Hi folks, I am extremely new to D&D and I was wondering how to make a playable character that is a dragon... Is that possible? Since they would be starting at level 1, does that mean I'd have to make them a child? Wyrmlings have some pretty high starting stats (ex. silver dragon wyrmling) but if the character is playable, would I still have to roll for stats when I fill out the character sheet?
There are probably other factors that I haven't thought of so any advice will be helpful! Thanks!
Honestly? I wouldn't do this. Dragons are...different. by their very nature, they have several powers that PCs don't get in combination. There's a good reason why PCs don't get them - it makes them overpowered. Dragons get away with it because they're intended to be fighting an entire party of very high powered PCs, but put one permanently in the party? That will create a very unfun dynamic. It'll be fun for a session or two, but the other players will soon feel left out as they get overshadowed by the dragon. The dragon will lose steam after that as they realise that they're basically playing alone. The alternative is to nerf the dragon, hard, to bring it in line with the PCs. Get rid of flying, make breath attack an occasional use ability, etc. But then, they're not really playing a dragon, are they?
I have two suggestions for you:
- You can suggest an arc where a dragon is turned humanoid by some process as the story is beginning, and have them be a dragonborn. Their arc can be trying to be restored to proper dragon status.
- Make the entire party dragons and just adapt the enemies to account for the increased abilities so it's still a challenge. This takes effort amd experience of do right, though.
If you're new, I'd suggest the dragon stuck in a dragonborn body storyline. The finale of the campaign can see him transform into a dragon again.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
It depends on a few things. Is this a single dragon PC among normal PCs or an entire party of dragons?
If all of the PCs are dragons, then it is much easier to do since the PCs are easier to balance between each other. It's some work for the DM to have balanced encounters, but it could be a really fun game (and in fact, many years and 3 rules editions ago, they have a campaign setting that was based around that with Council of Wyrms).
I'm guessing, however, that the rest of the party will be more typical characters. If so, then it becomes much more challenging. The character would have be to much less powerful then even the weakest wyrmling. One thing I try to encourage in my games is reflavoring existing material. As long as the mechanics don't change, I'm open to the flavorful description being really open to change. With a dragon, the big, powerful abilities are breath weapons, flight, and to lesser extent damage immunities and bite/claw attacks. Unfortunately, a level 1 PC can't have all of those. So you could focus (at least at first) on either breath weapons and resistances OR on flight and bite/claw.
If you like the idea of breath weapons & resistances, just use the dragonborn race, but describe your PC as a smaller dragon perhaps with underdeveloped, nonfunctional wings or something. You could use dragonborn stats but largely look however you want. If you like the idea of flight and bite, use the aarakocra race stats as a dragon and have the talons be a bite or claw attack. Then see if maybe with a feat or something possibly get the other side at a higher level. (Could even use the new owlkin race if you want a "dragon as stealthy predator" vibe.)
Now, with using either of those races but reflavoring as a dragon, there are some issues like in whatever location the characters are in, would a medium-sized dragon walking around with these other characters be a problem, or are adventuring groups already unusual enough that a dragon isn't overly weird in that setting? And there can be some odd things like wearing armor or not, or even silly things that could be fun to work in like when hanging out in the tavern, does the dragon use a chair and similar questions?
Either way, the character could then advance in a normal class and that would be by far the easiest way to do this.
A far more involved way that would require a lot of careful work (and likely re-working as you find out in actual play what works or does not) is to create a Dragon "class" that you would level up in. That is extremely difficult to do well, but could allow you to play exactly the character you want. But others have tried to do the same thing, so you could search around to see different examples (and importantly read the comments to see if they sound balanced or not!). Also, it is getting close to publishing, but 2C Gaming Kickstartered a book called Dragonflight that has quite a bit on playing a dragon PC including a dragon class. Hopefully it will be out soon!
Overall, however, always always always make sure your DM and other players are fine with what you want to do. Playing a dragon as a character can be really fun (and I'm working on getting a campaign set up with my family that will involve that as part of it), but if not done well or if it doesn't fit everyone else's idea of the campaign, it can be distracting and a problem. So always talk to everyone in the group, but if they all like the idea and your DM can agree with you on something that isn't too powerful, it could be a lot of fun!! Good luck!
