D&D 5E Crossbreed Dragons

[Minigiant]

My setting allows chromatic dragons to mate with other chromatics of different colors. The same with metallic dragons and other metallics. It's rare as dragons are weird about mating. The offspring of two different colors spawns a new color type of dragon due to the fusing of the raw energies of dragonkind. For the most part I used dragons of D&D past for the new hybrids and crossbreeds.

Red and Blue dragons parings produce Purple dragons. The fusion of fire and electricity creates a cone of raw force an alters their immunity to force damage. They have the superiority complex of the reds and the manipulative nature of blues.

Black and white creates grey dragons. The cold aspects of the white harden the acid of the black into a oozes which both corrodes and immobilizes. They combine the feral white and bargaining black into a gray, greedy, brute.

I was unsure on what to do with Red/Green. I decided go by pigments, red and green combines into a brown dragon. The fire could cause a reaction in the poisons gas to solidify it into a sharp sandlike substance instantly. The wavy crest moves from the head and spine to the wings.

Due to 5e having 6 saves and more formalized damage types (necrotic, radiant, sonic, psychic), more options for the effect of new dragons are available. The additional of dragonborn from 4th edition allows for players to get in on the action. And you can do anything because magic dragons.

To make the idea interesting, what are your ideas for crossbreed dragons?
Their color, looks, breath weapons, resistances, immunities, weaknesses, personalities, tactics, and favorite terrains.

 

[Fanaelialae]

My setting allows chromatic dragons to mate with other chromatics of different colors. The same with metallic dragons and other metallics. It's rare as dragons are weird about mating. The offspring of two different colors spawns a new color type of dragon due to the fusing of the raw energies of dragonkind. For the most part I used dragons of D&D past for the new hybrids and crossbreeds.

Red and Blue dragons parings produce Purple dragons. The fusion of fire and electricity creates a cone of raw force an alters their immunity to force damage. They have the superiority complex of the reds and the manipulative nature of blues.

Black and white creates grey dragons. The cold aspects of the white harden the acid of the black into a oozes which both corrodes and immobilizes. They combine the feral white and bargaining black into a gray, greedy, brute.

I was unsure on what to do with Red/Green. I decided go by pigments, red and green combines into a brown dragon. The fire could cause a reaction in the poisons gas to solidify it into a sharp sandlike substance instantly. The wavy crest moves from the head and spine to the wings.

Due to 5e having 6 saves and more formalized damage types (necrotic, radiant, sonic, psychic), more options for the effect of new dragons are available. The additional of dragonborn from 4th edition allows for players to get in on the action. And you can do anything because magic dragons.

To make the idea interesting, what are your ideas for crossbreed dragons?
Their color, looks, breath weapons, resistances, immunities, weaknesses, personalities, tactics, and favorite terrains.

In a campaign using a homebrew system, I had a set of racial templates for the creation of a race. It was inspired by 4e Gamma World, so you could pick two templates and combine them to determine your race.

One of my players picked red dragon and ice element (the result of the unlikely pairing of a red and a white dragon). He was a pink dragon whose hatred of his own existence was rivaled only by his hate of other dragons. It was a classic "boy named Sue" concept and created a lot of fun moments during play. In his case, due to how the templates were set up, he could make both fire and ice attacks.

However, I could see a type of red/white dragon that has no breath weapon (fire and ice cancel each other out), but rather combines the brutish mindset of a white with the raw savagery of a red. A physically powerful berserking dragon. Who is pink, and very touchy about the subject. I'll admit, it's a bit silly and certainly not appropriate for every campaign, but the concept amuses me.

 

[Minigiant]

In a campaign using a homebrew system, I had a set of racial templates for the creation of a race. It was inspired by 4e Gamma World, so you could pick two templates and combine them to determine your race.

One of my players picked red dragon and ice element (the result of the unlikely pairing of a red and a white dragon). He was a pink dragon whose hatred of his own existence was rivaled only by his hate of other dragons. It was a classic "boy named Sue" concept and created a lot of fun moments during play. In his case, due to how the templates were set up, he could make both fire and ice attacks.

However, I could see a type of red/white dragon that has no breath weapon (fire and ice cancel each other out), but rather combines the brutish mindset of a white with the raw savagery of a red. A physically powerful berserking dragon. Who is pink, and very touchy about the subject. I'll admit, it's a bit silly and certainly not appropriate for every campaign, but the concept amuses me.

