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How could dragons effectively use their wings as weapons in ground combat?
Anti-Dragon armor, shields and melee weaponsHow could dragons run?How would winged humans fight dragons?How can my dragons use their tongues to control their fire breathing?Could a dragon use its wings to swim?Can my heraldic dragons fly?Where would padding inhibit a limb's movement the least in a quadruped creature?How can dragons propel their breath attacks to a long distanceWhat potential jobs could humans use dragons for?How might boat designs change in order to allow them to be pulled by dragons?
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One reason I prefer classical western dragons over wyverns is that they aren't totally handicaped on the ground.
However, those forelegs are only supposed to be for better locomotion on ground and lack the power to be directly used in combat. Wings, on the other hand have much more muscle behind them. It just feels wasteful not to use them in combat.
- Dragons are at around the same size as large horses 170-180 cm at the shoulders.
-They have six limbs, general bodyplan is a horse-sized cheetah, with a neck length 3/4 of the torso and a long, chompy crocodile jaw and sleek tail. The flight muscles and the shoulder are right before the foreleg. - Dragon wingbones are structured at the molecular level to be similar to nacre, allowing for energy absorption without permanently deforming, also, carbon nanotube magic.
- The wing design by default is the same as the quetzalcoatlus northropi's.
- The wing folds the same ways as for birds.
How could dragons use their wings to hit the enemy in ground combat?
- Hitting hard is important but...
- Though wings should be able to handle most things it'd be good if it put the least necessary stress on it, or put it on more enduring areas.
- It shouldn't leave the dragon wide open and most definietly not expose the dragon's tummy (their weakpoint)
science-based dragons combat bio-mechanics
asked Aug 3 at 23:27
MephistophelesMephistopheles
2,6622 gold badges10 silver badges39 bronze badges
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show 2 more comments
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One reason I prefer classical western dragons over wyverns is that they aren't totally handicaped on the ground.
However, those forelegs are only supposed to be for better locomotion on ground and lack the power to be directly used in combat. Wings, on the other hand have much more muscle behind them. It just feels wasteful not to use them in combat.
- Dragons are at around the same size as large horses 170-180 cm at the shoulders.
-They have six limbs, general bodyplan is a horse-sized cheetah, with a neck length 3/4 of the torso and a long, chompy crocodile jaw and sleek tail. The flight muscles and the shoulder are right before the foreleg. - Dragon wingbones are structured at the molecular level to be similar to nacre, allowing for energy absorption without permanently deforming, also, carbon nanotube magic.
- The wing design by default is the same as the quetzalcoatlus northropi's.
- The wing folds the same ways as for birds.
How could dragons use their wings to hit the enemy in ground combat?
- Hitting hard is important but...
- Though wings should be able to handle most things it'd be good if it put the least necessary stress on it, or put it on more enduring areas.
- It shouldn't leave the dragon wide open and most definietly not expose the dragon's tummy (their weakpoint)
science-based dragons combat bio-mechanics
asked Aug 3 at 23:27
MephistophelesMephistopheles
2,6622 gold badges10 silver badges39 bronze badges
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Why would they fight on the ground instead of in the air?
$endgroup$
– Bilbo Baggins
Aug 4 at 1:06
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins They can't take off frequently, it's usually for emergency escape. And flight isn't really stealthy.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 1:33
1
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins 'Why don't you run everywhere, isn't it faster?' - Barry B Benson (possibly not exact words)
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe
Aug 4 at 13:57
$begingroup$
"totally handicaped [sic] on the ground" uh, they're traditionally shown with teeth, dude. You go visit a saltwater crocodile and tell it that it is handicapped because its legs are a bit short for clawing opponents, and let me know how it works out.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 11:15
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Steve Irwin eat yer heart out.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 5 at 11:48
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
One reason I prefer classical western dragons over wyverns is that they aren't totally handicaped on the ground.
However, those forelegs are only supposed to be for better locomotion on ground and lack the power to be directly used in combat. Wings, on the other hand have much more muscle behind them. It just feels wasteful not to use them in combat.
- Dragons are at around the same size as large horses 170-180 cm at the shoulders.
-They have six limbs, general bodyplan is a horse-sized cheetah, with a neck length 3/4 of the torso and a long, chompy crocodile jaw and sleek tail. The flight muscles and the shoulder are right before the foreleg. - Dragon wingbones are structured at the molecular level to be similar to nacre, allowing for energy absorption without permanently deforming, also, carbon nanotube magic.
- The wing design by default is the same as the quetzalcoatlus northropi's.
- The wing folds the same ways as for birds.
How could dragons use their wings to hit the enemy in ground combat?
- Hitting hard is important but...
- Though wings should be able to handle most things it'd be good if it put the least necessary stress on it, or put it on more enduring areas.
- It shouldn't leave the dragon wide open and most definietly not expose the dragon's tummy (their weakpoint)
science-based dragons combat bio-mechanics
asked Aug 3 at 23:27
MephistophelesMephistopheles
2,6622 gold badges10 silver badges39 bronze badges
$endgroup$
One reason I prefer classical western dragons over wyverns is that they aren't totally handicaped on the ground.
However, those forelegs are only supposed to be for better locomotion on ground and lack the power to be directly used in combat. Wings, on the other hand have much more muscle behind them. It just feels wasteful not to use them in combat.
- Dragons are at around the same size as large horses 170-180 cm at the shoulders.
-They have six limbs, general bodyplan is a horse-sized cheetah, with a neck length 3/4 of the torso and a long, chompy crocodile jaw and sleek tail. The flight muscles and the shoulder are right before the foreleg. - Dragon wingbones are structured at the molecular level to be similar to nacre, allowing for energy absorption without permanently deforming, also, carbon nanotube magic.
- The wing design by default is the same as the quetzalcoatlus northropi's.
- The wing folds the same ways as for birds.
How could dragons use their wings to hit the enemy in ground combat?
- Hitting hard is important but...
- Though wings should be able to handle most things it'd be good if it put the least necessary stress on it, or put it on more enduring areas.
- It shouldn't leave the dragon wide open and most definietly not expose the dragon's tummy (their weakpoint)
science-based dragons combat bio-mechanics
science-based dragons combat bio-mechanics
asked Aug 3 at 23:27
MephistophelesMephistopheles
2,6622 gold badges10 silver badges39 bronze badges
asked Aug 3 at 23:27
MephistophelesMephistopheles
2,6622 gold badges10 silver badges39 bronze badges
edited Aug 4 at 11:27
Mephistopheles
asked Aug 3 at 23:27
MephistophelesMephistopheles
2,6622 gold badges10 silver badges39 bronze badges
asked Aug 3 at 23:27
MephistophelesMephistopheles
2,6622 gold badges10 silver badges39 bronze badges
asked Aug 3 at 23:27
MephistophelesMephistopheles
2,6622 gold badges10 silver badges39 bronze badges
2,6622 gold badges10 silver badges39 bronze badges
$begingroup$
Why would they fight on the ground instead of in the air?
