Dragons will be POWERFUL NPCs that you might occasionally be able to recruit. I certainly hope that recruiting Dragons is something along the lines of Adventuring techs, and can be done by any kind of Sovereign, as opposed to requiring 50 charisma or something ...

But either way, yes ... theoretically you would need to research advanced Beast taming, which unlocks Dragon Language ... then research Dragon language, and perhaps solve a quest or two for the Dragon ... and it will become yours. Something like that.

In a given map, there will be maybe 3-5 dragons?? If that many? You can only control 1 dragon at any given time. You cannot attempt to make contact with a second dragon if you already have control over one. However, I suppose you could still ATTACK other dragons if you own one dragon. Use your dragon + army to kill other dragons before your opponents are able to attempt recruiting them.

Heck, I hope there is a tab for Dragon Lineage ... and every 50-100 turns the dragon lays one egg, and you can keep track of your Dragon's family (although not control them). The dragon's family would be NPC's that perhaps occasionally give quests, or attack invading rival armies. Usually stay in the Dragon's roost high in the mountains though. Perhaps take 100 turns for a Dragon Hatchling to mature into a young Dragon (about half stats of Parent). Then another 100 turns to mature into an Adult Dragon (same stats as Parent) ... meanwhile most dragons start at age 200-300 (from turn 1) ... and around age 400-500 (300 turns into the game or so) mature into an elder dragon ... with increased stats than their "Adult" form.

Anyways, Dragons will be extremely powerful, and it will be possible to include 1 Dragon within your armies.

Probably. There are already different dragon artworks:

https://www.elementalgame.com/images/artwork/Ele_CreatureConcept_Sheet3.jpg

  AXidenTAL, you should check out the new forum mod page for Elemental.  It has at least one mod that will be developed with lots dragons.  When this game ships there also might be alot more options available than are currently available in the current beta. Really this is just a building the game phase, getting some basic gameplay mechanics working and getting it stable enough that the developers and testers can further analyze the gameplay.  For being a work in progress its already very interesting.  I haven't seen any dragons in the current beta.  However, the developer's love dragons just as much as you(guessing).  In one game I tried to help a pregnant wolf and she died leaving me a litter of pups.  I didn't see them and I don't think they are even represented yet.  Still, like Tasunke says "dragon lays one egg" would be very fun. 

I am not sure that Dragon's should be ridden in this particular game, however if they were to be ridden, probably a powerful, expensive spell from a high end magic tech (Universal Will, Strength of Will). Probably cost one shard of each element (Fire, Ice, Earth, Air). It should allow you to mount/dismount your dragon, as well as perhaps combat bonuses vs other dragons ... maybe even an ability to capture opponent dragons (at least temporarily).

Riding the Dragon should be stronger than the Sum of its parts .... perhaps All your stacks combine to add together (total attack, defense, HP, essence, attack speed) ... and you get to use two spells per turn. (spells include dragon special abilities). Something epic like that.

Hmm seems like we should be getting some good options. I like the idea of the quests leading to being able to ride/control dragons.

I do hope that we get like elemental dragons or something... Maybe be able to affiliate a dragon with an element if you have it as an egg or something?

I think it would be cool, that after what Tasunke said about Tech/Languages/Questing etc, that you do the Dragon a solid favor, and in return, it owes you one. Collectible  whenever you ask.

That way, when a BIG Battle Royale breaks out, the enemy seems to be getting the upper hand and is laughing at your "puny little pissant army" you call in the "Dragon Marker"

Now that would be a great "OMG! Retreat! Retreat! OMG! Retreat! Retreat!"Get the hell outta my way peasant!" thing to hear an enemy Commander screaming like a little girl moment.

One your enemy would not soon forget eh...

There will be many diverse types for dragons in Elemental! Here's a brief list:

Dragon steak

Dragon stew

Dragon pie

Roasted dragon

Brined dragon

BBQ'd dragon

Dragon 'n ketchup

Dragon 'n chips

Dragon sausage

Dragon scrapple

Dragon bacon

Dragon 'n onions

Stuffed dragon

Dragon-stuffed buns

Marinated dragon

Dragon tartar

Finally, dragon soap!

Mmmm... dragon soap...

I think we should have all 3 maybe exclude recruiting.

Yep i say Recruiting Out.

But Hatching yes.

Also one final Idea.

A Summoned dragon as part of a special spell requiring a special item or quest to be performed this spell summons a dragon.However it can only be performed once and consumes said item or becomes unavailable after use.

Also the dragon may or may not be controllable allowing there to be a wildcard a desperate mage could use.

*Examples would be two powerful empires clashing and one SOV trying to save his own hide by summoning a dragon on the enemy army the problem is if it wins then turns around on him he loses and if the enemy wins then he still loses the difference...He hopes the dragon will keep going in their direction*

I like these ideas.

Dragon marker sounds cool as it would indeed make for some epic moments... I don't understand though how raising a dragon without being able to recruit it as such would work? Would it give you an IOU and leave and grow up, or would it just be yours?

I've only just recently finished book to of A Song of Ice and Fire, so I have no idea how quickly the hatchling dragons will grow in that story world (no spoilers, please). I'd actually like to see that sort of thing limited to something of the status item role that they play in A Clash of Kings, and reserve serious dragon action in combat for the Marker/IOU model.

A major summon-bind ritual sounds like the riskiest way to score one of those markers. Diplomacy could be hardest (probably dependent on being insanely strong or having a long past history of 'pro-dragon' behavior) but least risky. Quests would take much more direct work than diplomacy but probably be pretty safe for the sov in question, at least for the Save My Egg, Find My Lost Mate types.

I, personally, am not opposed by having a Dragon being a permanent part of your army. I mean seriously ... whats the point of dragons if you can't own one at some time?

Personally I am against being able to ride a dragon, however I personally would want to be able to fight with my very own dragon, and have a dragon leading my armies.

One ... hatchling Dragon. Once you get the egg it takes 5 turns to hatch, and every year gains +1 HP, and every 5 years gains +1 Attack and Defense.

At 50 years of age, the hatchling "upgrades" to an Adolescent. This is a change of art, gains Flight and Dragon Breath abilities, gains +20 HP, and +5 attack, +5 defense. +30% movement speed (other than flying) And +1 combat speed. (for a total of 80 HP, 20 attack, 20 defense, 2 combat speed)

At 150 years of age, Adolescent "upgrades" to a Mature dragon with +50 HP, +5 attack, +5 defense, and +2 combat speed (and +20% movement) ... for a total of 230 HP, 45 attack, 45 defense, and 4 combat speed. (at this point attack and defense stop increasing)

at 500 years of age, Mature "upgrades" to an Ancient Dragon. At this point, the growing stops. It gets its final art change ... gets "Ultimate Dragons Breath", and "Unending flight", as well as +100 HP, +10 attack, +10 defense and +100 magic defense, and +50% magic resistance. For a grand total of 680 HP, 55 attack, 55 defense, 4 combat speed, 100 magic defense, 50 magic resistance, Unending Flight, and Ultimate Dragons Breath.

In addition, Dragons can level up, but it takes 5 times as much Exp, and they only get 5 points per level. (+5 HP, +0.5 attack, or +0.5 combat speed, ect)

Yea ... playing as a Lone-Wolf Dragon would definitely be Ideal Mod territory (or even minigame? like playing *Barbarians* in Civ4)