One of my players (in an adventure I didn't run) managed to gain the companionship of a young silver dragon. She is now using it as a pet, but one that is also a mount and can attack. I'm not sure how to deal with this. Are there any rules around this, or is it up to my discretion? And how can I make sure it's not too powerful? Any thoughts or help are appreciated.
Dragons are intelligent enough not to be "pets", at best they are companions treated as standard NPCs with their own stat block (from the MM) - Due to their intelligence, they act according to their own will and should not be controlled by the player.
To balance it out you can:
A) Nerf the Young Dragon
B) Using the dragon's intelligence and agenda to remind the PC that they are not in control, the Dragon chooses to side with the party and can leave as easily as it arrived. Note that Silver Dragons are Lawful Good and might frown upon many things the party might do, use this to your advantage.
That's a pretty RAW approach (I think) without knowing much of the context of your game.
How much is "too powerful" depends entirely on you and your players' preferences. It's not "wrong" for players to gain powerful tools during a D&D game; that's exactly what magic items are. Curse of Strahd allows players to obtain a Shield Guardian and ally with an archmage NPC.
I've been a player in a game that did something similar and we quickly found out baby dragons have poor impulse control (they're known for their hoards, after all) and are very temperamental. Another factor that didn't come up in that game but would be perfectly reasonable to implement is upkeep. A creature that big is going to require a lot of food. Toddlers get hungry often, and that makes them cranky. A hungry dragon isn't going to wait patiently for their food just because you're in the middle of something. It may pounce on people who have food. It may get distracted if it sees an animal it can eat.
Finally, if it gets too badly injured in a fight it wouldn't be unreasonable to make it scared to participate again. I'm not saying to go out of your way to do that, but if the player keeps charging headlong into danger with a child in tow, it's good to remind them that they are in fact dealing with a child. EDIT: Another consideration would be attacking a creature much larger than it. Kids and animals alike tend to find adults and large animals intimidating. Either way, you could rule that the players will have to resort to spells like Heroism to get it to participate in combat under certain circumstances.
Just don't forget that both you and the player are supposed to have fun. "Balance" is important for competitive games but it's highly overrated for co-op games like D&D.
As a DM it is always your choice what you do or do not allow. I personally wouldn't allow a CR9 Dragon Pet but this is your decision.
Something to note is a Young Silver Dragon is a Large creature, it might not be able to fit into most dungeons due to it's physical size.
Also if your player is willing to give you free reign with their pet, you could just use it in your story... This is only a suggestion and you need to work with your player(s) to figure out what they are okay with...
A quick simple way to take the Silver Dragon out of the picture is that Adult Silver Dragon's have an ability called Change Shape, this allows them to take on a humanoid or beast shape. You could have them wake up one more and in place of the young silver dragon there is now a child or teenager with no idea how they got to how they are and no idea how to revert back, technically the transformation is magical so they might try dispel magic or an anti-magic field but you can also say it works similar to true polymorph and they spent over an hour in the new form, so it can't be reverted in that way, as DM it's up too you.
On this latter note, to go down this route you need to build it into the story, cas your player will want to revert it, you need to have breadcrumbs prepared, hints as to how they condition could be reverted or rumours of people that might have knowledge... that type of thing. You can't just transform em and leave it for later, that would be lazy and unsatisfactory for the player.
Your player may or may not be after the young silver dragon because it's overpowered, they may instead however just be attached too the young silver dragon, thus finding ways to turn it from just a mobile flying platform to a part of that character's story may also help the player get more invested in the story.
A silver dragon is going to be a silver dragon, first and foremost. Even a young silver dragon is going to be beyond most players' characters in most ways. Even at that stage, they are no longer a pet and will act according to their own will. It needs to be an NPC under your control. If what the player wants and what the dragon wants align, then it can happen. If what the player wants wouldn't be what the dragon wants, the dragon is going to do what it wants to, and may even directly oppose the PCs if they act contrary to the dragon's moral beliefs.
One of my players (in an adventure I didn't run) managed to gain the companionship of a young silver dragon. She is now using it as a pet, but one that is also a mount and can attack. I'm not sure how to deal with this. Are there any rules around this, or is it up to my discretion? And how can I make sure it's not too powerful? Any thoughts or help are appreciated.