$endgroup$
– Bilbo Baggins
Aug 4 at 1:06
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins They can't take off frequently, it's usually for emergency escape. And flight isn't really stealthy.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 1:33
1
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins 'Why don't you run everywhere, isn't it faster?' - Barry B Benson (possibly not exact words)
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe
Aug 4 at 13:57
$begingroup$
"totally handicaped [sic] on the ground" uh, they're traditionally shown with teeth, dude. You go visit a saltwater crocodile and tell it that it is handicapped because its legs are a bit short for clawing opponents, and let me know how it works out.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 11:15
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Steve Irwin eat yer heart out.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 5 at 11:48
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
Why would they fight on the ground instead of in the air?
$endgroup$
– Bilbo Baggins
Aug 4 at 1:06
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins They can't take off frequently, it's usually for emergency escape. And flight isn't really stealthy.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 1:33
1
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins 'Why don't you run everywhere, isn't it faster?' - Barry B Benson (possibly not exact words)
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe
Aug 4 at 13:57
$begingroup$
"totally handicaped [sic] on the ground" uh, they're traditionally shown with teeth, dude. You go visit a saltwater crocodile and tell it that it is handicapped because its legs are a bit short for clawing opponents, and let me know how it works out.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 11:15
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Steve Irwin eat yer heart out.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 5 at 11:48
$begingroup$
Why would they fight on the ground instead of in the air?
$endgroup$
– Bilbo Baggins
Aug 4 at 1:06
$begingroup$
Why would they fight on the ground instead of in the air?
$endgroup$
– Bilbo Baggins
Aug 4 at 1:06
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins They can't take off frequently, it's usually for emergency escape. And flight isn't really stealthy.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 1:33
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins They can't take off frequently, it's usually for emergency escape. And flight isn't really stealthy.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 1:33
1
1
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins 'Why don't you run everywhere, isn't it faster?' - Barry B Benson (possibly not exact words)
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe
Aug 4 at 13:57
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins 'Why don't you run everywhere, isn't it faster?' - Barry B Benson (possibly not exact words)
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe
Aug 4 at 13:57
$begingroup$
"totally handicaped [sic] on the ground" uh, they're traditionally shown with teeth, dude. You go visit a saltwater crocodile and tell it that it is handicapped because its legs are a bit short for clawing opponents, and let me know how it works out.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 11:15
$begingroup$
"totally handicaped [sic] on the ground" uh, they're traditionally shown with teeth, dude. You go visit a saltwater crocodile and tell it that it is handicapped because its legs are a bit short for clawing opponents, and let me know how it works out.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 11:15
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Steve Irwin eat yer heart out.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 5 at 11:48
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Steve Irwin eat yer heart out.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 5 at 11:48
|
show 2 more comments
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
A few ways:
Sharp tips
Okay, this one isn't the best, but in most books/movies there are humans (what do you think). Humans are puny. Puny humans have no strong scales. Puny humans have puny skin. Puny skin is weak. Sharp-tipped wings cut puny skin. Puny humans dead.
Sharp wing edges
Puny humans have puny skin and puny bones. Strong wings open quickly. Strong wings can have sharp edges. Quick opening strong wings go chop-chop and puny humans dead. Chop-chop also chop scales on dragons. When strong dragon run fast and push out wings small distance (or close after strong dragon lands fast), poor weak tummy is protected (strong dragon breath fire forward for stronger protection) and close humans dead because sharp wing edges go chop-chop on them.
Air
Human editor says "this is not powerful and the stomach area is exposed here and the wing bones may cra---AAAAAAAAAA". Human editor stupid. I go chop-chop on human editor and puny human dead. Strong dragon goes down from flying and faces forward with wings out. Wings blow air forward because of energy from flying goes into wings. Puny human army pushed forward and strong dragon uses sharp tips and sharp edges to chop-chop human army.
answered Aug 4 at 3:13
El ElEl El
13812 bronze badges
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
These are dragons, they have more eloquent speech patterns than Drax. But yeah, wing spurs are apparently a thing in nature.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 11:24
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Wings are strongk just fine as a bludgeon
Remember the wing bones in flight have to withstand several times the force of the full weight of the animal. A wing can deliver a powerful blow, that is why a swan can break a humans bones with their wing. To a creature much smaller than the dragon it would be devastating, like being hit by a baseball bat swung by a professional player at the least, likely more like being kicked by a horse.
answered Aug 4 at 3:45
JohnJohn
41k10 gold badges59 silver badges138 bronze badges
$endgroup$
1
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+1 for the swan comparison. Those things are VICIOUS - and can ruin a car with their wing-based beatings. So I'd imagine an upsized version of that to be quite deadly^^
$endgroup$
– Syndic
Aug 5 at 10:36
$begingroup$
Swans cannot break your bones with their wings. Never happened. They have been known to kill but not by beating someone to death with their wings.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 15:35
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime rare is not the same as never, they can and have. They are not going to break your leg, but I never claimed they would. There is a snopes discussion about it if your interested, msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/…
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 1:56
$begingroup$
@John one anecdote from an anonymous person on the internet does not prove your point. Any actual reputable sources for someone having bones broken by a swan? I'm guessing no. Swans won't break your bones.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 6 at 9:14
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Rhode island invasive swan management plan includes a list of recorded incidents in the state, including breaking human arm bones. Which is not surprising the radius in particular is fairly weak bone to lateral impact. dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/muteplan.pdf
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 14:46
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
I would imagine dragons would generate a powerful amount of force with their wings in order to fly. That suggests they can make air move fast. They say that news anchors are stupid for standing outside in 80 MPH winds during hurricanes because the danger is not the 80 MPH winds but what the wind is blowing is the danger.
So same for dragons, by kicking up a torrent with their wings they could fling stones and branches at opponents. Gravel in the eyes will ruin a knight's or knight's horses day. Similarly, sharp sticks can poke someone's eye out. And, as another answer posited, dust. If a dragon can fill the air with lots and lots of dust, their opponents can't breathe without getting a lungful -- either way good for the dragon and bad for the other guys.
And, in very exceptional circumstances, if the powder is flammable, they could trigger fuel-air bombs using the same mechanism as grain silo explosions.
They can use it defensively too to thwart missile fire. Shunting the arrows, sling stones, etc off to the left or right, are making them fall short.
answered Aug 5 at 21:27
EDLEDL
4,6424 silver badges28 bronze badges
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$begingroup$
...indeed - and Newton's third law implies that if a dragon can lift itself with its wings, it is also blowing wind at its enemies on the ground with enough force to lift a dragon.
$endgroup$
– colmde
Aug 7 at 15:47
add a comment |
$begingroup$
if dragons are the same size as horses, they can kick with their back legs and claw with their front legs, or rear up on their hind legs and hit with their front legs like horses or bears do. Even elephants can rear up on their hind legs, so any smaller four-legged animal should be able to to it, freeing their front legs to attack.
https://www.google.com/search?q=elephant+standing+on+hind+legs&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjK7e-kguzjAhWH11kKHVS3DnoQ_AUIESgB&biw=1924&bih=9201
So if your dragons have front legs as strong as tiger front legs, or horse front legs, or bear front legs, or even human front legs, they will have some use in fighting.
