Difference between revisions of "Dragons"

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(removed "mage" qualifier from "little in the game that a dragon should fear". Superfluous)
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== Comments ==
 
== Comments ==
  
In March 2013 [[Chromatic Dragons]] were added as an [[:Category: Evolutionary Races |evolutionary]] option.
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First, dragons get a lot of health.  Even as casters, dragons' hit points can surpass those of smaller-race brutes at hero.  Their high health pools, combined with the very high [[Dexterity |dexterity]] and [[Racial Armorancient|racial armorancient]], the best racial armor available, make dragons formidable opponents for most low mortal and hero enemies. 
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Second, dragons get the third most mana, behind the much squishier [[High Elf|high elves]] and [[sprites]].  Dragons also get a 10% [[Racial Spell Cost Modifier | spell cost]] reduction, typical among the "smart" races, as well as an ''additional'' 5.56% (exactly 85/90) reduction in psionic spell costs.  Naturally, they are no-fail at 95% (meaning their adepted spells will never not execute, regardless of their effect).  Dragons also have very fast mana regeneration due to their high [[Intelligence |intelligence]].
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Third, dragons have a very good [[Racial Damage Modifier | melee damage modifier]], complimented by the oft-neglected [[Racial Fly | racial fly]], which grants "a small chance to negate enemies' dodge attempts".
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These strengths are counterbalanced by negative [[Racial Stealth Modifier | stealth]] and [[Racial Archery Modifier |archery]] modifiers.
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However, the real counterbalance to dragons' general awesomeness is their ''whopping'' 10,000 [[TNL]]. While [[Ents |ent]] TNL is higher, at 20,000, ents have the unique [[Racial Earth-Embrace | earth-embrace]] racial, which mitigates XP loss on [[Death |death]].  A [[Quixoltan |Qxl]]-[[Worship |worshiping]] dragon that dies at low TNL can easily lose 14-15k XP in a single stroke (or even 25-35K if dying while affected by [[Tainted Genius |tainted genius]] without a [[Death Shroud |death shroud]]). As a result, '''dragons level very slowly''' and carefully.  Lording a dragon may well be a year-long enterprise, should you focus on that character alone.  If you desire to create a multiple [[Remort |remort]] character, always leave the dragon (racial) remort for last!
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=== Well-Suited Dragon Classes ===
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Dragons generally make excellent fighters and spell casters. 
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As brutes, their durability and damage make them welcome tanks and hitters.  Meanwhile, their high mana pools and no-fail casting allow them to provide utility unmatched by most of the other respected brute races, which arguably make dragons particularly good [[:Category: Paladins |paladins]].
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High-level dragon [[:Category: Monks |monks]] and [[:Category: Shadowfists |shadowfists]] are incredibly resilient (though not immortal) and reap the benefit of [[Racial Claw | ferocious claws]].
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Stat-wise, dragon [[:Category: Mages |mages]] at hero 999 should have about 9k/5.5k health/mana, about double the health of an elf mage, and dragon [[:Category: Wizards |wizards]] should have about 8k/7.2k.
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Some argue that dragons make the best [[:Category: Psionicists |psionicists]], due to the combination of their psionic spell cost reduction, racial armor (mitigating the loss of armor due to the fact that psi's typically run in DR gear, as opposed to the AC gear generally worn by other casters), and melee damage modifier (which influences psionic spells like [[Dancing Weapon | dancing weapon]]).
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=== Ill-Suited Dragon Classes ===
  
There are not a lot of things that dragons do '''not''' excel at, so listing those first:
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Dragons fail about 20% of their stabs due to their lack of stealthiness, making them generally poor [[:Category: Assassins |assassins]] and [[:Category: Rogues |rogues]] (despite their high intelligence).  [[Black Dragons | Black dragons]] are stealthier than other dragons, so this caveat may not apply to them, although their racial damage modifier is slightly lower than that of other dragons.
  
