Dragon CR's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragon CR's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Talok
01-29-04, 11:02 AM Does anyone think that the CR's for dragons are a bit off? A young red dragon is a CR 7, yet it seems much more dangerous than other CR 7 creatures such as a bullette or hill giant. One breath weapon attack or one full round attack could easily take out several 7th level characters. Am I crazy, or do other people see this as well?
Derren S.
01-29-04, 11:10 AM The CR assumes that the party knows about the dragon and prepares for it.
If surprised, raise the CR by about 2.
Talok
01-29-04, 12:06 PM Wouldn't assuming that they weren't prepared and giving it an appropriate CR with a note saying the CR should be 2 lower if they were prepared, make more sense?
Derren S.
01-29-04, 12:09 PM Maybe, but dragons are supposed to be the strongest monster in the game and with this mechanic WotC tries to ensure that a dragon battle will always be a very hard fight compared to other encounters with the same CR.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Talok 01-29-04, 11:02 AM	Does anyone think that the CR's for dragons are a bit off? A young red dragon is a CR 7, yet it seems much more dangerous than other CR 7 creatures such as a bullette or hill giant. One breath weapon attack or one full round attack could easily take out several 7th level characters. Am I crazy, or do other people see this as well?
Derren S. 01-29-04, 11:10 AM	The CR assumes that the party knows about the dragon and prepares for it. If surprised, raise the CR by about 2.
Talok 01-29-04, 12:06 PM	Wouldn't assuming that they weren't prepared and giving it an appropriate CR with a note saying the CR should be 2 lower if they were prepared, make more sense?
Derren S. 01-29-04, 12:09 PM	Maybe, but dragons are supposed to be the strongest monster in the game and with this mechanic WotC tries to ensure that a dragon battle will always be a very hard fight compared to other encounters with the same CR.