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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stalker0" data-source="post: 9652362" data-attributes="member: 5889">Dave's design I think also highlights another area where high level design can do better....the alpha strike. 5e's monster design has not kept up with the incredible generous death rules that 5e has compared to 3e/4e, and that really shows up in high level challenges.In Dave's design, the breath weapon insta kills at 0 hp, no death saves. That's a very big deal, it makes that alpha strike a much more credible threat. In the current game, there basically isn't an attack in the game that will insta kill a high level PC based on just damage alone, and so a PC with even 1 hitpoint can always tank the a dragon's breath weapon full in the face, and the worst that happens is they go to 0. Scary but not too scary. But with dave's version, PCs always have to be fearful of taking any damage as if they get into that breath weapon "threat range" that attack could be a killing blow. It greatly changes the "feel" of how powerful the breath weapon is...and I think its an important considering for other monsters that rely on alpha strikes. Damage alone isn't enough unless its insane damage, it needs a kick to deliver that threat.</blockquote>