Ridley's Cohort
First Post
The CRs are misrated for dragons. Everyone acknowledges this, including the MM author.
The thinking was that dragons greatly value their own lives, and are likely retreat if they take 25% damage and do not appear to be winning, they will always flee (if possible) upon taking 50% damage unless it is totally obvious the dragon will win.
Mysteriously, this info is not in the MM.
Even then, dragons are typical underrated in CR by a notch or three.
A Very Young Red, intelligently played is a 100% certain TPK against your party.
The party would be very lucky to kill a Wyrmling, although they might successfully drive it away without any PC deaths. Driving off a dragon should be worth a nice chunk of xp. "Defeat" is a nebulous word that should be creatively interpreted by the DM as the situation warrants.
Keep in mind that there is an immense difference bewteen level 1, level 2, and level 3 characters. The Cleric, Wizard, and Rogue will have a lot more punch when they reach 3rd level. 3rd level is a big level for them. You have to be extra careful about trusting CRs for creatures with unusual abilities at these early levels.
The thinking was that dragons greatly value their own lives, and are likely retreat if they take 25% damage and do not appear to be winning, they will always flee (if possible) upon taking 50% damage unless it is totally obvious the dragon will win.
Mysteriously, this info is not in the MM.
Even then, dragons are typical underrated in CR by a notch or three.
A Very Young Red, intelligently played is a 100% certain TPK against your party.
The party would be very lucky to kill a Wyrmling, although they might successfully drive it away without any PC deaths. Driving off a dragon should be worth a nice chunk of xp. "Defeat" is a nebulous word that should be creatively interpreted by the DM as the situation warrants.
Keep in mind that there is an immense difference bewteen level 1, level 2, and level 3 characters. The Cleric, Wizard, and Rogue will have a lot more punch when they reach 3rd level. 3rd level is a big level for them. You have to be extra careful about trusting CRs for creatures with unusual abilities at these early levels.
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