Never let players bring pcs from other games. You always end up with the PC having something they shouldn't have. First, is it a young silver dragon or a wrymling?
Also what level are the PCs?
A young silver dragon is going to be larger than the pcs. If is definitely no longer a pet. If anything the human is the pet now.
A young silver dragon has 168 hp. Does 12d8 cold damage as a breath weapon and can paralayze people.
This is definitely something the PC should not have.
Keep in mind silver dragons are the paragon on lawful good. If the PC doesn't maintain a strict morality the silver dragon is going to leave or worse turn on the party.
Though I would personally tell the player that they can't have a silver dragon as a pet.
I may have the silver dragon show back up at level 20 for the climatic final battle. But otherwise it shouldn't be in play. Or at least not traveling with the pcs.
Can also have an ancient dragon show up. The dragon knows the pcs will never get away with him.
Also the dragon is probably smarter than most of the pcs
If it is a wyrmling then it shouldn't be used as a mount. Depending on level that is more doable. But still at some point the dragon is or should be a liability.
Context is everything - if its a high level game and the player acquired the young dragon somehow around level 15 or so - I would nerf the dragon stats as its been domesticated but still let the player have their fun. I mean we are all in this to have fun right? So if the player is attached to this pet let them have it - just don't let it break the game.
Ideas
Player must give up a bonus action to command the dragon each turn.
Due to the young dragon being domesticated it did not grow into its full potential so I would nerf the block as follows:
Movement / Hp / Resistances as normal
1 Bite and 1 Claw Attack +10 to hit 1d10+3 on the bite / 1d6+3 on the claw OR
1 Breath Attack Cold 6d8 needs to roll a 6 on a d6 to recharge no additional effects
Paralyzing Breath and Frightful Presence - GONE
After taking 50% of its HP in damage the Dragon will leave the players side and not return for 1d4 long rests as its healing and eating cows in a nearby field.
Stock Block Below for reference:
Multiattack: The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage.
1. anyflip.com
Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.
1. epicsavingthrow.com
Cold Breath (Recharge 5-6): The dragon exhales an icy blast in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 54 (12d8) cold damage. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage.
1. goblincoach.com
Paralyzing Breath (Recharge 5-6): The dragon exhales paralyzing gas in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
A DM in a current game I am playing in gave me a pretty awesome pet and its a ton of fun so I get the player wanting to keep it - it just needs to be balanced so the other players do not feel overshadowed by a pet and the pet does not break your encounters.
One of my players (in an adventure I didn't run) managed to gain the companionship of a young silver dragon. She is now using it as a pet, but one that is also a mount and can attack. I'm not sure how to deal with this. Are there any rules around this, or is it up to my discretion? And how can I make sure it's not too powerful? Any thoughts or help are appreciated.
Dragons are intelligent enough not to be "pets", at best they are companions treated as standard NPCs with their own stat block (from the MM) - Due to their intelligence, they act according to their own will and should not be controlled by the player.
To balance it out you can:
A) Nerf the Young Dragon
B) Using the dragon's intelligence and agenda to remind the PC that they are not in control, the Dragon chooses to side with the party and can leave as easily as it arrived. Note that Silver Dragons are Lawful Good and might frown upon many things the party might do, use this to your advantage.
That's a pretty RAW approach (I think) without knowing much of the context of your game.
How much is "too powerful" depends entirely on you and your players' preferences. It's not "wrong" for players to gain powerful tools during a D&D game; that's exactly what magic items are. Curse of Strahd allows players to obtain a Shield Guardian and ally with an archmage NPC.
I've been a player in a game that did something similar and we quickly found out baby dragons have poor impulse control (they're known for their hoards, after all) and are very temperamental. Another factor that didn't come up in that game but would be perfectly reasonable to implement is upkeep. A creature that big is going to require a lot of food. Toddlers get hungry often, and that makes them cranky. A hungry dragon isn't going to wait patiently for their food just because you're in the middle of something. It may pounce on people who have food. It may get distracted if it sees an animal it can eat.
Finally, if it gets too badly injured in a fight it wouldn't be unreasonable to make it scared to participate again. I'm not saying to go out of your way to do that, but if the player keeps charging headlong into danger with a child in tow, it's good to remind them that they are in fact dealing with a child. EDIT: Another consideration would be attacking a creature much larger than it. Kids and animals alike tend to find adults and large animals intimidating. Either way, you could rule that the players will have to resort to spells like Heroism to get it to participate in combat under certain circumstances.
