Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Moog Haruk Toog 02-20-04, 02:03 AM	In the campaign I am currently playing, I am playing a half-orc bbn2/ftr4 who, through a point buy system, wound up with an INT of 6. I play him as not necessarily stupid, just ignorant to everything but the ways of fighting. His aspiration has always been to be a dragon rider. He recently got first level of the PrC in the Draconomicon and plans on maxing this class, as well as going in to the dragonrider PrC from the Dragonlance campaign setting (where your 'mount' is considered a follower rather than a servant-as it were). Well, in order to be a dragon rider, you must have a dragon, which he does. He was tricked into making a deal with a very young red dragon (Int 15) where the dragon would act as a mount, but in exchange she splits all of the orc's treasure 70/30. Now, there are a few things my orc would like to buy for himself, new weapons, shiny new armor, magical items, etc. However, the orc will have to gain more than 3 times the price of these items, under the current deal, to get them, and this is all in a VERY low money campaign. After 6 levels of collecting, he wound up with roughly 1,500GP, but the items he is seeking could cost in the neighborhood of 150,000GP. My question is, do any of you have any ideas on how the orc could conceivably trick or coerce or otherwise convince the dragon that she doesn't, perhaps, need THAT large a slice of his profit? She had her lair/horde taken over by a much larger dragon, and so is relying on him to find a new lair and rebuild her horde. The orc is more than happy to help her out, but he has things he wants as well. I have tried gaining the reverence of the dragon by protecting her -- single handedly killing a bullette(SP?) and a Chuul that were attempting to kill her (at 6th level), coming to within 5 HP of passing out both occasions. I have tried bargaining... but you can imagine how that works with INT 6 vs. INT 15 I have thought about trying intimidation, but one of her flaws is an amazing cocky-ness and self-assuredness, so I doubt that will work, and I would hate to lose her as there are few dragons around. I have thought about hiding profit, but she is with us at all times, so she sees the treasure we collect. I am out of ideas and would hate to have to wait until level 15 to buy him a new warhammer. Any ideas? - Moog Haruk Toog:Thrak Sug Surk
Nived 02-20-04, 02:10 AM	You get a freaking Dragon! Accept that for the coolness it is and let the gold (or Stl if your playing Dragonlance). I mean really man. If your going to have a Dragon there's gotta be a tradeoff.
PhaedrusXY 02-20-04, 02:17 AM	Well, she'll invariably wind up with cool magic items in her hoard. Ask if you can borrow them. Be sincere about it. She might just let you, especially if she grows to like and trust you. I'm sure she sees you as basically a lackey and henchmen, but smart evil creatures know that it is best to keep their henchmen happy and well equipped, as long as they know who's the boss. Also, find out what kind of spells she can cast, and try to get her to use them to buff up your character's fighting prowess. When she gains new spells, see if you can get her to pick those that are most beneficial for you. Since your guy isn't too smart, you might want to talk about this with your party wizard. You might even get someone to act as a liason to plant suggestions in her ear that don't seem to come from you, such as the party bard or rogue dropping hints about what a cool guy you are, and what a shame it is that you can't afford that new warhammer. ;)
Moog Haruk Toog 02-20-04, 02:20 AM	Nived- in the campaigns i have played under this DM in the past, having a dragon isn't really all that big. He frequently allows beefy characters, impressive mounts (I had a paladin who rode a hippogriff), large amounts of money, overpowered magical items, etc. I have a feeling that he is trying to scale this campaign back, hence the low money, but is having problems. And I don't necessarily get a dragon, it is still an NPC and I am still on pins and needles so as to keep it from getting angry and leaving. And I was lead to believe my abyssmal INT score was the tradeoff for cool stuff :p Phaedrus- Thanks for the suggestion, and I may try the hint-dropping. She calls the orc "pest" so I'm not entirely sure if she considers him a henchman or a fool that makes money for her.
adiaven 02-20-04, 02:21 AM	2/3rds your money for a dragon ? Sounds like a good deal for you. Depending on how old the dragon is. They are extremly greedy after all. Look up the spell Summon Dragon Ally for a estimate on how much a dragon charges to do 1 task. You might want to talk to your DM about other options tho - feats that let you take a dragon as a cohort - dragon rider orginizations that work with good (or evil) dragons that provide you with a mount. You will probably have to do quests and tasks for this dragon riding orginization - raising a baby dragon. Of course purchasing an egg would be really expsensive.. and I doubt you want to wait decades until it is old enough to ride.... I don't think you are going to get a better deal from a red dragon (who are evil). Dragons hoard gold.
the_heart 02-20-04, 05:55 AM	get the dragon to teach you draconic (yes this will probably take a while :) ) by that time you should be 9th level and then take dragon cohort from the draconomicon. should be able to at least reverse that deal. or spend the little money you do get investing in int boost items. once you can see how badly you are being conned, you may be able to reverse the trend and make the money back.
Moog Haruk Toog 02-20-04, 05:40 PM	I like the idea of putting money into an INT boost, but I was planning on doing it for CHA. I took Leadership but my score is a few short (CHA +0) of getting the dragon to be a cohort. By the time I qualify for the Dragonlance PrC, my Leadership will be high enough that the dragon will be a cohort. Thanks for the ideas.
Conaill 02-20-04, 07:30 PM	Originally posted by Moog Haruk Toog Now, there are a few things my orc would like to buy for himself, new weapons, shiny new armor, magical items, etc. However, the orc will have to gain more than 3 times the price of these items, under the current deal, to get them, and this is all in a VERY low money campaign. After 6 levels of collecting, he wound up with roughly 1,500GP, but the items he is seeking could cost in the neighborhood of 150,000GP. Let me get this straight... you've only managed to collect 1500 GP in 6 levels, but you'd like to buy some items costing 150,000GP? :eek: Somehow, it seems like getting a larger share out of the dragon is NOT going to solve your problem...
Moog Haruk Toog 02-20-04, 07:38 PM	lol Yeah, you may be right. I guess the point was just that I would like a little more of MY money than what I am getting.
Skaboozh 02-20-04, 07:52 PM	And I'm sure the dragon wants a little more of your money than he's getting. Life's rough. Honestly, having to give up 2/3 of your gold at 6th level in order to get a dragon mount is about as fair as things can get.
VirgilCaine 02-20-04, 10:14 PM	- raising a baby dragon. Of course purchasing an egg would be really expensive.. and I doubt you want to wait decades until it is old enough to ride.... Are you INSANE?? BUYING a dragons EGG? I don't think even the most evil dragon would have such disdain for their young!