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Do you use metallic dragons, and if so, how frequently, and what do they do?

Do you just have Gold, or the whole gamut (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper, Brass)?

Is the Platinum Dragon unique (Bahamut), or have you ever had multiples of them? (Same question for the Chromatic Dragon/Tiamat.)

Would you agree the metallics are “good” in a sort of abstract sense, but not necessarily “tame”? That is, still more likely to eat you than to invite you to tea? Still generally obsessed with amassing hoards?

Not tame, and still obsessed with hoards. That they are hunted by neutrals and evils makes them dangerous even though they are good. Just like a paladin wouldn't feel morally compromised from hunting activities, good dragons aren't going to cry themselves to sleep over the occasional accidental mistake in taking human life. It is up to the humans, who can be either frail or fearsome, and difficult to tell between, to properly show obsequiousness when approaching and dealing with a (good) dragon. Otherwise, a dragon only lives long by exterminating threats.

Love metallic and abstract dragons (like shadow, mist and orientals). They may be good, but their superiority complexes make them something that needs to be handled creatively.

- Wheggi

Yes. I still use Metallics (good dragons). There is only one Bahumet Just as there is only 1 Tiamet.

Now how do I play them? The crux lies within how I see Dragons. They are rare enough that you wont find them in abundance, but common enough that every forest, swamp, hill country etc...will have a couple. All are Hoarders (not only coins and gems but all sorts of metal items and mineral items....doorknobs? Wagon Hubs? Tin Cups? yep all present.. All are ravenous beasts. It takes a lot to sate those appetites. Which is why good are hunted by men as much as evils... It takes a lot of cows to feed them, something farmers hate. They all have a superiority complex...they are all APEX Predators

After these facts Then alignment comes into play. But the good and evil is tainted heavily by the law/neutral/chaos part of their align.

Lawful Goods prune herds, trying to only take the sick or infirm, much like a responsible lumber company would take select trees so as to keep the forest growing and not see it rapaciously plundered leaving them without a future. Lawful Goods Would try and work out some sort of agreement with the locals 'you scratch my back Ill scratch yours. type of atmosphere.

Neutral Goods Are shy and try to remain in the shadows trying not to raise the ire of the locals, They are likely to use elaborate ruses and trickery to drive people away so they dont have to kill them...but if all else fails, well they are hungry.

Chaotic Goods are just as dangerous as an Evil Dragon....if something sets them off...'ooops' "Im sorry your friend reminded me of that evil Warlord I ran afoul of back in ott 6.....I ate him too."


Flip to the Evil ones...

Lawful Evil dominate and subjugate creating small 'empires'

Neutral Evils Coerce and cajole being the power behind the power

Chaotic Evils...well they're nuts.

Hope that helps

Falconer wrote:Do you use metallic dragons, and if so, how frequently, and what do they do? Do you just have Gold, or the whole gamut (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper, Brass)?

I do use all metallic dragons, however...

Falconer wrote:Would you agree the metallics are “good” in a sort of abstract sense, but not necessarily “tame”? That is, still more likely to eat you than to invite you to tea? Still generally obsessed with amassing hoards?

...I also use a wider spectrum of alignments for dragons in general, so you can't judge most dragons just by their color.

Falconer wrote:Is the Platinum Dragon unique (Bahamut), or have you ever had multiples of them? (Same question for the Chromatic Dragon/Tiamat.)

Bahamut and Tiamat are unique dragons, but that doesn't meant that there may not be multiple chromatic dragons, in particular---I see Bahamut as less promiscuous that Tiamat.

Tea with dragons! How delightful!

I'm currently not opposed to the concept of many Platinums. I'd have to think more upon this.

I like the idea of Gold dragons being unexceptionally good, friendly, kindly, helpful and somewhat mischievous -- but not hurtful -- in their humour. Wise, compassionate and benevolent, always willing to lend a hand. It would be nice for the players to think that the campaign is not always cruel and lonely where everything is out to get them. The other metallics can be more unpredictable, and spiteful if they are disrespected.
Metallics hoard treasure like a mild-to-intermediate OCD-burdened collector: obsessed and delighted to distraction, quite proud to show off their collection -- and not entirely opposed to the idea of selling an item or two for a good price, if fancy struck them.