My idea for a red/white would be that the fire and cold cancel out and the red/white (Pink or Rose) dragon has a breath weapon of pure air. Cone. STR Save or be pushed back several feet and be knocked prone.

Or you could go breathless as you said and they get a rage strike that has advantage, deals bonus damage, and gives resistances for a turn. Pinks as Banner/Hulk dragons would be hilarious.

But I agree. Definitely a physically powerful berserking dragon who absolutely flips out if you challenge his or her superiority.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Finally! An electrum dragon!

 

[Minigiant]

Finally! An electrum dragon!

Well if the pink/rose (red/white) is a berserker, the electrum (good/silver) is the "paladin" dragon.

 

[Fanaelialae]

Well if the pink/rose (red/white) is a berserker, the electrum (good/silver) is the "paladin" dragon.

Alternately might be the "noble knight". I realize it's a slim distinction but I see a "paladin" dragon as being divinely oriented, whereas a noble knight might be an atheist but nonetheless honorable and good.

 

[Wik]

I had been thinking about this myself. Dragons, a very rare species, seem far too few in number to have a minimum of 10 subspecies. So, it follows that they should be able to "interbreed"... like dogs, I guess.

I'm thinking of doing this in my own campaign world, but having it that a dragon's colouration is completely irrelevant to what they do. A dragon with red scales might have the stats of a white dragon, for example. I was also thinking of playing with the stats a bit, so that something statistically a blue dragon could have fire breath and resistance instead of lightning.

 

[Umbran]

I had been thinking about this myself. Dragons, a very rare species, seem far too few in number to have a minimum of 10 subspecies. So, it follows that they should be able to "interbreed"... like dogs, I guess.

A simple solution I had to this ran thusly - the color of a dragon is not a species, but an adaptation. Dragon eggs are "generic", as are dragon hatchlings (a departure from standard rules, I know). When they reach a certain age, the disperse from their parent's lair, and move some distance. They then develop characteristics to match the terrain in which they finally live - so, a dragon that winds up in tundra or otherwise cold region grows to become a white dragon.

 

[Minigiant]

Alternately might be the "noble knight". I realize it's a slim distinction but I see a "paladin" dragon as being divinely oriented, whereas a noble knight might be an atheist but nonetheless honorable and good.

Noble knight seems right. Though a gold-silver dragon could be so devoted to the protection of the lessers than they could see their birth as a divine act.

I had been thinking about this myself. Dragons, a very rare species, seem far too few in number to have a minimum of 10 subspecies. So, it follows that they should be able to "interbreed"... like dogs, I guess.

I'm thinking of doing this in my own campaign world, but having it that a dragon's colouration is completely irrelevant to what they do. A dragon with red scales might have the stats of a white dragon, for example. I was also thinking of playing with the stats a bit, so that something statistically a blue dragon could have fire breath and resistance instead of lightning.

In 2nd edition, crossbreeds were sterile and asocial. They were out there be but were rarely spotted.

You could go the other way. Crossbreeds could only mate successfully with their own crossbeed or their parent purebreeds. And when mating with the parent purebreed, the purebreed color dominates the crossbreed's color.

Therefore few crossbreeds propagate their own color as most crossbreeds create their parents' color. Also many crossbreeds of a color would be related as adult dragons are rare as is. Crossbreeds would have to go through great lengths to find unrelated crossbreed mates of the same color.

 

[Umbran]

You could go the other way. Crossbreeds could only mate successfully with their own crossbeed or their parent purebreeds. And when mating with the parent purebreed, the purebreed color dominates the crossbreed's color.

Therefore few crossbreeds propagate their own color as most crossbreeds create their parents' color. Also many crossbreeds of a color would be related as adult dragons are rare as is. Crossbreeds would have to go through great lengths to find unrelated crossbreed mates of the same color.

All quite possible.

But, a question comes to mind - why bother stipulating dragon breeding patterns? Do the PCs care? Is there ever a plot in your game relevant to their breeding habits? If not, then the details are irrelevant - and maybe unknown, as it isn't like the dragon won't just eat any would-be Masters and Johnson come to be nosy. Do not meddle in the (love) affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup, and all that.