Dragon tactics

[hcobb]

Does everybody play dragons the same way?

1. Back into the enemy, knocking them over with your tail, pushing them around, and trampling on them.
2. Once the edibles are on the ground claw them.
3. Only breathe fire on targets you engage so they can't dodge.

The very largest dragons should remain airborne, swooping down to claw whichever target is furthest from the rest.

[Skarg]

No.

A smart dragon (and they tend to have high IQ and a lot of time to think up tactics for themselves) will assess the foes, and act accordingly.

Logically, the larger ones were either very lucky, or hit on tactics that worked.

My long-term players chose to avoid dragons . . .

[Shostak]

I tend to let dragons bite for +2 damage above claw damage.

[phiwum]

Even if you convinced me, Henry, that backing into foes tail first was the hands-down best strategy (and maybe it is), no damned way I would play a dragon thus. It is undignified and looks plumb silly.

[Bill_in_IN]

Originally Posted by Shostak

I tend to let dragons bite for +2 damage above claw damage.

That's a good point.

However, what good is fire breathing if they don't use it? Hearing the dragon take a deep breath is as bad as hearing a shotgun being cocked. LOL!

Of course, depending upon their size. it takes a few characters to actually engage them. Trampling may be of some benefit too.

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by Bill_in_IN

That's a good point.

However, what good is fire breathing if they don't use it? Hearing the dragon take a deep breath is as bad as hearing a shotgun being cocked. LOL!

Of course, depending upon their size. it takes a few characters to actually engage them. Trampling may be of some benefit too.

Ranged attacks, setting foes and surroundings on fire.

[Bill_in_IN]

Originally Posted by Shostak

Ranged attacks, setting foes and surroundings on fire.

I noticed that you have a thing for fire. LOL!

[katmik]

Cats are hypersensitive to their surroundings, so it's the sudden appearance of a random object that has them spooked. Get to know Why are cats scared of cucumbers here.

[larsdangly]

I think staying in the air most or all of the time is a pretty good angle, as it prevents anyone on the ground from engaging you, even when there are big crowds. And the DX penalty to attacks is relatively bearable because dragons have quite high base DX scores to start with.

[hcobb]

Light crossbow sniper is adjDX 14, -4 for flying and +3 to hit the underside of a flying 4-hex dragon, so adjDX 13 minus range. Assuming the dragon is directly overhead it needs to be 80 feet up to get the final adjDX down to 5.


At that height the dragon is only dropping rocks, and it can only lift a 300 pound rock for 3d6, but it is itself a DX dumper so good luck with that.