In fact every body part of your dragons, like every body part of every real animal, will have some use in a fight.
Your dragons seem to have many times the mass of Asian water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator) which are said to use their tails to fight as well as teeth and claws https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_water_monitor2, and even several times the mass of Komodo dragons that:
have been observed knocking down large pigs and deer with their strong tails.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon3
Since your dragons will be more massive than any birds, their wings should be more massive than any birds.
Mute swans can be very aggressive in defence of their nests and are highly protective of their mate and offspring. Most defensive attacks from a mute swan begin with a loud hiss and, if this is not sufficient to drive off the predator, are followed by a physical attack. Swans attack by smashing at their enemy with bony spurs in the wings, accompanied by biting with their large bill, while smaller waterbirds such as ducks are normally grabbed with the swan's bill and dragged or thrown clear of the swan and its offspring. The wings of the swan are very powerful, though not strong enough to break an adult man's leg, as said anecdotally.[29] Large waterfowl, such as Canada geese, (more likely out of competition than in response to potential predation) may be aggressively driven off, and mute swans regularly attack people who enter their territory.[30].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_swan4
Since your dragons, small though they are, would have many times the mass of swans, their wings should have many times the mass of swan wings, and thus should probably be able to break bones with strong wing swings.
One possible tactic would be to knock down an animal with a blow from a wing and then bite or claw the throat to kill it. Another tactic might be to strike a smashing blow with the wing at the opponent's neck, to break the neck and kill it instantly.
If your dragons were many times larger than you indicate, as large as Smaug the Golden, then one could truthfully boast:
My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"
http://lotrproject.com/quotes/character/smaug 5
In the movie Rodan (1956) the giant "terror dactyls" made hurricane force winds with their wings to blow away buildings.
Since your dragons are so tiny compared to Smaug or Rodan they should't be able to blow away human sized opponents, but if they fight in a sandy desert or a swamp they might use the tactic of blowing dust, sand, or water into their opponents faces to blind them while fighting.
You write:
It shouldn't leave the dragon wide open and most definietly not expose the dragon's tummy (their weakpoint)
And I ask why should a dragon's tummy be their weak point? Why can't a dragon have a rib cage which extends down to their abdomen? Why can't a dragon, like a turtle, have a shell on their abdomen?
And even if your dragons have unarmored bellies, will those weak spots be exposed to much danger when one them rears up on its hind legs and tail and stretches out its front limbs and claws and coils back its neck, ready to strike with its jaws, and gets its wings ready to wack at the opponent?
answered Aug 5 at 16:15
M. A. GoldingM. A. Golding
11.2k7 silver badges32 bronze badges
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pulls out machine gun Well, the guy who asked the question never said WHEN these dragons would exist...
$endgroup$
– El El
Aug 5 at 23:03
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Instant dust storm. instant sand storm. Or, in the right place, instant storm of sharp gravel being propelled at the opposition with something like the force of a jet engine (it takes a lot of thrust to get a dragon off the ground).
A smarter or more skillful dragon may also be able to direct wingtip-generated vortices at will. Think micro tornado generator.
Or wings can simply be used in powerful sweeps to knock opponents off their feet (or off their steeds) so they can be tackled more easily.
A fire-breathing dragon will be able to use its wings to fan the flames and direct or enhance a conflagration. Or put one out, if so inclined.
Don't underestimate the use of wings for tactical VTOL. Think flying ninja able to leap over, away from or on to opponents. Or just to rise into the air so all four limbs, tail and bite and be deployed simultaneously on a large enough opponent.
There's probably a whole martial arts manual waiting to be written about how to use dragon wings in close combat.
answered Aug 5 at 9:33
David HamblingDavid Hambling
1224 bronze badges
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5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
A few ways:
Sharp tips
Okay, this one isn't the best, but in most books/movies there are humans (what do you think). Humans are puny. Puny humans have no strong scales. Puny humans have puny skin. Puny skin is weak. Sharp-tipped wings cut puny skin. Puny humans dead.
Sharp wing edges
Puny humans have puny skin and puny bones. Strong wings open quickly. Strong wings can have sharp edges. Quick opening strong wings go chop-chop and puny humans dead. Chop-chop also chop scales on dragons. When strong dragon run fast and push out wings small distance (or close after strong dragon lands fast), poor weak tummy is protected (strong dragon breath fire forward for stronger protection) and close humans dead because sharp wing edges go chop-chop on them.
Air
Human editor says "this is not powerful and the stomach area is exposed here and the wing bones may cra---AAAAAAAAAA". Human editor stupid. I go chop-chop on human editor and puny human dead. Strong dragon goes down from flying and faces forward with wings out. Wings blow air forward because of energy from flying goes into wings. Puny human army pushed forward and strong dragon uses sharp tips and sharp edges to chop-chop human army.
answered Aug 4 at 3:13
El ElEl El
13812 bronze badges
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
These are dragons, they have more eloquent speech patterns than Drax. But yeah, wing spurs are apparently a thing in nature.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 11:24
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A few ways:
Sharp tips
Okay, this one isn't the best, but in most books/movies there are humans (what do you think). Humans are puny. Puny humans have no strong scales. Puny humans have puny skin. Puny skin is weak. Sharp-tipped wings cut puny skin. Puny humans dead.
Sharp wing edges
Puny humans have puny skin and puny bones. Strong wings open quickly. Strong wings can have sharp edges. Quick opening strong wings go chop-chop and puny humans dead. Chop-chop also chop scales on dragons. When strong dragon run fast and push out wings small distance (or close after strong dragon lands fast), poor weak tummy is protected (strong dragon breath fire forward for stronger protection) and close humans dead because sharp wing edges go chop-chop on them.
Air
Human editor says "this is not powerful and the stomach area is exposed here and the wing bones may cra---AAAAAAAAAA". Human editor stupid. I go chop-chop on human editor and puny human dead. Strong dragon goes down from flying and faces forward with wings out. Wings blow air forward because of energy from flying goes into wings. Puny human army pushed forward and strong dragon uses sharp tips and sharp edges to chop-chop human army.
answered Aug 4 at 3:13
El ElEl El
13812 bronze badges
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
These are dragons, they have more eloquent speech patterns than Drax. But yeah, wing spurs are apparently a thing in nature.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 11:24
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A few ways:
Sharp tips
Okay, this one isn't the best, but in most books/movies there are humans (what do you think). Humans are puny. Puny humans have no strong scales. Puny humans have puny skin. Puny skin is weak. Sharp-tipped wings cut puny skin. Puny humans dead.
