I'm making a twoshot adventure for the local D&D club, and so I know the party level (8), but I don't know the composition of the group or the size of it - typically it's anywhere from 3 to 6 players, with 4-5 being the norm.
The plan is to get them to retrieve a magic item from a dragon's horde. I was planning for the entrance of the dragons dungeon to be underwater, and to have a series of traps and defences in place leading up to the dragon, probably including a tribe of Kobolds to wade through (because, you know, level 8) which I planned to make some pack datasheets for (EG a pack of 10 kobolds, has 10hp and cannot lose more than 1 per attack, loses 1 kobold per hp, and makes attacks equal to number of kobolds left) so I could get a good "wading through a horde" feeling for the group.
Now, I want to have a dragon lined up for them, and I don't want to have it be a pushover either. The ideal would be for them to steal the item and get out, but I want to give them a winnable, if difficult, fight if they go looking for it (I also want to have the dragon pursue them if they make good their escape).
What would be a good dragon to adapt to 3-6 players at level 8? I would probably be looking to up the HP to maximum for 6 players and then scale it accordingly for 5, 4, or 3. It's going to be a moderately light-hearted game, with potentially bizarre and hilarious results. There are also opportunities for foreshadowed traps the players can use against the dragon, but I don't want to rely on them to pick these up (and don't want to give them to them!)
So, reccomendations please! And one final caveat - I'd rather avoid fire-breathing dragons, for plot reasons!
I would suggest homebrewing a quasi-legendary: in addition to scaling hit points with the number of PCs, give it (number of PCs - 3) legendary actions (assume wing and tail damage are the same as claw damage). At that point something like a young blue dragon should be an adequate challenge.
Environmentaly, from what you've provided, partially underwater, no fire breath and Dragon kinda self-limits to Green/Black maybe Deep or a Bronze.
An Adult Bronze Dragon might be problematic, depending on party ideals, goals, etc.., because Bronze are typically opposed to tyrants and would ally to the "good" of the conflict. Using a Bronze, they party might be better equipped to persuade the dragon to give up the item than fight for it or steal it.
An Adult Deep Dragon might be applicable due to it's favored environment being underground without the requirement for dry or cold to make a lair. Green/Black are the default choice for your environment.
If you were to omit the flooded portion of the lair, you might get away with an Adult Blue Dragon, since they are known for collapsing their own lair on intruders. If water is a necessity, the Dracohydra might fit the bill, but has a breath weapon that includes fire, but can be omitted (as always), or perhaps an Ironscale Hydra from MOoT.
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“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
If you are looking for good dragons -Bronze or Copper, if evil -Green.
The good dragons will give you two types of breath weapon and the opportunity to have the party question "Are we the good guys?" They may be able to negotiate for the item. They will probably be able to give the party an out if they get poor rolls.
The Green is conniving and may negotiate for as well. The poison breath is most easily resisted so it aids party survivability.
Decide the size when you know the number in the party. The dragon can always NOPE out if it gets in real trouble and carry a grudge against the party too.
I think a Blue dragon may be a good basis for the beast as it could well be a frozen lake, I've not written the area yet so it can be anything! Poison breath would sadly not play well into the grand plan (which the PCs will doubtless scupper) of lots of cows getting violently damaged by the breath attack if the dragon pursues them (oddly, it is a vital plot point that if the dragon should pursue them, it has to kill cows violently - poison won't do, because they will just die!). I can narrate lightning bursting the cows, so that works!
I think I'll go for homebrewing it with multiple profiles, just to make sure it's a decent challenge (but not a definite TPK) for all party sizes!
Current plan is:
1: 5-room dungeon ending in a dragon horde and the desired item. 2: escape, probably chased down by the dragon, and a chase scene along the road they took to get there. 3: Final fight against the dragon, wherever they decide to lead it. Hopefully back to the cows.
I'm making a twoshot adventure for the local D&D club, and so I know the party level (8), but I don't know the composition of the group or the size of it - typically it's anywhere from 3 to 6 players, with 4-5 being the norm.
The plan is to get them to retrieve a magic item from a dragon's horde. I was planning for the entrance of the dragons dungeon to be underwater, and to have a series of traps and defences in place leading up to the dragon, probably including a tribe of Kobolds to wade through (because, you know, level 8) which I planned to make some pack datasheets for (EG a pack of 10 kobolds, has 10hp and cannot lose more than 1 per attack, loses 1 kobold per hp, and makes attacks equal to number of kobolds left) so I could get a good "wading through a horde" feeling for the group.
