D&D 5E Level 6 PCs Kill CR 23 Dragon

Zardnaar said:

He is kind of right though, Dragons excel at hit and fade AKA wait for BW to recharge. 2-3 breathes and the party is often in a bad way. Or 1 if its an AD&D Shadow Dragon.

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Flamestrike said:

My dragons tend to knock (multiple) PCs down to 0 HP with breath weapons.

They also recognise the threat of PCs, and are smart enough to understand regular tactics employed by them (i.e. they know they'll heal downed members) so they also tend to tear downed PCs to shreds with an attack or two (chomp chomp) to make sure they stay dead.

Particulary the ones in robes and pointy hats. Like this:

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Followed by those who have employed dangerous ranged attacks.

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Zardnaar said:

+1 for the Elmore artwork.

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Early in 5E i had 2 young blues engage the PCs in a skyship. The Dragon flew under the ship and only came up when breath weapons recharged. The 2E Dragons could do that though and have spells, SR, better saves etc.

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Flamestrike said:

Even Raistlin had problems with dragons



Yeah, I get what you're saying but (XP budgeted dragons played smart) are still a threat to PCs in 5E.

As a solo creature they're always going to have action economy problems (until legendary actions kick in).

A favored tactic of mine is to [on the dragons turn] fly 80' next to a PC and then ready the [multiattack] action [triggered by the dragons wing buffet].

Then a PC has his turn. Now comes the dragons legendary action.

It now gets to [wing buffet] dealing damage and knocking everyone prone, followed instantly by its multiattack [as a reaction]... and then gets to fly up 40' [completing its legendary action].

Cheap source of advantage. Plus its only exposed to melee against the single PC before it gets to fly off.

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Draegn said:

Zaard I do not remember the book, it is rather old, however it was about the ecology of dragons and was full of tricks that a dragon might do. For example if in a lair pelting the party with claw fulls of coins or if large enough beating their wings to create a storm of coins. Dragons also had many more attack forms such as belly flopping, stomping, tail smacks, wing buffets, kicks and so on.

This book was not a TSR or WotC book.

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Flamestrike said:

Dude, we play totally different games.

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Zardnaar said:

+1 for the Elmore artwork.
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