Wow this whole encounter... how wrong can it go? I'm just there now with a level 4 party.
Why do the dragon and dragonrider flee if you surprise attack them? How out of character can it get just to show off the dragon model early or whatever the motivation is to bring them in. They just killed the flaming fist patrol for fun, but the player actually ATTACKING them doesn't trigger a lethal response? The role of the dragonrider in the scene could just as easily be played by the sub-commander Sarth Baretha. Show some restraint and save the dragon stuff for later or at least explain it better why they don't fight back, i.e. have them leave after the flaming fist are murdered but before the party goes down there. Also, the gith patrol killing the flaming fist would make THEM more badass and also soften them up so the party can take on a higher level party.
Speaking of Sarth Baretha.. a 5th level Fighter with 15 Con has 44HP. With Tough feat it would be 54HP. Why exactly does she need
91HP when they are already higher level than the party and have two attacks etc.? And the rest of them follow this same formula too. It was the toughest fight already and they made it even tougher. Where's the logic? Is this the first step in seeing HP inflated enemies to balance all the cheese available to players? Is this where we finally lose D&D combat and start playing High Ground Barrels and Shove the Game?
But still, the easiest way to win is to cheese them with the considerable high ground available and they might as well have 200HP falling down the from the bridge and dying while trying to get back up there.
edit: and what in the hells is going on with their stats???
https://imgur.com/a/t7rH1zE
