Dragon colours 0D&D -> 3E ? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dragon colours 0D&D -> 3E ?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
spellweaver
May 14, 2005 12:32:01 I would like to ask what those of you playing Mystara 3E og 3.5 D&D have done about dragon colours?

Have you kept white and blue dragons as neutral, black, green and red as evil and gold as good?

Or have you simply added more good and neutral dragons and gone with the typical chromatic vs. metallic dragons scheme?

Does any of you use the ruby, jade, onyx etc. dragons from the old Master Set? (I think that's where they are from).

What about something like the Order of the White Drake from "Palace of the Silver Princess" ?? Have you changed the colour of the dragons or kept white dragons as neutral?

:-) Jesper
#2
Traianus_Decius_Aureus
May 14, 2005 16:35:47 I use the OD&D alignments for ethics and for morality use a Usually ___, so the Gold dragon would be Always Lawful (Usually good). I saw a percentage breakdown for good-neutral-evil form 2nd ed. and may start using that.

As for the gemstones, I don't use the 3e versions (I absolutely loathe psionics), I simply use the appropriate chromatic and change the alignment and breath weapons.
#3
katana_one
May 14, 2005 20:26:16 I've never used the gemstone dragons from either version of the game, but if I did, I was thinking of using the 3.5 versions, minus psionic powers.
#4
Cthulhudrew
May 14, 2005 21:09:56
I would like to ask what those of you playing Mystara 3E og 3.5 D&D have done about dragon colours?

Have you kept white and blue dragons as neutral, black, green and red as evil and gold as good?

Hmm... good question. I haven't really thought about what to do with that idea. Personally, I'd be inclined to just stick with the MM version of them, but with an "Eberron" take on alignment- ie, that individual dragons may be of any alignment. Although, IIRC (don't have my MM in front of me), even the MM has "usually" as their alignment, and not "always."

Or have you simply added more good and neutral dragons and gone with the typical chromatic vs. metallic dragons scheme?

I think I'd be more or less inclined to drop the chromatic vs. metallic (ie, "good vs. evil") altogether, and just treat dragons of all kinds as their own race.

Although that could lead to some interesting racial dynamics within dragonkind. IE, wouldn't gold dragons be less likely to like silver dragons (for being a "different color"), or reds and blues? Would they stick to their "own kind"? Could be an interesting take on an "evil" gold dragon- a racial purist who wants to eliminate non-golds.

The Mystara Monstrous Compendium had an interesting take on the alignment issue- I think it treated dragons on Mystara as all basically having the "neutral" moral standpoint (IE, LN, CN, or N) and few to no "good or evil" dragons.
#5
weasel_fierce
May 14, 2005 21:11:10 I'd go with what they were in AD&D, if it ever became an issue.
#6
agathokles
May 15, 2005 4:40:19
The Mystara Monstrous Compendium had an interesting take on the alignment issue- I think it treated dragons on Mystara as all basically having the "neutral" moral standpoint (IE, LN, CN, or N) and few to no "good or evil" dragons.

With the exception of Gold and Red Dragons, who are respectively almost always Good and Evil. Jade Dragons are also more likely to be Good than Evil.
#7
havard
May 17, 2005 11:29:08 I hardly ever use Dragons in my campaigns, except as working behind the scenes creatures. Dragons definately exist though, and I allow Dragons of all colors and shapes. I tend towards using the MM alignments, although, since Dragons are highly intelligent beings, I wouldnt mind allowing some of them to be of various alignments.

For the Order of the White Drake, I have decided that only a few mounted White dragons, who may have been good, or simply persuaded to follow their rider's orders of other reasons (Subdual, sense of loyality etc). Most of the Order instead rode Albino Wyverns, once found a plenty in the Haven region....

Håvard
#8
maddog
May 17, 2005 11:53:26
For the Order of the White Drake, I have decided that only a few mounted White dragons, who may have been good, or simply persuaded to follow their rider's orders of other reasons (Subdual, sense of loyality etc). Most of the Order instead rode Albino Wyverns, once found a plenty in the Haven region....

