Reinstating Dragon Riders in 4e - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Reinstating Dragon Riders in 4e

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
vala2011
Mar 26, 2012 21:26:48 Hello everyone!

I'm working on a world in 4e that will be run and ruled by an order of Dragon Riders. In doing this, I want to open up the possibility for my players to become dragon riders, possibly as a paragon path.

I'm mostly wondering how this was handled in the original Dragonlance setting. I just picked up the AD&D Dragonlance book, but haven't had a chance to read through it. I'm wondering mostly how the dragons were handled because they are intelligent creatures. Were they controlled by players or the DM?

Another issue I;m having is that all travel between worlds is being handled by my dnd equivilant of a Stargate. Any ideas on how the players can get their dragon through the gate if they decide to take this pp?

We're just starting level 1 right now, so it will be a while, but ideas and thoughts are welcome.
#2
crazy_monkey
Mar 26, 2012 22:41:35 You'd have to "thread the needle" but if your gates are about the same size as the Stargate, you could probably fit a huge dragon through if it folded its wings in. The Stargate can handle a puddle jumper which is about the size bus. A dragon + rider shouldn't be a problem (rider might have to duck).

As for dragon riders and who controlled the dragon, I'd recommend the player handling the mechanics in combat situations but the DM roleplaying the dragon when appropriate.
#3
vala2011
Mar 27, 2012 18:36:09 That's what I was thinking in regards to dragon 'control'.

And for the gates, their actually more like large doorways, large enough for a larger medium sized creature (like Dragonborn). The only thing I can think of is that the dragon magically fits, no sqeezing or expansion necissary by the design of the gates.
#4
Sands666
Mar 30, 2012 7:13:47 My DM actually allowed me to play a dragon rider type class in his campaign, called a Knight of Odin. He gave me the basic stats for the dragon and I would control it in combat, but he did all the role playing for the dragon. Since dragons are generally more intelligent and superior to other races (my character was an elf), he said that when I found him initially, that his power was drained. So the dragon leveled up with my character accordingly as we adventured. The dragon was a gold dragon that was able to polymorph, so this helped out with a lot of situations that might have been uncomfortable otherwise, seeing as the dragon was able to transform into a human so he could walk into town with us. There were still ways to visibly identify that he was a dragon in his polymorphed stated, such as his shadow taking an odd shape that resembled a dragon more than a human, or his sharp teeth and gold eyes sitting in his otherwise human head. Hope that helps.
#5
DoctorBadWolf
Apr 02, 2012 15:17:33
That's what I was thinking in regards to dragon 'control'.

And for the gates, their actually more like large doorways, large enough for a larger medium sized creature (like Dragonborn). The only thing I can think of is that the dragon magically fits, no sqeezing or expansion necissary by the design of the gates.

In many settings, dragons can take on humanoid form.

Might be another way to look at it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 vala2011 Mar 26, 2012 21:26:48	Hello everyone! I'm working on a world in 4e that will be run and ruled by an order of Dragon Riders. In doing this, I want to open up the possibility for my players to become dragon riders, possibly as a paragon path. I'm mostly wondering how this was handled in the original Dragonlance setting. I just picked up the AD&D Dragonlance book, but haven't had a chance to read through it. I'm wondering mostly how the dragons were handled because they are intelligent creatures. Were they controlled by players or the DM? Another issue I;m having is that all travel between worlds is being handled by my dnd equivilant of a Stargate. Any ideas on how the players can get their dragon through the gate if they decide to take this pp? We're just starting level 1 right now, so it will be a while, but ideas and thoughts are welcome.
#2 crazy_monkey Mar 26, 2012 22:41:35	You'd have to "thread the needle" but if your gates are about the same size as the Stargate, you could probably fit a huge dragon through if it folded its wings in. The Stargate can handle a puddle jumper which is about the size bus. A dragon + rider shouldn't be a problem (rider might have to duck). As for dragon riders and who controlled the dragon, I'd recommend the player handling the mechanics in combat situations but the DM roleplaying the dragon when appropriate.
#3 vala2011 Mar 27, 2012 18:36:09	That's what I was thinking in regards to dragon 'control'. And for the gates, their actually more like large doorways, large enough for a larger medium sized creature (like Dragonborn). The only thing I can think of is that the dragon magically fits, no sqeezing or expansion necissary by the design of the gates.
#4 Sands666 Mar 30, 2012 7:13:47	My DM actually allowed me to play a dragon rider type class in his campaign, called a Knight of Odin. He gave me the basic stats for the dragon and I would control it in combat, but he did all the role playing for the dragon. Since dragons are generally more intelligent and superior to other races (my character was an elf), he said that when I found him initially, that his power was drained. So the dragon leveled up with my character accordingly as we adventured. The dragon was a gold dragon that was able to polymorph, so this helped out with a lot of situations that might have been uncomfortable otherwise, seeing as the dragon was able to transform into a human so he could walk into town with us. There were still ways to visibly identify that he was a dragon in his polymorphed stated, such as his shadow taking an odd shape that resembled a dragon more than a human, or his sharp teeth and gold eyes sitting in his otherwise human head. Hope that helps.
#5 DoctorBadWolf Apr 02, 2012 15:17:33	That's what I was thinking in regards to dragon 'control'. And for the gates, their actually more like large doorways, large enough for a larger medium sized creature (like Dragonborn). The only thing I can think of is that the dragon magically fits, no sqeezing or expansion necissary by the design of the gates. In many settings, dragons can take on humanoid form. Might be another way to look at it.