Dragon Roleplaying Feedback [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragon Roleplaying Feedback [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GoriceXII
07-03-07, 03:57 AM So...one of my pcs has acquired a very young blue dragon as a friend. This has not been unbalancing so far so I'm mostly wondering if the way I've been running her makes sense for a dragon. I'd just like some feedback on how I ran a particular event in the game.

My players were going through a mountainous region along with some travelling companions and this dragon. I had rp'd her before liking one particular pc apart from her companion. The group came to a crevasse that would either require them to lose a few hours backtracking and circling around or which they could find some way of crossing. The dragon's companion politely asked if she would help him and the others across. she agreed to take him and the pc she liked across and then would consider it. Having done this she then sat down and said, "Now, what will you give me to bring the others over?"
The pc she liked pointed out that she was already getting the biggest share of any treasure they got. The dragon half closed her eyes in a show of boredom.
Then her companion calmly said, "It is of course up to you my Lady, but nevertheless we cannot go without the others. We will wait for your decision."
The dragon sat watching them for a bit, and finally after half an hour or so said, "You won't move on unless they are here as well?" The pcs nodded. She went over and ferried the others across.

I wanted to strike a balance between her friendship and her draconic nature--does this seem like a good example of that? On the one hand I don't want her to be a total pain in the butt but I don't want her to be a total pushover either, and I'm trying to take into account her age.
Dead_Weasel
07-03-07, 08:31 PM It seems to me that you handled the situation well enough.

Evil creatures can have loyal, trusting friendships, but they remain evil creatures - and in the case of dragons, greedy ones. If a party member orders her around, insults her, or antagonizes her, that PC should avoid getting too close to an enemy, because he is likely to be on the receiving end of her breath weapon. The dragon will simply claim that he got in the way; if he is killed, that just means more treasure for everyone. The dragon will always demand the lion's share of loot and any powerful magic she can utilize, and sooner or later will leave the party because she believes she can accomplish more on her own. If the dragon leaves, she can remain an ally or become an enemy; she could even be slain by an enemy of the party as vengeance for some perceived wrong.

The dragon might instead decide that as the most powerful member of the party, she is its leader, and start issuing orders. This is most likely to end with the party fighting the dragon, but is different from the dragon betraying the party; from the dragon's perspective, she is the one being betrayed, and there is some truth to that point of view.
Talisman
07-03-07, 08:49 PM I agree with Dead Weasel.

One thing to consider is that, regardless of how a dragon >should< act, the point of the game is to have fun. It's fine for the dragon to be a bit of a jerk, or even "accidentally" catch a PC she dislikes in the edge of her lighting breath while fighting monsters. However, if the players (not the characters) start to get genuinely bored, irritated, or upset with how you're playing the dragon, it's time to change, and "reality" be hanged.

Sounds like yu've got a good handle on it, though. :thumbsup:
GoriceXII
07-05-07, 09:22 AM Thanks guys. I might add that the dragon is planning on using the party to regain her parents' horde from her rival--who is also her brother and has a group of other villains helping him. I figured if they keep flattering her now and then and making sure she gets the lion's share of the treasure then she will consider them allies after she regains her horde and her territory. I like the idea of her using battle to eliminate those who oppose her and pretending it was a mistake.

I also like the idea of her acting like party leader. I'm also trying to rp her as being rather young for a dragon and so she is not always interested in the boring details of the adventure, but I may use her as a sort of goad or devil's advocate for the party in future.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GoriceXII 07-03-07, 03:57 AM	So...one of my pcs has acquired a very young blue dragon as a friend. This has not been unbalancing so far so I'm mostly wondering if the way I've been running her makes sense for a dragon. I'd just like some feedback on how I ran a particular event in the game. My players were going through a mountainous region along with some travelling companions and this dragon. I had rp'd her before liking one particular pc apart from her companion. The group came to a crevasse that would either require them to lose a few hours backtracking and circling around or which they could find some way of crossing. The dragon's companion politely asked if she would help him and the others across. she agreed to take him and the pc she liked across and then would consider it. Having done this she then sat down and said, "Now, what will you give me to bring the others over?" The pc she liked pointed out that she was already getting the biggest share of any treasure they got. The dragon half closed her eyes in a show of boredom. Then her companion calmly said, "It is of course up to you my Lady, but nevertheless we cannot go without the others. We will wait for your decision." The dragon sat watching them for a bit, and finally after half an hour or so said, "You won't move on unless they are here as well?" The pcs nodded. She went over and ferried the others across. I wanted to strike a balance between her friendship and her draconic nature--does this seem like a good example of that? On the one hand I don't want her to be a total pain in the butt but I don't want her to be a total pushover either, and I'm trying to take into account her age.
Dead_Weasel 07-03-07, 08:31 PM	It seems to me that you handled the situation well enough. Evil creatures can have loyal, trusting friendships, but they remain evil creatures - and in the case of dragons, greedy ones. If a party member orders her around, insults her, or antagonizes her, that PC should avoid getting too close to an enemy, because he is likely to be on the receiving end of her breath weapon. The dragon will simply claim that he got in the way; if he is killed, that just means more treasure for everyone. The dragon will always demand the lion's share of loot and any powerful magic she can utilize, and sooner or later will leave the party because she believes she can accomplish more on her own. If the dragon leaves, she can remain an ally or become an enemy; she could even be slain by an enemy of the party as vengeance for some perceived wrong. The dragon might instead decide that as the most powerful member of the party, she is its leader, and start issuing orders. This is most likely to end with the party fighting the dragon, but is different from the dragon betraying the party; from the dragon's perspective, she is the one being betrayed, and there is some truth to that point of view.
Talisman 07-03-07, 08:49 PM	I agree with Dead Weasel. One thing to consider is that, regardless of how a dragon >should< act, the point of the game is to have fun. It's fine for the dragon to be a bit of a jerk, or even "accidentally" catch a PC she dislikes in the edge of her lighting breath while fighting monsters. However, if the players (not the characters) start to get genuinely bored, irritated, or upset with how you're playing the dragon, it's time to change, and "reality" be hanged. Sounds like yu've got a good handle on it, though. :thumbsup:
GoriceXII 07-05-07, 09:22 AM	Thanks guys. I might add that the dragon is planning on using the party to regain her parents' horde from her rival--who is also her brother and has a group of other villains helping him. I figured if they keep flattering her now and then and making sure she gets the lion's share of the treasure then she will consider them allies after she regains her horde and her territory. I like the idea of her using battle to eliminate those who oppose her and pretending it was a mistake. I also like the idea of her acting like party leader. I'm also trying to rp her as being rather young for a dragon and so she is not always interested in the boring details of the adventure, but I may use her as a sort of goad or devil's advocate for the party in future.