(Mods, if you feel this would be better in homebrew feel free to move it. I didn't post it there because this isn't strictly homebrew.)
I've been dreaming up some new dragon types just for fun. (And possibly to put into a pdf for DM's guild.) As part of that, I've been studying the stats for the existing dragons and how those stats shift as the dragons age from wyrmling to ancient. In all instances, DEX remains the same while all other stats change a little to a lot over the course of time. Mechanically, I assume it's because as they get bigger they're not as hard to miss (especially because at the level your PCs should be when they face a dragon they should have at least one magical weapon apiece so they're not necessarily worrying about that resistance).
Just curious what y'all's thoughts are on why DEX remains static as opposed to either starting high (smaller dragons more nimble) and decreasing or starting low and having a small increase (maybe no change b/t wrymling and young but a +1 b/t young and adult). (That would keep it in line with things like the WIS and INT increases on some of the existing dragons. STR and CON arguably increase the most (usually a +4 each "size up") across the size/age categories.)
Hit me with it. It was just something interesting I saw as I evaluated the dragons and got me thinking.
I suppose the answer has less to do with why Dex remains static and more to do with why the other stats change.
Strength and Constitution are a natural byproduct of size.
Intelligence and Wisdom are a natural byproduct of age/experience.
Charisma is a creature's "force of personality". Obviously older dragons tend to be more intimidating / awe inspiring. That's just canon.
Dexterity, on the other hand, tends to come with training. Since they don't need to rely on dexterity due to their other strengths, they also don't have any natural reason to improve over time.
Being smaller might justify being more nimble, but that isn't what Dexterity measures.
With a breath weapon, bank of HP, and natural armor, they have no reason to care about precision, nor dodging. Whatever their natural default is will remain the same throughout their life. (Aside from the benefits of general proficiency.)
(Mods, if you feel this would be better in homebrew feel free to move it. I didn't post it there because this isn't strictly homebrew.)
I've been dreaming up some new dragon types just for fun. (And possibly to put into a pdf for DM's guild.) As part of that, I've been studying the stats for the existing dragons and how those stats shift as the dragons age from wyrmling to ancient. In all instances, DEX remains the same while all other stats change a little to a lot over the course of time. Mechanically, I assume it's because as they get bigger they're not as hard to miss (especially because at the level your PCs should be when they face a dragon they should have at least one magical weapon apiece so they're not necessarily worrying about that resistance).
Just curious what y'all's thoughts are on why DEX remains static as opposed to either starting high (smaller dragons more nimble) and decreasing or starting low and having a small increase (maybe no change b/t wrymling and young but a +1 b/t young and adult). (That would keep it in line with things like the WIS and INT increases on some of the existing dragons. STR and CON arguably increase the most (usually a +4 each "size up") across the size/age categories.)
Hit me with it. It was just something interesting I saw as I evaluated the dragons and got me thinking.
My Homebrew Backgrounds | Feats | Magic Items | Monsters | Races | Subclasses
I suppose the answer has less to do with why Dex remains static and more to do with why the other stats change.
Strength and Constitution are a natural byproduct of size.
Intelligence and Wisdom are a natural byproduct of age/experience.
Charisma is a creature's "force of personality". Obviously older dragons tend to be more intimidating / awe inspiring. That's just canon.
Dexterity, on the other hand, tends to come with training. Since they don't need to rely on dexterity due to their other strengths, they also don't have any natural reason to improve over time.
Being smaller might justify being more nimble, but that isn't what Dexterity measures.
With a breath weapon, bank of HP, and natural armor, they have no reason to care about precision, nor dodging. Whatever their natural default is will remain the same throughout their life. (Aside from the benefits of general proficiency.)