The War of the Lance, Dragons, & Spells - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

The War of the Lance, Dragons, & Spells

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
clothedupon_dup
Feb 22, 2004 14:59:13 I just got my 3.5 Dragonlance Campaign Setting and am pleasantly surprised. I found out that a lot has happened on Krynn since I stopped reading the novels a few years ago. A lot to catch up on, for sure.

My group is going to be running a campaign set during the War of the Lance. If my understanding is correct, there seems to be a slight problem, though.

My understanding is that dragons cast spells as sorcerors which would mean that their power source for spells wouldn't be available during the Age of Despair due to the lack of Ambient Magic. Do dragons have another power source on Krynn? Are the dragons of Krynn different from the dragons in the Monster Manuel in this regard?

In the old DL5 from AD&D, there is a statement to the effect of, "Dragons are power incarnate and they know it." Which means to me that they are not relying on power outside of themselves for spells, etc... To me, that sounds like Ambient Magic.

Anyone have any thoughts?
#2
cam_banks
Feb 22, 2004 15:25:59
Originally posted by ClothedUpon
[b]My understanding is that dragons cast spells as sorcerors which would mean that their power source for spells wouldn't be available during the Age of Despair due to the lack of Ambient Magic. Do dragons have another power source on Krynn? Are the dragons of Krynn different from the dragons in the Monster Manuel in this regard?

Near as I can figure, while dragons do cast spells like sorcerers, they don't use wild magic tainted by Chaos like mortal sorcerers do. They can use their magic in any era, in other words. Their power was granted to them by the Gods when they were created. Remember, many dragons can also cast spells from certain clerical domains or the cleric spell lists, not just the sorcerer/wizard list.

Cheers,
Cam
#3
clothedupon_dup
Feb 22, 2004 15:31:37
Near as I can figure, while dragons do cast spells like sorcerers, they don't use wild magic tainted by Chaos like mortal sorcerers do. They can use their magic in any era, in other words. Their power was granted to them by the Gods when they were created. Remember, many dragons can also cast spells from certain clerical domains or the cleric spell lists, not just the sorcerer/wizard list.

Thanks. That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure that dragons were not affected spell-wise by the presence or absence of the gods.
#4
drachasor
Feb 23, 2004 13:34:56 Given past history...I'd be tempted to say they cast spells like sorcerers, but can learn them like wizards. This might require upping their CR though. Traditionally it Dragons have often been treated as magical scholars in some respect...having odd spells and some developing their own in a very wizardly way. That was before the advent of sorcerer's though.

-Drachasor

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 clothedupon_dup Feb 22, 2004 14:59:13	I just got my 3.5 Dragonlance Campaign Setting and am pleasantly surprised. I found out that a lot has happened on Krynn since I stopped reading the novels a few years ago. A lot to catch up on, for sure. My group is going to be running a campaign set during the War of the Lance. If my understanding is correct, there seems to be a slight problem, though. My understanding is that dragons cast spells as sorcerors which would mean that their power source for spells wouldn't be available during the Age of Despair due to the lack of Ambient Magic. Do dragons have another power source on Krynn? Are the dragons of Krynn different from the dragons in the Monster Manuel in this regard? In the old DL5 from AD&D, there is a statement to the effect of, "Dragons are power incarnate and they know it." Which means to me that they are not relying on power outside of themselves for spells, etc... To me, that sounds like Ambient Magic. Anyone have any thoughts?
#2 cam_banks Feb 22, 2004 15:25:59	Originally posted by ClothedUpon [b]My understanding is that dragons cast spells as sorcerors which would mean that their power source for spells wouldn't be available during the Age of Despair due to the lack of Ambient Magic. Do dragons have another power source on Krynn? Are the dragons of Krynn different from the dragons in the Monster Manuel in this regard? Near as I can figure, while dragons do cast spells like sorcerers, they don't use wild magic tainted by Chaos like mortal sorcerers do. They can use their magic in any era, in other words. Their power was granted to them by the Gods when they were created. Remember, many dragons can also cast spells from certain clerical domains or the cleric spell lists, not just the sorcerer/wizard list. Cheers, Cam
#3 clothedupon_dup Feb 22, 2004 15:31:37	Near as I can figure, while dragons do cast spells like sorcerers, they don't use wild magic tainted by Chaos like mortal sorcerers do. They can use their magic in any era, in other words. Their power was granted to them by the Gods when they were created. Remember, many dragons can also cast spells from certain clerical domains or the cleric spell lists, not just the sorcerer/wizard list. Thanks. That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure that dragons were not affected spell-wise by the presence or absence of the gods.
#4 drachasor Feb 23, 2004 13:34:56	Given past history...I'd be tempted to say they cast spells like sorcerers, but can learn them like wizards. This might require upping their CR though. Traditionally it Dragons have often been treated as magical scholars in some respect...having odd spells and some developing their own in a very wizardly way. That was before the advent of sorcerer's though. -Drachasor