I am running an Emerald Dragon in my campaign, but I feel like I am not giving it enough personability. I was wondering how one would develop an Emerald Dragon some more. How they act, what they are like, information they may know etc.
You might make more progress thinking of it not a specifically an emerald dragon, but as an NPC in general.
What do they want? Both out of the encounter, and in the more general sense. Are the PCs useful to those goals, or inconvenient?
Do they think the PCs are a threat to them? (Regardless of whether or not they are.)
You've read about the generic personality traits of emerald dragons, but what is this particular NPC's most prominent trait? (It does not have to be any of the "standard" ones.)
What's one quirk this character has?
What's something that's likely to come up that they dislike?
Memorable NPCs don't have to be complex. Indeed, it's usually easier to play them if they're not. One of my players' "favorite" NPCs can be summed up in a few bullet points:
Academic wizard who's higher-level than them
Prior connection to one PC that makes things antagonistic, but not at "roll initiative" level
One of those High Elves
47th in line to the throne, and don't you forget it
They hate him so, so, much, and they've only encountered him once, ages ago.
speaking of Fizban's, looking through the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits table my eye caught upon 1 and 6: repeating someone's words back and mimicking guest behavior. if nothing else, you can repeat phrases and move your hands like the player did while talking. it'll be obvious fairly quickly, but that sort of thing can forge a connection equally quickly.
add to that a shy but curious personality with access to change shape and illusions. now, i'm imagining a humanoid in a green robe who walks through her dining room elegantly but perhaps often keeping a table or chair between her and her guests. in extreme cases, they may cause a distortion and introduce some distance as a lair action. when someone talks, the humanoid shifts slightly to match the speaker's height or their hairline, perhaps more if surprised. it's unconscious and subtle, but imagine her becoming engrossed in a new fact and taking on the dwarf man's wild eyebrows and wide broken nose while remaining a slender, elegant woman from the neck down.
when she talks, it's often as a storyteller launching into a narrative complete with minor illusion cantrip backing up the mention of things with additional effects (battle, the faint far-off clang of steel and shouting; forest, the smell of mulched leaves; dragons, fire seems to light them from below; etc). however, she interrupts herself often to offer up some comfort to her (captive) audience like a chair or carrot bread (the ideals 3 and 4 having popped out as well). and though they may seem soft and harmless, she may end a meeting in her lair by charming one person into escorting all the others out even as she turns invisible or steps into the ethereal plane. outside her lair, she might micromanage by revealing herself as a green clad member of a nearby dinner party at the alehouse or a green-jean'd lumberjack in a group of tree-fellers passing you in the lane, or as a green hooded pick-pocket in the crowd slipping you a key (and a reminder to keep better watch on your tiny horde!).
Which of the personality traits and ideals are you planning on using? That can help us with more broad ideas and we can try to fill in details.
The traits that I have currently selected for this Emerald Dragon are, for Traits seeks out Audiences with those who may favor him. As I think upon this one, perhaps the Emerald Dragon only really speaks to one or two members of the party who seem the most interested at speaking to the Dragon, favoring them in conversation. As for his Ideal, He is interested in the preservation of history and it study.
You might make more progress thinking of it not a specifically an emerald dragon, but as an NPC in general.
What do they want? Both out of the encounter, and in the more general sense. Are the PCs useful to those goals, or inconvenient?
Do they think the PCs are a threat to them? (Regardless of whether or not they are.)
You've read about the generic personality traits of emerald dragons, but what is this particular NPC's most prominent trait? (It does not have to be any of the "standard" ones.)
What's one quirk this character has?
What's something that's likely to come up that they dislike?
What he is seeking or wants as his current motivation is to ride a Naga from its throne, In a deep underdark ancient civilization. the PC are to ride this Naga for the Dragon to prevent curse of the Naga, being put on the Dragon
The dragon doesn't think of the PC as a threat, but more so as an hand or tool and wish to add them to his order and become the benefactor if they agree to work for him.
I haven't really choosen a prominent trait, But do to the help I have been given its working in progress
No quirk (yet)
Haven't thought of that, perhaps the needless breaking or stealing the artifacts, buildings and moments in this ancient city
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I am running an Emerald Dragon in my campaign, but I feel like I am not giving it enough personability. I was wondering how one would develop an Emerald Dragon some more. How they act, what they are like, information they may know etc.
Have you read through the emerald dragon section in Fizban's? And if so, do you want to stick to that lore and personality?
I have indeed read it, was looking for something a bit more. Mainly I suppose how to play an Emerald Dragon in RP I suppose
Which of the personality traits and ideals are you planning on using? That can help us with more broad ideas and we can try to fill in details.
You might make more progress thinking of it not a specifically an emerald dragon, but as an NPC in general.
Memorable NPCs don't have to be complex. Indeed, it's usually easier to play them if they're not. One of my players' "favorite" NPCs can be summed up in a few bullet points:
They hate him so, so, much, and they've only encountered him once, ages ago.
speaking of Fizban's, looking through the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits table my eye caught upon 1 and 6: repeating someone's words back and mimicking guest behavior. if nothing else, you can repeat phrases and move your hands like the player did while talking. it'll be obvious fairly quickly, but that sort of thing can forge a connection equally quickly.
add to that a shy but curious personality with access to change shape and illusions. now, i'm imagining a humanoid in a green robe who walks through her dining room elegantly but perhaps often keeping a table or chair between her and her guests. in extreme cases, they may cause a distortion and introduce some distance as a lair action. when someone talks, the humanoid shifts slightly to match the speaker's height or their hairline, perhaps more if surprised. it's unconscious and subtle, but imagine her becoming engrossed in a new fact and taking on the dwarf man's wild eyebrows and wide broken nose while remaining a slender, elegant woman from the neck down.
when she talks, it's often as a storyteller launching into a narrative complete with minor illusion cantrip backing up the mention of things with additional effects (battle, the faint far-off clang of steel and shouting; forest, the smell of mulched leaves; dragons, fire seems to light them from below; etc). however, she interrupts herself often to offer up some comfort to her (captive) audience like a chair or carrot bread (the ideals 3 and 4 having popped out as well). and though they may seem soft and harmless, she may end a meeting in her lair by charming one person into escorting all the others out even as she turns invisible or steps into the ethereal plane. outside her lair, she might micromanage by revealing herself as a green clad member of a nearby dinner party at the alehouse or a green-jean'd lumberjack in a group of tree-fellers passing you in the lane, or as a green hooded pick-pocket in the crowd slipping you a key (and a reminder to keep better watch on your tiny horde!).
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The traits that I have currently selected for this Emerald Dragon are, for Traits seeks out Audiences with those who may favor him. As I think upon this one, perhaps the Emerald Dragon only really speaks to one or two members of the party who seem the most interested at speaking to the Dragon, favoring them in conversation. As for his Ideal, He is interested in the preservation of history and it study.