Make Dragonia feel Dragonic
That is the first agenda of the game, and the most specific to Epyllion.
And also the one I have the most trouble with. I am just not used to dragons being the good guys, probably 🙂
I find it quite difficult to depict a Dragonia that feels draconic.
I have started a campaign with my two boys, 8 and 12 years old. Aside from the different reasons that make the game a good choice to play with kids, I chose to try Epyllion with them because of the Friendship Gems, and the hope that it could help them taking good habits of friendly relations (instead of fighting and arguing and dirtytricksing all day long…).
They seem to have no problem picturing themselves as dragons, they have fleshed out their dragonselfs very well and always have a lot of amazing ideas each time I ask for things to build on. Most of the time I have to hit the brake after a few sentences so that we stay somewhat on track. I am amazed at how quickly they appropriated the idea of “mixed beasts” and how many wonderful creatures they have created 🙂
Right now, it is mostly working well, with a few sessions under our belt. I just try to prepare the description of a few dragons or beasts between each sessions and all the rest is taking shape dynamically.
Still, I feel a little uneasy as far a describing dragons, the houses of dragons, the cities of dragons, the lands and other inhabitants of Dragonia, and so forth. I am not quite used to describing a world without any humanoid bipeds in the primary roles. I feel like I use up ideas too quickly.
I think the main thing is that, in order for dragons to craft objects, or read books, they need to be a little more anthropomorphous than what is described in most fantasy literature (at least from what I have read). Like, they need to be able to sit, carry bags, put elbows on a desk in order to write, etc…
I have started looking for some fantasy literature showing the world from a dragon’s point of vue. My first, easy find was the dragon series from E.E Knight, which gives me a lot of ideas. But still, the dragons that are depicted can’t do a lot of things with their clawed paws. AuRon seems to be able to read humanoid books, but beside that he isn’t able to do much more than any quadruped.
I also found the adventures of Sir Benfro, written by J. D. Oswald. He describes a village of dragons, with houses and tables and everything. They seem to be able to do a lot of things, but the way they are depicted, they might as well be humanoids. There is nothing in the text that explicitly explains how they do all these things. If you jump to a random chapter narrated by Benfro, you couldn’t tell he is a dragon from the way his actions are depicted. He might as well be a human. Disappointing.
I would be glad to see any sharing of ideas and source of ideas about how would be a world of dragons like Dragonia 🙂
One of my favorite ways of making Dragonia Feel dragon is his to play up the size differences, Dragonschange a lot with age. Since the players are usually very young dragons, everything is big to them. Describe them going up flights of stairs where each step is nearly as tall as they are. Big cities, where ancient dragons do important political work, are built to truest massive scale. Here, a stairway might have smaller flights built into it’s edges so that smaller drakes can ascend them.
There’s also other details, what they eat, their furniture, that changes for dragon physiology. I usually describe them curling up in luxurious nests rather than sitting at desks. They might smoke sugar sand that stains their lips and claws pink.
In many ways it’s similar to making any other fantasy world, you just want to make it over-the-top fantastic. The media I get inspired by isn’t generally about dragons. Zootopia and My Little Pony are both good sources.
Jonathan Perrine
Instead of reading books and writing books – You can have majestic knowledge caves filled with the writing of Dragonia. The writing is made using their claws, the caves are gigantic, baby dragons can read some of it but not most.
When travelling Dragons wear gems in rings or necklace or something other that contains the knowledge or what they need. A simple thought can make any required object be brought forth.
To help me I think of really powerful magic beings, almost ethereal, this breaks the do not have hands problems.
Questions to your players
– Since you have no hands how does your dragon craft object?
From above – Using scale and playing up nonhumanoid bits are very good plays, especially in unison. That isn’t a gigantic concrete halfpipe – It’s a elder dragon resting couch!
I always try to make Dragonian food weird, by mixing in things we think of as inedible or more material than gastronomic – Candyglass, powdered apricot-crete, sugargirders….
Aside from these ideas though, I’ll second don’t be afraid to throw these to your players. What giant piece of dragon furniture dominates the Council member’s office? What do the artisans of the fruit herder’s guild wear to show they aren’t apprentices?
Also think about tying things together and building up an aesthetic for the houses. They’re a core piece of the world and have some great imagery. Exactly what kind of oak are symbols of Myndoth made of? If Kebros doesn’t mine them, where do they get rubies from?
Cool. Definetely, dragons are what they eat.
What about the guardians ? How do you use them in your games ? How do they look at your tables ? How do they connect with beasts, arcane locations, or the Darkness ? Do they sometimes chine and get in the spotlight ? I bet they are not just vegetal robots for everyday tasks not worthy of a dragon
I tend to run one shots, and Guardians are something that gets glossed over unless the conversation at the table goes that way.
I do tend to look to the players when they show up though. Whatever I have in mind for them, I want players to establish what strong emotions they have for Guardians ; I try not to let pc’s be lukewarm about them if they will show up. Are the drakes fond of Guardians, do they resent them, etc.
Some connecting questions for players (or you):
What kind of magic was your guardian made out of? Did they look like a beast, dragon, or something else? What do guardian seeds look like? Did your Guardian’s choice for your house upset anyone?