Second edition had a box set around this concept: Council of Wyrms. It's been adapted to later editions several times via homebrew (here's one such adaptation, albeit a limited one, for 5E), so it's definitely possible, but it will require a bit of work. The hardest part will be the adventures, I expect: what you do with the racial abilities and the power level is largely a matter of agreement after all, but existing adventures aren't really suitable for a party of dragon characters - the DM will likely have to come up with most of the campaign, rather than being able to borrow from existing ones.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I found this interesting homebrew that gave me some ideas for how to run games with a dragon PC. Might give you some inpiration for how to run one in your own game. I know I've pulled a few ideas from it.
In the official lore and canon, most dragons can shapeshift at will. You could really play any race and enjoy the thrill of “really” being a dragon, with an excuse of your choice as to why you don’t want to reveal your true form. As for a full on dragon with the wing and the scales and the breath weapon that deals about a hundred points of damage on an average roll… most DM’s probably won’t let you, although you could try for an experimental campaign. IDK if this is helpful.
As Pangurjan said it has been done in earlier editions so it’s at least theoretically possible. The problem is that they are very powerful entities so starting them off as level 1’s doesn’t work. What you might do is take a look at their hitdice as wyrmling sand allow them to enter the game at that level - example: a wyrmling blue dragon has 8D8 +CB HP so you could start playing it as a character at level 8. A red dragon wyrmling has 10 HD so it could become a PC at L10. Obviously this really requires a campaign that is running all the way to L20 to have much time actually playing a dragon. Way back in 1e rangers actually had a (tiny) chance of getting a dragon companion at L10 + when they got companions.
If you're entirely new the game I'd recommend playing as a dragonborn and learning the mechanics/flow of the game before jumping into homebrew. The statblock you linked is for a monster and those statblocks are constructed differently than PC stats so you would have to build something up from scratch. As others have mentioned dragons are incredibly strong in DND so it may cause some balance issues if the other players aren't also playing dragons or other super strong characters.
If dragonborn interests you you can go with that, but as dragons can shapechane into any humanoid (or beast) you are not restricted to dragonborn. In one campaign I played a Gold dragon that had been disciplined by Bahamut by being limited to human form until I had learnt my lesson. I agreed with the DM at the end of the campaign I would be able turn back into a dragon (though being at the end of the campaign this had no impact on the campaign / story itself)
Another possible option RAW is true polymorph though this will require discussion with your DM. As a level 1 character it is extremely unlikely that someone with the ability to cast 9th level spells will turn you into a Brass Dragon Wyrmling, as you have pointed out that would make you much more powerful than the rest of the group. Dispel magic would end the effect and it would be an extremelty leniant DM that would have n NPDC polymorph you repeatedly.
I becomes a bit more viable when you are able to cast true polymorph on yourself. This wouldn't happen until to reach level 17 and most campaigns don't get that far but you could become a class where it would be an option if it does. Discuss it with your DM before time as having an adult gold dragin in a party of level 17 adventurers can cause issues. The DM for exampe might decide that enemy spellcasters would make an investigation or wisdom check to see if they realised your true form (can cast dispel magic if appropriate if they do), this would mean that you would sometimes have to fight in humanoid form and turning back would use up your 9th level spell slot.
There is no reason that players cannot be allowed to play as virtually anything, provided they begin relatively weak and work up to the top, i.e., a player wishing to be a Dragon would have to begin as let us say, a "young" one and progress upwards in the usual manner, steps being predetermined by the campaign referee [DM].
If you find the idea of playing a dragon cool, go for it, but as others have already said, you won't be starting as a strong dragon, and if you don't want to leave the rest of the party behind even at level 20 you won't be an elder dragon
Hi folks, I am extremely new to D&D and I was wondering how to make a playable character that is a dragon... Is that possible? Since they would be starting at level 1, does that mean I'd have to make them a child? Wyrmlings have some pretty high starting stats (ex. silver dragon wyrmling) but if the character is playable, would I still have to roll for stats when I fill out the character sheet?
