Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 visanidethdm Aug 23, 2010 14:20:50	I've been skimming over the CC now that I got some time to devote to it, and the design of the Dragon has me puzzled. At first glance, he's nigh invincible. Horribly high damage, insane splash damage, supreme mobility, great defences, interesting powers on phenomenal recharge conditions... but something strikes me as odd. No immunities? No triggered saves on save ends abilities? Seriously, he's one of the most powerful solos I've seen so far, but he's completely shut down by any "until the end of your next turn power". Sure, he's gonna get 3 saves per turn on save ends abilities, but he seems to be incredibly vulnerable to statuses. An oversight or a deliberate design choice? Once again, I love his design, but he's standing in an odd spot between being nigh impossible and spending every round stunned until killed.
#2 smeej Aug 23, 2010 14:45:28	If your players can keep a monster that has three saves per round stunned until he dies, you never really stood a chance. I think the multiple turns, huge damage and nearly unstoppable movement are supposed to keep it at an advantage.
#3 visanidethdm Aug 23, 2010 15:01:58	If your players can keep a monster that has three saves per round stunned until he dies, you never really stood a chance. I think the multiple turns, huge damage and nearly unstoppable movement are supposed to keep it at an advantage. As always, judgement on these issues is relative to the party in question; a normal group's nightmare can be a min maxing group sleepover encounter. However, the Dragon feels odd in this regard, because on one hand he's seemingly designed to counter several "min maxed" approachs (3 turns and his move action can neuter most defender shutdowns) but on the other hand some of his weaknesses are puzzling. Yes, he has supreme mobility, but a talented dwarf or mul can basically undo such advantage. It seems fairly arbitrary, but I have little issues with that. However, no immunities mean that all powers that are not "save end" but "until the end of your next turn" can really nail him down. Anything of that sort can waste 3 of his turns. Considering the damage output of a decent lvl 30 party, that can be a fatal weakness.