D&D 4E White dragon paladin mount

Joshua Randall said:

To quote … someone… “Don’t look for ways to say no to your players. Find ways to say yes.”

Sure, the listed alignment for white dragons is evil. But 4e cares much less about alignment than previous editions.

So the cavalier has a white dragon mount. Cool! This can continue to be a story element where the PC gradually (or suddenly) redeems the dragon. Or it can fade into the background.

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Also - are you using the Dragon magazine cavalier article with the dragon mount feat / class feature? As written it gives a silver dragon but that can easily be reflavored to white.

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Mechanically it's fine since the cavalier would be getting a silver dragon steed in the next level anyway, the player just wants to reskin it to "redeemed white dragon", and I'd like to allow it since it seems like a cool idea, so I need a reasonable explanation for it.

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Call Celestial Steed​

Paladin Utility​

The thunder of galloping hooves and a far-off neigh greet your call or whistle. From a silvery mist or cloud, a celestial warhorse or similar steed dressed for battle appears, ready to serve you.

Daily ✦ Divine
Standard Action Ranged 5

Effect: A celestial warhorse appears in an unoccupied space within range to obey your commands. The steed is an ally to you and your allies, and it serves as a mount to you or one ally you designate. While the steed is serving as a mount, the normal rules for mounted combat apply (see the Rules Compendium).
The only actions that the steed can take while riderless are move actions and free actions. When the steed makes a check, you make the roll using your game statistics, not including any temporary bonuses or penalties.
The steed lasts until it drops to 0 hit points, at which point you lose a healing surge (or hit points equal to your surge value if you have no surges left). Otherwise, it lasts until you dismiss it as a minor action or until you start an extended rest.

Special: You can use this power twice per day. However, if the steed drops to 0 hit points, you cannot use the power again until after an extended rest.

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Improved Steed (Silver Dragon)​

Prerequisite: 21st level, call celestial steed power
Benefit: When you use your call celestial steed power, you can choose to summon a celestial dragon mount instead of a celestial warhorse.

Published in Dragon Magazine 393.

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Joshua Randall said:

I strongly disagree with the above if the player is taking the feat / class feature as discussed.

4e classes do not have their kewl powerz depend upon story stuff; nevertheless, this impetus seems to afflict paladins (and sometimes clerics) to a troublesome degree.

If you feel like "white dragon mount" is going to be problematic, or make you want to chisel the player out of what he paid for, etc. Just give him the by-the-book Celestial Steed from the magazine article. It's a Utility Power, then another Feat to get the Silver Dragon at epic tier.

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MoutonRustique(Real) said:

You can also opt for more 'real world' approach to 'evil'.

i.e. the person knowingly lying about an oil-spill is doing 'evil' by most metrics. That same person, in a camping context, super nice and fun to hang with. Being 'evil' doesn't have to be about seeking out situations to be an arsehole - it can mean just not caring about bad stuff if it doesn't directly impact you.

Evil can be (and usually is) very nice and pleasant - as long as you don't interfere with what they deem important, or rely on their help or loyalty. They only care about others in regards to themselves.

What all this can mean for you :
That dragon can be rather nice to interact with, just don't ask it to help - it won't care unless it has a personal stake in it.

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Bill Zebub said:

[...] Like the dutiful husband who attends church with his devout partner, and says all the right things in her presence, but still has....inclinations.

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