Wait, Skydragon, THAT is his argument? When laid out like that it becomes extremely easy to tear apart as incorrect. You sure that's not a strawman? Let's look at it.
Synopsis of Beholder Slayer's Argument:
Dragon Magic -> Kobolds fit a definition of true dragons.
This part is correct (though I note Dragons of Kyrnn is being ignored, but since Dragon Magic's definition is a stricter version of the same, that hardly matters.
Draconomicon -> Kobolds fit a definition of lesser dragons if advance through age categories means using the advancement column of the stat block.
This is incorrect. Even if advance through age categories means that, Kobolds don't fit it. To quote Draconomicon:
True dragons are those creatures [dragons] that that become more powerful as they grow older... Other creatures of the dragon type that do not advance through age categories are referred to as lesser dragons.
Note that only "Other creatures" get that test. If you already qualified as a True Dragon, you don't even check. "Advance through age categories" is never even looked at if you're a True Dragon, because you're not an "other" creature. This was actually brought up pages ago. Repeatedly. Anyone who's unsure of this point or who thinks it might be out of context needs to read the sidebar on page 4.
Draconomicon->A dragon cannot be both a lesser dragon and a true dragon
See, this right here is why Beholder keeps getting accused of ignoring source material. The part that says dragons can't be lesser and true? That's the exact same "Other" that makes it clear you don't even test to see if they're Lesser dragons if they've already qualified as true. The
entire reason you can't be both Lesser and True is because Draconomicon tells you that once you're true, you shouldn't even bother to check if you're lesser.
And since we've repeatedly shown that "become more powerful" includes stat increases, using D&Ds own definition of power, Kobolds clearly fit as True Dragons. So this advance thing has ALWAYS been a red herring.
And thus his entire argument is rendered false.
Though you seemed to have missed whatever it was that meant "powerful == advancement." He had that in there. It made no sense.
And do remember that when Draconomicon was printed, Kobolds weren't even Lesser Dragons. They weren't dragons at all, in fact, so when Draconomicon talks about Lesser and True Dragons in descriptions, they're clearly not talking about Kobolds. All that other stuff was added later in Races of the Dragon, which retroactively allowed them to count.
So is there some other "go to argument that can be used to show that DWK are not True Dragons?" Because I've yet to see a single coherent definition that actually successfully defines True Dragons (which is to say, it fits for all True Dragons), uses actual D&D quotes to show that it's a real definition of True Dragons, and doesn't lead to contradictions in the rules... and manages to leave DW Kobolds out. And I've been asking to see it for a very long time. The complete failure to do so after this much time suggests it's impossible. For anyone trying to do so, here's a few True Dragons to make sure you include:
Brown Dragons (lack wings or swim speed)
Force Dragons (LA -- for all age categories, not metallic or chromatic and neither are most of the dragons below, wyrmlings start at huge size, immune to force but not any of the standard energy types)
T'ien Lung Dragons (Have the Air and Spirit subtypes, have a few spell like abilities but no spellcasting, lack any elemental immunities)
Li Lung Dragons (Look basically like manticores, complete with lion like manes and fur, also lack elemental immunties, have spirit and earth subtypes)
Lung Wang Dragons (Lack wings and tail slap, lack elemental immunities, have spirit subtype)
Pan Lung Dragons (Lack breath weapons, eats fruits and vegetables, lacks wings but flies using a magic gem in its forehead, lacks claws and in fact just looks like a snake, have spirit subtype)
White Dragons (Maxes out at 69 feet in length)
Battle Dragons (Immune to Sonic, but not one of the traditional energy types. Lacks spellcasting, though it has Sp abilities.)
Chaos Dragon (Confusion breath weapon+random energy type breath weapon, immune to confusion but not any energy type, has Sp abilities instead of spellcasting)
Incarnum Dragons (LA 0 as adults)
Crystal Dragons (Lack spells, but have psionics and spell like abilities, have air subtype, breath weapon is a beam of light)
JaronK