Now, I want to have a dragon lined up for them, and I don't want to have it be a pushover either. The ideal would be for them to steal the item and get out, but I want to give them a winnable, if difficult, fight if they go looking for it (I also want to have the dragon pursue them if they make good their escape).
What would be a good dragon to adapt to 3-6 players at level 8? I would probably be looking to up the HP to maximum for 6 players and then scale it accordingly for 5, 4, or 3. It's going to be a moderately light-hearted game, with potentially bizarre and hilarious results. There are also opportunities for foreshadowed traps the players can use against the dragon, but I don't want to rely on them to pick these up (and don't want to give them to them!)
So, reccomendations please! And one final caveat - I'd rather avoid fire-breathing dragons, for plot reasons!
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
DM's Guild Releases on This Thread Or check them all out on DMs Guild!
DrivethruRPG Releases on This Thread - latest release: My Character is a Werewolf: balanced rules for Lycanthropy!
I have started discussing/reviewing 3rd party D&D content on Substack - stay tuned for semi-regular posts!
I would suggest homebrewing a quasi-legendary: in addition to scaling hit points with the number of PCs, give it (number of PCs - 3) legendary actions (assume wing and tail damage are the same as claw damage). At that point something like a young blue dragon should be an adequate challenge.
Environmentaly, from what you've provided, partially underwater, no fire breath and Dragon kinda self-limits to Green/Black maybe Deep or a Bronze.
An Adult Bronze Dragon might be problematic, depending on party ideals, goals, etc.., because Bronze are typically opposed to tyrants and would ally to the "good" of the conflict. Using a Bronze, they party might be better equipped to persuade the dragon to give up the item than fight for it or steal it.
An Adult Deep Dragon might be applicable due to it's favored environment being underground without the requirement for dry or cold to make a lair. Green/Black are the default choice for your environment.
If you were to omit the flooded portion of the lair, you might get away with an Adult Blue Dragon, since they are known for collapsing their own lair on intruders. If water is a necessity, the Dracohydra might fit the bill, but has a breath weapon that includes fire, but can be omitted (as always), or perhaps an Ironscale Hydra from MOoT.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
If you are looking for good dragons -Bronze or Copper, if evil -Green.
The good dragons will give you two types of breath weapon and the opportunity to have the party question "Are we the good guys?" They may be able to negotiate for the item. They will probably be able to give the party an out if they get poor rolls.
The Green is conniving and may negotiate for as well. The poison breath is most easily resisted so it aids party survivability.
Decide the size when you know the number in the party. The dragon can always NOPE out if it gets in real trouble and carry a grudge against the party too.
You could also have a bronze who goes against alignment. That could enhance party misconception which is always fun.
Only spilt the party if you see something shiny.
Ariendela Sneakerson, Half-elf Rogue (8); Harmony Wolfsbane, Tiefling Bard (10); Agnomally, Gnomish Sorcerer (3); Breeze, Tabaxi Monk (8); Grace, Dragonborn Barbarian (7); DM, Homebrew- The Sequestered Lands/Underwater Explorers; Candlekeep
Thanks for the replies!
I think a Blue dragon may be a good basis for the beast as it could well be a frozen lake, I've not written the area yet so it can be anything! Poison breath would sadly not play well into the grand plan (which the PCs will doubtless scupper) of lots of cows getting violently damaged by the breath attack if the dragon pursues them (oddly, it is a vital plot point that if the dragon should pursue them, it has to kill cows violently - poison won't do, because they will just die!). I can narrate lightning bursting the cows, so that works!
I think I'll go for homebrewing it with multiple profiles, just to make sure it's a decent challenge (but not a definite TPK) for all party sizes!
Current plan is:
1: 5-room dungeon ending in a dragon horde and the desired item.
2: escape, probably chased down by the dragon, and a chase scene along the road they took to get there.
3: Final fight against the dragon, wherever they decide to lead it. Hopefully back to the cows.
This is going to be a very fun game, I think!
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
DM's Guild Releases on This Thread Or check them all out on DMs Guild!
DrivethruRPG Releases on This Thread - latest release: My Character is a Werewolf: balanced rules for Lycanthropy!
I have started discussing/reviewing 3rd party D&D content on Substack - stay tuned for semi-regular posts!
"Lightning bursting the cows" - LOL
Meat piñatas!