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ShortQuests -- individual adventure modules! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed to plug in to your game.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Primitive Screwhead" data-source="post: 2882575" data-attributes="member: 20805">I have always run Dragons as being the Uber-BBG.. big bad and dangerous that the party steered clear of. I have a challenge session that I have occasionally ran {6 times to date} for when a player states that thier non-epic, legally built character can slay a dragon.Admittably I pull out alot of stops in that session and have a number of RBDM style tricks up the Dragon's sleeve..but its TPK rate is currently 100%   <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":]" title="Devious    :]" data-shortname=":]" /> Of course, my normal campaign caps out at 14th level and has a relatively low character wealth guideline. I prefer to focus on the 'enemy within us' type BBEGs, ranging from evil overlords, Vampires, Lycanthropes, Inspired, and just greedy people.Despite that, in a normal game I think you could retitle this thread as "{insert monster here} arent that strong, are they?"Many of the comments regarding how a DM should play dragons are equally valid for other creatures. The thing that annoys me most in a game is to have the party charge into the lair of an intelligent, predatory critter..and have it sitting there as if waiting to be XP fodder.Then, adding insult to injury, these critters are often not run using thier strengths to thier advantage.   Check the 'Can Giant Ants scare 15th level party thread'.. most posters suggest amping up the critters via templates/advancements, etc.... much better to use straight out of the book and use thier tactical advantages..well, tactically <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />  A fair number of games regularly have combat that are on favorable ground to the PCs. Nice open areas where manueverabilty is unlimited, no difficult terrain or obstacles, good LOS, and no ambushes from cover. The BBEG is rarely encountered right after a battle with minions, allowing the party to rest/re-buff as needed. When I am playing in this sort of game I feel somewhat cheated.Dragons, especially older ones, should have the home turf advantage. Having survived this long they will realize that hard, short strikes spread out over time is better than a pitched battle. Replace "Dragons" with "Vampire", "Lich", "Thieves Guild", "DragonMarked House"...Same effect. Add in some divination and means to encourage continued encounters.. managing a war of attrition would be childs play. Then strike when the party is worn down to finish the job.</blockquote>

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