If so, how often?
As often as the GM wants them to.
Personally, my dragons don't undergo ecdysis... or at least molting the entire shell at once is not necessary for their growth. They certainly shed individual scales, might even roll around in the rocks to intentially knock off loose scales, but the chances of finding an intact shed like a snake skin is slim to none... the way I run it, at least.
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Y'know what might be cool? During the year they enter a new Age Category, the dragon goes into a kind of torpor and sheds its skin. It happens more rapidly at younger ages, then takes months or maybe even years at more venerable points. This might be why the older a dragon gets, the deeper and more protected it's lair gets. During this torpor, while it sheds, the dragon is hibernating, so an indication that a shedding is coming up is that the dragon suddenly goes on a feeding frenzy across it's hunting grounds.
I'm suddenly picturing a very ancient mountain size dragon waking up and shaking off the dirt, debris and villages that were built on its back while it was asleep never realizing what was under their feet.
I assume they constantly shed scales like an alligator instead. Snakes get to shed it all at once, lizards usually do it in pieces, but larger creatures are less likely to have the uniform skin growth required for large patches of regularly shed skin.
Y'know what might be cool? During the year they enter a new Age Category, the dragon goes into a kind of torpor and sheds its skin. It happens more rapidly at younger ages, then takes months or maybe even years at more venerable points. This might be why the older a dragon gets, the deeper and more protected it's lair gets. During this torpor, while it sheds, the dragon is hibernating, so an indication that a shedding is coming up is that the dragon suddenly goes on a feeding frenzy across it's hunting grounds.
That sounds awesome, actually. Also, how many tons of shed skin would a colossal dragon produce per shedding do you think?
. . . They certainly shed individual scales, might even roll around in the rocks to intentially knock off loose scales, but the chances of finding an intact shed like a snake skin is slim to none. . . .
I generally agree with the exception of more Asian themed serpentine types, such as the imperial dragons.
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Y'know what might be cool? During the year they enter a new Age Category, the dragon goes into a kind of torpor and sheds its skin. It happens more rapidly at younger ages, then takes months or maybe even years at more venerable points. This might be why the older a dragon gets, the deeper and more protected it's lair gets. During this torpor, while it sheds, the dragon is hibernating, so an indication that a shedding is coming up is that the dragon suddenly goes on a feeding frenzy across it's hunting grounds.
I just came here to post this idea, but Mark read my mind and posted it before me with his nefarious powers!
It could be interesting to have it an either / or situation.
*Some* dragons have well-defended lairs and are comfortable being vulnerable for a short time while they molt, other dragons shed scale by scale, over time, accepting the much smaller vulnerability of having weak points in their armor (like Smaug...), but never being completely helpless for an extended time. This could be represented by having dragons who refuse to molt being vulnerable to called shots (since there are always 'gaps in their armor'), or dragons who do molt being partially immune to sneak attack/criticals (as if having the armor Fortification property) or something.
A variant where a dragon sheds it's entire body, sending it off on a (mostly mindless) killer rampage, while the new age category body forms at it's lair, where it's soul and mind remain, and only solidifies into actuality when the 'old' smaller body 'dies' spectacularly, would be a funky sort of First World growth mechanic.