What's the difference between Elven and Draconic magic?

TethorilofLathander

And are there any draconic spells availible to cast in the Bhaalspawn saga? (Except for Dragon's breath)

CrevsDaak

Methinks, that no.

recklessheart

I would like more elaboration on the lore of this if anybody has it at the ready, as it is an interesting concept, but I am without any information regarding it at my fingertips.

In ignorance, I would assume that the Power Word spells are Draconic, or descending from an equally ancient and alien language, for they are words of pure arcane power, which I do believe the Draconic language emulates more so than any other language existing among the races of Faerun circa 3.5ed.

Correct me if I am wrong however!

TethorilofLathander

Bump

WebShaman

Dragon Magic came before Elven Magic - it all goes way, way back, to the First Race (which was Reptilian).

Apparently, Dragon Magic is the closest form to the Celestial Song that created the Multiverse...and all that.

Onestep

There's no fundamental difference between the effects of a spell cast by a dragon and a spell cast by a human or elf. The dragons high level or stats might skew it to appearing to be more powerful, but there's really no difference.

The actual mechanisms though, can be quite different. Dragons are spontaneous spellcasters, a feat typically only achieved by Sorcerers, often because they too have dragon blood.

Where the real difference is, is the difference in knowledge. A thousand year-old dragon will generally possess the knowledge of a much wider selection of spells than a twenty something human, or even two hundred year old elf. Often, they possess knowledge of even the most powerful ritual spells, which they aren't eager to share.

That said, there have been plenty of human/mortal spellcasters who could have curbstomp a dozen dragons and laugh afterwards. Karsus being a good example. The Nameless One at his full power being another.

TethorilofLathander

@Onestep, not to mention Larloch

Tarlugn

I once heard of a glorious battle - 1 character (I don´t remember the class) versus 5 dragons in ADOM or some other ASCII-crpg.... considering that dragons have a tendecy to be troublesome adversaries unless the correct spells are used, would such a fight be a good basis for an additional adventure in a future patch? Two dragons have their own dungeons, as well...

On topic, I know only that elven specialize in divination and enchantment, and dragons seem to cast basic mage buffs/debuffs (stoneskin, haste, greater malison) and each has a special breath weapon based upon the dragon´s color, or element, to be precise. I think the subject has much lore to be studied, my meager knowledge based on BG + ID + NWN game series only.

Kaltzor

Beating a dragon in magic isn't that hard, Spell Trigger a triple Lower Resistance and just throw a Chromatic Orb... Truly powerful beings them dragons.

Ok, Lorewise I can see their power, but really when it comes down to stats, they're like mid level bosses and a single high level character can take them out.

Kamigoroshi

Elven magic... Dragonic magic... Pfeh! Both of them are so utterly overrated at this point.
Now, Aboleth magic is where the *real* power lies. And it's spoken in R'lyehian to boot! That alone makes it better than those two other kinds of magic! :P

Tarlugn

Well, of course, that is fairly succesful spell combo. The dragons still have their wing buffet, fear and breath + spells, and a scenario that comes to pass every now and then is a casting failure due to the whole party being blown away, and being panicked afterwards, and then dying because of dragon´s breath or the dragon whacking away while hasted.