How can a party of 3 PCs at 14th level defeat a CR20 dragon?

[ashockney]

Well there is only one legit chance, but it wouldn't be very fun to play. Launch as many save or die attacks as you can concurrently. Slay Living, Arrows of Slaying, Quivering Palm, etc. If you can get off 20 or so attacks, you've got it! Then you just have to figure out how to not be obliterated by the big bad d boy.

 

[Crothian]

Cheat?

 

[rom90125]

Thanks for all the OUTSTANDING advice. There are some truly inspiring ideas in this thread.

Completely agree with this one. And its not just about the danger of the party facing the dragon. This is an event that your players have been building for a while, its just not "right" to have half the party miss out on it. Players cancel, it happens, but don't let that spoil what might be one fo the hallmark fights of your game.

Have them fight something else, they've been building for this long, they can wait a little longer

done and done. The lizard-folk and yaun-ti that serve the dragon will again rise up to 'weaken' the group before their master springs from the fog-shrouded lake to take full advantage of it's frightful presence.


Thanks again to everyone that posted.

 

[Drowbane]

Time for a Plot-twist...

How can a party of 3 PCs at 14th level defeat a CR20 dragon?

They can't.

bard 10/Seeker of the Song 3/arcane archer 1
cleric11/paladin 3
monk 14

Especially not *that* party.

Perhaps they arrive to find the Dragon already dead and looted... with clues leading them to a new (and more balanced to the misfit party) BBEG.

 

[3catcircus]

They can't.


Especially not *that* party.

Perhaps they arrive to find the Dragon already dead and looted... with clues leading them to a new (and more balanced to the misfit party) BBEG.

Hey - as we used to say when I was in the navy - "Choose your rate, choose your fate..." Just because they aren't a bunch of tanks doesn't mean that the DM should tailor an encounter to their strengths.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Please tell the two who canceled were a Ftr 14 and a Wiz 14. Or Bbn and Sor.

 

[Brother Richard]

The Answer

The Deck Of Many Things







Edit: Or if they make mid-maxed 3 new characters they could win. (I have been in a party where a level 7 weapon master of the mercurial great sword defeated a balor in 3rd edition of course)

 

[Rackhir]

An overwhelming encounter is one 4 cr higher, which is one that has a high probability of wiping out the party. Given that this party is only 3 characters rather than 4 and two of the characters are sub-optimal. It's probably more like a cr 12 or 13. So the Dragon is something like 7 to 8 cr above the party.

The math is pretty easy on this one.

 

[Kaodi]

They invoke Deus Ex Machina.

 

[Aaron L]

Hey - as we used to say when I was in the navy - "Choose your rate, choose your fate..." Just because they aren't a bunch of tanks doesn't mean that the DM should tailor an encounter to their strengths.

Actually, I'd say that's the primary purpose of a DM.