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<blockquote data-quote="DaveDash" data-source="post: 6637316" data-attributes="member: 6786202">Older dragons have lived for thousands of years, they've had plenty of time to pick a good spot, and by the same logic that they are incredibly protective of their lair also means they'd have it in a very difficult to reach spot. It doesn't have to be filled with traps, but most Dragons would have eyes and ears (in fact most Dragons I've read in cannon modules usually have minions that worship them).At the very least they'd have a spot that would be very hard to reach under normal circumstances, as they're not stupid and realise that their lair is a huge adventure magnet.I doubt where they actually have piles of treasure is where they would choose to engage adventurers, especially given there's more than likely no escape for them from that point.There's also no guarantee the characters know they're about to fight a Dragon. My group stumbled upon a Shadow Dragon in the underdark. I gave them the opportunity to flee but they foolishly decided to attack. It would be absurd for the Dragon to retreat back into the cave where its actual treasure was, as opposed to fighting them out on the cliff face where it has a natural advantage. From there it can stay mobile and keep a close eye on the mouth of its cave where its treasure was.It did retreat back there when injured and the party gave chase, and there it fought like an enraged wounded animal. In the end it came down to luck of the dice and the party won.If it sat back in its lair the whole time it would have been a much easier fight for the players. Dragons are apex predators and would never hand the initiative to a group of invaders like that. I'd argue they wouldn't make it to old age if they were that foolish.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="DaveDash, post: 6637316, member: 6786202"] Older dragons have lived for thousands of years, they've had plenty of time to pick a good spot, and by the same logic that they are incredibly protective of their lair also means they'd have it in a very difficult to reach spot. It doesn't have to be filled with traps, but most Dragons would have eyes and ears (in fact most Dragons I've read in cannon modules usually have minions that worship them). At the very least they'd have a spot that would be very hard to reach under normal circumstances, as they're not stupid and realise that their lair is a huge adventure magnet. I doubt where they actually have piles of treasure is where they would choose to engage adventurers, especially given there's more than likely no escape for them from that point. There's also no guarantee the characters know they're about to fight a Dragon. My group stumbled upon a Shadow Dragon in the underdark. I gave them the opportunity to flee but they foolishly decided to attack. It would be absurd for the Dragon to retreat back into the cave where its actual treasure was, as opposed to fighting them out on the cliff face where it has a natural advantage. From there it can stay mobile and keep a close eye on the mouth of its cave where its treasure was. It did retreat back there when injured and the party gave chase, and there it fought like an enraged wounded animal. In the end it came down to luck of the dice and the party won. If it sat back in its lair the whole time it would have been a much easier fight for the players. Dragons are apex predators and would never hand the initiative to a group of invaders like that. I'd argue they wouldn't make it to old age if they were that foolish. [/QUOTE]

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