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<blockquote data-quote="The Crimson Binome" data-source="post: 7288226" data-attributes="member: 6775031">The problem is that the players have two avenues of optimization (clever tactics, and character design), while the DM is limited to only the one (clever tactics). All else being equal, matched wits should produce an even challenge, but it's not equal because the dragon has terrible stats.The DM doesn't really have the freedom to optimize a dragon's stats and powers to provide better synergy, because that would change its CR. Challenge Rating in 5E is a descriptive term, based on its actual effectiveness. An optimized barbarian or warrior is the same level as an organic character of the same level, but an optimized dragon would be a higher CR than an organic dragon, so it remains the case that a dragon can't challenge a party of equal level, because if it was stronger then the equal level would be higher. The only circumstance where the dragon can hold its own is when the DM demonstrates significantly better tactics than the party, to make up for the dragon's inferior stats. And that's not always possible, assuming the players are equally as clever as the DM.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="The Crimson Binome, post: 7288226, member: 6775031"] The problem is that the players have two avenues of optimization (clever tactics, and character design), while the DM is limited to only the one (clever tactics). All else being equal, matched wits should produce an even challenge, but it's not equal because the dragon has terrible stats. The DM doesn't really have the freedom to optimize a dragon's stats and powers to provide better synergy, because that would change its CR. Challenge Rating in 5E is a descriptive term, based on its actual effectiveness. An optimized barbarian or warrior is the same level as an organic character of the same level, but an optimized dragon would be a higher CR than an organic dragon, so it remains the case that a dragon can't challenge a party of equal level, because if it was stronger then the equal level would be higher. The only circumstance where the dragon can hold its own is when the DM demonstrates significantly [I]better[/I] tactics than the party, to make up for the dragon's inferior stats. And that's not always possible, assuming the players are equally as clever as the DM. [/QUOTE]

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