Sharp wing edges
Puny humans have puny skin and puny bones. Strong wings open quickly. Strong wings can have sharp edges. Quick opening strong wings go chop-chop and puny humans dead. Chop-chop also chop scales on dragons. When strong dragon run fast and push out wings small distance (or close after strong dragon lands fast), poor weak tummy is protected (strong dragon breath fire forward for stronger protection) and close humans dead because sharp wing edges go chop-chop on them.
Air
Human editor says "this is not powerful and the stomach area is exposed here and the wing bones may cra---AAAAAAAAAA". Human editor stupid. I go chop-chop on human editor and puny human dead. Strong dragon goes down from flying and faces forward with wings out. Wings blow air forward because of energy from flying goes into wings. Puny human army pushed forward and strong dragon uses sharp tips and sharp edges to chop-chop human army.
answered Aug 4 at 3:13
El ElEl El
13812 bronze badges
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A few ways:
Sharp tips
Okay, this one isn't the best, but in most books/movies there are humans (what do you think). Humans are puny. Puny humans have no strong scales. Puny humans have puny skin. Puny skin is weak. Sharp-tipped wings cut puny skin. Puny humans dead.
Sharp wing edges
Puny humans have puny skin and puny bones. Strong wings open quickly. Strong wings can have sharp edges. Quick opening strong wings go chop-chop and puny humans dead. Chop-chop also chop scales on dragons. When strong dragon run fast and push out wings small distance (or close after strong dragon lands fast), poor weak tummy is protected (strong dragon breath fire forward for stronger protection) and close humans dead because sharp wing edges go chop-chop on them.
Air
Human editor says "this is not powerful and the stomach area is exposed here and the wing bones may cra---AAAAAAAAAA". Human editor stupid. I go chop-chop on human editor and puny human dead. Strong dragon goes down from flying and faces forward with wings out. Wings blow air forward because of energy from flying goes into wings. Puny human army pushed forward and strong dragon uses sharp tips and sharp edges to chop-chop human army.
answered Aug 4 at 3:13
El ElEl El
13812 bronze badges
answered Aug 4 at 3:13
El ElEl El
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answered Aug 4 at 3:13
El ElEl El
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answered Aug 4 at 3:13
El ElEl El
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13812 bronze badges
1
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These are dragons, they have more eloquent speech patterns than Drax. But yeah, wing spurs are apparently a thing in nature.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 11:24
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
These are dragons, they have more eloquent speech patterns than Drax. But yeah, wing spurs are apparently a thing in nature.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 11:24
1
1
$begingroup$
These are dragons, they have more eloquent speech patterns than Drax. But yeah, wing spurs are apparently a thing in nature.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 11:24
$begingroup$
These are dragons, they have more eloquent speech patterns than Drax. But yeah, wing spurs are apparently a thing in nature.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 11:24
add a comment |
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Wings are strongk just fine as a bludgeon
Remember the wing bones in flight have to withstand several times the force of the full weight of the animal. A wing can deliver a powerful blow, that is why a swan can break a humans bones with their wing. To a creature much smaller than the dragon it would be devastating, like being hit by a baseball bat swung by a professional player at the least, likely more like being kicked by a horse.
answered Aug 4 at 3:45
JohnJohn
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1
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+1 for the swan comparison. Those things are VICIOUS - and can ruin a car with their wing-based beatings. So I'd imagine an upsized version of that to be quite deadly^^
$endgroup$
– Syndic
Aug 5 at 10:36
$begingroup$
Swans cannot break your bones with their wings. Never happened. They have been known to kill but not by beating someone to death with their wings.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 15:35
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime rare is not the same as never, they can and have. They are not going to break your leg, but I never claimed they would. There is a snopes discussion about it if your interested, msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/…
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 1:56
$begingroup$
@John one anecdote from an anonymous person on the internet does not prove your point. Any actual reputable sources for someone having bones broken by a swan? I'm guessing no. Swans won't break your bones.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 6 at 9:14
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Rhode island invasive swan management plan includes a list of recorded incidents in the state, including breaking human arm bones. Which is not surprising the radius in particular is fairly weak bone to lateral impact. dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/muteplan.pdf
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 14:46
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
Wings are strongk just fine as a bludgeon
Remember the wing bones in flight have to withstand several times the force of the full weight of the animal. A wing can deliver a powerful blow, that is why a swan can break a humans bones with their wing. To a creature much smaller than the dragon it would be devastating, like being hit by a baseball bat swung by a professional player at the least, likely more like being kicked by a horse.
answered Aug 4 at 3:45
JohnJohn
41k10 gold badges59 silver badges138 bronze badges
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1
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+1 for the swan comparison. Those things are VICIOUS - and can ruin a car with their wing-based beatings. So I'd imagine an upsized version of that to be quite deadly^^
$endgroup$
– Syndic
Aug 5 at 10:36
$begingroup$
Swans cannot break your bones with their wings. Never happened. They have been known to kill but not by beating someone to death with their wings.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 15:35
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime rare is not the same as never, they can and have. They are not going to break your leg, but I never claimed they would. There is a snopes discussion about it if your interested, msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/…
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 1:56
$begingroup$
@John one anecdote from an anonymous person on the internet does not prove your point. Any actual reputable sources for someone having bones broken by a swan? I'm guessing no. Swans won't break your bones.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 6 at 9:14
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Rhode island invasive swan management plan includes a list of recorded incidents in the state, including breaking human arm bones. Which is not surprising the radius in particular is fairly weak bone to lateral impact. dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/muteplan.pdf
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 14:46
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
Wings are strongk just fine as a bludgeon
Remember the wing bones in flight have to withstand several times the force of the full weight of the animal. A wing can deliver a powerful blow, that is why a swan can break a humans bones with their wing. To a creature much smaller than the dragon it would be devastating, like being hit by a baseball bat swung by a professional player at the least, likely more like being kicked by a horse.
answered Aug 4 at 3:45
JohnJohn
41k10 gold badges59 silver badges138 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Wings are strongk just fine as a bludgeon
Remember the wing bones in flight have to withstand several times the force of the full weight of the animal. A wing can deliver a powerful blow, that is why a swan can break a humans bones with their wing. To a creature much smaller than the dragon it would be devastating, like being hit by a baseball bat swung by a professional player at the least, likely more like being kicked by a horse.
