I've done it, my very first TPK...

[Steel_Wind]

in best Gollum voice: MURDERER!!

The only question is simple: how are your players about all of this? If they are not angry - as you have said - then it should not be a problem.

(you meanie!)

 

[Numion]

Personally I don't let dragons attack w tail & wings in the same round they attack w claw & bite, unless they're flanked. The visuals are too stupid. And dragon CRs are far too low of course, ca 4 too low, 6 > 10.

And visuals of a dragon attacking to front with their claws and to the back with their wings aren't stupid?

 

[Prism]

Party: Human Rogue 6, Human Ranger 7 (with Dire Wolf), Elf wiz3/clr3/mth2, Human Rog1/Clr7

Encounter: One young red dragon (supposedly CR6) on a open area in the foothills of the biggest mountain range of my continent.
.

This is a slightly more difficult encounter than it may have looked on paper as the result showed I suppose. I think you did everything right and I'm not sure the party had a way out except for handing over there items as the dragon suggested, but fleeing probably would be the best option for a dragon encounter in the open.

Obviously I don't know much about the items/tactics of the party but it seems that there is no real front line tank/damage dealer and no primary arcane caster. Dragons are usually harder than their CR suggests, especially out in the open.

 

[S'mon]

And visuals of a dragon attacking to front with their claws and to the back with their wings aren't stupid?

Ok *sigh*:

I let dragon attack w claws to its front facing or 1 claw each side, bite to front or side, wings 1 to either side only, & tail to either side or rear.

 

[Numion]

Ok *sigh*:

I let dragon attack w claws to its front facing or 1 claw each side, bite to front or side, wings 1 to either side only, & tail to either side or rear.

Sorry, I had to ask.

 

[AddizAbeba]

Personally I don't let dragons attack w tail & wings in the same round they attack w claw & bite, unless they're flanked. The visuals are too stupid. And dragon CRs are far too low of course, ca 4 too low, 6 > 10.

And even that I did handle a bit like this, in retrospect.
It actually only did one full attack, divided over the Wolf (bite, 2claws) and the ranger(wing and tail). And I skipped one wing attack on the ranger because of the 'weird visuals'.

The full attack on the theurge was ended after bite and 2 claws, because he was dead anyway.

So, visually speaking, there was no spinning/whirlwind-ing dragon attacking

 

[spectre72]

I have never seen a well played encounter with a dragon with the party in the open and no way to fly turn out as anything but a a** Kicking for the players.

The mobility of the dragon is usually just too great, and they can control the battle too much.

I have been on the recieving end of a dragon attack on a party in the open too many times and it's never a fun time.

You handled things well, but I think the CR for powerfull flying creatures is a little off (IMHO).

And I also have to say that a TPK from a random monster roll is never productive for the campaign.

Seen that too many time too

 

[northrundicandus]

And I also have to say that a TPK from a random monster roll is never productive for the campaign.

Seen that too many time too

Stupid players are not too productive for campaigns either.

 

[spectre72]

Stupid players are not too productive for campaigns either.

Agreed

 

[Darklone]

Well, dragon CRs... and as mentioned no real melee monster in the party.

Looks like they deserved it though. And show them this thread. It'll make them angry about us, not you