Stabbing as a rogue or assassin is a no-go for dragons. They are large (ruling out fusilier) and [[Racial Stealth Modifier | not very stealthy]], and will fail 20% of the time due to stealth failures alone. Also, they have a [[Racial Archery Modifier | negative archery modifier]] so archers and druids are not recommended.
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Dragon [[:Category: Bladedancers |bladedancers]] have significantly higher bladetrance costs, due to the combination of their poor stealth and their [[Racial Size |enormity]].
  
As spellcasters, dragons are fantastic. High mana pools (in third place behind [[sprites]] and [[High Elf|high elves]]), with high hp (that can surpass smaller-race warriors at hero), combined with [[Racial Armorancient|armorancient]], means there is little in the game a dragon should fear at low mortal or hero (but not Lord). Mages at hero 999 should have about 9k/5.5k and wizards about 8k/7.2k (actual numbers are subject to worship and random gain probability factor, but can be taken as a rough guideline), which is almost twice as much HP as an elf mage would have. Dragons get a 10% spell cost reduction that is typical among "smart" races, as well as a 5.56% (exactly 85/90) reduction in psionic spell costs on top of that. Naturally, they are no-fail at 95%.
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Dragons [[:Category: Archers |archers]] and [[:Category: Druids |druids]] will be frustrated by their negative archery mod's, and dragon [[:Category: Fusiliers |fusiliers]] will be even further limited due to their inability ''ever'' to be [[Underfoot |underfoot]].
  
Given their regular [[Racial Spell Cost Modifier | spell cost reduction]], additional psionic spells reduction, racial armor ancient (as most psis run in dr hit gear), nofail casting, and [[Racial Damage Modifier | melee damage modifier]], dragons make probably the best [[:Category: Psionicists |psionicists]] possible.
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=== Chromatic Dragons ===
  
As brutes, their incredible mana pools make them effective paladins, but even as berserkers their armor and racial damage bonus will easily make them beloved groupmates.
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In March 2013 [[Chromatic Dragons]] were added as an [[:Category: Evolutionary Races |evolutionary]] option.
  
When tanking, they are very hardy monksBladedancer is not recommended, as their large size and poor stealth impair their bladetrance costs.
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Standard dragons are Red DragonsOther available chroma include: [[Blue Dragons | Blue]], [[Green Dragons | Green]], [[White Dragons |White]], and [[Black Dragons |Black]].
  
Overall, there is much to be said about the dragon's awesomeness - good gains, excellent regeneration speed, etc, but there is also the singular downside that matters - a whopping 10k TNL.
 
  
While apparently not as bad as an Ent's 20k, dragons do not have the benefit of racial-earthembrace, and a Qxl worshiper dying at low tnl can easily lose 14-15k xp in a single stroke (or 25-35K if wearing tainted genius without death shroud). As a result dragons level very slowly, and carefully. If you desire to do a double remort, always leave the dragon (racial) remort for last since lording a dragon may well be a yearly enterprise, should you focus on that character alone.
 
  
 
[[Category: Remort Races]]
 
[[Category: Remort Races]]

Revision as of 00:39, 26 October 2014

Dragon Statistics Tables
Lowmort-Tier Dragon Statistics by Class
bzk, bod, pal,
war
asn, mag, mnd,
psi, sor, wzd
cle, dru, prs
arc, bci, fus,
mon, rog, shf
ran
Str 18–25 (28) 17–22 (25) 17–22 (25) 17–22 (25) 17–22 (25)
Int 16–21 (24) 17–24 (27) 16–21 (24) 16–21 (24) 16–21 (24)
Wis 13–18 (21) 13–18 (21) 14–21 (24) 13–18 (21) 13–18 (21)
Dex 15–20 (23) 15–20 (23) 15–20 (23) 16–23 (26) 15–20 (23)
Con 16–21 (24) 16–21 (24) 16–21 (24) 16–21 (24) 17–24 (27)
Hero-Tier Dragon Statistics by Class
bzk, bod, pal,
war
asn, mag, mnd,
psi, sor, wzd
cle, dru, prs
arc, bci, fus,
mon, rog, shf
ran
Str 25–30 (33) 22–24 (27) 22–24 (27) 22–24 (27) 22–24 (27)
Int 21–23 (26) 24–29 (32) 21–23 (26) 21–23 (26) 21–23 (26)
Wis 18–20 (23) 18–20 (23) 21-26 (29) 18–20 (23) 18–20 (23)
Dex 20–22 (25) 20–22 (25) 20–22 (25) 23–28 (31) 20–22 (25)
Con 21–23 (26) 21–23 (26) 21–23 (26) 21–23 (26) 24–29 (32)
NOTES: numbers in each cell above are initial trained value – maximum trainable value (maximum allowable value for non-devotees); class prime requisites are green.

