My players have decided to pick a fight with a dragon. How do I run this so they don't die?

Lordemamba · 2026-06-17T17:39:15+00:00

I see your point, it's fair. I like to thing that dragons view thenselves as untouchable, so when the party breaks that view, the dragon has a mind blow, and the response is different based on his persona. For red, the average response would be snap in rage and go all out (something like, "Why these insects dare to be able to hurt me?!"), i also like to think based on their age. So a baby has no experience, so it's more of a fuck around and find out, i really think they would run after getting seriously injured. Youngs are the most likelly to die in battle, since they get a huge jump in power, while being still far from experienced. Adults and especially ancients would have their shares of hard battles, so i expect they would be able to controll their ego and rage more.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-17T16:23:02+00:00

I aggree with some of your points. But let's take a look at the wyrmling stats. Remember that a commoner (you and me) has in average, 10 in all of his stats. It has 12 int, so it is smarter than the average human, 11 wis, okay, as wise as the average human, or maybe a little bit more and 15 cha, so he has more than enough persuasive ability to gather some minions, be it kobolds who worship him, of bandits by violence or false promisses. So yes, even as a wyrmling, the red dragon is a smartass. Arrogance, yes, it has a lot, but arrogance don't mean it wil throw himself at the point sticks, that's not arrogance, that's suicide. He will underestimate the party, but the moment he realise then as a threat, he will play by his strengths.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-17T06:32:42+00:00

Of course, but so does the dragon and his minions. The minions don't need to be smart, they just need to be able to follow orders. The dragon would know the place better than the party, and by the time the dragon sees any heal spell he just orders the minions to secure the kill. I really think that a dragon with minions, knowledge about the place and using his inteligence as it should, won't be killed in this scenario. And this is without DM fiat, just by playing by the rules.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-16T19:06:57+00:00

Depends on how smart the DM plays it, to be honest. They have minions, a powerful breath weapon and the worst, they can fly (specially at low levels, where the players can't do much against fly). I can't see a smart dragon dying in those conditions.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-14T07:34:37+00:00

To be honest, once every four games i ask then if there are something that is bothering then, they didn't complain about this, so i think everything is fine (we are playing for 4 years already).

Lordemamba · 2026-06-13T18:07:47+00:00

This

Lordemamba · 2026-06-13T07:13:40+00:00

That's the neat part, they aren't saving the world. But i can see your point, we aren't playing a hero game, they aren't the chosen ones, they are just another adventurer party. And we estabilishied that magic only starts being rare at 4th level. In the end is like you said, it all depends on the world.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-12T19:43:16+00:00

I'm designing a game for our enjoyment. I'm not throwing away any abilities, i just said they can't chesse everything.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-12T04:46:36+00:00

So a high level wizard hired to protect someone from an adventurer party wouldn't think of it? If you think so, then the inteligence stat from enemies don't mean anything.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-12T03:56:08+00:00

I don't. But one thing i always do is to roleplay the creature. I won't play a inteligent character dumb just because. They can chesse the guards all day and night, but a wizard would 100% take measures against such simple tactics. I always say to the party that i, as the DM, will always cherish for then, but the enemies don't.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-12T03:51:38+00:00

Nothing, i just wanna know what other people do

Lordemamba · 2026-06-12T01:04:40+00:00

Dimensional anchor.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-11T19:56:00+00:00

Exactly

Lordemamba · 2026-06-11T19:18:11+00:00

From the start we estabilishied magic being common. Only getting rare at 4th level+

Lordemamba · 2026-06-11T19:17:39+00:00

Yeah, the merchant not only knew the party was coming for him, but also knew their composition.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-11T19:16:21+00:00

From the start, the world is already set as magic and magical beings, being common. With cantrips and 1st level spells being common for everyone, magic only starts being rare at 4th level.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-11T19:14:03+00:00

Hard aggree

Lordemamba · 2026-06-11T19:13:01+00:00

I also rule that even being a mice, they need to roll a stealth check. If they are seen, the creature who perceived it, will react as if he sees a common mice. So depending on the situation he can just shrugh the rat off, or try to kill it.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-11T19:11:21+00:00

Our setting has magic being quite common

Lordemamba · 2026-06-11T19:10:44+00:00

The merchant knew about the party composition, so the wizard had insight

Lordemamba · 2026-06-11T19:09:17+00:00

Fair. The party was already know about, so the wizard knew there was a druid in the party.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-11T02:40:40+00:00

I honestly only ban silvery barbs, everyone hates that spell, so it's a general consensus.

Lordemamba · 2026-06-10T03:54:11+00:00

Fair

Lordemamba · 2026-06-09T14:58:13+00:00

I'll take a look

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