D&D 5E Dragon Dilemma - Opinions? Advice? All are welcome!

[Crimson Longinus]

If the dragon mainly wants the crystals, and was already almost beaten by these people, are you sure there's no change it would just threaten the characters and demand they give up the crystals? If the characters would yield, the dragon would get what it wants without a risk. You as a GM might know how bad the situation for the PCs is and how few spells they have left, but the dragon might not have quite similar clarity.

 

[Guest 7037866]

You as a GM might know how bad the situation for the PCs is and how few spells they have left, but the dragon might not have quite similar clarity.

This is actually the reason why when the dragon's hp dipped so very low I had it withdraw.

It has been monitoring the PCs for a few weeks via the Quasit and intel it has gained. The PCs have created a bit of a reputation in the region so are becoming well known for their exploits and such.

But, the dragon knows it killed one of them already. If it enters into battle again it will do so even more ruthlessly than before. I purposefully played the dragon as arrogant and over-confident, but now it knows more of the PCs abilities and will try to deal with them by separating them, as it did with the one it killed: by grappling him and flying nearly 200 feet into the air before dropping him for 85 damage, nearly killing him outright--failed deaths saves did the rest.

Their ranged capabilities are also much worse (which it observed in the first battle), so straffing repeated breath weapon attacks is likely...

If it comes to combat and they somehow prevail, they will most certainly have earned it!

 

[mamba]

This is actually the reason why when the dragon's hp dipped so very low I had it withdraw.

that actually was already pretty late, I assumed it had some trouble to do so to end up at 10 HP…

Here is what The Monsters Know says on the subject ‘When it’s seriously wounded (reduced to 40 percent of its maximum hit points or fewer), a dragon hightails it. Its life is too valuable to risk on foes capable of doing so much harm to it.’, not that every DM has to follow that

 

[Guest 7037866]

that actually was already pretty late, I assumed it had some trouble to do so to end up at 10 HP…

Here is what The Monsters Know says on the subject ‘When it’s seriously wounded (reduced to 40 percent of its maximum hit points or fewer), a dragon hightails it. Its life is too valuable to risk on foes capable of doing so much harm to it.’, not that every DM has to follow that

Around the 25% mark was when it flew off to drop one of the PCs do their doom. I rolled a morale check which it "succeeded" against so with one PC down, it felt its chances using breath weapons would work.

However, it returned and straffed with it's breath, got hit by a several (somewhat lucky) ranged attacks which brought it's HP down further, so it didn't return to try it again, especially when hitting the fighter and giant snake with its breath weapon failed to kill either.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

The characters should catch various animals, and glue the crystals on them and then let them go. Then leave a giant note for the dragon telling it what they have done. Now the dragon needs to search for random rabbits and seagulls while the characters escape.

 

[Guest 7037866]

The characters should catch various animals, and glue the crystals on them and then let them go. Then leave a giant note for the dragon telling it what they have done. Now the dragon needs to search for random rabbits and seagulls while the characters escape.

Actually, the rogue has a potion of Animal Friendship which he is using to charm as many creatures as he can to serve as early warnings if the dragon gets close.

No reason they couldn't do such with the crystals as well. Of course, while you might imagine what it would be like if the dragon catches them with the crystals... imagine its response if it catches them without the crystals.

 

[mamba]

imagine its response if it catches them without the crystals.

if it wants to learn where the crystals are, that response might need to be different...

 

[Tonguez]

The dragons motivation is important - does it have a vendetta against the PCs that drives it to hunt them down at all cost?
No - the Dragon withdraws and the PCs escape
YES - the second attack happens, if the TPK occurs it becomes a cool war story for the players, if it doesnt they also get cool stories and loot

 

[billd91]

Well, spending all its HD (17d12+85) will bring it back to max hp on average, but maybe a bit lower (about 30% change to get less than max HP since it has 8 hp currently). It won't regain any Legendary Resistances or it expended spells.

Right. And after getting within one hit from being killed, why exactly is the dragon motivated to go back into a fight without its full power (legendary saves, in particular)? He’s potentially got a LOT to lose - hundreds of years and massive ambitions.
From a metagame perspective, healing all his hit points looks like enough to give him the edge on a group of PCs missing a member and running low on spells. But how does this appear to the dragon? He heals after a breather, he can expect the PCs to be similarly healed. Their spell output may have observably decreased, but does that definitely mean they’re out of their best spells? They might be severely weakened… but what if he’s wrong? They nearly killed him once in his rash arrogance. A terrible insult… but also a terrible threat!

 

[GMMichael]

Right. And after getting within one hit from being killed, why exactly is the dragon motivated to go back into a fight without its full power (legendary saves, in particular)?

Quoted for troof. A video search for "skyrim dragon fight" will give a prime example of capitalizing on dragon attacks (for the dragon), but it won't yield examples of, "okay, you mortals are too tough, Imma fly away and let you win."