Dragons are legendary and mystical reptilian creatures that, in time, can become some of the most powerful creatures in the realm. A full grown dragon stands taller than most races, is covered with protective scales, has large leathery wings, a powerful tail, long sharp claws, and the ability to utilize a distinctive breath weapon against their opponents. Dragons are both physically powerful and adept at magic. They tend to excel at every endeavour, but while they may be strong, they really progress in power quite slowly. Dragons are only available through the remort command.

  • Abbreviation: Drg.

Comments

First, dragons get a lot of health. Even as casters, dragons' hit points can surpass those of smaller-race brutes at hero. Their high health pools, combined with the very high dexterity and racial armorancient, the best racial armor available, make dragons formidable opponents for most low mortal and hero enemies.

Second, dragons get the third most mana, behind the much squishier high elves and sprites. Dragons also get a 10% spell cost reduction, typical among the "smart" races, as well as an additional 5.56% (exactly 85/90) reduction in psionic spell costs. Naturally, they are no-fail at 95% (meaning their adepted spells will never not execute, regardless of their effect). Dragons also have very fast mana regeneration due to their high intelligence.

Third, dragons have a very good melee damage modifier, complimented by the oft-neglected racial fly, which grants "a small chance to negate enemies' dodge attempts".

These strengths are counterbalanced by negative stealth and archery modifiers.

However, the real counterbalance to dragons' general awesomeness is their whopping 10,000 TNL. While ent TNL is higher, at 20,000, ents have the unique earth-embrace racial, which mitigates XP loss on death. A Qxl-worshiping dragon that dies at low TNL can easily lose 14-15k XP in a single stroke (or even 25-35K if dying while affected by tainted genius without a death shroud). As a result, dragons level very slowly and carefully. Lording a dragon may well be a year-long enterprise, should you focus on that character alone. If you desire to create a multiple remort character, always leave the dragon (racial) remort for last!

Well-Suited Dragon Classes

Dragons generally make excellent fighters and spell casters.

As brutes, their durability and damage make them welcome tanks and hitters. Meanwhile, their high mana pools and no-fail casting allow them to provide utility unmatched by most of the other respected brute races, which arguably make dragons particularly good paladins.

High-level dragon monks and shadowfists are incredibly resilient (though not immortal) and reap the benefit of ferocious claws.

Stat-wise, dragon mages at hero 999 should have about 9k/5.5k health/mana, about double the health of an elf mage, and dragon wizards should have about 8k/7.2k.

Some argue that dragons make the best psionicists, due to the combination of their psionic spell cost reduction, racial armor (mitigating the loss of armor due to the fact that psi's typically run in DR gear, as opposed to the AC gear generally worn by other casters), and melee damage modifier (which influences psionic spells like dancing weapon).

Ill-Suited Dragon Classes

Dragons fail about 20% of their stabs due to their lack of stealthiness, making them generally poor assassins and rogues (despite their high intelligence). Black dragons are stealthier than other dragons, so this caveat may not apply to them, although their racial damage modifier is slightly lower than that of other dragons.

Dragon bladedancers have significantly higher bladetrance costs, due to the combination of their poor stealth and their enormity.

Dragons archers and druids will be frustrated by their negative archery mod's, and dragon fusiliers will be even further limited due to their inability ever to be underfoot.

Chromatic Dragons

In March 2013 Chromatic Dragons were added as an evolutionary option.

Standard dragons are Red Dragons. Other available chroma include: Blue, Green, White, and Black.