Just don't forget that both you and the player are supposed to have fun. "Balance" is important for competitive games but it's highly overrated for co-op games like D&D.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
As a DM it is always your choice what you do or do not allow. I personally wouldn't allow a CR9 Dragon Pet but this is your decision.
Something to note is a Young Silver Dragon is a Large creature, it might not be able to fit into most dungeons due to it's physical size.
Also if your player is willing to give you free reign with their pet, you could just use it in your story... This is only a suggestion and you need to work with your player(s) to figure out what they are okay with...
A quick simple way to take the Silver Dragon out of the picture is that Adult Silver Dragon's have an ability called Change Shape, this allows them to take on a humanoid or beast shape. You could have them wake up one more and in place of the young silver dragon there is now a child or teenager with no idea how they got to how they are and no idea how to revert back, technically the transformation is magical so they might try dispel magic or an anti-magic field but you can also say it works similar to true polymorph and they spent over an hour in the new form, so it can't be reverted in that way, as DM it's up too you.
On this latter note, to go down this route you need to build it into the story, cas your player will want to revert it, you need to have breadcrumbs prepared, hints as to how they condition could be reverted or rumours of people that might have knowledge... that type of thing. You can't just transform em and leave it for later, that would be lazy and unsatisfactory for the player.
Your player may or may not be after the young silver dragon because it's overpowered, they may instead however just be attached too the young silver dragon, thus finding ways to turn it from just a mobile flying platform to a part of that character's story may also help the player get more invested in the story.
A silver dragon is going to be a silver dragon, first and foremost. Even a young silver dragon is going to be beyond most players' characters in most ways. Even at that stage, they are no longer a pet and will act according to their own will. It needs to be an NPC under your control. If what the player wants and what the dragon wants align, then it can happen. If what the player wants wouldn't be what the dragon wants, the dragon is going to do what it wants to, and may even directly oppose the PCs if they act contrary to the dragon's moral beliefs.
Never let players bring pcs from other games. You always end up with the PC having something they shouldn't have. First, is it a young silver dragon or a wrymling?
Also what level are the PCs?
A young silver dragon is going to be larger than the pcs. If is definitely no longer a pet. If anything the human is the pet now.
A young silver dragon has 168 hp. Does 12d8 cold damage as a breath weapon and can paralayze people.
This is definitely something the PC should not have.
Keep in mind silver dragons are the paragon on lawful good. If the PC doesn't maintain a strict morality the silver dragon is going to leave or worse turn on the party.
Though I would personally tell the player that they can't have a silver dragon as a pet.
I may have the silver dragon show back up at level 20 for the climatic final battle. But otherwise it shouldn't be in play. Or at least not traveling with the pcs.
Can also have an ancient dragon show up. The dragon knows the pcs will never get away with him.
Also the dragon is probably smarter than most of the pcs
If it is a wyrmling then it shouldn't be used as a mount. Depending on level that is more doable. But still at some point the dragon is or should be a liability.
Context is everything - if its a high level game and the player acquired the young dragon somehow around level 15 or so - I would nerf the dragon stats as its been domesticated but still let the player have their fun. I mean we are all in this to have fun right? So if the player is attached to this pet let them have it - just don't let it break the game.
Ideas
Player must give up a bonus action to command the dragon each turn.
Due to the young dragon being domesticated it did not grow into its full potential so I would nerf the block as follows:
Movement / Hp / Resistances as normal
1 Bite and 1 Claw Attack +10 to hit 1d10+3 on the bite / 1d6+3 on the claw OR
1 Breath Attack Cold 6d8 needs to roll a 6 on a d6 to recharge no additional effects
Paralyzing Breath and Frightful Presence - GONE
After taking 50% of its HP in damage the Dragon will leave the players side and not return for 1d4 long rests as its healing and eating cows in a nearby field.
Stock Block Below for reference:
A DM in a current game I am playing in gave me a pretty awesome pet and its a ton of fun so I get the player wanting to keep it - it just needs to be balanced so the other players do not feel overshadowed by a pet and the pet does not break your encounters.
I'm fairly sure even the most lawful good of lawful good dragons would consider the relationship the other way around ;).