Another option would be for the Order of the White Drake to have captured some white dragon eggs in the distant past and they have been raising their own mounts since. I vaguely remember reading in an old Dragon magazine article (i think) that a dragon that is raised from the egg will take the alignment of the one who raises it.

--Ray.
#9
zombiegleemax
May 17, 2005 18:26:55 I've always fudged around with dragon alignments depending on the need for that type. I even do that with all types of monsters. I figure the alignment is more a cultural thing than anything else. It shows how the creature was raised. If a bugbear is raised by a Lawful Good knightly order, then the Bugbear would have a tendancy to be Lwful Neutral or something. The neutral because of the attitude of some racist knights towards him. I do the same with dragons. If I have a player steal an egg and raise the dragon (which has happened on several campaigns I've done) then the dragon's alignment would lean more towards that characters. Sort of taking after their parents with a little bit of their genetics interfering with making them the exact alignment. I always make the Lawful Chaotic part identical, but the good or evil varies.

I also use the gemstone dragons, but I use them with the description in the Cyclopedia.
#10
marc
May 17, 2005 22:38:58 I would think the definition of the Dragon Immortals would play a part on how dragon types are classified.

Would any reclassification have any impact on regions of Mystara...say Wyrmsteeth?
#11
havard
May 18, 2005 8:38:10
I would think the definition of the Dragon Immortals would play a part on how dragon types are classified.

Would any reclassification have any impact on regions of Mystara...say Wyrmsteeth?

Depends on how you are running it. IMC I am basing Wyrmsteeth on the descriptions from the Dragonlord Trilogy, although the Red Dragons are currently in charge. I've stolen this idea from Dragonstar, where the Dragons rotate the position of power between the Colors over the centuries. Reds still tend towards the Chaotic and Evil in majority, even though there are exceptions, as with all colors. They still follow the rules set down by the council though, or at least break them only if they think they can get away with it.

The Dragons of the Known World are considered renegades by the Wyrmsteeth Council...