There are probably other factors that I haven't thought of so any advice will be helpful! Thanks!
By RAW, there is no way. Closest is being a dragonborn. Other choice us finding a DM willing to homebrew something for you.
Honestly? I wouldn't do this. Dragons are...different. by their very nature, they have several powers that PCs don't get in combination. There's a good reason why PCs don't get them - it makes them overpowered. Dragons get away with it because they're intended to be fighting an entire party of very high powered PCs, but put one permanently in the party? That will create a very unfun dynamic. It'll be fun for a session or two, but the other players will soon feel left out as they get overshadowed by the dragon. The dragon will lose steam after that as they realise that they're basically playing alone. The alternative is to nerf the dragon, hard, to bring it in line with the PCs. Get rid of flying, make breath attack an occasional use ability, etc. But then, they're not really playing a dragon, are they?
I have two suggestions for you:
- You can suggest an arc where a dragon is turned humanoid by some process as the story is beginning, and have them be a dragonborn. Their arc can be trying to be restored to proper dragon status.
- Make the entire party dragons and just adapt the enemies to account for the increased abilities so it's still a challenge. This takes effort amd experience of do right, though.
If you're new, I'd suggest the dragon stuck in a dragonborn body storyline. The finale of the campaign can see him transform into a dragon again.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
It depends on a few things. Is this a single dragon PC among normal PCs or an entire party of dragons?
If all of the PCs are dragons, then it is much easier to do since the PCs are easier to balance between each other. It's some work for the DM to have balanced encounters, but it could be a really fun game (and in fact, many years and 3 rules editions ago, they have a campaign setting that was based around that with Council of Wyrms).
I'm guessing, however, that the rest of the party will be more typical characters. If so, then it becomes much more challenging. The character would have be to much less powerful then even the weakest wyrmling. One thing I try to encourage in my games is reflavoring existing material. As long as the mechanics don't change, I'm open to the flavorful description being really open to change. With a dragon, the big, powerful abilities are breath weapons, flight, and to lesser extent damage immunities and bite/claw attacks. Unfortunately, a level 1 PC can't have all of those. So you could focus (at least at first) on either breath weapons and resistances OR on flight and bite/claw.
If you like the idea of breath weapons & resistances, just use the dragonborn race, but describe your PC as a smaller dragon perhaps with underdeveloped, nonfunctional wings or something. You could use dragonborn stats but largely look however you want. If you like the idea of flight and bite, use the aarakocra race stats as a dragon and have the talons be a bite or claw attack. Then see if maybe with a feat or something possibly get the other side at a higher level. (Could even use the new owlkin race if you want a "dragon as stealthy predator" vibe.)
Now, with using either of those races but reflavoring as a dragon, there are some issues like in whatever location the characters are in, would a medium-sized dragon walking around with these other characters be a problem, or are adventuring groups already unusual enough that a dragon isn't overly weird in that setting? And there can be some odd things like wearing armor or not, or even silly things that could be fun to work in like when hanging out in the tavern, does the dragon use a chair and similar questions?
Either way, the character could then advance in a normal class and that would be by far the easiest way to do this.
A far more involved way that would require a lot of careful work (and likely re-working as you find out in actual play what works or does not) is to create a Dragon "class" that you would level up in. That is extremely difficult to do well, but could allow you to play exactly the character you want. But others have tried to do the same thing, so you could search around to see different examples (and importantly read the comments to see if they sound balanced or not!). Also, it is getting close to publishing, but 2C Gaming Kickstartered a book called Dragonflight that has quite a bit on playing a dragon PC including a dragon class. Hopefully it will be out soon!
Overall, however, always always always make sure your DM and other players are fine with what you want to do. Playing a dragon as a character can be really fun (and I'm working on getting a campaign set up with my family that will involve that as part of it), but if not done well or if it doesn't fit everyone else's idea of the campaign, it can be distracting and a problem. So always talk to everyone in the group, but if they all like the idea and your DM can agree with you on something that isn't too powerful, it could be a lot of fun!! Good luck!
