Need help on dragon tactics

[lokiqc]

Hi guys

I need a little bit of help there. My players are fighting a young red dragon. They're not very good at ranged attacks as a group, so after a few breath on them in the open, they've all run away to hide in a forest. The dragon has lost about a quarter of his hit points. The PCs are now high on HP , but have used almost all healing magic available. Surely the dragon would not let the matter rest and would try to find the PCs...what can he do?

 

[Whisper72]

He is a red dragon. The players are in the woods..... burn the place down... use breath weapon to set the forest ablaze... as the PC's flee, the dragon pursues through the flames (the red dragon should not be harmed by the flames)...

If the PC's have few/no ranged weapons, the dragon should fly about, and breathe fire onto the PC's from above...

 

[philreed]

Hi guys

I need a little bit of help there. My players are fighting a young red dragon. They're not very good at ranged attacks as a group, so after a few breath on them in the open, they've all run away to hide in a forest. The dragon has lost about a quarter of his hit points. The PCs are now high on HP , but have used almost all healing magic available. Surely the dragon would not let the matter rest and would try to find the PCs...what can he do?

This, from Big Finger Games, might help you:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=3419

 

[JoeGKushner]

Well, speaking as a creature who is not near immortal, I know I wouldn't risk my potentially thousands of years of life on hunting down a few humans.

I would rest, heal up, and insure that however they damaged me, could not be replicated by gaining either the allies or magic items to make it so.

 

[Shallown]

I would fly off in one direct but not too far and start several forest fires making a box conyon deal then go back and herd the tasty morsels into it. I would use tree as cover flying above them and using my breath to move them in the right direction. Then soon they would be in my oven forest fire cooked and ready to eat.

later

 

[lokiqc]

thanks....
well so far in the many rounds the combat has lasted, the dragon hasn't seen any indication the PCs can seriously cripple him. a couple of arrows, melf's acid arrows here and there. He has the upper hand on the PCs, wants to expand his territory and the PCs are in the way....I say Fire fire fire!!!!! hehehe. Let's set the forest ablaze!

 

[painandgreed]

Harras the party. The dragon should circle the area or pearch until he can spot them. Once spotted, follow at a distance trying to remain unseen. Once they're asleep or otherwise in a disadvantagous postion, swoop in for the attack leading with breath weapon. Torching the forrest isn't bad either.

...or, just attack. He's a red dragon. He's confident and they weren't able to hurt him after throwing their best. Juust swoop down and have done with it. He is a majestic creature of fire, tooth and claw and they are simply bags of soft flesh with a few bits of metal. Let's do this thing!

editted to add:
Oh, try dropping rocks on them from above. Or swoop down, grab one and fly away. Once up real high. Drop them. Repeat.

 

[Plane Sailing]

The DMG even has rules for forest fires - on p87. It would be -criminal- not to use them. Go on, you know you want to!