GrayIguana
First Post
I thought I would ask everyone’s opinion on how I ran the following encounter. Sorry if it is a bit long, but I think the background is a bit necessary.
The group contains 6 characters with an average level of 16, and they were trying to rid the countryside of a trio of blue dragons (mature adult). The three dragons are in the area in an attempt to establish a territory for themselves among other dragons.
The group found that the three dragons established a lair high in a mountain cliff. There was no easy access to the lairs entrance. The group watched the area and waited for the dragons to all leave the lair at once. (The dragons periodically left to attack a green dragon (wyrm) that lives in the area. They had managed to wound the stronger dragon and it was behaving defensively for the moment). When the dragons were gone, the group’s wizard flew up to the lair’s entrance to scout, and in short time the entire party was in the lair (via teleport spells).
The group found that the lair consisted of the following elements. The main entrance contained a large open area which was large enough for all three dragons to land and move freely. This large area narrowed into a smaller tunnel that led to the deeper lair. The group estimated that this tunnel was only large enough for one of the dragons to pass through at a time. This tunnel was also roughly 65 feet in length. Beyond this tunnel was the larger lair which was an area large enough for all three dragons to move about freely. The dragon’s had not yet created much in defenses as they depended on the general location of their lair and the fear of their presence to keep away treasure hunters.
The group immediately formed the following plan. They would ambush the dragons from the inner chamber. The narrow tunnel would force the dragons to fight the group one at a time. The entrance to the inner chamber also had sharp enough corners to provide protection if the dragon’s breathed lightening from the other end of the tunnel. A battle formation was made, and an invisilbe scout kept an eye out for the dragon's return.
I soon told the scout’s player that he spotted the dragons approaching in the distant sky. The scout returned to the party and preliminary spells were cast (much of the party had improved invisibility cast upon them). All in all, the party was very prepared for battle.
The party heard the dragons land on the cliff’s edge. They could hear the creature’s heavy foot steps and it appeared that one of the beasts was heading toward the tunnel. Then the dragons began to talk among each other, and the characters could hear sounds as if the dragons were sniffing around their cavern. (Only one of the characters spoke Draconian so only that character could hear the dragon’s conversation. Of course he didn’t want to speak and let the rest of the party know that the dragon’s smelled the presence of humans in their lair.) Then the dragons started yelling into the tunnel and the whole group knew the element of surprise was lost. (This aroused some grumbling from the players, but a few of them kicked themselves for not remembering how I play the senses of a dragon).
Still the group decided to wait it out. They figured that the dragons would still have to enter the lair and fight them. Instead the group only heard muted talk from the dragons and then two of the dragons flew off. After a short time the dragons returned. They flew to the entrance carrying large dead logs and branches. The dragons stuffed these into the entrance of the tunnel and the group realized what may be happening. The group’s sorcerer decided to attempt an ice storm spell upon the logs to hinder any attempt at lighting a fire. The spell worked to a degree, but the PC didn’t escape getting caught by one of the dragon’s breath weapons. She luckily made it back to relative safety with a couple hit points.
After a bit of time, the dragons started a fire on the logs (via spells). The inner lair began to fill with smoke, and all the while the dragon’s alternated in getting more fuel for the fire.
(At this point, I could tell the party was at it’s wits end. The argument now was that I was playing the dragons as if they were much smarter than they should be. It was also near the end of our rather long gaming session, so I came up with an out for them.) One of the party then noticed that some of the smoke was escaping through a series of cracks in the back of the cave. The cracks weren’t big enough to give relief from the choking smoke, but the party’s priest was able to cast Wind Walk to allow the part to escape. Now the party has to contend with the dragons rampaging across the country side.
Now I feel that I did not play the dragons by giving them tactics beyond what an intelligence of 16 would allow. I also think it is very plausible that the dragons would smell any humans who have entered their secluded lair. Finally, I don’t see a problem with a dragon picking up a fairly good sized log and flying with it. But give me some input.
The group contains 6 characters with an average level of 16, and they were trying to rid the countryside of a trio of blue dragons (mature adult). The three dragons are in the area in an attempt to establish a territory for themselves among other dragons.
The group found that the three dragons established a lair high in a mountain cliff. There was no easy access to the lairs entrance. The group watched the area and waited for the dragons to all leave the lair at once. (The dragons periodically left to attack a green dragon (wyrm) that lives in the area. They had managed to wound the stronger dragon and it was behaving defensively for the moment). When the dragons were gone, the group’s wizard flew up to the lair’s entrance to scout, and in short time the entire party was in the lair (via teleport spells).
The group found that the lair consisted of the following elements. The main entrance contained a large open area which was large enough for all three dragons to land and move freely. This large area narrowed into a smaller tunnel that led to the deeper lair. The group estimated that this tunnel was only large enough for one of the dragons to pass through at a time. This tunnel was also roughly 65 feet in length. Beyond this tunnel was the larger lair which was an area large enough for all three dragons to move about freely. The dragon’s had not yet created much in defenses as they depended on the general location of their lair and the fear of their presence to keep away treasure hunters.
The group immediately formed the following plan. They would ambush the dragons from the inner chamber. The narrow tunnel would force the dragons to fight the group one at a time. The entrance to the inner chamber also had sharp enough corners to provide protection if the dragon’s breathed lightening from the other end of the tunnel. A battle formation was made, and an invisilbe scout kept an eye out for the dragon's return.
I soon told the scout’s player that he spotted the dragons approaching in the distant sky. The scout returned to the party and preliminary spells were cast (much of the party had improved invisibility cast upon them). All in all, the party was very prepared for battle.
The party heard the dragons land on the cliff’s edge. They could hear the creature’s heavy foot steps and it appeared that one of the beasts was heading toward the tunnel. Then the dragons began to talk among each other, and the characters could hear sounds as if the dragons were sniffing around their cavern. (Only one of the characters spoke Draconian so only that character could hear the dragon’s conversation. Of course he didn’t want to speak and let the rest of the party know that the dragon’s smelled the presence of humans in their lair.) Then the dragons started yelling into the tunnel and the whole group knew the element of surprise was lost. (This aroused some grumbling from the players, but a few of them kicked themselves for not remembering how I play the senses of a dragon).
Still the group decided to wait it out. They figured that the dragons would still have to enter the lair and fight them. Instead the group only heard muted talk from the dragons and then two of the dragons flew off. After a short time the dragons returned. They flew to the entrance carrying large dead logs and branches. The dragons stuffed these into the entrance of the tunnel and the group realized what may be happening. The group’s sorcerer decided to attempt an ice storm spell upon the logs to hinder any attempt at lighting a fire. The spell worked to a degree, but the PC didn’t escape getting caught by one of the dragon’s breath weapons. She luckily made it back to relative safety with a couple hit points.
After a bit of time, the dragons started a fire on the logs (via spells). The inner lair began to fill with smoke, and all the while the dragon’s alternated in getting more fuel for the fire.
(At this point, I could tell the party was at it’s wits end. The argument now was that I was playing the dragons as if they were much smarter than they should be. It was also near the end of our rather long gaming session, so I came up with an out for them.) One of the party then noticed that some of the smoke was escaping through a series of cracks in the back of the cave. The cracks weren’t big enough to give relief from the choking smoke, but the party’s priest was able to cast Wind Walk to allow the part to escape. Now the party has to contend with the dragons rampaging across the country side.
Now I feel that I did not play the dragons by giving them tactics beyond what an intelligence of 16 would allow. I also think it is very plausible that the dragons would smell any humans who have entered their secluded lair. Finally, I don’t see a problem with a dragon picking up a fairly good sized log and flying with it. But give me some input.