Second edition had a box set around this concept: Council of Wyrms. It's been adapted to later editions several times via homebrew (here's one such adaptation, albeit a limited one, for 5E), so it's definitely possible, but it will require a bit of work. The hardest part will be the adventures, I expect: what you do with the racial abilities and the power level is largely a matter of agreement after all, but existing adventures aren't really suitable for a party of dragon characters - the DM will likely have to come up with most of the campaign, rather than being able to borrow from existing ones.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I found this interesting homebrew that gave me some ideas for how to run games with a dragon PC. Might give you some inpiration for how to run one in your own game. I know I've pulled a few ideas from it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDHomebrew/comments/jgm09k/children_of_the_dragon_the_sequel_to_half_dragon/
In the official lore and canon, most dragons can shapeshift at will. You could really play any race and enjoy the thrill of “really” being a dragon, with an excuse of your choice as to why you don’t want to reveal your true form. As for a full on dragon with the wing and the scales and the breath weapon that deals about a hundred points of damage on an average roll… most DM’s probably won’t let you, although you could try for an experimental campaign. IDK if this is helpful.
Be Excellent to one another. Rock on dude.
Thank you all for the advice and resources! I will do some more research but it sounds like homebrew might be the answer. Cheers. :)
As Pangurjan said it has been done in earlier editions so it’s at least theoretically possible. The problem is that they are very powerful entities so starting them off as level 1’s doesn’t work. What you might do is take a look at their hitdice as wyrmling sand allow them to enter the game at that level - example: a wyrmling blue dragon has 8D8 +CB HP so you could start playing it as a character at level 8. A red dragon wyrmling has 10 HD so it could become a PC at L10. Obviously this really requires a campaign that is running all the way to L20 to have much time actually playing a dragon. Way back in 1e rangers actually had a (tiny) chance of getting a dragon companion at L10 + when they got companions.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
If you're entirely new the game I'd recommend playing as a dragonborn and learning the mechanics/flow of the game before jumping into homebrew. The statblock you linked is for a monster and those statblocks are constructed differently than PC stats so you would have to build something up from scratch. As others have mentioned dragons are incredibly strong in DND so it may cause some balance issues if the other players aren't also playing dragons or other super strong characters.
If dragonborn interests you you can go with that, but as dragons can shapechane into any humanoid (or beast) you are not restricted to dragonborn. In one campaign I played a Gold dragon that had been disciplined by Bahamut by being limited to human form until I had learnt my lesson. I agreed with the DM at the end of the campaign I would be able turn back into a dragon (though being at the end of the campaign this had no impact on the campaign / story itself)
Another possible option RAW is true polymorph though this will require discussion with your DM. As a level 1 character it is extremely unlikely that someone with the ability to cast 9th level spells will turn you into a Brass Dragon Wyrmling, as you have pointed out that would make you much more powerful than the rest of the group. Dispel magic would end the effect and it would be an extremelty leniant DM that would have n NPDC polymorph you repeatedly.
I becomes a bit more viable when you are able to cast true polymorph on yourself. This wouldn't happen until to reach level 17 and most campaigns don't get that far but you could become a class where it would be an option if it does. Discuss it with your DM before time as having an adult gold dragin in a party of level 17 adventurers can cause issues. The DM for exampe might decide that enemy spellcasters would make an investigation or wisdom check to see if they realised your true form (can cast dispel magic if appropriate if they do), this would mean that you would sometimes have to fight in humanoid form and turning back would use up your 9th level spell slot.
In the 1974 OD&D, Gary Gygax offers this advice
There is no reason that players cannot be allowed to play as virtually anything, provided they begin relatively weak and work up to the top, i.e., a player wishing to be a Dragon would have to begin as let us say, a "young" one and progress upwards in the usual manner, steps being predetermined by the campaign referee [DM].
If you find the idea of playing a dragon cool, go for it, but as others have already said, you won't be starting as a strong dragon, and if you don't want to leave the rest of the party behind even at level 20 you won't be an elder dragon
Dragon magazine issue #320 shows you how to be a dragon player character from level 1-20 complete progression
Realize that was from 20 years ago and was for 3.5 edition that was much more open to overpowered characters.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.