Dragon 376 - MM3 Playtest: The Volcanic Dragon

[Stalker0]

Pretty cool looking, I think the 8th level one might be a bit too strong though (that aura is going to be doing 10 damage a round,with vulnerability added, in area 10). 8th level characters can't survive that for very long, and this guy is an elite brute, so he can take the pain for a while.

Of course, if your wizard has mass resistance than the creature is a cakewalk

 

[The_Fan]

I worry that, as Elites instead of Solo, they may not get a chance to use their Volcanic Catastrophe. They may be the idea (take it out before it blows!) but still seems to really break with previous dragons (which could be good or bad).

If it were to be solo, I think a fear effect and the standard breath weapon would help. Also, I agree that it has a bit too much fire. Perhaps some poison effects from volcanic fumes would help.

Anyway, that's just eyeball. I'd need to actually test it before I answer any of the questions they actually asked.

 

[Cadfan]

Mixed feeling on Fire Absorbtion, the ability to do damage to everyone nearby when it gets hit by fire. On one hand, that's really cool, but on the other hand they just released all these abilities to create fire spellcasters who can cut through fire resistance. Then they create a non-resistance that can't be ignored? I'm not sure that's cricket. I might change it to trigger only when the dragon is hit by a fire damage attack that fails to do damage. That way, if the attack damage is less than the dragon's resistance, the retaliation triggers. If the caster breaches the resistance, no retaliation. That should be a plausible rule given the relatively high resistance amounts.

 

[Moon_Goddess]

Mixed feeling on Fire Absorbtion, the ability to do damage to everyone nearby when it gets hit by fire. On one hand, that's really cool, but on the other hand they just released all these abilities to create fire spellcasters who can cut through fire resistance. Then they create a non-resistance that can't be ignored? I'm not sure that's cricket. I might change it to trigger only when the dragon is hit by a fire damage attack that fails to do damage. That way, if the attack damage is less than the dragon's resistance, the retaliation triggers. If the caster breaches the resistance, no retaliation. That should be a plausible rule given the relatively high resistance amounts.

see and I was planning on running it exactly opposite from you, make it trigger only whne the dragon is actually harmed by a fire attack, if it doesn't get throguh it doesn't flare up, makes sence to me.

 

[Cadfan]

see and I was planning on running it exactly opposite from you, make it trigger only whne the dragon is actually harmed by a fire attack, if it doesn't get throguh it doesn't flare up, makes sence to me.

That results in punishing all fire attacks. Either a fire attack does zero damage, or it results in your party taking damage.

My way was intended to let a player who is particularly good at fire attacks get by, while leaving the rest of the players to trigger the retaliatory damage.

Its probably all a moot point since most players will see the big firey damage and not shoot fire at it.

 

[Rechan]

I worry that, as Elites instead of Solo, they may not get a chance to use their Volcanic Catastrophe. They may be the idea (take it out before it blows!) but still seems to really break with previous dragons (which could be good or bad).

I actually had lunch with Rodney Thompson (one of the devs) yesterday, and he talked about the volcanic dragon's design.

As an elite, it's going to live at least until the second round. If it's about to die, it can pop an action point to get off the catastrophe. But, the theory is that PCs won't realize what the Growing Heat is going to do until it goes off. So after it goes off, the players will say, "HOLY CRAP, kill it before it goes off again!"

 

[Piratecat]

Right. The fire attack bonus will probably come from external hazards in the environment; if the dragon stands over a lava vent or a fire trap, he'll be boosting his own damage. It's like putting a 1e iron golem in a room with a fireball generator, or a 1e shambling mound in a lightning storm!

 

[ghrezdd]

I also was thinking with the lava affects that there maybe should be an immobilize affect to replicate the lava cooling and hardening.

Also seeing a dragon without a breath weapon is kind of bothersome to me.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

That results in punishing all fire attacks. Either a fire attack does zero damage, or it results in your party taking damage.

It is similar to the Hero Slayer Hydra. Yes, it hurts the Defender a lot. But he is still doing his job, catching the enemies fire.

A fire-focused spellcaster will have to consider the risks versus the reward. If he can reliably get through he monsters energy resistance, it might still be worth it, even if it costs lots of hit points to everyone. It is also not impossible to avoid the fire damage - cast Mass Resist, drink some potion to get you fire resistance, wear fire resistant armor in the first place.

My way was intended to let a player who is particularly good at fire attacks get by, while leaving the rest of the players to trigger the retaliatory damage.

If the rest of the party can't deal enough damage to get through the resistance, they will not use fire attacks at all. Just as if the dragon wouldn't have the ability in the first place. While the guy with the strong fire attacks keep using them, as it was before.

While the ability is different from normal resistance, it has the same end result. It doesn't really make things more interesting or challenging.

 

[CapnZapp]

Wow, nasty dragon. Not only does it have some flavorful and potent abilities it's also an elite so it's going to have help from the sidelines.

What prevents you from taking a Solo Dragon and still adding help from the sidelines? Muhahaha...