nu.kanga.list.mud-dev

711: Re: [MUD-Dev] Alright... IF your gonan do DESIESE...

[Jeff K:]
> [Adam:]
> >Well, I'd actually say that your #1 advantage vs the dragon is that it's
> >just not terribly interested in you.  You're an ugly little scrub with
> >no treasure to speak of and not even enough meat on your bones to make a
> >mouthful -
> 
> Hmm... a hungry carnivore will generally eat whats handy. There aren't THAT
> many prey animals bigger then a human.  I'ld liken a Dragon to a large
> tiger (ever gotten close to one of the alrger breed? they are HUGE.)  As
> longas its not hungry and you don't annoy it your cool... if either of
> those prove false...

Well, depends on your world.  I'm thinking of Dragonlance where
humans are pretty middle of the road.  As a dragon I'd rather have a
slower-moving, meatier critter like an ogre, minotaur, horse, just about
any livestock, etc.  Also, there's the safety in numbers bit - fifty humans
scattering and the dragon can only chase so many.  Kinda like when you
turn over a stone and there are two dozen pill bugs that take off running -
even if you're intent on killing as many as possible, I'd be surprised
if you can nail more than a couple before the rest have sought cover.
(Of course this is where you need your bug spray, which is I suppose
analogous to the dragon's breath.)  Point taken, however.

> The msot interesting thing about dragons in AD&D is that theya re suppsoed
> to be highly intelligent, its somewhat difficult to really get into teh
> head of a highly intellegent carnivorous lizard.  IF they act liek humans
> then you mgiht also survive by amusing it...

Yeah.  This is fine when a human DM is playing them.  We've made our dragons
much more intelligent than most animals but still pretty inferior to
most humans.  Haven't decided yet if they will be language-capable, or if
they will have the incredible charisma and/or charming ability (via the
eyes) like Tolkien's dragons.