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=Overview of Core Framework=
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==Overview of Core Framework==
  
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* '''Breed Ratings:''' Record your Pneuma, Soma and Sophia as determined by breed.
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'''CORE FRAMEWORK:'''
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* '''Variations:''' Add +1 to one Sphere, and deduct -1 from one Sphere.
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* Framework: Select Draconic Breed
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* '''Energy Pools:''' Record Soul, Physical and Mental energy
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* Framework: Determine Age
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* Framework: Select Lifepath, or Lifepaths
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* Framework: Determine Experience Level in each Lifepath
 
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=The Three Spheres=
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==Select Draconic Breed==
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<br>In the default '''Age of Dragons''' setting there are twelve Dragon Breeds to select from:
  
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There are three '''Sphere''' ratings which reflect a Dragon's power.
 
  
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'''Soma''' is the sphere of the physical, reflecting the power of the dragon's flesh, muscle and bone. Draconic breeds with stronger ''Soma'' tend to be physically adept generally, with greater strength, toughness and agility.
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* '''Pure Dragons''' are white-scaled, and believe themselves to be the most blessed children of the Mother Goddess, and with the most divine blood. They are filled with holy purpose and grace, and are greater in faith and purity of purpose than any others.
  
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'''Sophia''' is the sphere of the mental, reflecting the power of the dragon's mind. Draconic breeds with stronger ''Sophia'' tend to be mentally adept generally, with greater willpower, knowledge and awareness.
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* '''Argent Dragons''' are silver-scaled, militaristic and hierarchical. They are strong advocates of the rule of law, and strongly dislike disobedience and anarchy. They consider themselves to be the noblest and most disciplined of all dragons.
  
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'''Pneuma''' is the sphere of breath, reflecting the power of the dragon's soul. Draconic belief has it that breath is the source of magic, of beauty and of inner creativity. Draconic breeds with stronger ''Pneuma'' tend to be more magically adept, more passionate, more creative and more emotionally intelligent.
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* '''Solar Dragons''' are gold-scaled, and are dedicated to the precepts of harmony and prosperity through peace. They enjoy resolving conflicts through peaceful means, and have the most skilled ambassadors of dragonkind in their number. Despite this, they are not afraid to defend themselves and their allies, and have many skilled warriors in their number.
  
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Note that a Sphere Rating of 5 is average for Dragons.
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* '''Hunter Dragons''' are bronze-scaled, feral and barbaric. They prefer an older, more-primal way of life and have nothing but disdain for the civilised fops of the more cerebral breeds. Instinct and the way of the predator rule their culture and behaviour.
  
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Humans, in contrast, tend to have an average Soma rating of 1, Pneuma of 3 and a Sophia of 3. As a result:
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* '''Forest Dragons''' are green-scaled, spiritualist and insular. They have humility enough to recognise that dragons are merely one facet of the world's complex web of life, and pride enough to accept responsibility as life's guardians and masters.
  
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* Almost all dragons are much more powerful physically than even the strongest of humans.
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* '''Storm Dragons''' are blue-scaled, and for the most part dwell beneath the horizon in the depths of the ocean. Their lifestyle makes them seem alien and enigmatic to other breeds, as their aquatic realm is a mystery to skybound dragons.
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* A magically or socially inept dragon might be outmanoeuvred by a talented human, but normally dragons will have greater arcane strength and social mastery.
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* A particularly slow witted dragon could therefore be as mentally weak as the smartest of humans, but even this dragon would be considered bright by human standards.
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* '''Ashen Dragons''' are dark grey-scaled, haughty and imperialistic. They consider themselves to be better-bred, more intelligent and superior to all other breeds, and take pride in standing alone and apart from Dragonkind.
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* '''Velvet Dragons''' are purple-scaled, and are the most beautiful and sensuous of all dragons. They are renowned for their ability to seduce and persuade, but also have a reputation as masters of lies.
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* '''Chimerical Dragons''' are rainbow-scaled, ephemeral and enigmatic. They are the Dragons of Dream, and have a complexity of agenda and motivation that is positively labyrinthine. Others respect their mystical wisdom, but often see them as lacking in solidity and greater significance.
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* '''Ghost Dragons''' are pale grey-scaled, and are well known as master scholars, but are often seen as eerie and unsettling by other breeds. Their numbers have been decimated by the Ascendancy, and the breed has been reduced to little more than enclaves of scattered survivors and refugees.
  
