Dragon Metamorphosis

[SpiritInterface]

The descriptions of the Dragon's metamorphosis say that they can turn into any creature that they know. Does that mean creatures that they have met/seen? Or can they have seen them in a movie, on television, read about it in a book?

[drewkitty ~..~]

Ooohhh Yahhhh *transformes into a Zila*

It has to be a in the megaverse real living creature.
And (how I would put it) one the dragon has at least seen a picture of.

[say652]

So a dragon with google image search..........

[The Dark Elf]

So a dragon with google image search..........

I think they have to know about them too but mol a little ( I think it's so they know how they move etc. - the basics) so google and wiki...

[Nekira Sudacne]

The descriptions of the Dragon's metamorphosis say that they can turn into any creature that they know. Does that mean creatures that they have met/seen? Or can they have seen them in a movie, on television, read about it in a book?

It must be a real creature, and it must be at least passing familiarity. even the best Metamorphers of the dragons, the chiang-Ku, can only metamorph creatures that actually exist. (or into mist)

[Jerell]

How do you all handle dragons that reach metamorphosis time limit say, stuck underground? They have to dimensional port home or get crushed?

[drewkitty ~..~]

The time limit...as per the RMB they can hold that form for x hours, w/o any text about having to change back to their natural form at the end of said duration.
The same can be said of the text in RUE from Dragon Meta.

Both the rifts text are unlike the Text in the Dragons and Gods book where is says they return to their nat form after the duration ends. Along with other limitations.

Then there is all the random variables about traveling underground, presumably in tunnels, and the true size and shape of the Dragon itself.

If the tunnel the dragon is in is too small for the dragon's true size then it also depends on the ground itself. Is it dirt...is it Rock. what sort of dirt...what sort of rock. All of these variables effect the answer to the presumably simple question.

If the dragon is meta'ed, on the PF world, and in a very small tunnel in hard rock, then it would most likely be T-port or die.

But if it were on a rifts earth, then they would arguably just change to a new shape that would still fit in the tunnel. (Oh I am almost sure to start an Argument with the Rifts answer, but it is arguable ether way which could make it venomous. with neither side backing down.)

[Prysus]

The time limit...as per the RMB they can hold that form for x hours, w/o any text about having to change back to their natural form at the end of said duration.
The same can be said of the text in RUE from Dragon Meta.

Both the rifts text are unlike the Text in the Dragons and Gods book where is says they return to their nat form after the duration ends.

Greetings and Salutations. Just for the record, while RMB nor RUE may clarify, Rifts Sourcebook One (original) had a Q.A. section where it states they return to their natural form whether they want to or not (same as from Dragons & Gods). Note: Rifts Sourcebook One came out before Dragons & Gods, which means the rule remained consistent. Still, it could be argued that since Rifts Sourcebook One Revised and Expanded came out after and removed the Q.A. section, that this text no longer applies (via retcon), though no text (as far as I know) actually contradicts or specifically retcons this ruling (merely a lack of further inclusion).

Though, totally NOT an official answer (ergo, would be totally a house rule to use this), something about the question gave me an odd thought. What if after the time limit ... if the dragon hasn't reverted there's a chance (like a 01-15%, or guaranteed if you're feeling particularly evil; with any other roll resulting in returning to dragon form immediately) the dragon will become stuck in that form permanently! Metamorphed into a house cat to crawl through that tunnel and you become stuck? Well, no more metamorphosis and you're in the body of a house cat from now on! Yeah, you stll have your dragon power, just now the shape/form.

Random thought/musing. Farewell and safe journeys for now.

[42dragon]

One other thing to note, related to the getting stuck in a tunnel. Remember that a dragon can reduce the size of its natural form by up to 60% at will and for an unlimited duration. While this would still result in getting stuck in a small tunnel it could provide some wiggle room to try and get out or to continue on at say the size of a horse or so.

[Jerell]

60%? That's significant size reduction. Was that in Dragons and Gods? I must have missed that, I need to go take another look.

edit - Yep, in Dragons and Gods, that's a good call. +1 GM point.