Running a Dragon Encounter? Here's What You're Doing Wrong! TPK 101 - Ep. 002

[@christopherleiby8685]

I like to add dramatic tasks or chases, traps and other things in to the lair as well. Say that dragon has spent a few years digging the area around his hoard out to create a nice moat area around it... For example with a few well placed rocks that players can use for cover.... Which will encourage them doing so. What they don't know is he also blocked off a lava flow and he will unblock that flow at a time of his choosing and then the lava chases them as it flows into the most... Say for 5 cards or so... While the dragon becomes a hazard that may interfere with their running from it. They can also of course climb up on those convenient rocks they had for cover... To now realize they are spaced out to prevent gang up and are now small areas that are surrounded by lava. Just one example... Having several large boulders hidden up on ledges he can toss or drop down on them is another fun one.

[@TheSavageGoose]

Love it!

[@ralfkeller52]

The Important thing in RPG Comabt, especially Savage Worlds is action economy. If you have 6 players charakters vs. one dragon there is a lot more likeliness of a exploding damage dice on the charakters side. So embrace the free actions (tail sweep), area attacks like breath weapon or things like fear (I allways forget the fear rolls). This counters the multiple actions of the charakters. Remember that a Dragon rely on his armor and size for defense. The parry of 8 is easy to reach, with the size bous of +4. So a dragon should wild attack and goe for two attacks to fully use improved Frenzy attack. With the wild attack boni its two attacks with additionaldice/hit probality. With the tail lash this are 4 or even 6(frenzy) possible hits! And of course, remember that the dragon in the rulebook is a standard dragon. A Dragon that is the climax of a campaign should get a special statblock, maybe some items or spelllike ability he use. I had a dragon that has a magical dagger of a would be dragon slayer (Father of a PC) stuck in his head. The dagger give the user (the dragon) improved magical resistance. Of course, a hit with a hammerlike weapon on the dagger knob will smash the dagger in the brain, using hammers damage ignoring armor and size. Of course, normaly you simply couldnt reach the head with a strike from the ground.

[@peterb.saloom8667]

Exactly! What you're emphasizing is using all the facets of the dragon that make it deadly, intimidating, and awesome! It should be an absolute fight for survival on both sides of the table.

[@militarymann01]

If you run a dragon like they're supposed to be run in dnd (3rd edition is where my experience was) they're absolutely terrifying.

[@peterb.saloom8667]

As they should be, right!? Where is the fun in a pushover dragon or a one-dimensional combat?

[@JohnnyDoom]

The characters BETTER be a pretty high rank (Heroic or more) if they're going to do anything but run.

[@peterb.saloom8667]

Run is always a valid strategy. That is why we discuss the stakes being so important. What happens if the party runs? They survive but what are the other storyline ramifications? Interesting stuff.