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=Breed Ratings=
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* '''Blood Dragons''' are red-scaled, and dedicated to the perfection of war and slaughter. Their bloodlust and aggression is second to none, and their dragonbreath burns as hot as their fiery tempers. They live to kill, and would rather destroy than create, and all fear them.
  
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Your base rating is determined by your Draconic Breed.
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* '''Sable Dragons''' are black-scaled, and are recognised as being ambitious, intellectual, magically potent and strong leaders. They have a certain darkness in their soul, however, and it is a rare Sable who does not have a touch of immorality and spite within him.
  
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The twelve main choices for Breed have Sphere ratings as follows:
 
  
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    * Pure Dragons:  Soma 4, Sophia 6, Pneuma 5,
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You can select any one of the ''Draconic Breeds'' for your dragon, but players should be aware of several caveats:
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    * Argent Dragons:  Soma 6, Sophia 5, Pneuma 4,
 
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    * Solar Dragons:  Soma 5, Sophia 4, Pneuma 6,
 
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    * Hunter Dragons:  Soma 6, Sophia 4, Pneuma 5,
 
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    * Forest Dragons:  Soma 4, Sophia 5, Pneuma 6,
 
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    * Storm Dragons:  Soma 5, Sophia 6, Pneuma 4,
 
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    * Ashen Dragons:  Soma 6, Sophia 5, Pneuma 4,
 
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    * Velvet Dragons:  Soma 5, Sophia 4, Pneuma 6,
 
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    * Chimerical Dragons:  Soma 4, Sophia 6, Pneuma 5,
 
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    * Ghost Dragons:   Soma 4, Sophia 5, Pneuma 6,
 
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    * Blood Dragons:  Soma 6, Sophia 4, Pneuma 5,
 
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    * Sable Dragons :  Soma 5, Sophia 6, Pneuma 4,
 
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=Variations=
 
  
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Now, select one of your Sphere ratings and add +1 to it.
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* The default assumption is that player characters are with the ''Alliance'', and certain breeds are better represented in this faction. However, this is not an absolute limitation, and dragons of all breeds can be found in all factions. The occasional Sable Dragon has found his way to the ''Alliance'', just as heretical Pure Dragons sometimes ally with the ''Ascendancy''.
  
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Then, select one of your Sphere ratings and deduct -1 from it.
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* Under the official metaplot, certain breeds have very dark destinies. Every Breed will face certain unique trials and tribulations, but the most dramatic upheavals are reserved for the ''Ashen'', ''Chimerical'' and ''Ghost'' breeds. Players who choose these options should be aware that the future may take them and their breeds in unexpected directions.
  
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Note that these selections can, if you want, be on the same Sphere. Doing this will make your dragon average for his breed.
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Before you select your Breed, it is advisable to refer to the [[Age_Of_Dragons:_The_Twelve_Breeds|Chapter on the Twelve Dragon Breeds.]]
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==Determine Age==
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<br>The default assumption for the game is that the players are (initially at least) depicting dragons that are fairly young, but out of childhood. Players can either agree a certain age with the GM for their characters, or determine their ages randomly.
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<br><br>It is suggested that you use the random method - though the difference in age can result in some disparity in initial power, sooner or later every player character will die, and have to be replaced by another, and every player will gain the roleplaying experience of playing a weaker or stronger dragon at different times.
 