answered Aug 4 at 3:45
JohnJohn
41k10 gold badges59 silver badges138 bronze badges
edited Aug 5 at 13:34
answered Aug 4 at 3:45
JohnJohn
41k10 gold badges59 silver badges138 bronze badges
answered Aug 4 at 3:45
JohnJohn
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answered Aug 4 at 3:45
JohnJohn
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41k10 gold badges59 silver badges138 bronze badges
1
$begingroup$
+1 for the swan comparison. Those things are VICIOUS - and can ruin a car with their wing-based beatings. So I'd imagine an upsized version of that to be quite deadly^^
$endgroup$
– Syndic
Aug 5 at 10:36
$begingroup$
Swans cannot break your bones with their wings. Never happened. They have been known to kill but not by beating someone to death with their wings.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 15:35
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime rare is not the same as never, they can and have. They are not going to break your leg, but I never claimed they would. There is a snopes discussion about it if your interested, msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/…
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 1:56
$begingroup$
@John one anecdote from an anonymous person on the internet does not prove your point. Any actual reputable sources for someone having bones broken by a swan? I'm guessing no. Swans won't break your bones.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 6 at 9:14
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Rhode island invasive swan management plan includes a list of recorded incidents in the state, including breaking human arm bones. Which is not surprising the radius in particular is fairly weak bone to lateral impact. dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/muteplan.pdf
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 14:46
|
show 6 more comments
1
$begingroup$
+1 for the swan comparison. Those things are VICIOUS - and can ruin a car with their wing-based beatings. So I'd imagine an upsized version of that to be quite deadly^^
$endgroup$
– Syndic
Aug 5 at 10:36
$begingroup$
Swans cannot break your bones with their wings. Never happened. They have been known to kill but not by beating someone to death with their wings.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 15:35
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime rare is not the same as never, they can and have. They are not going to break your leg, but I never claimed they would. There is a snopes discussion about it if your interested, msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/…
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 1:56
$begingroup$
@John one anecdote from an anonymous person on the internet does not prove your point. Any actual reputable sources for someone having bones broken by a swan? I'm guessing no. Swans won't break your bones.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 6 at 9:14
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Rhode island invasive swan management plan includes a list of recorded incidents in the state, including breaking human arm bones. Which is not surprising the radius in particular is fairly weak bone to lateral impact. dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/muteplan.pdf
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 14:46
1
1
$begingroup$
+1 for the swan comparison. Those things are VICIOUS - and can ruin a car with their wing-based beatings. So I'd imagine an upsized version of that to be quite deadly^^
$endgroup$
– Syndic
Aug 5 at 10:36
$begingroup$
+1 for the swan comparison. Those things are VICIOUS - and can ruin a car with their wing-based beatings. So I'd imagine an upsized version of that to be quite deadly^^
$endgroup$
– Syndic
Aug 5 at 10:36
$begingroup$
Swans cannot break your bones with their wings. Never happened. They have been known to kill but not by beating someone to death with their wings.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 15:35
$begingroup$
Swans cannot break your bones with their wings. Never happened. They have been known to kill but not by beating someone to death with their wings.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 15:35
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime rare is not the same as never, they can and have. They are not going to break your leg, but I never claimed they would. There is a snopes discussion about it if your interested, msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/…
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 1:56
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime rare is not the same as never, they can and have. They are not going to break your leg, but I never claimed they would. There is a snopes discussion about it if your interested, msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/…
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 1:56
$begingroup$
@John one anecdote from an anonymous person on the internet does not prove your point. Any actual reputable sources for someone having bones broken by a swan? I'm guessing no. Swans won't break your bones.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 6 at 9:14
$begingroup$
@John one anecdote from an anonymous person on the internet does not prove your point. Any actual reputable sources for someone having bones broken by a swan? I'm guessing no. Swans won't break your bones.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 6 at 9:14
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Rhode island invasive swan management plan includes a list of recorded incidents in the state, including breaking human arm bones. Which is not surprising the radius in particular is fairly weak bone to lateral impact. dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/muteplan.pdf
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 14:46
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Rhode island invasive swan management plan includes a list of recorded incidents in the state, including breaking human arm bones. Which is not surprising the radius in particular is fairly weak bone to lateral impact. dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/muteplan.pdf
$endgroup$
– John
Aug 6 at 14:46
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
I would imagine dragons would generate a powerful amount of force with their wings in order to fly. That suggests they can make air move fast. They say that news anchors are stupid for standing outside in 80 MPH winds during hurricanes because the danger is not the 80 MPH winds but what the wind is blowing is the danger.
So same for dragons, by kicking up a torrent with their wings they could fling stones and branches at opponents. Gravel in the eyes will ruin a knight's or knight's horses day. Similarly, sharp sticks can poke someone's eye out. And, as another answer posited, dust. If a dragon can fill the air with lots and lots of dust, their opponents can't breathe without getting a lungful -- either way good for the dragon and bad for the other guys.
And, in very exceptional circumstances, if the powder is flammable, they could trigger fuel-air bombs using the same mechanism as grain silo explosions.
They can use it defensively too to thwart missile fire. Shunting the arrows, sling stones, etc off to the left or right, are making them fall short.
answered Aug 5 at 21:27
EDLEDL
4,6424 silver badges28 bronze badges
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...indeed - and Newton's third law implies that if a dragon can lift itself with its wings, it is also blowing wind at its enemies on the ground with enough force to lift a dragon.
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– colmde
Aug 7 at 15:47
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I would imagine dragons would generate a powerful amount of force with their wings in order to fly. That suggests they can make air move fast. They say that news anchors are stupid for standing outside in 80 MPH winds during hurricanes because the danger is not the 80 MPH winds but what the wind is blowing is the danger.
So same for dragons, by kicking up a torrent with their wings they could fling stones and branches at opponents. Gravel in the eyes will ruin a knight's or knight's horses day. Similarly, sharp sticks can poke someone's eye out. And, as another answer posited, dust. If a dragon can fill the air with lots and lots of dust, their opponents can't breathe without getting a lungful -- either way good for the dragon and bad for the other guys.
And, in very exceptional circumstances, if the powder is flammable, they could trigger fuel-air bombs using the same mechanism as grain silo explosions.
They can use it defensively too to thwart missile fire. Shunting the arrows, sling stones, etc off to the left or right, are making them fall short.
answered Aug 5 at 21:27
EDLEDL
4,6424 silver badges28 bronze badges
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
...indeed - and Newton's third law implies that if a dragon can lift itself with its wings, it is also blowing wind at its enemies on the ground with enough force to lift a dragon.
$endgroup$
– colmde
Aug 7 at 15:47
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I would imagine dragons would generate a powerful amount of force with their wings in order to fly. That suggests they can make air move fast. They say that news anchors are stupid for standing outside in 80 MPH winds during hurricanes because the danger is not the 80 MPH winds but what the wind is blowing is the danger.
So same for dragons, by kicking up a torrent with their wings they could fling stones and branches at opponents. Gravel in the eyes will ruin a knight's or knight's horses day. Similarly, sharp sticks can poke someone's eye out. And, as another answer posited, dust. If a dragon can fill the air with lots and lots of dust, their opponents can't breathe without getting a lungful -- either way good for the dragon and bad for the other guys.
And, in very exceptional circumstances, if the powder is flammable, they could trigger fuel-air bombs using the same mechanism as grain silo explosions.
They can use it defensively too to thwart missile fire. Shunting the arrows, sling stones, etc off to the left or right, are making them fall short.
answered Aug 5 at 21:27
EDLEDL
4,6424 silver badges28 bronze badges
$endgroup$
I would imagine dragons would generate a powerful amount of force with their wings in order to fly. That suggests they can make air move fast. They say that news anchors are stupid for standing outside in 80 MPH winds during hurricanes because the danger is not the 80 MPH winds but what the wind is blowing is the danger.
