Age Of Dragons: Core Framework
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Contents
Overview of Core Framework
CORE FRAMEWORK:
- Framework: Select Draconic Breed
- Framework: Record Birthrights and Flaws
- Framework: Determine Age
- Framework: Record Puissance
- Framework: Select Lifepath
Select Draconic Breed
In the default Age of Dragons setting there are twelve Dragon Breeds to select from:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
You can select any one of the Draconic Breeds for your dragon, but players should be aware of several caveats:
- 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.
- 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.
Before you select your Breed, it is advisable to refer to the Chapter on the Twelve Dragon Breeds.
Record Birthrights and Flaws
All dragons have certain birthrights, some of which result from their shared draconic nature and some from their specific breeds. Additionally, each Breed has its own flaws. These should be recorded on your character sheet.
Inherent Draconic Birthrights
All dragons have the following birthrights:
- Flight
All dragons can fly, through a mix of physical propulsion (using their wings) and through the power of their pneuma. A dragon can launch himself skywards from a standing jump, and once airborne has a high degree of manoeuvrability. A dragon can "hover" on the spot by beating his wings downwards, can ascend or descend vertically or at an incline, and can attain a cross-country speed of around sixty or seventy miles per hour in high atmosphere (though some dragons can fly far faster thanks to exceptional training). A dragon can fly up to thirty to thirty five miles per hour while still retaining full manoeuvrability, can happily fly upside down, make loops, barrel rolls, or even pinpoint turns.
- Dragonscale
A dragon's scales are entirely fireproof. Though dragons can feel heat it does them no harm, and many find the sensation of intense heat quite pleasing. This protection also extends to their eyes, thanks to a hard nicitating membrane, though not to the insides of their mouths.
These protections apply only to a living dragon - the shed or corpse-looted scales of a dragon are still extremely heat resistant, but they are not fireproof. Note also that dragons still need to breathe, and suffer the effects of smoke inhalation as do all living creatures, though the protection their eye membranes afford means that smoke does not make their eyes sting.
Dragons ignore all damage from sources with the Flame Attack keyword.
Breed Birthrights and Flaws
Refer to the Chapter on the Twelve Dragon Breeds for more on individual Breed Birthrights and Flaws.
Determine Age
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.
It is suggested that you use the random method - though the difference in age may result in some small disparity in power progression, the difference will be minimal.
- To determine age randomly, roll ten six sided dice, total the scores, and add one hundred. This will give you an age in years between 106 years and 160 years.
Record Experience
Starting Dragon characters are assumed to have not yet come into the fullness of their power. They start with a Experience Rating of 1.
This rating is a combination of life experience, inherent arcane power and learnt mastery of lifeskills. A dragon with greater Experience can access and unlock more powerful features from any Lifepaths they follow.
Experience can increase, most commonly through simple ageing. With every century of age a dragon gains +1 Experience.
- Age 0-99 years, Experience 0
- Age 100-199 years, Experience 1. This is where characters start.
- Age 200-299 years, Experience 2
- Age 300-399 years, Experience 3
- Age 400-499 years, Experience 4
- Age 500-599 years, Experience 5
- ...and so on.
Dragons will reach Experience of 10 at 1000 years, and will likely die from Senescence before they get any further.
The Experience score never falls, but it is possible to forgo an experience gain in exchange for some other benefit.
For example, whenever a dragon would gain a point of Experience, he can instead choose to gain a new Lifepath instead.
Select Lifepath or Lifepaths
Select one Lifepath - this represents the direction in which your Dragon has specialised in during his early life.
The full list of Lifepaths can be found here: Link to Lifepaths
As time goes by, your Dragon may pursue several different Lifepaths, or he may choose to remain on his initial path.
A few special Lifepaths have entry prerequisites that you can pursue them, which are normally story-related goals. You cannot pick any of these lifepaths as your starting lifepath.
On the section of your Character Sheet labelled "Lifepaths", write down any and all Lifepaths your character has.
