Dragon Encounters

How to Use

I mentioned in chromatic dragon wyrmlings that I dislike the idea of using wyrmlings as enemies. In my mind, a battle against a dragon should be impressive, and using wyrmlings as enemies robs dragons of their majesty. With that said, here are a few encounters if you do want to use a copper dragon wyrmling.

Guarding the bridge – Combat Encounter 1 (difficulty 2)

The copper dragon has climb movement. This makes a bridge into an excellent fighting place for it. A bridge is already a narrow area, perfectly situated for the dragon’s acid breath, but the climb movement means that it can duck out of range when it doesn’t want to be attacked by holding onto the bottom of the bridge, or onto the sides. (If you hold that climb doesn’t let you hold onto an upside-down area, just say that there are ropes or handholds.)

Among the Stalactites – Combat Encounter 2 (difficulty 3)

An even more powerful place for the copper dragon wyrmling is on the roof of a cave thick with stalactites. The dragon can duck among them fairly easily, and the players can’t fire back without bringing the stalactites down on themselves like spears.

Combat Encounter 3 (difficulty varies)

The copper dragon wyrmling is unlikely to have reason to use its slow breath, as most PCs low enough level to fight it aren’t going to be able to make more than one attack a turn regardless. (Although I suppose it could be used to shut down the monk’s bonus unarmed strike or two-weapon fighting).

If the wyrmling is on the side of the players, then it just might be usable. You’d have to be using at least two enemy monsters, as the chances of the enemy making the save are just too high when there’s only one of them. They’ll probably have to be CR 3 or higher, as most creatures don’t get more than one attack until then. (Although there are exceptions).

Regarding the wyrmling’s behavior: If it was traveling with the players for any length of time, the logic would be to give its stat block to the players and have them run it.

I see copper dragons as more neutral than good, official alignment aside, as would be less inclined to offer such an alliance. Instead of a long alliance, I’d suggest having the players come on the wyrmling already fighting to defend its home against the enemies.

To stop it from getting killed, it will remain in the entrance, attacking anybody who approaches (including PCs) but otherwise not attacking except to use its breath weapon when available. The players will have to decide whether to help it, although they might gain a lot of favor with the parents when they come back afterwards.

Social Encounter – Battle of Jokes

A copper dragon wyrmling guarding a location won’t give up its treasure to players, but if what they want is information you could give them the opportunity to talk it out of the wyrmling.

One way this might play out, and utilize the dragon’s sense of humor, is to give them humor type questions (“Why did the chicken cross the road?”) and challenge them to come up with their own answers. After all, much of the time a clever person can think of their own punch lines or funny responses.

This is an idea that requires that you have the right type of players. I.e. ones that are sufficiently creative, and enjoy fooling around.

If you want to make it more competitive, you can have an agent of the villain there. He’ll also give answers, probably the correct ones, and the dragon will end up helping whoever gives better answers overall. Also, as he is a villain, he’ll probably attack as soon as he loses the contest. You can’t win them all.