So same for dragons, by kicking up a torrent with their wings they could fling stones and branches at opponents. Gravel in the eyes will ruin a knight's or knight's horses day. Similarly, sharp sticks can poke someone's eye out. And, as another answer posited, dust. If a dragon can fill the air with lots and lots of dust, their opponents can't breathe without getting a lungful -- either way good for the dragon and bad for the other guys.
And, in very exceptional circumstances, if the powder is flammable, they could trigger fuel-air bombs using the same mechanism as grain silo explosions.
They can use it defensively too to thwart missile fire. Shunting the arrows, sling stones, etc off to the left or right, are making them fall short.
answered Aug 5 at 21:27
EDLEDL
4,6424 silver badges28 bronze badges
answered Aug 5 at 21:27
EDLEDL
4,6424 silver badges28 bronze badges
answered Aug 5 at 21:27
EDLEDL
4,6424 silver badges28 bronze badges
answered Aug 5 at 21:27
EDLEDL
4,6424 silver badges28 bronze badges
4,6424 silver badges28 bronze badges
$begingroup$
...indeed - and Newton's third law implies that if a dragon can lift itself with its wings, it is also blowing wind at its enemies on the ground with enough force to lift a dragon.
$endgroup$
– colmde
Aug 7 at 15:47
add a comment |
$begingroup$
...indeed - and Newton's third law implies that if a dragon can lift itself with its wings, it is also blowing wind at its enemies on the ground with enough force to lift a dragon.
$endgroup$
– colmde
Aug 7 at 15:47
$begingroup$
...indeed - and Newton's third law implies that if a dragon can lift itself with its wings, it is also blowing wind at its enemies on the ground with enough force to lift a dragon.
$endgroup$
– colmde
Aug 7 at 15:47
$begingroup$
...indeed - and Newton's third law implies that if a dragon can lift itself with its wings, it is also blowing wind at its enemies on the ground with enough force to lift a dragon.
$endgroup$
– colmde
Aug 7 at 15:47
add a comment |
$begingroup$
if dragons are the same size as horses, they can kick with their back legs and claw with their front legs, or rear up on their hind legs and hit with their front legs like horses or bears do. Even elephants can rear up on their hind legs, so any smaller four-legged animal should be able to to it, freeing their front legs to attack.
https://www.google.com/search?q=elephant+standing+on+hind+legs&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjK7e-kguzjAhWH11kKHVS3DnoQ_AUIESgB&biw=1924&bih=9201
So if your dragons have front legs as strong as tiger front legs, or horse front legs, or bear front legs, or even human front legs, they will have some use in fighting.
In fact every body part of your dragons, like every body part of every real animal, will have some use in a fight.
Your dragons seem to have many times the mass of Asian water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator) which are said to use their tails to fight as well as teeth and claws https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_water_monitor2, and even several times the mass of Komodo dragons that:
have been observed knocking down large pigs and deer with their strong tails.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon3
Since your dragons will be more massive than any birds, their wings should be more massive than any birds.
Mute swans can be very aggressive in defence of their nests and are highly protective of their mate and offspring. Most defensive attacks from a mute swan begin with a loud hiss and, if this is not sufficient to drive off the predator, are followed by a physical attack. Swans attack by smashing at their enemy with bony spurs in the wings, accompanied by biting with their large bill, while smaller waterbirds such as ducks are normally grabbed with the swan's bill and dragged or thrown clear of the swan and its offspring. The wings of the swan are very powerful, though not strong enough to break an adult man's leg, as said anecdotally.[29] Large waterfowl, such as Canada geese, (more likely out of competition than in response to potential predation) may be aggressively driven off, and mute swans regularly attack people who enter their territory.[30].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_swan4
Since your dragons, small though they are, would have many times the mass of swans, their wings should have many times the mass of swan wings, and thus should probably be able to break bones with strong wing swings.
One possible tactic would be to knock down an animal with a blow from a wing and then bite or claw the throat to kill it. Another tactic might be to strike a smashing blow with the wing at the opponent's neck, to break the neck and kill it instantly.
If your dragons were many times larger than you indicate, as large as Smaug the Golden, then one could truthfully boast:
My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"
http://lotrproject.com/quotes/character/smaug 5
In the movie Rodan (1956) the giant "terror dactyls" made hurricane force winds with their wings to blow away buildings.
Since your dragons are so tiny compared to Smaug or Rodan they should't be able to blow away human sized opponents, but if they fight in a sandy desert or a swamp they might use the tactic of blowing dust, sand, or water into their opponents faces to blind them while fighting.
You write:
It shouldn't leave the dragon wide open and most definietly not expose the dragon's tummy (their weakpoint)
And I ask why should a dragon's tummy be their weak point? Why can't a dragon have a rib cage which extends down to their abdomen? Why can't a dragon, like a turtle, have a shell on their abdomen?
And even if your dragons have unarmored bellies, will those weak spots be exposed to much danger when one them rears up on its hind legs and tail and stretches out its front limbs and claws and coils back its neck, ready to strike with its jaws, and gets its wings ready to wack at the opponent?
answered Aug 5 at 16:15
M. A. GoldingM. A. Golding
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pulls out machine gun Well, the guy who asked the question never said WHEN these dragons would exist...
$endgroup$
– El El
Aug 5 at 23:03
add a comment |
$begingroup$
if dragons are the same size as horses, they can kick with their back legs and claw with their front legs, or rear up on their hind legs and hit with their front legs like horses or bears do. Even elephants can rear up on their hind legs, so any smaller four-legged animal should be able to to it, freeing their front legs to attack.
https://www.google.com/search?q=elephant+standing+on+hind+legs&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjK7e-kguzjAhWH11kKHVS3DnoQ_AUIESgB&biw=1924&bih=9201
So if your dragons have front legs as strong as tiger front legs, or horse front legs, or bear front legs, or even human front legs, they will have some use in fighting.
In fact every body part of your dragons, like every body part of every real animal, will have some use in a fight.
Your dragons seem to have many times the mass of Asian water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator) which are said to use their tails to fight as well as teeth and claws https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_water_monitor2, and even several times the mass of Komodo dragons that:
have been observed knocking down large pigs and deer with their strong tails.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon3
Since your dragons will be more massive than any birds, their wings should be more massive than any birds.
Mute swans can be very aggressive in defence of their nests and are highly protective of their mate and offspring. Most defensive attacks from a mute swan begin with a loud hiss and, if this is not sufficient to drive off the predator, are followed by a physical attack. Swans attack by smashing at their enemy with bony spurs in the wings, accompanied by biting with their large bill, while smaller waterbirds such as ducks are normally grabbed with the swan's bill and dragged or thrown clear of the swan and its offspring. The wings of the swan are very powerful, though not strong enough to break an adult man's leg, as said anecdotally.[29] Large waterfowl, such as Canada geese, (more likely out of competition than in response to potential predation) may be aggressively driven off, and mute swans regularly attack people who enter their territory.[30].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_swan4
Since your dragons, small though they are, would have many times the mass of swans, their wings should have many times the mass of swan wings, and thus should probably be able to break bones with strong wing swings.
