difference between a silver and a red dragon is, much less white or something equally evil. Tales abound of the evil dragons, so IMO, the average human commoner 1 is gonna be more then a little wary/frightened of any dragon near him (aura of fear included), if not downright hostile since he knows he's weak.
NestroEmichae 02-22-04, 03:10 AM	Commoner #1: Dragons are evil! Evil I tell you! They're out to get us all! Commoner #2: Dun' know 'bout that. One saved me sis. Commoner #1: Your sister is an evil sorcerous. Commoner #2: Fergot 'bout that.
CrimsonPhoenix 02-22-04, 10:54 PM	Sorry forgot to say... The setting I've made is somewhat like DL or Eberron (if I'm correct...) where dragons are a more common sight in most areas. Not an every day sight, but more common than FR or anything along those lines. Most adults will have seen at least one dragon, and considering most humans/humanoids live in cities that dragon was probably a metallic. I do so what you mean though. I'll probably have some of the more fringe societies think of dragons like that, still not sure.
NestroEmichae 02-23-04, 12:25 AM	In plenty of campaigns there are arcane spellcasters and clerics everywhere. That still doesn't mean the commoners actually understand how magic works. More than likely, ignorance rules just as much in areas where they are common as in areas where they are rare.
Toptomcat 02-25-04, 03:04 PM	Run. The :censored:. Away. Now. Do not stop. That'd be MY opinion of dragons as a commoner...
Kayli 02-25-04, 07:08 PM	Most Commoners would be in awe/fear of any dragon that they encountered in dragon form. Remember that the Dragon Fear does not always have to be active, dragon can shut it off at any time he wishes. But commoner would still be in awe of said dragons sheer majesty. That goes for evil as well as good dragons. If Dragon alignment (good or evil) is not common knowledge then char would have to make a knowledge arcana check any time they encountered a Dragon and wanted to know if they should fight it or converse with it. if PC's don't have to make a check then it should be assumed that Commoners would know this too. Actually I rather like that idea, a good DC might be say 10. Most peasonts would probably be too dumbfounded with awe to know weather to run or cheer for dragon flying low overhead untill he started burning his villiage down. As for A Dragon in a large town or city (or even a small one) would not be able to live in the town unless he was in human form or there was a large park in the city limits du to his sheer size, and wingspan. Even Wyrmlings have to deal with their wings when trying to navigate the small corridores of the local Inn.
strenoth 02-25-04, 08:38 PM	it really is a campaign oriented thing I think In the Dl campaign, given that EVERYONE knows abotu the War of the Lances (good mettalic dfragons flying against the Evil Cromatic Dragons) i would expet most people to have a brief burst of reactive fear, the, varying form person to person, get over that reaction if they realised "wait, this is a silver dragon, just like that one Huma was supposed to have fallen in love with." heck, the good god is a platinum dragon. in my world it is much the same, though with evne more dragon dieties. when the god fo paladins and the goddess of the moon/healing are both dragons, as well as quite a few others, people tend to not assume dragons are evil...
was_fired 02-25-04, 10:13 PM	Flee from it, try to kill it, and in general consider it evil. Its a natural reaction after all it can talk and it is not humanoid thus like most things one finds when looking through the monster manual which fit this description it is evil. Since most all commoners could never actually identify a dragon for what it was (you need ranks in knowleges to get above a DC 10 and the DC to indentify a creature is 10 + HD) they would just figure it was evil like all things which are not them. People can be extremly xenophobic.
lukelightning 02-26-04, 04:32 PM	Run. If it is an evil dragon, it's the best thing you can do. If it's a good dragon, well, better safe than sorry.
badger3k 02-26-04, 07:10 PM	Look at Pern. It's been a few years since I read the books (and stopped after the four books), but while Dragons were pretty well known, I don't think that common (non-weyr) people really understood much about them (although later books may have expanded/changed this). For me it's a toss up. I think most people who are aware of them and the different types might be respectful, but probably wary - imagine how a commoner would feel talking to the King or a powerful warlord (or some people today talking to any tv/movie star) - they'd probably be in shock/awe/fear/embaressment (the range is endless). If they haven't had much exposure, look at the common dragons in the area (if evil, the commoners would probably be afraid, run away/cower/etc). It really just needs to fit the game/story, as long as you have some logic to it. Different people can act differently as well (one farmer runs, his wife shakes her head and asks if they want tea).
strange_person 02-26-04, 07:54 PM	The 3.5 monster manual gives a round-by-round breakdown of creature tactics. I decided to summarized a typical commoner's reactions in a simmilar format. Round one: Paralyzed in terror (will save, DC 10, allows them to retain bladder control). Round two: Looks around frantically for something which is both big enough to hide under and flame-retardant (spot check at -5, due to distraction) Round three: Attempts to judge if dragon is hostile (Refocus + Sense Motive- automatic sucess if dragon has already attacked at this point) Round four: If dragon seems hostile, run for cover. If dragon is not openly hostile, begin extremely nervous conversation.