I'm kind of torn between having good Dragons or having bad Dragons. Originally I had had Dragons being on the good side, but then I started reading some of Tolkien's books and sort of became converted to having Dragons being forces of darkness. What are your thoughts on this? Is there a way to have a balance of both good and evil Dragons?

I had always thought there were just good dragons and bad dragons. They could be both, in my opinion. Just depends on their role in the story.

Never thought of it that way before. Those are good.

I think it's totally possible to have both good and bad dragons. You must remember that there are good characters and bad characters. Why can't it be the same with dragons?

It may depend on where the dragons live. If they live in a world (or area) where there is plenty of literal darkness and loneliness, there is a pretty big chance they can become bitter. If they live in a bright sunny area, they may be happy to socialize with humans or other dragons.

Plus, keep in mind that personalities are all very different and often subject to change.

Thank you all for your posts. I especially liked the clarity in your post, Inesdar, for laying out the categories of Dragons.

I think I'll go with Elly's point of view, by having good and bad Dragons. And something like number two of Inesdar's category. Once again, thank you all for your insight in this.

Like what Elly and Inesdar said it really depends on your definition of dragons in your stories and the role they play in it. Since this thread is in people, races and tribes I'm assuming dragons have a human like role in your story. Why can't there be good and bad dragons. Since your dragons are human like, thinking people, they should have the choice themselves to do evil or good. You could have some good dragons and some bad dragons rather than a collective evil nature in dragons. But having Dragons with a human-like role is intruiging. I was wondering why the word dragon was in peoples, races and tribes. I have always seen them as wise beasts. I would like to hear more about your version of the classical dragon and their differences.

-Aeleknight

Either the dragons are intellegent and are a race of a sort, they are creatures of the dark side, or are normal animals.
So really it depends on what you want! I tend to think of them as just animals.

Ooh, Inesdar covered all of that already... sorry!

ok Aeleknight, when I get internet on the computer that has my book again I'll post something about them and some of my other races. It would probably be in Bestiary but I'll see when I'm done editing the copy.

Alright, cool. Can't wait to see it.

So, since you are planning on using number two, are you portraying dragons as fully sentient? How far will you take their "human" properties? What I mean is, I've seen some stories treat dragons as human, to the extent that they own property and so forth.

Yes my dragons are fully sentient, just as smart as humans, and capable of speech. Um..no, the only thing a dragon would own would be its gold. They can't really use their gold, I mean who would sell anything to a dragon? Not only that but they have no need of buying anything. They're greedy and tend to hoard things (such as gold) even if they can't use it.

Oh, okay! Cool. Just curious.

Really cool, Josiah!

How do they live? In large groups? Families? Solitary? Are they nomadic?

They tend to live in caves or abandoned Dwarf mines, and yes they are VERY solitary.

Ooh! I like that they live in abandoned dwarf mines. That is a very interesting tidbit.

I wonder how much, if any gold, the Dwarves leave behind Do the dragons prefer a cave where there'd be, say, gold in the walls, because it would make them feel richer?

Do they ever band together to accomplish something, say, drive dwarves out of a cave? Or do they stay alone even when it would benefit them to be together?

eru

To add to what the wise Sir Eru has already said:
Would a dragon mine the walls if it had gold or any other valuables in it?

And was that abandoned before, or after, the dragons came in! If you know what I mean

Normally they would have no preferences to a cave or Dwarf mine. And very very..VERY rarely would they band together to do anything, only if the need was quite dire. Um..no Aele I think they would just like that wall more Both Sven!

Understood.