One possible tactic would be to knock down an animal with a blow from a wing and then bite or claw the throat to kill it. Another tactic might be to strike a smashing blow with the wing at the opponent's neck, to break the neck and kill it instantly.
If your dragons were many times larger than you indicate, as large as Smaug the Golden, then one could truthfully boast:
My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"
http://lotrproject.com/quotes/character/smaug 5
In the movie Rodan (1956) the giant "terror dactyls" made hurricane force winds with their wings to blow away buildings.
Since your dragons are so tiny compared to Smaug or Rodan they should't be able to blow away human sized opponents, but if they fight in a sandy desert or a swamp they might use the tactic of blowing dust, sand, or water into their opponents faces to blind them while fighting.
You write:
It shouldn't leave the dragon wide open and most definietly not expose the dragon's tummy (their weakpoint)
And I ask why should a dragon's tummy be their weak point? Why can't a dragon have a rib cage which extends down to their abdomen? Why can't a dragon, like a turtle, have a shell on their abdomen?
And even if your dragons have unarmored bellies, will those weak spots be exposed to much danger when one them rears up on its hind legs and tail and stretches out its front limbs and claws and coils back its neck, ready to strike with its jaws, and gets its wings ready to wack at the opponent?
answered Aug 5 at 16:15
M. A. GoldingM. A. Golding
11.2k7 silver badges32 bronze badges
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pulls out machine gun Well, the guy who asked the question never said WHEN these dragons would exist...
$endgroup$
– El El
Aug 5 at 23:03
add a comment |
$begingroup$
if dragons are the same size as horses, they can kick with their back legs and claw with their front legs, or rear up on their hind legs and hit with their front legs like horses or bears do. Even elephants can rear up on their hind legs, so any smaller four-legged animal should be able to to it, freeing their front legs to attack.
https://www.google.com/search?q=elephant+standing+on+hind+legs&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjK7e-kguzjAhWH11kKHVS3DnoQ_AUIESgB&biw=1924&bih=9201
So if your dragons have front legs as strong as tiger front legs, or horse front legs, or bear front legs, or even human front legs, they will have some use in fighting.
In fact every body part of your dragons, like every body part of every real animal, will have some use in a fight.
Your dragons seem to have many times the mass of Asian water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator) which are said to use their tails to fight as well as teeth and claws https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_water_monitor2, and even several times the mass of Komodo dragons that:
have been observed knocking down large pigs and deer with their strong tails.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon3
Since your dragons will be more massive than any birds, their wings should be more massive than any birds.
Mute swans can be very aggressive in defence of their nests and are highly protective of their mate and offspring. Most defensive attacks from a mute swan begin with a loud hiss and, if this is not sufficient to drive off the predator, are followed by a physical attack. Swans attack by smashing at their enemy with bony spurs in the wings, accompanied by biting with their large bill, while smaller waterbirds such as ducks are normally grabbed with the swan's bill and dragged or thrown clear of the swan and its offspring. The wings of the swan are very powerful, though not strong enough to break an adult man's leg, as said anecdotally.[29] Large waterfowl, such as Canada geese, (more likely out of competition than in response to potential predation) may be aggressively driven off, and mute swans regularly attack people who enter their territory.[30].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_swan4
Since your dragons, small though they are, would have many times the mass of swans, their wings should have many times the mass of swan wings, and thus should probably be able to break bones with strong wing swings.
One possible tactic would be to knock down an animal with a blow from a wing and then bite or claw the throat to kill it. Another tactic might be to strike a smashing blow with the wing at the opponent's neck, to break the neck and kill it instantly.
If your dragons were many times larger than you indicate, as large as Smaug the Golden, then one could truthfully boast:
My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"
http://lotrproject.com/quotes/character/smaug 5
In the movie Rodan (1956) the giant "terror dactyls" made hurricane force winds with their wings to blow away buildings.
Since your dragons are so tiny compared to Smaug or Rodan they should't be able to blow away human sized opponents, but if they fight in a sandy desert or a swamp they might use the tactic of blowing dust, sand, or water into their opponents faces to blind them while fighting.
You write:
It shouldn't leave the dragon wide open and most definietly not expose the dragon's tummy (their weakpoint)
And I ask why should a dragon's tummy be their weak point? Why can't a dragon have a rib cage which extends down to their abdomen? Why can't a dragon, like a turtle, have a shell on their abdomen?
And even if your dragons have unarmored bellies, will those weak spots be exposed to much danger when one them rears up on its hind legs and tail and stretches out its front limbs and claws and coils back its neck, ready to strike with its jaws, and gets its wings ready to wack at the opponent?
answered Aug 5 at 16:15
M. A. GoldingM. A. Golding
11.2k7 silver badges32 bronze badges
$endgroup$
if dragons are the same size as horses, they can kick with their back legs and claw with their front legs, or rear up on their hind legs and hit with their front legs like horses or bears do. Even elephants can rear up on their hind legs, so any smaller four-legged animal should be able to to it, freeing their front legs to attack.
https://www.google.com/search?q=elephant+standing+on+hind+legs&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjK7e-kguzjAhWH11kKHVS3DnoQ_AUIESgB&biw=1924&bih=9201
So if your dragons have front legs as strong as tiger front legs, or horse front legs, or bear front legs, or even human front legs, they will have some use in fighting.
In fact every body part of your dragons, like every body part of every real animal, will have some use in a fight.
Your dragons seem to have many times the mass of Asian water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator) which are said to use their tails to fight as well as teeth and claws https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_water_monitor2, and even several times the mass of Komodo dragons that:
have been observed knocking down large pigs and deer with their strong tails.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon3
Since your dragons will be more massive than any birds, their wings should be more massive than any birds.
Mute swans can be very aggressive in defence of their nests and are highly protective of their mate and offspring. Most defensive attacks from a mute swan begin with a loud hiss and, if this is not sufficient to drive off the predator, are followed by a physical attack. Swans attack by smashing at their enemy with bony spurs in the wings, accompanied by biting with their large bill, while smaller waterbirds such as ducks are normally grabbed with the swan's bill and dragged or thrown clear of the swan and its offspring. The wings of the swan are very powerful, though not strong enough to break an adult man's leg, as said anecdotally.[29] Large waterfowl, such as Canada geese, (more likely out of competition than in response to potential predation) may be aggressively driven off, and mute swans regularly attack people who enter their territory.[30].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_swan4
Since your dragons, small though they are, would have many times the mass of swans, their wings should have many times the mass of swan wings, and thus should probably be able to break bones with strong wing swings.
One possible tactic would be to knock down an animal with a blow from a wing and then bite or claw the throat to kill it. Another tactic might be to strike a smashing blow with the wing at the opponent's neck, to break the neck and kill it instantly.
