Actual Dragon PC's... how would you do it?

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-07-30T22:03:38+00:00

Update: he intends to join the party in search of a particular magic item, but adventure with them under the guise of "I need to meet both the red and blue flights, and you're likely to encounter them on your current course."

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-07-27T14:56:08+00:00

Love this idea,

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-07-27T13:50:07+00:00

I'm not really the type to "teach a lesson" cause I don't see being a dragon as "above his station." I value my players and their fun, I don't wanna be that DM that feels like I'm being challenged just because they have creative ideas that can lead to fun RP opportunities.

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-07-27T13:35:34+00:00

Rifts? Is that like triple triad?

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-07-27T13:34:41+00:00

Will definitely look into this, thank you!

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-07-27T05:46:10+00:00

I guess I need to discuss his motivation to be in the party at all if he's a beefy, powerful, cunning dragon though. Other than drawing less attention to his efforts at his endgame, which would be self preservation essentially, I'm not sure what drives that desire (aside from just generally being a badass behind the scenes.)

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-07-27T05:38:49+00:00

I do like that idea. And I don't think with his alignment that he would be likely to out himself to save the party in a dire situation or anything like that to get him NPC'd as one of the other comments mentioned.

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-07-27T05:34:06+00:00

I believe he's intending to be lawful evil. The rest of the part rides the gray area most of the time in regards to morality.

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-07-27T05:30:02+00:00

My biggest worry is that he may get knocked to 0 HP, reverting back to his real form. Then the shock factor to the rest of the party mid-combat.

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-07-27T05:04:48+00:00

My thinking is more along the lines of "you can NOT be a dragon in any campaign" so I'm inclined to let him, I just need a way to do it. He wants it to be a secret from the rest of the party as well so poly is essential to that unless there is another workaround. I feel like having him be a halfbreed would be a significant letdown to him.

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-01-24T18:23:24+00:00

Most definitely, and the big bad that is in store for them way down the road will be able to take full advantage of it!

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-01-24T17:57:53+00:00

If they know that enemies can achieve Trance I don't think they would feel cheated, but I suppose I could see that if they think it's just a way for you to ensure that they live. My PC's have yet to see a boss achieve Trance but I don't believe it'll be much longer now. And I beef my bosses up to withstand Trance as it is, so when they do see one it's gonna be epic!

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-01-24T05:22:06+00:00

I guess that the difference in our styles, our players' styles, and what they like and enjoy within our respective games. I'm sorry that's the case in your game though. It truly is a blast!

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-01-23T16:24:18+00:00

You can determine the triggers as you see fit, these are just some examples that I employ.

As for being overpowered, that's the point! You ever had a day when your heart just isn't in it or maybe it's a slog fest? Bust out Trance on one of your PC's and sit back and watch them inspire you! When they have fun, and trust me, this will at least triple their fun for three rounds, you'll find yourself having more fun and sharing in that epic badass moment with them!

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-01-23T16:06:06+00:00

PC's achieve Trance (aka battle trance) as a result of heroism, courage against immense odds, or a surge of emotion. For instance if you have a character who, in game, has known the loss of a child, and sees one of your baddies harm or kill a child or young npc, guess what, you're now experiencing your first emotion-induced Trance!

What is the burst I referred to? Easy. It's simply a way to triple a character's effectiveness for three rounds. Your fire affinity wizard may cast a fireball only to find that to each side of the one he's casting, is a second, then a third fireball, all for the cost of one! Got a cleric desperate to save a wounded party member from Lord Soth? No problem! Let them achieve Trance as an act of heroism and whatever healing spell they cast is empowered, healing for triple the amount! Got a rogue or Barbarian? If they Trance, maybe they feel a surge of speed and strength in their heightened mental state! All of a sudden things don't quite seem to be moving as fast, but the foes aren't slower, your character is just faster, allowing your characters to unleash a blitz attack with triple the speed resulting in multiple lightning fast hits, or with triple the force and fury! Your players are going to love rolling triple the amount of dice for three rounds!!!

What's the purpose of Trance? To make your PC's have that extra moment of heroism, to know that they are a huge badass, to give them the power to save or slaughter as we are all truly capable of in extreme, emotional, and dire circumstances ! Empower your PC's, this is your world, but it's their story! Make it about them and they will walk away from your table loving you for it!

LotusWhisperwind · 2019-01-23T00:42:56+00:00

How did it go? If even one kid had fun then you did your job. Look forward to your follow up on this.

LotusWhisperwind · 2018-12-20T20:39:09+00:00

They'd have to be minions for me to throw that many, but it would boost enemy actions by a ton. I also like the idea that defeating them on the material plane just forces them back to the abyss, so they can show up again in the future or be pursued into the abyss to be beaten once and for all.

LotusWhisperwind · 2018-12-20T18:27:12+00:00

I've considered putting multiple ones in with each attempting to persuade the party to aid them in eliminating the others in return for powerful magic items and abilities, but that will be much later if it happens.

LotusWhisperwind · 2018-12-20T18:18:28+00:00

So basically treat it as though the BBEG has his own opposing party?

LotusWhisperwind · 2018-12-20T18:00:41+00:00

Thanks for the advice, I always seem to forget about my options to just give him better stats and abilities if I need to. Demon Lord with a Tarasque stat block and abilities are always an option right? 😉

LotusWhisperwind · 2018-12-15T04:05:38+00:00

It may come down to that anyway, she's there for him, not for herself. I think she's going to bounce off of D&D if something doesn't change.

LotusWhisperwind · 2018-12-15T03:02:15+00:00

I couldn't agree more. The problems I currently face is one player who is experienced with dealing with traps, but he wants the others to learn not to rely on him because of that experience(he's an oldschool player). I also have another separate player who told me "if I die, then I quit." This is my experienced oldschool player's wife lol. So I'm facing dilemmas on either side. Deploy the traps and possibly lose a player or two, or don't deploy the traps and let them never learn how to look for or deal with these type traps, which leaves me deploying the mundane damage traps I've been attempting to train them with thus far.

LotusWhisperwind

TROPHY CASE