Dragon Age

[Lynos]

No, not the video game. The literal age of dragons.

How old would you say an adult dragon should be? Are we talking hundreds of years?

Also, why are Metallic adult dragons so much more powerful than adult Chromatic dragons? Is there a big difference between them with regards to actual age, or are Metallic dragons simply more powerful as a type?

I want to pit a gold dragon against a white dragon in my campaign, but the differences in powers and abilities and strength are pretty substantial.

Thanks.

[avr]

A gold's the strongest metallic dragon and a white's the weakest chromatic, so even without a gap between metallic and chromatic that isn't going to be a fair matchup.

The adult age category for true dragons is 101-200 years, see here.

Metallic dragons are (slightly) more powerful, all things being equal, because they're more likely to be usefully taught/trained by their parents as they grow up I think. They're certainly smarter which is consistent with that. Out of character they're supposed to be less common but not dominated by the the chromatics, which almost requires that they be stronger in some way.

[Lynos]

Thank you!

Well, I have a group of 6th level PC's and they are up against an adult white dragon, but there is a gold dragon that is supposed to come and help them.

Based on what you are saying, all they need to do is survive until the metallic dragon gets there, and by that point there is no need to keep rolling dice. Once the metallic engages the chromatic, it can be a "cut scene' and end of story.

Am I getting this right?

[thelivingmonkey]

Well it's your story and campaign so if that's what you want so be it. As your campaign you could even have a cutscene where a typical, bestiary kobold one shots a gold dragon with a sling!

[Lynos]

Ha ha!
Well, let's not go overboard...
It is a challenge to put 6th level characters against a dragon, but I don't want to nerf it too much...

[AaronUnicorn]

I guess it all depends what you want from having the Gold Dragon arrive to assist.

Do you want a cut scene? Then do that. Have the two dragons fly up to where the party can't really affect them and describe the fight. (Do not sit and roll dice for it if you're going to do it that way.)

Do you want the fight to play out but with the Gold Dragon substantially altering the balance of power? Then do it that way. Note that the Gold Dragon doesn't have to be as powerful as the Adult Gold Dragon printed in the Bestiary. Lower HD, have the dragon be affected by a curse, or heck, just make the Gold Dragon's dice rolls be lower than they should be (works better if you roll behind a screen.) Or does it even have to be an Adult Gold Dragon?

You have plenty of options, it all just really depends on what you want to have happen.

[Lynos]

Yes, I want to keep a balance where the players feel like they are doing something, and between having them survive or giving them a fair chance to survive.
I kind of painted myself into a corner, this is the culmination of the story I wrote at the beginning of the campaign concerning two powerful dragons who have been arch-enemies for years and years, so I feel they need to be at least adult. However, the gold dragon has been trapped in ice for several years and is released literally minutes before confronting his nemesis, so that may effect his powers, leveling the playing field between him and the white dragon.