Descriptions, Dragons, and You

So at various points over the years, just about everyone has received a "description dragon". These are fun pets, nice to look at, rewarding to earn... but let's face it. As soon as you hit level 50, the first thing you do (if you haven't already) is go uncurse your dragon and put on <insert mighty bow/floater here>. Now, as a result of this, over the years there have been a number of suggestions on how to make these pets a more lasting presence and long-term reward for good descriptions/RP. Thus, a proposal:

 

Descriptions, Dragons, and You - Increasing the Longevity of the Description Reward

 

Disclaimer: I am not now, nor have I ever been, ungrateful for a description (or any other) reward.

 

The Problem

 

As they currently stand, there are two "issues" with dragons. First, there is a large disparity in performance. An earth dragon is likely to be disposed of more readily than a fire dragon, because of their usefulness in combat (ranking and PK). Finding a way to either even out the dragons may prove valuable in determining their long-term value.

 

The other issue is that they take up what is, arguably, one of the most valuable equipment slots (particularly when it comes to, say, a ranger). If the choice is for an archer to take up the spot with a dragon, or use their bow, then they would be stupid to keep the dragon.

 

So what becomes of the reward at level 50? It goes into a bag, or a bank locker, and is never seen or heard from again.

 

The Proposed Solution

 

1. Create a more equitable dragon economy. Retain dragons as rewards for descriptions, as this has long been a hallmark of a "good start" to a character. I know that when I get a dragon for my description, I get warm and fuzzy feelings about how the character is going to do over their lifespan.

 

As a caveat to this, I would also propose making dragons available in the Bazaar as an RP reward. That way, they are purchasable for characters (with good RP) that didn't receive one for their description. This retains the value of the item as an RP reward, without making obtaining a dragon implausible for someone that can't sort out a description to save their life.

 

1. Create a special equipment slot for this (and perhaps eventually a broader list) of wearable RP rewards. Perhaps...

 

 

This obviously fits with dragons perching on the shoulder (which I believe is what their oprog shows), but then could also be used for emblems, knots, insignias, etc.

 

The Counter-Arguments

 

I never get dragons for my description, so this isn't fair to me.

 

The first, and most obvious response to this, is to spend more time on your description. Anyone can get a dragon for a description - just do something unique. If the words "standing before you" or "a tall, handsome _______ is here" are in your description, you're probably not doing something unique, and probably aren't going to get a dragon.

 

But part two of the response is that, by making dragons purchasable as an RP reward, you open up the item to a larger base of people, while still retaining its integrity as a reward for good RP.

 

This is going to change too much about PK, so this isn't fair to me.

 

Well, first and foremost, if the reward is available to everyone, this isn't going to end up unbalanced. Your opponent has a dragon and you don't? Skip the PK for a bit, spend a bit of time roleplaying, and buy yourself one. Voila!

 

I worked hard to get my dragon and this reduces the specialness of the description reward, so this isn't fair to me.

 

Yes, you DID work hard to get your description dragon. However, just because you got a dragon and I didn't, doesn't mean I'm not good at RP. If I prove myself worthy and get the RP points to get a dragon, why shouldn't I have one too? The more important point, in all of this, is that the dragons should retain their character as an RP reward, not necessarily solely for descriptions.

 

Joey got a fire dragon and I only got this crummy earth dragon, so this isn't fair to me.

 

I'm not sure what the best way to go about equalizing the power of the dragons is. Fire is obviously quite desirable, since it blinds. Perhaps making each dragon have a different breath weapon, with the most powerful proccing less frequently and the least powerful proccing more frequently. For example:

 

Joey has a winged fire dragon. In combat, it breaths fire randomly, but statistically it should only proc every 10 rounds or so.

Tommy has a winged lightning dragon. In combat, it breathes lightning randomly, but statistically it should proc every 5 rounds or so.

Stacy has a winged earth dragon. It casts armor on her every time she sneezes (joking).

 

Other Ideas

 

Finally, I think we should create MORE dragons! First, I propose we turned the current dragons into "baby" dragons. Here are some ideas:

 

A baby **red **dragon - casts flaming arrow

A baby **green **dragon - casts acid blast (low level)

A baby **blue **dragon - casts lightning bolt

A baby gold dragon - casts color spray

A baby white dragon - casts icicle

A baby black dragon - casts sharpmetal

 

Then, by way of a quest or RP points (or some other, as yet undetermined measure), players could level up their dragons into:

 

A young **red **dragon - casts flamestrike

A young **green **dragon - casts acid blast (mid-level)

A young **blue **dragon - casts thunderclap

A young gold dragon - casts _____ (I am really stumped on this gold dragon, since I'm trying to avoid AoE spells like earthquake, etc.)