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=Energy Pools=
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*'''To determine age randomly, roll ten six sided dice, total the scores, and add fifty.''' This will give you an age in years between '''56 years and 110 years'''.
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Older dragons tend to have stronger attributes, and will of course have greater life experiences to draw upon. On the other hand, thanks to a phenomenon known as the ''"Birthing Sickness"'', dragons who have had offspring will tend to be weaker than other dragons of a similar age. This is covered in more detail on a separate page, but the effects can be summarised as follows:
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* At 250, 500 and 750 years of age, add +1 to the dragon's ''Soma, Pneuma'' and ''Sophis''.
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* For every egg that the Dragon has been parent to (either as mother or father), deduct -1 from the Dragon's ''Pneuma'' attribute.
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* At 1000 years of age, deduct -1 from the dragon's ''Pneuma'' attribute, and continue to do so each 50 years thereafter.
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Note that dragons of course grow stronger with age gradually, and that the attribute increases at 250, 500 and 750 years are loose representations of growing power over time, rather than sudden acceleration in growth.
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See the section on [[Age_Of_Dragons:_Legacies|Legacies]] for more details on the ''Birthing Sickness''.
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Finally, record your Energy Pools.
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==Select Lifepath, or Lifepaths==
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Assign the years of your Dragon's life to one or more ''Lifepaths''.  
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The full list of Lifepaths can be found here: [[Age_Of_Dragons:_Lifepaths|Link to Lifepaths]]
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The first fifty years of your dragon's life must be assigned to the ''Neonate Dragon'' ''Lifepath'', and beyond this first 50 years, you cannot remain on or return to the ''Neonate Dragon'' ''Lifepath''.
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Beyond this you are generally free to select any ''Lifepaths'' you choose.
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A few special ''Lifepaths'' have entry prerequisites that you can pursue them, which are normally story-related goals.
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Also, between each change in Lifepaths, you must have a ''Transition Time'' of 10 years. This is reduced to 5 years if you are returning to a Lifepath that you have been on previously in your life, and is waived entirely for your first Lifepath after being a Neonate Dragon.
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List your ''Lifepaths'' chronologically on the character sheet. For example, if your Dragon is 100 years old, your timeline to date may appear as follows:
  
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Your initial and maximum '''Physical Energy''' is equal to your '''Soma''' sphere.
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* Birth to 50 years (50 years total): Neonate Dragon
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* 50 years to 74 years (24 years total): Warmaster
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* 74 years to 84 years: Transition Period
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* 84 years to 100 years (16 years total): Scholar Sage
  
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Your initial and maximum '''Mental Energy''' is equal to your '''Sophia''' sphere.
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Obviously, its worth noting that straying across too many Lifepaths costs you a lot of time in transition. For this reason, most Dragons pursue only a handful of Lifepaths during their lifespan, rather than trying to be too broad in focus.
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Your initial and maximum '''Soul Energy''' is equal to your '''Pneuma''' sphere.
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==Determine Experience Level in each Lifepath==
  
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Whereas Spheres are fixed stats, your Energy Pools will fluctuate during the game as you engage in conflicts or carry out actions.
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''Age of Dragons'' is a little unusual in that player characters start with experience points (XP), associated with each Lifepath.
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By default, at character generation you receive 1XP to a Lifepath for each year you have spent on it. For example, if you have spent 54 years as a War Dragon, you gain 54 points of War Dragon XP.
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The exception to this is the ''Neonate Dragon'' lifepath. Characters do not receive experience during this Lifepath.
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In addition to this, each character receives a bonus 20XP which he can divide across any of his Lifepaths.
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For example, if has spent 30 years as a War Dragon and 16 years as a Farsky Ranger, he would have a default of 30 War Dragon XP and 16 Farsky Ranger XP. He could then choose to put 15 bonus XP into War Dragon, and 5 into Farsky Ranger, giving him a total of 45 War Dragon XP and 21 Farsky Ranger XP.
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This is called the "Interesting Times" bonus, and represents the Dragon living through times when he was especially challenged, and likely facing danger and conflict frequently. Like any living being, Dragons are forced to learn faster in these circumstances.
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The GM can choose to vary the size of the "Interesting Times" bonus, if he wants the players to play especially weathered or naiive Dragons in his campaign.
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Note though that no Dragon can ever receive total XP more than twice his total age. For example, a two hundred and seven year old dragon cannot have received more than four hundred and fourteen XP in total.
 
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XP can be spent to buy ''Lifepath Milestones''.
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[[Category:Age_of_Dragons|Core Framework]]
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[[Category:Age_of_Dragons]]

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