Post/Author/DateTime	Post
yourReality 02-22-06, 06:12 PM	Here's a poll i'd love to have: How do you run a dragon encounter? (Example encounter, one adult blue dragon exploring his desert domain stumbles [or collapses upon from the sky] a group of unwary adventurers [5 level 10], what does he do?) Feel free to change the encounter
malignor 02-22-06, 07:14 PM	Here are a few things about Dragons in my games... - They live long because they avoid any trouble they can't handle - They live long because they're smart and somewhat paranoid - They live long because they're hard to find... that's how they want it. So if a dragon flies above some PCs, it depends on how far she is from her lair (all dragons are asexual in my game... all lay eggs and can mate with creatures; but I call em all "she"). - If far from lair, summon up something to spy on them for threat assessment. - - If threat level is low, test the waters with some attacking pawns and spy further for assessment. - - - If low threat has been confirmed, attack and destroy and take everything of value. - - - Else (PCs unconfirmed as a low threat; they're tough) avoid - - Else (PCs show themselves tough) avoid - Else (close to lair) fly home and prep defenses/traps. Then send out spies. - - If threat level is high, improve defenses and ready for evacuation (get hoard ready for transport). - - - If threat is imminent and/or great, grab treasure and evacuate. - - - Else (not imminent, but noteworthy) keep working on defenses. - - Else (threat is not high) wait until they pass or enter lair & get wasted. So basically, dragons spend alot of time figuring out whether something is dangerous (testing the waters with sumoned things etc.), and they don't mess with anything they can't handle. They're exceptionally cautious when on the defensive (near lair) because they have more to lose even if they escape (their hoard). Dragons lairs are complete deathtraps in my games. They mix their abilities with their environment and sorcery to create a place where nothing stands a chance against them (so they think). For example, an Ice Dragon has Ice Climbing and a Burrowing speed. So the lair is covered with slippery ice, columns of ice for the dragon to jump between & use as cover, slides with daggars & spikes sticking out of the ice (so people slide down & gash themselves open halfway), and a whole bunch of sealed rooms that can be burrowed into for quick escape or additional maneuvering. Icy caverns are either huge enough to allow the dragon some flight, or just large enough for the dragon's reach to be able to get to any surface from any surface ... like a cyllindrical hallway 50' across if the dragon's maximum reach upward is 50'... that way can walk on cieling and attack smaller creatures sliding on the bottom with impunity. Their fog abilities also suggest making pit traps (with icicle spikes at the bottom) covered with thin ice, small enough that the dragon can't fall down, but smaller creatures can... then using fog abilities makes them harder to spot. Also, hide & move silently are class skills, so they also tend to hide just inside a thin layer of ice, then smash out and attack to ambush the party. Also, it likely used Diplomacy at some point in time to make a deal with someone to serve as its guardian, which the party will also have to contend with... all my dragons have a guardian (any ancient or older white dragon likely adopted a frost giant and built him a fortress out of walls of ice, plus lets him use items from the dragon's hoard like weapons & armor). Even the PCs are very near the lair, the dragon is likely to create some avelanches, trick the PCs with fog, weaken an ice bridge so it collapses under their weight and so forth. Anything to deter them or kill them before getting too close to home. When out looking for treasure, dragons usually look for individuals or small groups on the move. Occasionally if they're feeling bold, they wipe out a small village and take anything of value. But if they make too big a ruckas, they quickly leave. Also, Dragons tend to raid miles away from their lair, because they don't want anyone dropping in unannounced.