RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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I've seen a lot of people who seem to think that the 'dragon' theme is being done to death. Dragon Magic, Races of the Dragon, Draconomicon, dragon shamans, Dragons of Eberron, etc. etc. ad nauseum. I will certainly agree that there are a great many products that seem to feature dragons as their focus. Here's my thing:
I hate to use dragons in my games. I typically avoid any dragon older than about Mature Adult, sometimes Old. Why? They are a NIGHTMARE to run an encounter with. Spellcasting, fly-by attacks, breath weapons, 6 different physical attacks, ugh! What kind of masochists out there actually enjoy running these kind of encounters? Plus, you've got Frightful Presence to deal with, Metabreath feats (if you have the Draconomicon), abilities like Awesome Blow and Swallow Whole, and other such nonsense.
Unless the encounter is happening in a cave where there is not enough room for the dragon to fly around in, encounters with these creatures are long, difficult, and complicated. I'm not even really sure how to properly RUN a fly-by attack. Can a dragon use a fly-by attack to use its breath weapon? I don't see any reason why a dragon who really wanted a party dead wouldn't just swoop down, unload its breath weapon, and fly off until the breath weapon was recharged and then repeat the process. The party can scatter and find cover, certainly, but then the dragon just employs a few clever spells to start a landslide, cause a cave-in, start a massive fire, or any number of other methods to flush the party out of hiding.
I'm just curious to hear how other DMs run dragon encounters in the open. Maybe I'm just ignorant to how the mechanics work on this one, so I would appreciate the input and advice. Thanks!
i agree with you fatespinner if you run a dragon properly it really becomes start new campain here.although i have in the campain im running now started to get my players involved in the dragon wars that is happening in my world.but i have about 8 players and one has just aquired a silver dragon companion and i have them well equiped.that not to say someone wont die but i ussally leave an avenue open to save the character.and knowing my luck i usally beat the characters up pretty good with the lackys but when it comes to x on the dms map,my big bad guy usally gets taken out by a lucky hit or something like failing his save vs hold person.but on the norm i really dont put my players against dragons.
I like using dragons, but I only do so around once per campaign, to keep them special. And in Kings of the Rift, which is an awesome adventure. I had one battle where the PCs fought around 10-12 dragons (about 6 black, 2 blue, 2 green, and 2 bosses). Aerial combat is a little tricky, but the only real problem I had was that the statblocks in the MM1 suck. The new format is way better and easier to run.
As for WotC pushing dragons, I am sick of it. As someone on this board said, "Tiamat: Stop ****ing!"
I've never been comfortable with D&D treating magical beasts like they're common as roaches. Nor that everyone and their aunt can be a "dragonslayer," given half the chance. So, I only use older dragons; that way, the dragon is properly terrifying and slaying the thing is truly meaningful.
I use dragons rarely and for most part only the younger versions.
Though in my homebrew campaign there is one dragon. It is worshipped as god by people living around its cave. There are rumours of possible another dragon living in the caves under Rayamar but there are no proof about them (and folks at Rayamar are not answering any questions)...
Dragons in Eberron are treated in a bit similar fashion, they are above all mythical beasts and you will not encounter any.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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Thanks for the feedback so far. I know a lot of people choose to use dragons sparingly and I share that sentiment. My problem, though, is HOW to use them.
I'm just curious to hear how other DMs run dragon encounters in the open. Maybe I'm just ignorant to how the mechanics work on this one, so I would appreciate the input and advice. Thanks!
I agree that a dragon could use its breath weapon in the middle of its move action, since using a breath weapon is a standard action. However, I’m curious how flyby works when diving in regards to attacks of opportunity.
SRD states concerning flyby: When flying, the creature can take a move action (including a dive) and another standard action at any point during the move. The creature cannot take a second move action during a round when it makes a flyby attack.
SRD states concerning diving: A creature that flies can make dive attacks. A dive attack works just like a charge, but the diving creature must move a minimum of 30 feet and descend at least 10 feet. It can make only claw or talon attacks, but these deal double damage. A creature can use the run action while flying, provided it flies in a straight line.
So, if a diving dragon uses flyby and claws / bites a party member and then continues its move afterward, does that provoke an attack of opportunity when it moves out of the space threatened by the character? And since the dragon is over, not besides, the character would it provoke an attack of opportunity from an adjacent character? Since the attack is like a charge could a character set a longspear against the dive attack?
Of course, if the dragon has Snatch also, it could render my first question moot. The more I look at this, the more I have the feeling that I have not been taking full advantage of the rules available for dragons, making them far less challenging than they should be.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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The more I look at this, the more I have the feeling that I have not been taking full advantage of the rules available for dragons, making them far less challenging than they should be.
That's exactly the problem I've been having, Spellcrafter. Specifically, instead of making them less challenging, I'm AVOIDING them entirely because I don't want to go through all the mechanical headaches involved in the encounter. I'm hoping someone with more experience with running dragons can post some of their 'tried-and-true' strategies from putting a dragon on the field and making it seem realistic because it just seems awkward to me. I WANT to use them, but it just seems so complicated.