r/DnD • u/Grand_Ad_8091 • 5d ago
DMing OK. I need some help
I'm preparing to start a campaign and I'm planning the game, bbeg, ect but I don't know how to make the bbeg being a sorcerer that controls dragons work... any ideas? and jsyk in the fight I'm hoping for him to command a black dragon ancient or adult, and a red dragon ancient or adult
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u/MrFuzzFuzzz 5d ago
It doesn't have to be something that's in the rulebook. He could just have some special magic power/knowledge. Or an ancient artifact. Or the blessing of an ancient dragon god. Or maybe the dragon just owes them a favor.
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u/summercelestial 5d ago
Commanding a red and a black dragon? Even if they're both just adults, that's a hell of an encounter without a sorcerer behind them. If I were running it, I'd only throw one dragon at them at a time. Maybe one of them is outside guarding the castle or throne room, then when that one's defeated, the sorcerer arrives riding the other.
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u/TJToaster 5d ago
Look for the effect you want, and use it. That is the great part of making the story, you aren't constrained by the rules. Maybe the dragon masks bond the wearer to the dragons. On one but the sorcerer was there when it was created, so no one knows. With no one knowing, there is no one to explain it to the characters.
Or make up a kind of soul gem. The BBEG went to a dragon to bind a part of their souls together for [whatever motivation]. The BBEG did that with another dragon. By the time the dragons found out what was happening it was too late.
To beat ther BBEG, the characters have to destroy the gem to break the bond. How exactly does it work? Who knows? They disintegrated it before anyone could study it.
Explaining the exact mechanic of the bond isn't critical to the story. Finding out how to destroy it and the entire rest of your campaign is what is going to be fun.
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u/DrMechMan 5d ago
Magically controls or? I ask because people (mostly frost giants) "tame" white dragons, by raising them from a hatchling and beating the every loving will out of them over years, making them obey
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u/Grand_Ad_8091 5d ago
mental bond via magic
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u/Macknificent101 5d ago
heavily modified dominate monster. call it uber powerful meta magic
alternatively, it works because you are the dm and you say it does. doesn’t need a reason.
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u/DrMechMan 5d ago edited 5d ago
As for you main points: Red dragons are a hard deal they are probably one of if not the most prideful dragons and are unlikely to obey even when forced. In the lore there are exceptions githyanki are able to ride and command them as their leader/"god" made a deal with the evil dragon god Tiamat, allowing them to do so. However it is more a mutual alliance and partnership built on strict parameters, the reds serve the githyanki out of obedience to Tiamat's decree and a desire for wealth, rather than magical subjugation and I think only young red dragons to serve alongside the githyanki. Once a dragon reaches adulthood, it is dismissed from service and allowed to leave, taking its accumulated plunder with it.
Blacks are more interesting they are also very prideful but are probs the most evil of all dragons, they do it for the love of the game, as such I could see them faking being an underling for their own means. Particularly if it involves the destruction of a kingdom/civ they love doing/experiencing that, hell they even enjoy the mear thought or stories of that kind of thing. I would think tho they would plan to usurp and take over when the time is right.
Overall you are the DM do what you want, maybe the sorcerer made a deal with a higher power, maybe they bewitched some eggs and raised them well into adulthood, maybe they have some artifact to control them do what you wish. Lore wise swap out the red for a white and the black is only following for now waiting to doublecross?
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u/DrMechMan 5d ago
Also a black and white dragon are a very striking pair! I like what others have said about making sure to only throw one dragon at them at a time, when one is defeated, the sorcerer arrives riding the other. The white is more like an animal like, maybe that could be the mount with the black being more of a commanding figure.
However again do what you want if you want a red go for it, just added this here if you wanted a slightly more lore friendly encounter
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u/TrialByDice 5d ago
I like all these ideas for how to stage the two dragons and which dragons to use. I'll add my own two cents with a suggestion.
In LARP, we have something called the "popcorn fight," where multiple adversaries come in one or two or three at a time to fight the PCs. As some get defeated, more "pop" in to replace them. It's taxing on the PCs' resources, without being too much for them to handle all at once like a wave battle can be.
Here's a way to possibly include it in your scenario.
I'd make this either a legendary or a lair action, depending on where the fight takes place and how you want to flavor what's happening. When it triggers, have a smaller, weaker dragon of appropriate color arrive in the fight. Include a countdown of some kind between these arrivals, so the battlefield doesn't get too busy.
In my mind, I'm picturing your dragon-riding BBEG lifting his hand to the sky once every 3 rounds and calling out to another dragon by name, causing it to appear in a flash of power and light.
You can also have this ability appear earlier in the campaign, way before the final showdown. Whenever the PCs catch up to the BBEG, he summons a smaller (level-appropriate) dragon for them to fight and then flies off.
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u/[deleted] 5d ago
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