If you play Dungeons & Dragons, chances are you like dragons -- they are in the name of the game after all. But have you ever wanted to play as one of these primordial creatures? Do you want the majesty and power associated with being a dragon without throwing the balance of your adventuring party directly into a volcano? That is the thesis of the dragonborn race, an option with plenty of lore and playstyles associated with them.
The dragonborn were introduced in the 3.5 edition’s Races of the Dragon supplement. For the first time, players were able to take on a fun, dragon-themed role without needing to adjust for the boggling power of actual dragons or half dragons. Until then, the only way to play a dragon-ish character was with your game master’s permission and, likely, with some considerable level adjustment.
Races of the Dragon gave players access to the balanced draconic options they always wanted. By fourth edition, the dragonborn were taking center stage (literally occupying a central spot on the cover of the Player’s Handbook), and by fifth, they were here to stay. Designer Richard Baker said, "it was important to grow the D&D world by allowing the mix of characters to evolve in the new edition." Gwendolyn Kestrel, who co-authored Races stated more simply, "Players want as an option a race that captures the power and majesty of dragons."
One of the strengths in roleplaying a dragonborn is that they are a relatively blank slate. Unlike Tolkien-esque fantasy creatures like elves and dwarves, the dragonborn have very little baggage, so how they act and feel is largely fresh territory for players to explore. Beyond the ideas found in the Player's Handbook, how you roleplay as a dragonborn character will largely depend on how these exotic people fit into your game's setting. The original 3.5E dragonborn, for example, were not a unified race, but were a calling that could be felt by members of any race. It was entirely up to the platinum dragon-god Bahamut to decide if an individual met the prerequisites for transforming into a dragonborn, becoming more dragon-like as they gained levels.
Dragonborn in the fifth edition are now a distinct species, but how that fits into your game can also take many forms. How did these offshoots of dragons come about? Are dragonborn former true dragons, cursed to walk the realms as mortals? Perhaps they are living experiments, originating from the machinations of powerful spellcasters, or they arrived to your game world from another plane entirely. The game master and players can work together to give the dragonborn a distinct flavor that suits their particular game.
Like other dragonkin, dragonborn are used to being the apex creature in the room. This can manifest as a noble bearing, a towering ego or just supreme self confidence. Channel that big dragon energy and don't forget that if a dragonborn's physiology worked like a human's, they would have to eat for over 100 years just to use their breath weapon. Luckily, something about the dragonborn is fundamentally magical, opening up interesting roleplay potential as you explore what it's like to be a creature born of the elements and capable of firing bolts of lighting out of your face.
When creating your dragonborn remember that dragons are universal creatures throughout human mythology, and different cultures interpreted the dragon in different ways. The proud, power-crazed destroyers from The Hobbit or Game of Thrones are what come to mind for most D&D players, but that is only one take common in Western portrays of dragons. Consider roleplaying as a calm and wise dragonborn who commands elemental spirits and wields samurai themed equipment, or an antlered dragonborn sworn to protect and care for the natural world. The names of D&D's dragon gods, Tiamat and Bahamut, come from ancient Mesopotamian and Persian faiths. There is plenty of room for variance and creativity with your dragonborn, and the draconic myths and legends of all the world can help contribute to your character.
Once you've determined the lore that makes your dragonborn look and feel like the scaled hero you've always wanted, it's time to select a class. Dragonborn are naturally strong and ferocious, but also charismatic. This makes them an ideal fit for the paladin class, allowing you to lean heavily into the "serving the draconic gods" angle. A high charisma score also works well for sorcerers, giving you the choice of doubling down on your draconic heritage if you choose that bloodline. Warlocks can benefit from all dragonborn abilities depending on your build, and a powerful true dragon could make for a very near and present warlock patron option.
Of course, playing against type can also be rewarding if stat-optimization isn’t your primary goal. These options cans still be viable, even powerful -- of all the Player’s Handbook race options, the dragonborn might be the scariest to see fly into a barbarian rage. True dragons themselves are versatile creatures that inhabit almost all biomes of a D&D world. Black dragons in particular are among the most terrifying creatures in the game that use stealth and surprise in their arsenal. A grappling rogue/barbarian with expertise in athletics or even an arcane trickster using illusion-based terror tactics could effectively replicate this theme and send your enemies running and screaming out of the swamp like the cowards they are.
The dragonborn is an exotic choice that lets you channel your love of dragons into your character. Everyone knows something about dragons, and that something is all you need to create a dragonborn -- whether you are drawing on your favorite myths or indulging in a draconic power fantasy, this race provides fearsome options for all. Dragonborn jettison the idea of D&D being based solely on medieval history and bring us firmly into modern high fantasy territory.