If your dragons were many times larger than you indicate, as large as Smaug the Golden, then one could truthfully boast:
My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"
http://lotrproject.com/quotes/character/smaug 5
In the movie Rodan (1956) the giant "terror dactyls" made hurricane force winds with their wings to blow away buildings.
Since your dragons are so tiny compared to Smaug or Rodan they should't be able to blow away human sized opponents, but if they fight in a sandy desert or a swamp they might use the tactic of blowing dust, sand, or water into their opponents faces to blind them while fighting.
You write:
It shouldn't leave the dragon wide open and most definietly not expose the dragon's tummy (their weakpoint)
And I ask why should a dragon's tummy be their weak point? Why can't a dragon have a rib cage which extends down to their abdomen? Why can't a dragon, like a turtle, have a shell on their abdomen?
And even if your dragons have unarmored bellies, will those weak spots be exposed to much danger when one them rears up on its hind legs and tail and stretches out its front limbs and claws and coils back its neck, ready to strike with its jaws, and gets its wings ready to wack at the opponent?
answered Aug 5 at 16:15
M. A. GoldingM. A. Golding
11.2k7 silver badges32 bronze badges
answered Aug 5 at 16:15
M. A. GoldingM. A. Golding
11.2k7 silver badges32 bronze badges
answered Aug 5 at 16:15
M. A. GoldingM. A. Golding
11.2k7 silver badges32 bronze badges
answered Aug 5 at 16:15
M. A. GoldingM. A. Golding
11.2k7 silver badges32 bronze badges
11.2k7 silver badges32 bronze badges
$begingroup$
pulls out machine gun Well, the guy who asked the question never said WHEN these dragons would exist...
$endgroup$
– El El
Aug 5 at 23:03
add a comment |
$begingroup$
pulls out machine gun Well, the guy who asked the question never said WHEN these dragons would exist...
$endgroup$
– El El
Aug 5 at 23:03
$begingroup$
pulls out machine gun Well, the guy who asked the question never said WHEN these dragons would exist...
$endgroup$
– El El
Aug 5 at 23:03
$begingroup$
pulls out machine gun Well, the guy who asked the question never said WHEN these dragons would exist...
$endgroup$
– El El
Aug 5 at 23:03
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Instant dust storm. instant sand storm. Or, in the right place, instant storm of sharp gravel being propelled at the opposition with something like the force of a jet engine (it takes a lot of thrust to get a dragon off the ground).
A smarter or more skillful dragon may also be able to direct wingtip-generated vortices at will. Think micro tornado generator.
Or wings can simply be used in powerful sweeps to knock opponents off their feet (or off their steeds) so they can be tackled more easily.
A fire-breathing dragon will be able to use its wings to fan the flames and direct or enhance a conflagration. Or put one out, if so inclined.
Don't underestimate the use of wings for tactical VTOL. Think flying ninja able to leap over, away from or on to opponents. Or just to rise into the air so all four limbs, tail and bite and be deployed simultaneously on a large enough opponent.
There's probably a whole martial arts manual waiting to be written about how to use dragon wings in close combat.
answered Aug 5 at 9:33
David HamblingDavid Hambling
1224 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Instant dust storm. instant sand storm. Or, in the right place, instant storm of sharp gravel being propelled at the opposition with something like the force of a jet engine (it takes a lot of thrust to get a dragon off the ground).
A smarter or more skillful dragon may also be able to direct wingtip-generated vortices at will. Think micro tornado generator.
Or wings can simply be used in powerful sweeps to knock opponents off their feet (or off their steeds) so they can be tackled more easily.
A fire-breathing dragon will be able to use its wings to fan the flames and direct or enhance a conflagration. Or put one out, if so inclined.
Don't underestimate the use of wings for tactical VTOL. Think flying ninja able to leap over, away from or on to opponents. Or just to rise into the air so all four limbs, tail and bite and be deployed simultaneously on a large enough opponent.
There's probably a whole martial arts manual waiting to be written about how to use dragon wings in close combat.
answered Aug 5 at 9:33
David HamblingDavid Hambling
1224 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Instant dust storm. instant sand storm. Or, in the right place, instant storm of sharp gravel being propelled at the opposition with something like the force of a jet engine (it takes a lot of thrust to get a dragon off the ground).
A smarter or more skillful dragon may also be able to direct wingtip-generated vortices at will. Think micro tornado generator.
Or wings can simply be used in powerful sweeps to knock opponents off their feet (or off their steeds) so they can be tackled more easily.
A fire-breathing dragon will be able to use its wings to fan the flames and direct or enhance a conflagration. Or put one out, if so inclined.
Don't underestimate the use of wings for tactical VTOL. Think flying ninja able to leap over, away from or on to opponents. Or just to rise into the air so all four limbs, tail and bite and be deployed simultaneously on a large enough opponent.
There's probably a whole martial arts manual waiting to be written about how to use dragon wings in close combat.
answered Aug 5 at 9:33
David HamblingDavid Hambling
1224 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Instant dust storm. instant sand storm. Or, in the right place, instant storm of sharp gravel being propelled at the opposition with something like the force of a jet engine (it takes a lot of thrust to get a dragon off the ground).
A smarter or more skillful dragon may also be able to direct wingtip-generated vortices at will. Think micro tornado generator.
Or wings can simply be used in powerful sweeps to knock opponents off their feet (or off their steeds) so they can be tackled more easily.
A fire-breathing dragon will be able to use its wings to fan the flames and direct or enhance a conflagration. Or put one out, if so inclined.
Don't underestimate the use of wings for tactical VTOL. Think flying ninja able to leap over, away from or on to opponents. Or just to rise into the air so all four limbs, tail and bite and be deployed simultaneously on a large enough opponent.
There's probably a whole martial arts manual waiting to be written about how to use dragon wings in close combat.
answered Aug 5 at 9:33
David HamblingDavid Hambling
1224 bronze badges
edited Aug 7 at 11:11
answered Aug 5 at 9:33
David HamblingDavid Hambling
1224 bronze badges
answered Aug 5 at 9:33
David HamblingDavid Hambling
1224 bronze badges
answered Aug 5 at 9:33
David HamblingDavid Hambling
1224 bronze badges
1224 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
Why would they fight on the ground instead of in the air?
$endgroup$
– Bilbo Baggins
Aug 4 at 1:06
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins They can't take off frequently, it's usually for emergency escape. And flight isn't really stealthy.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 4 at 1:33
1
$begingroup$
@BilboBaggins 'Why don't you run everywhere, isn't it faster?' - Barry B Benson (possibly not exact words)
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe
Aug 4 at 13:57
$begingroup$
"totally handicaped [sic] on the ground" uh, they're traditionally shown with teeth, dude. You go visit a saltwater crocodile and tell it that it is handicapped because its legs are a bit short for clawing opponents, and let me know how it works out.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Aug 5 at 11:15
$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime Steve Irwin eat yer heart out.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
Aug 5 at 11:48