Obtaining a Dragon

[Niezck]

So, I'm playing a mounted specialist (Warblade with The Demented One's Twin Spirit discipline, Dragonrider, Cavalier, etc) and I'd really, really want a dragon. However, as you can see from the above, none of my classes give me a mount thus far.

My current build is Warblade 9 / Cavalier 10 / Epic Hero* 1 / Dragonrider 1. The ECL for the campaign is 30 and we get 10,000 free XP to either be used by LA buyoff or for crafting, etc. Stats are 40 point buy. Anything printed is approved and homebrew is on a case-by-case basis.

So, yeah, I need help with a way to get a large dragon to ride into battle on. I could go for a dip into paladin and request some sort of homebrew feat that allows me to stack warblade levels for my mount, but that's not really preferable. Any suggestions, oh great playgrounders?

*The DM is allowing a homebrew-homebrew variant on Epic Hero (a homebrew class by The Demented One) to allow me to count my ECL as my warblade levels to determine maneuvers known/readied/stances known.

[Snake-Aes]

Dragon Cohort from draconomicon is a pretty straightforward way to get it.

[PapaNachos]

I would start by looking at Dragon Steed from the Draconomicon.

Edit: Actually that just gives a dragonnel.

Since your DM allows some homebrewing the easiest way might just be to ask him.

[Niezck]

Ah, I knew I forgot to mention something.

Indeed it would, but by the time most of the dragons are large enough to carry me, they'd want to "go start a family or adventure on their own" or whatever. It kinda sucks.

I'm trying to go for a way that gets the mount specifically bonded to me (animal companion, special mount, familiar, etc) so it won't simply run away half-way through the campaign.

EDIT: There's also no epic equivalent of Dragon Cohort/Steed. A homebrew one could be done quite easily, but then there aren't any dragons with HD+LA above 20, since most above juvenile don't have LA.

[taltamir]

how to obtain a dragon:
1. Be evil
2. Go to a slave market, where sentient beings are sold as slaves
3. Buy a dragon child.

Congrats, you now own a sentient slave. When the dragon is not serving as your mount, you can force it to assume its human form and abuse it. Avoid dragons, half dragons, paladins, and generally good characters... they will seek to free your slave.

[Greymane]

how to obtain a dragon:
1. Be evil
2. Go to a slave market, where sentient beings are sold as slaves
3. Buy a dragon child.

Congrats, you now own a sentient slave. When the dragon is not serving as your mount, you can force it to assume its human form and abuse it. Avoid dragons, half dragons, paladins, and generally good characters... they will seek to free your slave.

I want to know where your shop, because dragon-selling does not happen any place I know of, and if it did, the price would be horrific.

That said, according to Draconomicon, dragons have genetic memory, meaning all the knowledge of their parents and ancestors, they're born with. Makes it VERY hard to condition/enslave it.

[taltamir]

That said, according to Draconomicon, dragons have genetic memory, meaning all the knowledge of their parents and ancestors, they're born with. Makes it VERY hard to condition/enslave it.

That is new, I haven't come across that bit of info before... shouldn't they be born powerful wizards then?

BTW, the words "genetic memory" made my soul die a little... Also, I don't shop at slave marts, I raze them to the ground.

[2xMachina]

Meh, enslaving dragons are a bad idea.

The second they feel they don't like you, they can nom you. Or breathe on you. Or cast spells on you. Or throw you off while you're flying high.

Try be a small char. Easier to mount them. IIRC, a lvl 15+ small can have a dragon mount. Mediums is WAY harder.

[taltamir]

I agree that enslaving dragons is a bad idea... but how else would you actually get one to serve as your mount?

I guess you can always date a really kinky dragon :P...
mmm, lets develop that idea... find some BDSM shops who have match making services, find and woo a dragon in said BDSM matchmaking service.

[FelixG]

Well on the enslavement idea, you very well could buy a dragons egg then have raised it as a loyal companion/friend who fights alongside you and lets you ride him for convenience.

Best way to represent it...pick up dragon cohort...

[Flame of Anor]

Well on the enslavement idea, you very well could buy a dragons egg then have raised it as a loyal companion/friend who fights alongside you and lets you ride him for convenience.

Best way to represent it...pick up dragon cohort...

Or roleplay it well enough that you don't need a feat...

[Oslecamo]

I agree that enslaving dragons is a bad idea... but how else would you actually get one to serve as your mount?

Treasure. Filthy rich shiny treasure. All dragons love it.

Main problem is, dragons aren't pocket pets waiting for some master to arrive and befriend them. If anything, they see you as the pet, as they're stronger, smarter and more proud.

But dragons still love treasure. If you can prove to a dragon to a dragon that staying with you will result in material profit it's a big step to gaining their trust.

Then there's the little details like making sure you treat it with respect, matching his alignment and DO NOT EVER TREAT IT/HE/SHE AS A PET! Dragons are smart, wise and proud, probably more than your character, and they like their share of respect and boot-licking.

A good argument for you it's that dragons are very long lived. They easily live millenias.

So for a dragon, spending 50 years with an humanoid untill it retires from old age it's just a small part of his life, so he doesn't have much problem pairing up with an humanoid for decades or centuries.

[2xMachina]

Pick up a Wyvern rather than a dragon? They don't care too much. Just make sure you feed it enough.

[Oslecamo]

Pick up a Wyvern rather than a dragon? They don't care too much. Just make sure you feed it enough.

Dracomicon clearly states that they do care, and wyrmlings start to look for treasure just as they're out of their shells before they even start looking for food.

[lord_khaine]

I agree that enslaving dragons is a bad idea... but how else would you actually get one to serve as your mount?

I guess you can always date a really kinky dragon :P...
mmm, lets develop that idea... find some BDSM shops who have match making services, find and woo a dragon in said BDSM matchmaking service.

This is clearly the solution, i think your best bet is a silver dragon, they generaly like humans.

[dspeyer]

If you're ECL 30, then leadership allows an ECL 28 cohort, and Dragon Cohort is the same thing without followers but an ECL 31 cohort. You'll need to get your DM to house-rule level adjusts for ECL>20 dragons if you want one. Alternatively (and probably more powerfully), your mount could be a Young Gold Dragon with 11 levels in swordsage (yes, that means 9th level maneuvers). This also has the advantage of being large, instead of huge.

Given the amount of both bookkeeping and roleplaying from the mount, you might try to convince one of the other players to play it. Then you don't need feats, just negotiate with the other PC.

[Skeletor]

get a drake, much cooler than your standard dragon.

[Koboldshroud]

Owwwwkay. Havnt read anything in this but heres my idea, seeing as you 'raise' slave markets to the ground, why dont you request from yuor dm to find a dragon egg in the place whike demolishing it, then take the egg with you :)

[Niezck]

Okay I've managed to grab myself a 20 HD dragon through this epic destiny.

Now I need advice on build if at all possible:

So far I've got Warblade 9 / Cavalier 10 / Epic Hero 1 / Dragonrider 1 / Lion Totem (CChamp) Barbarian 1

Got 8 levels to burn.