However the chromatics are vicious and jealous, much like a person who grew up with little food will hoard food and refuse to share any with others. They will tuck it away in many secret places and never willingly allow anyone else to look at it.

And Happy All Hallows' Eve, everyone!

I've always used a scheme based upon the OD&D boxed set dragons.

There black, green, blue, white, and red dragons; all are evil. There are mysterious gold dragons, so rare as to almost be a rumor, who are good and help mankind in subtle ways.

I use 'em all. The players drive events with their actions. If they see a big dragon and decide on the spot that it's bad irrespective of it's color, they get what comes.

Personally, I once had a bronze dragon go into "babysitter/over protective mother" mode on a party and try to stop them from leaving her lair because the dungeon (G3) was too dangerous for puny humans. It almost came to blows, but the party role-played well enough that they were able to convince her they were tough enough to survive.

Good-aligned dragons do theoretically exist imc. I don't recall any instance in which one was ever encountered.

They exist in my campaign.
IMO, for the most part, their intelligence means that they're not "wild". All are good, but they do have a gold (treasure) lust that copper, brass, and bronze dragons might not be able to control. I'd say CN might be closer to the mark when treasure for the hoard is concerned.
There goodness isn't any more abstract to me than any other good beings, but they have a particular weakness.
They're encountered much less frequently than evil dragons, but that's not to say they are rarer. Adventurers just tend to go where the evil dragons hang.
Platinum is unique. But there are other unique dragons, besides the platinum and chromatic. Some dragons have been around so long that the transcend the standard dragon catagories, some are the result of wizard experiments, a few multi-headed offspring have managed to escape from Tiamat before being devoured, etc.

Falconer wrote:Do you use metallic dragons, and if so, how frequently, and what do they do?

Do you just have Gold, or the whole gamut (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper, Brass)?

Is the Platinum Dragon unique (Bahamut), or have you ever had multiples of them? (Same question for the Chromatic Dragon/Tiamat.)

Would you agree the metallics are “good” in a sort of abstract sense, but not necessarily “tame”? That is, still more likely to eat you than to invite you to tea? Still generally obsessed with amassing hoards?

yes, but not that often.

the whole gamut, but golds generally are potential; allies/aids to the players. sometimes silver & bronze as well. Sometimes the players are working for, or saving/helping them, perhaps without knowing WHAT they are aiding. When we play evil PC's sometimes the good dragon lair is the object of looting.

Copper & Brass dragons get used as NEUTRALS & thus, are as likely fought as not.

I've used other unique dragons, but not multiples of Bahamut or Tiamat.

most are good, yes, and the higher sorts (bronze through gold) don't eat people generally & golden dragons, being quite oriental, may very well invite one to tea.

all that said, 4e metallic dragons (neutral all) are more useful critters overall.

This is not spelled out anywhere, but it would seem that gold dragons are wingless but nevertheless possess the ability of flight. At least, that is true of the T’ien Lung of Chinese Mythology (c.f. the Fiend Folio, which notes they have an inextractable magic organ in the brain which gives them the ability to fly), upon which gold dragons are clearly based. Any opinions?

yep, I use all the dragons. haven't had a need for Tiamat and Bahamut yet (and yes, there are only one of each in my gameworld) I use them pretty much "as is" from the monster manuals though, due to my being lazy I guess, I tend to not have them have magic abilities and only occasionally the ability to speak.

I generally decide things like this on the fly. Gold dragons exist for certain, as was established when the party encountered one polymorphed into a sheep. The dragon in question was conducting anthropological studies on humans in the area and followed the adventurers for a while interviewing them.
A random encounter result I made entertaining. Of course, the dragon would have wiped them out if they attacked it.

I'd been inclined to use ANY monster from Dragon magazine, although that begs the question of whether they are BTB.
I'd say Yes: new monsters, spells, and magic items are BTB. Thoughts?

As for Tiamat and Bahamut, only one of each. I think the DDG lists them as Lesser Deities.
Tiamat might also have the standard powers of a devil, as she is listed as such in the Index of the MM.

Finally, I did manage to kill Tiamat (without the powers of a Lesser Deity) in a Gold Box Dragonlance game.
Took many TPKs before it happened though.

Bad Breath,
Prespos