Questions about Running the Black Dragon

[Vayden]

I am running this mod on Sunday and have whittled down my questions to one [general rules] for ranged weapons there are two numbers listed eg 10/20. The second number is the max range; what does the first number mean?
thanks

That's actually spelled out in the one-sheet "quick-play rules" - if you're attacking at <= 10 squares, no penalty; between 10-20 squares, -2 on the attack; >20 squares, out of range.

 

[Nebulous]

If you get hit by multiple acid attacks, does the damage stack? I'm inclined to say NO, but i could be convinced either way. You're still getting drenched with more and more liquid.

 

[Delgar]

Well I think I'm going to make it recharge on a 6 and I'm going to remove the minor, sustain portion of it. It will allow it to take some advantage once or twice in the combat but not shut most of the classes down. I'm also reducing all the defenses by two. I'll let you know how it all goes.

 

[The Human Target]

Well I think I'm going to make it recharge on a 6 and I'm going to remove the minor, sustain portion of it. It will allow it to take some advantage once or twice in the combat but not shut most of the classes down. I'm also reducing all the defenses by two. I'll let you know how it all goes.

Good idea about removing the minor.

And now that you mention it I may reduce the dragons' defenses by 2-4 as well.

You know, Cloud of Darkness isn't bad at all if you just remove the dragons ability to see in it perfectly. It becomes purely defensive.

 

[Iron Sky]

If you get hit by multiple acid attacks, does the damage stack? I'm inclined to say NO, but i could be convinced either way. You're still getting drenched with more and more liquid.

Ongoing damage stacks if it's from a different source. If a PC has ongoing damage from its bite, it can't get any additional from its bite until what's already there wears off, but if it gets hit by the breath weapon, that ongoing damage does stack with the bite damage. If there were going against two dragons(not that anyone would do that) they could have ongoing damage from both of their bites and both their breath weapons. At least as far as I understand it.

As for the light, in my playtest we had TPK on the Hobgoblins, so don't know how I would have handled it. If I do ever run it, I would have the light spell counter it.

 

[deathdonut]

WotC has previously suggested that the dragon's defenses listed on "fan sites" are about 2 points too high.

 

[FadedC]

Hmm....well I agree the darkness could seems a bit too nasty. But removing the dragon's ability to sustain it makes it pretty pointless. It takes a standard action to use, so if the dragon can't keep it up for more then 1 round there is no reason for him to use it.

Given the dragon is intended to be a lurker, he should have some kind of "lurk mode". That seems to be what the darkness sphere is there to emulate....except there is no reason for the dragon to ever leave the sphere. There should really be some kind of incentive for the dragon to duck in and out of darkness to maintain his flavor.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I like the battle of wills idea.

I've been playing it (ran it twice) that the darkness power and the light spell both trump each other (whichever one was cast last is the one in effect.)

I wouldn't change the Dragon's ability, but letting the light spell cancel it is an easy way to knock it down a notch.

However, there are two major changes to the Dragon I've read (both by Mike Mearls) are that the defenses are all 2 too high (as others have said) AND that the breath weapon should be 2D6 rather than 1D12 (it's too variable).

I do have a question however:

I'm unclear on the distinction between lack of line-of-sight and lack of line-of-effect. How do you edjudicate "attacking the square you expect it to be in" from simply attacking it. (I get that it has concealment.) Any tricks?

Fitz

 

[The Human Target]

I like the battle of wills idea.

I've been playing it (ran it twice) that the darkness power and the light spell both trump each other (whichever one was cast last is the one in effect.)

I wouldn't change the Dragon's ability, but letting the light spell cancel it is an easy way to knock it down a notch.

However, there are two major changes to the Dragon I've read (both by Mike Mearls) are that the defenses are all 2 too high (as others have said) AND that the breath weapon should be 2D6 rather than 1D12 (it's too variable).

I do have a question however:

I'm unclear on the distinction between lack of line-of-sight and lack of line-of-effect. How do you adjudicate "attacking the square you expect it to be in" from simply attacking it. (I get that it has concealment.) Any tricks?

Fitz

I have no PC wizard, so the light spell isn't an option.

And I suggest you play it like Battleship.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

How about firing up a new sunrod? You could rule that the initial darkness blotted out the light of the party's lightsource, but firing up a new one will "push" the darkness "cloud" away.

Battleship? You mean like removing the figure from the board and saying he's in the darkness there somewhere. Go ahead, shoot for a square. Could work. Any other suggestions?

Fitz