Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Doberfuhr 03-09-04, 09:11 AM	May I propose that an authoritative directory to include all official creatures of the dragon type (including Wurms, Linnorms, Oriental Dragons, greater Drakes etc.) not only from the Third Edition (e.g. from all D&D supplements, Dragon and Dungeon Magazine articles, and so forth), but updated versions of Second Edition dragons which are currently not rendered into Third Edition statistics (e.g. the Cloud and Yellow Dragons from the old Monstrous Manual, the Jade and Electrum Dragons from the MM Annual I, and the excellent unique dragons from Dragon Magazine 260, which would incidentally make exceptional epic level encounters). This directory could ideally be compiled either by fans, or, better still, by Wizards to provide a comprehensive overview of all things draconic and finally settle much of the quibbling on disputes of dragon capabilities, roles, and powers. I imagine there would be well over a hundred entries constituting a colossal, and in my view, much needed databse as Dragons are, after all, half of Dungeons and Dragons representing the wonder, magic, and potential rewards of the game. Dragons as envisioned by TSR and later WoTC have been both emblematic to generations of gamers and inspiration to innumerable card games, video and computer games, novels, and art that have since transcended the old confines of the role-playing community and acquired a deservedly more conspicuous position in the canon of popular alternative culture. One cannot overestimate the debt of the vast and highly profitable computer gaming industry owes to Gygax and company (with releases such as Planescapes, Baldur's Gate, and Neverwinter Nights being the most obvious, but also consider the incommensurable debt Final Fantasy or the Legend of Zelda hold to the D&D concept/leitmotiv). Similarly, it would be difficult to conceive of undoubtedly fortunate and successful Japanese anime series such as the Records of the Lodoss Wars, El Hazard, or Berserk without the underpinning cultural impetus of D&D. So to return to my crucial point: Dragons are an essential and thoroughly inseperable part of the nature of D&D which has had, despite being much and unjustly maligned, a profound influence on late 20th century popular culture in both the United States and Japan to the extent that I would not be surprised if a century from now, old modules and books were to be exhumed for the purposes of gaining a better understanding of the culture and social interaction of the fin-de-siecle bourgeoisie of the industrialised world. A Draconic database would be a nice touch and perhaps eventually an item of incidental, if curious, antiquarian research.
gradea 03-10-04, 10:58 PM	This is a great idea that i am unfortunitly unable to help with due to a lack of owning any books.