How Does The Presence Of Dragons Affect The Geopolitics Of Your World?
Plus, play in person with Dungeon Dad!
Greetings dungeon masters…
I have a confession to make.
You might have noticed that my YouTube channel has slowed down and I haven’t been uploading as many videos as normal.
I will be making a video explaining this in more detail, but suffice it to say: I didn’t realize how much the OGL fiasco, and specifically, my interaction with journalists, emotionally affected me. It really negativly impacted how I felt about making content.
However, I’m getting back into the swing of things! I have a host of great content planned, especially geopolitics-related videos (hint: I’m working on a Waterdeep one).
I’ve also started a new position working in Marketing for a Geopolitical Analysis training firm, and so, I’m in the mood to revisit more geopolitics!
Today’s topic is something my fellow YouTuber, Dungeon Dad, and I both love — monsters. Specifically, dragons.
You might know Dungeon Dad from his ‘monster of the week’ videos. He has a whole playlist discussing dragons here.
Plus, he’ll be joining me at Green Dragon Fest, where you’ll get the chance to play TTRPGS in person with myself and other fan favorite game masters.
The deadline to grab your tickets is at the end of April!
How Does The Presence Of Dragons Affect The Geopolitics Of Your World?
THE THREAT OF DRAGONS
Dragons are terrifying creatures, but not untameable. If you take the base challenge rating from D&D, a typical ancient dragon is equivalent to 300 crossbow-equipped soldiers, meaning that a 10,000-15,000 size town would probably be equipped enough to handle any attack.
Since most dragons are likely to stay close to their hoard, it makes sense that most of the dragon species found in the monster manual live in mountainous areas. They are highly defendable, resource rich, and easy to observe and act from.
HOW DOES THIS EFFECT CARRY ON?
Geopolitics asserts the geography a community lives in has a direct impact on how that community adapts to life, and that those adaptations inform cultural, religious and ideological development. A mountainous terrain’s isolation forces people to adapt to being cut off from the rest of the world, and learn to make do with whatever materials that can be found nearby.
Furthermore, the geography where a community lives is the most static aspect of their existence, but, in the presence of dragons, the geography around their lair subtly changes to reflect the temperament of the creature.
RED DRAGONS
Red dragons, for example, whose presence causes sulfur to seep into ground well water can make downstream rivers and lakes toxic under this chronic exposure. As a result, pouring water through charcoal filters would become customary in villages even ten miles from a red dragon’s lair.
Over time, entire religious practices or superstitions might develop due to this filtration practice. Spilling charcoal on the ground might develop superstitious behaviors like we have today with spilled salt thrown over our shoulder. Likewise, children born with birthmarks that look like burns or scalds might be either venerated or ostracized, depending on how the religious people perceive the birthmark’s meaning.
Analyze the lore of your dragons, and you will be able to infer what effects that might have in your world.
WHAT ABOUT THE MORE OBSCURE DRAGONS?
Dungeon Dad covers a variety of the lesser known chromatic and metallic dragons, as well as what happens when dragons come into contact with more sinister forms. Let’s take the Brainstealer dragon, an illithid hybrid, as an example.
Like mind flayers, they have significant psionic abilities, and make their home in the Underdark or underground tunnels with access to aquifers. These dragons would be playing the long con, trying to get access to as many brains as possible, listening in on all the secrets of the city and manipulating them to increase the wealth of the city, and thereby it’s own hoard.
Ironically, having one of these dragons, so long as the population was mostly subservient, would greatly benefit from having this dragon living nearby. Since being within their regional effect grants those within it enhanced telepathy, the people under it’s command would have improved information sharing and a wealth of trade.
The larger the city and more robust the merchant and professional class, the more likely the dragon is to increase it’s own wealth. Thus, this city would likely be an enviable place of learning with tons of telepathy academics and master guildsman.
Want the chance to play in person with Dungeon Dad? Come to Green Dragon Fest!
Find out more about Dungeon Dad on his channel, and the Brainstealer Dragon, here.
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Creator Spotlight
Now that you know more about dragons, try the Sun Dragon by TheArenaGuy out:
The 3 M’s Of Adventure Context Using The Sun Dragon
What Might Have Happened A Millennia Ago:
Birthed from a tear in the fabric of the astral plane, the dragon embodied the raw energy of a nascent sun.
Forged in the heart of a star, this dragon was the first of its kind, a creature of pure astral flame.
A deity of the cosmos created the Sun Dragon to serve as a guardian of celestial gateways.
What Might Have Happened A Month Ago:
Astronomers observed unusual solar flares, heralding the weakening of the Sun Dragon’s life force.
The dragon’s astral energy began to fluctuate, causing anomalies in the gravitational pull of nearby celestial bodies.
Elemental sages detected a change in the essence of sunlight, a sign of the Sun Dragon’s impending demise.
What Might Have Happened Minutes Ago:
The Sun Dragon engaged in a fierce battle, its scales dimming as it neared the end of its lifespan.
As it roared its last, the air shimmered with heat, and the gravitational forces began to spike.
Upon its final breath, the dragon’s body shone brightly before exploding into a one-way portal to the astral plane, dragging nearby creatures along.
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Part of the world with Dragon has a graveyard of wagons. No horses to pull them back out of that part of the world
Depends on the campaign - some my fantasy campaigns are in the Orient or strange flavors. I also run a Classic Traveller that has "Dragons" in it but very few player know they exist.
Dragons are part of world building. They should stand out.