Man, Dragons really feel like they punch way below their CR. Breath weapon is scary for players but their Legendary Actions just reek and their attacks are so meh too. 🙁 #dnd Detect is a pretty bland action, but three extra tail attacks every round is a hell of a lot of damage on top of a multiattack or breath.
Were you using the dragon in-lair or not? I find that adds a punch of dynamism to dragon fights.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) September 22, 2019
No Lair. This was a random encounter as part of an Avernus chase! Tail attack is okay but it just feels a bit boring. Wing Attack seems to be a bit weak for 2 actions when other monsters get a move/attack for 1. I suspect it was rated at 2 actions because it’s aoe damage plus knockdown.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) September 22, 2019
I getcha.
My experience has been the opposite, we’ve never fought a dragon that didn’t feel like it was about to off the rails for us at any moment.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) September 22, 2019
I wasn’t around for those designs so I can only guess at this moment. 😛
And in any event, the assessment that matters most is yours, it’s the one that draws on your table experience!
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) September 22, 2019
And, what you do to make it more engaging at the table will ultimately help designers in the future… or even for the next time you sit down to design your own to sub in for the next random encounter.
— Ruty (@RutyWoot) September 22, 2019
I think it’s also a consideration that dragons have a fly speed, so unless they absolutely have to, flying out of targeting range and coming close to use a breath weapon is a one-two punch combo by itself. A landed dragon is a dead dragon and dragons know this. True, though the Druid Shapechanged into a Planetar and could outfly the Dragon AND absolutely beat the crap out of it. Also feel the Flyby tactic is very UNFUN and unfair to low/mid-level parties.
— Mark “Sherlock” Hulmes @ Lucca Comics and Games (@sherlock_hulmes) September 22, 2019
Aaaah, your party’s tier 4. Yeah, they have a hell of a lot of tools to bring to bear.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) September 22, 2019