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I'm working on a NPC who was raised to believe he is half elf, half dragon (Wood Elf father, Red Dragon mother), but who is actually a full Copper Dragon. The character is supposed to be 26 years old, and when shapechanged into an elf he has the appearance of a 26 year old elf (an adult). Most importantly the character gets married in his late teens or early 20s. The timeline of his birth and marriage are important to the story.

My question is, how does dragon age work with shapechanging in 5e? If being 26 years old makes him a young dragon, does that make him a child, a teenager, or a young adult? Does it make sense that he's shapechanging into an adult elf? If he gets married at the age of 18 to an 18 year old elf, is there anything ethically wrong with that (did a child just marry an adult)? If he shapechanges at the age of 5 as a wyrmling into a 5 year old elf, then shapechanges at the age of 7 as a young dragon does he shapechange into a 7 year old elf? Then at again the age of 18 an 18 year old elf?

I'm starting to think actually making him a half-elf would be easier because then I could say he matured at the rate of an elf.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Welcome to RPG.SE! Take the tour if you haven't already, and check out the help center for more guidance. Your question about ethics is entirely opinion-based and should probably be edited out, but I think the others are answerable here. \$\endgroup\$
    – V2Blast
    Feb 9, 2020 at 20:45
  • \$\begingroup\$ @V2Blast I edited the question to make the ethics question more clear. \$\endgroup\$
    – StarSweeper
    Feb 9, 2020 at 20:54
  • \$\begingroup\$ Slightly confused about the set-up: do they think they are half half human and half elf, and half red dragon or do they think they are half elf half red dragon (what throws me off is the related age, elves usually assume their adulthood at about 100+ years of age). \$\endgroup\$
    – Akixkisu is on Strike
    Feb 9, 2020 at 21:24
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Akixkisu They think they have a wood elf father and a red dragon mother. Elves claim adulthood at 100+ years of age, but they "reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans." The question is mostly about physical maturity, as the marriage in question is a political one. \$\endgroup\$
    – StarSweeper
    Feb 9, 2020 at 21:31
  • \$\begingroup\$ Notably, real world beliefs about when adulthood begins and what are suitable ages for marriages varies dramatically by time and culture. \$\endgroup\$
    – TimothyAWiseman
    Feb 10, 2020 at 14:18

1 Answer 1

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Dragons change their physical characteristics, but not their cognitive capabilities.

Ancient Copper Dragons have the ability to change their shape (MM 110 edited for clarity) Dragons in general (MM 84-118) only gain the ability to change shape at the age category (MM 86) adult or ancient depending on their colour:

Change Shape. The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid [...] In a new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise [!] replaced by those of the new form

The physical age appearances of the new body are not tied to the shapechanger, but the shapechanger retains their cognitive capabilities. To be a dragon capable of Change Shape this preassumes an age of 101+ years, so the character is always an adult by the book and well suited to marry an elf that assumes adulthood at around 100 years (PHB 29).

If you decide to give the Young Copper Dragon (MM 111) the ability to Change Shape, then this would be a marriage between entities which are considered not adult but would both have a physically mature body (PHB 23, 29), if the dragon chooses to assume the shape of a physically mature body. As to say it would be two non-adults marrying each other by political necessity.

There is no by the book basis that makes Dragon life stages comparable to human social categories like a toddler, pre-schooler, child, etc. By the book, dragons do not adhere to these categories.

You are the DM and can make it up as you see fit. If you want to get some inspiration (including player character dragons), then you might want to read Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons which is for 3e and 3.5e

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    \$\begingroup\$ This really helped. I didn't notice that the young copper dragon couldn't shape shift yet. I'll probably end up giving him that ability anyway, have him shape shift into the elf equivalent of his actual age, and turn the marriage into a betrothal ceremony. Thanks! \$\endgroup\$
    – StarSweeper
    Feb 9, 2020 at 22:26
  • \$\begingroup\$ @StarSweeper glad I was able to help, you are welcome and I believe that these changes make for an interesting plot potential. \$\endgroup\$
    – Akixkisu is on Strike
    Feb 9, 2020 at 22:30

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