A young white dragon - casts jet steam

A young black dragon - casts shatter

 

And then finally, through a level 50 gauntlet (which I would be happy to build/partner with someone on), players can develop:

 

A mature **red **dragon - fire breath, damage + smoke blind

A mature **green **dragon - acid breath, damage + poison

A mature **blue **dragon - lightning breath, damage + paralyze

A mature gold dragon - prismatic breath, damage + random effect

A mature white dragon - ice breath, high damage

A mature black dragon - shadow breath, damage + stun (.5-1 round lag)

 

As a final note - if you like the general concept, but don't like a spell effect, color, etc., please specifically say "I like the idea but I don't like this one specific part." Ideas that die because we dig too deep into the minutia too early on are literally the bane of my existence and I will cry if you kill this idea over details rather than its merits.

 

So, what do you think?

I like the concept personally. Especially since the bizarre opens it up to everyone. That being said, a counter to your Idea (note:not an argument), instead of a new item slot, why not make the dragon gauntlet allow the character to build a charm that summons the adult form of the dragon as a pet like the level 1 pets the bizarre already has. They would get zero attacks per round but retain the ability to interject random periodic damage/aid as dragons do now. The upside, your dragon becomes a greater RP tool, does not take up an equipment slot at 50. The down side, you would not have your dragons affect when following in someone in their group.

Now, the argument. I have received description rewards that for the character I was playing that proved far more valuable than the dragons, and which have often not only enhanced my characters RP but allowed me to fine tune it. I would give examples but they would be giving my secrets away.

I've admittedly dropped the ball with additions to the bazaar. We do have plans, including upgradable dragons, even as mounts. Keep up the great ideas.

Pans...I thought you were planning on adding cookware.

A chicken is here.

Volgathras is here.

Volgathras gets a chicken.

The Carnifax Pax sings as it takes another head!

A chicken had been BEHEADED!

Volgathras gets a shiny blue nonstick frying pan from a Big Ol'Sack.

Volgathras gets a small dusk of gyvwl from a Big Ol'Sack.

Volgathras gets a small red herb from a Big Ol'Sack.

Volgathras gets a bottle of red wine from a Big Ol'Sack.

Volgathras tosses a corpse of a chicken, along with other ingredients, into a shiny blue nonstick frying pan.

Volgathras gives you a beautifully braised chicken.

Inv

You are carrying:

(Glowing)(Humming) a beautifully braised chicken

A cookbook

Heavy black cast iron skillet

King Edwin's fabled chicken

You edited your post. :(sadface

So youre saying we who have kept our cuddly pets from day one, can make them even cuddlier?

I like the idea.  I think your 2nd level gold dragon could just cast a lame level sear with a high chance of proc to offset the fact it is only usable for part of the day.  Maybe give it a little " Soandso's dragon gives a pitiful snort in the mirk of night" message when it wants to sear but it is night time... Or we can go ahead and allow me my hidden dream of a moonlight sear with outrageous damage and effects of parabashlockpowerwordPENTAKILL!

Easy. Make all dragons +2/+2 hitdam and -3 vs saves. Or take the saves and add +30 HP.

Then make the dragons fired weapons, whose ammo is food. Stuff like acorn or eggs, or what ever dragons eat.

Make said food expensive, but not to expensive. Then each dragon fires according to it's element an projectile.

Then tweek the code, so that you can use a dragon with a shield, but can't projectile fire with it.

The dragon still casts random spell it casts now, but it's also a bow.

 

Hum, to good. Make the dragon +1/+1 +30 HP. That's enough. But make each dragon a diferent bow thing. Like armor pierce longshot???.

 

Or just make the dragon give Spellforged spells. Nothing massive, perhaps some custom breath spell.

It would be nice if the person with the dragon could cast those breaths the dragons use.

Just check that the spell is checking the PC level, so that we don't have L15 casting L50 dragonbreath.

Of course, make the spells emote show that is the dragon casting the spell, not the PC.

If the character had to cast the dragon breath, it would prevent the character from utilizing their own skill/spells necessary for battle. This would also make dragons better for casters than melee characters since most spells casted lag the caster less than skills lag the melees. So, I am crying foul on that one.

Better to give it its own equipment slot, and let its affects be random.