Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 AriKanen Jul 26, 2014 20:54:35	Again, players, Spoilers ahead!    I just read through the Thundertree section and I have some questions for folks that have read it or have ran it (or even played through it)   What were the motivations for the players to really try and tackle a Green Dragon?  Unless I'm missing something, the main reason to attack the thing is because "its there."   And I think for my particular game, and because of a history with Pathfinder Society and how some of our groups have played it, I'd like the avoid the thinking that if the DM places it infront of you and it is not immedietly useful or friendly, then we should kill it.     There's also another question of inherent evil, which is not what I'm asking about.  Just what are the in game justifications that you would try to encourge for players to attack the dragon, that without metagame knowledge, would seem like suicide to me.
#2 Swede1985 Jul 26, 2014 21:09:35	I used the pregens and the archer fighter's backstory involves the dragon. Guess you could make it more personal or urgent if you are not using the pregens. A dragon terrorizing the trade roads is pretty good incentive if it comes with a buttload of gold.
#3 AriKanen Jul 26, 2014 22:40:24	Ahh, I hadn't even really read the pregen.  Players, coming from PF and 4e, wanted to test the system I think, but that makes more sense now.     Was there any examples of the dragon's foot print in other places in the adventure?  Its easy to make it up, but that would have been a nice touch to add, making the experience a bit deeper, with very little space.  I guess I'll file that under minor criticism if its not there, since for newer DMs or ones run modules because they don't have time to prep, it would have been a nice touch.
#4 Archon007 Jul 26, 2014 23:25:56	If they attack it, they die. Not every encounter needs to be a combat, and not every encounter is suppose to be winnable.
#5 AriKanen Jul 27, 2014 1:01:09	I understand your philosophy around that, and I pretty much prescribe to that as well,  since I think it helps the game world feel more dynamic, instead of almost every being you encounter being something that you should attack and take their stuff.     One of the reasons I'm bringing it up here is that I'm not sure that is what the Starter Set is helping new DMs to learn and that might be worth at least considering.
#6 pukunui Jul 27, 2014 1:07:31	Aside from the archer's backstory, I think there's maybe one NPC in the adventure who's heard a rumor that there might be a dragon in Thundertree. The only NPC who knows the dragon is there is the druid in Thundertree. If no one is playing the archer, and no one talks to those particular NPCs, then the dragon will be a total surprise. When I run it, should my group go to Thundertree, I am going to give them a clue by having the dragon fly high overhead, with its shadow flitting past the PCs as they're on the road, giving them butterflies in their stomach (just because it's a young dragon doesn't mean it can't have a little bit of a frightening presence, right?).
#7 Kennethray Jul 27, 2014 11:24:50	We played it as well. The fighter has the background to beat it, Also a druid ask the party to run it off as a favor for giving info on the location of the fort.  My group of 5 faced the dragon and beat it. They did not kill it but in the end the Dragon only had 1 hp. It was a real tough fight but it is winable. Lots of pcs fell though. Luckly the cleric has all that poison reisist and save advantages.   K-Ray
#8 knightserpent Jul 30, 2014 8:08:08	Don't forget, the dragon flies away at half it's HP.