Swarmkeeper
Hero
So ... if I have a setup where dragons are attacking, I should always run the dragons stupid? Lower the challenge rating because I know my melee PCs are going to be ineffective?
I run NPCs and monsters the best I can given their intelligence and goals. A dragon will almost never land to go toe-to-toe (there are exceptions to all rules of course). Why should they lower themselves to the level of earth bound worms? These are intelligent, evil opponents, many of whom have been around for centuries. They fight dirty. Breath fire, pick up boulders and drop them on the PCs, swoop down and grab the pesky ranged guy and drop them from half a mile up (being careful not to get in melee range). That's how dragons fight.
Really? That's really what you think I'm saying? {Sigh}
No, please don't run the dragons stupid. You can give your barbarian a strength bow if that makes you happy. Doesn't sound to me like that is going to really be the big difference in the dirty dragon fight the way you describe it, though. Right?
The DM just better telegraph to the players that these dirty fightin' dragons are gonna wipe the party out if the PCs collectively can't come up with a good plan. Remember the part where I mentioned the whole telegraphing thing above? I just reread it. Didn't see anything there about dumbing down the monsters, but I guess we're all free to interpret things how we want to stir up the discussion!