i'm a new dm with new players, and they've decided they want to go to thundertree first. i have three, lvl three players that most likely will resort immediately to fighting the dragon. the breathe weapon, even if they save, will instantly drop all of my players to 0hp, and instantly kill of my players if they don't save (unless i've mixed up those rules?).
how do i not kill my players with this fight without making it too easy?
If I'm not mistaken there is a druid nearby who's job is mostly to warn travelers of the dragon.
Just have him approach them and make it really clear that they are in no shape to fight a dragon, even a young one.
If they still insist on fighting the dragon, remember that Green Dragons like Venomfang are master manipulators. Why kill those pesky humans if you can instead force them to serve you in one way or another?
Maybe keep them as pets so they can clean up all of the ruins in Thundertree. And maybe they find something to help them escape in those ruins.
Those are all good options. Another simple option is to just make him not be home when they go a'knocking. Have the druid confer stories of how the dragon leaves periodically to hunt or terrorize, and they can always come back when they are more leveled up.
Or... just let them play it out. If they all get wiped out they'll learn a valuable lesson about caution, even in a fictional world. Some people think this is cruel to new players, but they sometimes think just because they can sling a spell they can defeat anything. Just give them OVERABUNDANT warning, both in game and out, that it's a fight they're not likely to survive, and if they choose to procede the consequences are on them.
Those are all good options. Another simple option is to just make him not be home when they go a'knocking. Have the druid confer stories of how the dragon leaves periodically to hunt or terrorize, and they can always come back when they are more leveled up.
Or... just let them play it out. If they all get wiped out they'll learn a valuable lesson about caution, even in a fictional world. Some people think this is cruel to new players, but they sometimes think just because they can sling a spell they can defeat anything. Just give them OVERABUNDANT warning, both in game and out, that it's a fight they're not likely to survive, and if they choose to procede the consequences are on them.
I agree, have piles of skeletons of adventurers and peasants around the lair, some regional affects from dragon lair, make it abundantly clear that if they do this they'll die. Possibly introduce a higher level party, possibly level 7, as NPC's go and fight the dragon, and die, with the dragon letting everyone know in a gruesome way, such as presenting their heads to the nearest village.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Disclaimer:This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
LMoP is a level 1-5 campaign, so having him wipe out a level 7 party might dissuade them from it completely. Haha. An average group should be able to drive off the dragon (reduce to half HP) at level 4, and a larger group possibly at level 3.
Also, remind them, or even lead them into role play situations where they may have to talk their way out. Not every situation can be handled with a sword.
LMoP is a level 1-5 campaign, so having him wipe out a level 7 party might dissuade them from it completely. Haha. An average group should be able to drive off the dragon (reduce to half HP) at level 4, and a larger group possibly at level 3.
Also, remind them, or even lead them into role play situations where they may have to talk their way out. Not every situation can be handled with a sword.
This is Lost Mines of Phandelver? I don't own the starter set, I own every 5e book except the Rise of Tiamat, but haven't gotten any of the 5e box sets. Maybe have the party be a bit lower level, level 5-6, something similar. Maybe just have someone tell them not to do it? NPC knowledge can occasionally be taken as the word of God.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Disclaimer:This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
i'm a new dm with new players, and they've decided they want to go to thundertree first. i have three, lvl three players that most likely will resort immediately to fighting the dragon. the breathe weapon, even if they save, will instantly drop all of my players to 0hp, and instantly kill of my players if they don't save (unless i've mixed up those rules?).
how do i not kill my players with this fight without making it too easy?
thanks!
Right there with ya! I'm a new DM running a Homebrew. Last session players wanted to go to an area they were not ready for character level wise. I simply told them out of game that they were not high enough for that area and it would be best to not go there yet.
Then I told them If they still want to do it then that's up to them to decide.
Nothing wrong with talking to your players out of the game and explaining things. That way they have a choice on what they want to do.
If my players had still gone to the area I would be all for it. It's their choice after all. In my case the players decided not to go there yet. They will eventually though and I'm thankful we had that discussion.
i'm a new dm with new players, and they've decided they want to go to thundertree first. i have three, lvl three players that most likely will resort immediately to fighting the dragon. the breathe weapon, even if they save, will instantly drop all of my players to 0hp, and instantly kill of my players if they don't save (unless i've mixed up those rules?).
how do i not kill my players with this fight without making it too easy?
thanks!
If I'm not mistaken there is a druid nearby who's job is mostly to warn travelers of the dragon.
Just have him approach them and make it really clear that they are in no shape to fight a dragon, even a young one.
If they still insist on fighting the dragon, remember that Green Dragons like Venomfang are master manipulators. Why kill those pesky humans if you can instead force them to serve you in one way or another?
Maybe keep them as pets so they can clean up all of the ruins in Thundertree. And maybe they find something to help them escape in those ruins.
Those are all good options. Another simple option is to just make him not be home when they go a'knocking. Have the druid confer stories of how the dragon leaves periodically to hunt or terrorize, and they can always come back when they are more leveled up.
Or... just let them play it out. If they all get wiped out they'll learn a valuable lesson about caution, even in a fictional world. Some people think this is cruel to new players, but they sometimes think just because they can sling a spell they can defeat anything. Just give them OVERABUNDANT warning, both in game and out, that it's a fight they're not likely to survive, and if they choose to procede the consequences are on them.
I agree, have piles of skeletons of adventurers and peasants around the lair, some regional affects from dragon lair, make it abundantly clear that if they do this they'll die. Possibly introduce a higher level party, possibly level 7, as NPC's go and fight the dragon, and die, with the dragon letting everyone know in a gruesome way, such as presenting their heads to the nearest village.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
LMoP is a level 1-5 campaign, so having him wipe out a level 7 party might dissuade them from it completely. Haha. An average group should be able to drive off the dragon (reduce to half HP) at level 4, and a larger group possibly at level 3.
Also, remind them, or even lead them into role play situations where they may have to talk their way out. Not every situation can be handled with a sword.
This is Lost Mines of Phandelver? I don't own the starter set, I own every 5e book except the Rise of Tiamat, but haven't gotten any of the 5e box sets. Maybe have the party be a bit lower level, level 5-6, something similar. Maybe just have someone tell them not to do it? NPC knowledge can occasionally be taken as the word of God.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Sometimes natural selection needs to happen for people to learn. If they provoke it they provoke it.
Blank
Right there with ya! I'm a new DM running a Homebrew. Last session players wanted to go to an area they were not ready for character level wise. I simply told them out of game that they were not high enough for that area and it would be best to not go there yet.
Then I told them If they still want to do it then that's up to them to decide.
Nothing wrong with talking to your players out of the game and explaining things. That way they have a choice on what they want to do.
If my players had still gone to the area I would be all for it. It's their choice after all. In my case the players decided not to go there yet. They will eventually though and I'm thankful we had that discussion.
Have them all knocked unconscious, the dragon stands over them and offers them a deal in exchange for their miserable lives when they wake up ...
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.