Håvard

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 spellweaver May 14, 2005 12:32:01	I would like to ask what those of you playing Mystara 3E og 3.5 D&D have done about dragon colours? Have you kept white and blue dragons as neutral, black, green and red as evil and gold as good? Or have you simply added more good and neutral dragons and gone with the typical chromatic vs. metallic dragons scheme? Does any of you use the ruby, jade, onyx etc. dragons from the old Master Set? (I think that's where they are from). What about something like the Order of the White Drake from "Palace of the Silver Princess" ?? Have you changed the colour of the dragons or kept white dragons as neutral? :-) Jesper
#2 Traianus_Decius_Aureus May 14, 2005 16:35:47	I use the OD&D alignments for ethics and for morality use a Usually ___, so the Gold dragon would be Always Lawful (Usually good). I saw a percentage breakdown for good-neutral-evil form 2nd ed. and may start using that. As for the gemstones, I don't use the 3e versions (I absolutely loathe psionics), I simply use the appropriate chromatic and change the alignment and breath weapons.
#3 katana_one May 14, 2005 20:26:16	I've never used the gemstone dragons from either version of the game, but if I did, I was thinking of using the 3.5 versions, minus psionic powers.
#4 Cthulhudrew May 14, 2005 21:09:56	I would like to ask what those of you playing Mystara 3E og 3.5 D&D have done about dragon colours? Have you kept white and blue dragons as neutral, black, green and red as evil and gold as good? Hmm... good question. I haven't really thought about what to do with that idea. Personally, I'd be inclined to just stick with the MM version of them, but with an "Eberron" take on alignment- ie, that individual dragons may be of any alignment. Although, IIRC (don't have my MM in front of me), even the MM has "usually" as their alignment, and not "always." Or have you simply added more good and neutral dragons and gone with the typical chromatic vs. metallic dragons scheme? I think I'd be more or less inclined to drop the chromatic vs. metallic (ie, "good vs. evil") altogether, and just treat dragons of all kinds as their own race. Although that could lead to some interesting racial dynamics within dragonkind. IE, wouldn't gold dragons be less likely to like silver dragons (for being a "different color"), or reds and blues? Would they stick to their "own kind"? Could be an interesting take on an "evil" gold dragon- a racial purist who wants to eliminate non-golds. The Mystara Monstrous Compendium had an interesting take on the alignment issue- I think it treated dragons on Mystara as all basically having the "neutral" moral standpoint (IE, LN, CN, or N) and few to no "good or evil" dragons.
#5 weasel_fierce May 14, 2005 21:11:10	I'd go with what they were in AD&D, if it ever became an issue.
#6 agathokles May 15, 2005 4:40:19	The Mystara Monstrous Compendium had an interesting take on the alignment issue- I think it treated dragons on Mystara as all basically having the "neutral" moral standpoint (IE, LN, CN, or N) and few to no "good or evil" dragons. With the exception of Gold and Red Dragons, who are respectively almost always Good and Evil. Jade Dragons are also more likely to be Good than Evil.
#7 havard May 17, 2005 11:29:08	I hardly ever use Dragons in my campaigns, except as working behind the scenes creatures. Dragons definately exist though, and I allow Dragons of all colors and shapes. I tend towards using the MM alignments, although, since Dragons are highly intelligent beings, I wouldnt mind allowing some of them to be of various alignments. For the Order of the White Drake, I have decided that only a few mounted White dragons, who may have been good, or simply persuaded to follow their rider's orders of other reasons (Subdual, sense of loyality etc). Most of the Order instead rode Albino Wyverns, once found a plenty in the Haven region.... Håvard
#8 maddog May 17, 2005 11:53:26	For the Order of the White Drake, I have decided that only a few mounted White dragons, who may have been good, or simply persuaded to follow their rider's orders of other reasons (Subdual, sense of loyality etc). Most of the Order instead rode Albino Wyverns, once found a plenty in the Haven region.... Another option would be for the Order of the White Drake to have captured some white dragon eggs in the distant past and they have been raising their own mounts since. I vaguely remember reading in an old Dragon magazine article (i think) that a dragon that is raised from the egg will take the alignment of the one who raises it. --Ray.
#9 zombiegleemax May 17, 2005 18:26:55	I've always fudged around with dragon alignments depending on the need for that type. I even do that with all types of monsters. I figure the alignment is more a cultural thing than anything else. It shows how the creature was raised. If a bugbear is raised by a Lawful Good knightly order, then the Bugbear would have a tendancy to be Lwful Neutral or something. The neutral because of the attitude of some racist knights towards him. I do the same with dragons. If I have a player steal an egg and raise the dragon (which has happened on several campaigns I've done) then the dragon's alignment would lean more towards that characters. Sort of taking after their parents with a little bit of their genetics interfering with making them the exact alignment. I always make the Lawful Chaotic part identical, but the good or evil varies. I also use the gemstone dragons, but I use them with the description in the Cyclopedia.
#10 marc May 17, 2005 22:38:58	I would think the definition of the Dragon Immortals would play a part on how dragon types are classified. Would any reclassification have any impact on regions of Mystara...say Wyrmsteeth?
#11 havard May 18, 2005 8:38:10	I would think the definition of the Dragon Immortals would play a part on how dragon types are classified. Would any reclassification have any impact on regions of Mystara...say Wyrmsteeth? Depends on how you are running it. IMC I am basing Wyrmsteeth on the descriptions from the Dragonlord Trilogy, although the Red Dragons are currently in charge. I've stolen this idea from Dragonstar, where the Dragons rotate the position of power between the Colors over the centuries. Reds still tend towards the Chaotic and Evil in majority, even though there are exceptions, as with all colors. They still follow the rules set down by the council though, or at least break them only if they think they can get away with it. The Dragons of the Known World are considered renegades by the Wyrmsteeth Council... Håvard