any suggestions? [Archive] - Wizards Community

any suggestions? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thanlok
08-28-06, 02:29 PM We are going to be fighting a young adult black dragon in our home game soon. ANy advice on how to best deal with it?

Thanks,Thanlok
Anubis.c.k
08-28-06, 02:35 PM yes dont lol leave it well alone lol
Return of the Flumph
08-28-06, 03:48 PM Catch him underground or indoors, flank the bastard (preferably with the rogue coming from behind), and make sure the person in front has acid resistance. That's how we did it.
Seraphine_Harmonium
08-28-06, 04:29 PM If it goes underwater, use lightning or other electricity based spells/effects. I don't think there's a rule for it, but I'd say water doubles lightning damage seeing as water conducts electricity.
Don't use boats or Water walk if you don't want to be lunch.
Bring plenty of protection from acid, but don't think the dragon won't have other tricks in store. The red dragon that casts cone of cold is classic.
NEVER let the dragon use it's full attack action; stay on the move, use reach weapons.
Stock up on wands and potions of cure spells.
Have an escape route.
Talisman
08-28-06, 05:46 PM Get the heavy-duty fighters in hard and fast and hammer the heck out of it.
Flank with the rogue. Make sure the rogue has a quick escape route.
Spellcasters might be better off buffing the melee guys than trying to punch through dragon SR. Divine casters should stand by with the major healing.
Three words: protection from acid.
If at all possible, you pick the terrain. Lure the dragon where you want it.
Keep an eye out for minions. Although individually weak, a handful of dragon-servants can clutter up the battlefield and give the dragon several free rounds to beat on you.
DO NOT let it gain air superiority.
Don't let the dragon act; make it react. Force it to attack the fighter or barbarian instead of the rogue or mage. Use wall spells and PC positioning to keep it where you want it.
Never underestimate the low-level environmental hazard spells, such as grease (dragons have lousy Reflex saves), web and glitterdust.
Finally, make peace with your patron deity.
Dunamin
08-29-06, 12:21 AM Keep the battle out of the water!
Insane Pixie
08-29-06, 12:40 AM The other posts have given great advice. I'll give you this:

Your DM is most likely going to throw the Black Dragon near a lake or something. Remember, unless it drags you in, you don't have to follow it into the water. Use the rounds that he's spending in the water to get some range, and buff your party.
Seraphine_Harmonium
08-29-06, 12:44 AM If you can't pick the terrain yourself, try not to let the dragon have that advantage either. Use terrain shaping spell to alter the dragon's turf and limit their home-field advantage. Walls of stone, force, cold, iron, fire all help somewhat. Maybe control water, telekinesis etc, could remove water from the marsh, taking away the dragon's hiding place and swimming advantage.
Buff up with all kinds of spells before battle, anything that lets you fly or move fast is really good.
I'm just going to reiterate a point from my last post, NEVER LET THE DRAGON TAKE A FULL ATTACK ACTION. If you do, it will just pick you off one by one.
I would say keep some Dispel Magic scrolls handy, incase the dragon uses spells to summon poison gas, insect swarms, entangle, etc.
Nived
08-29-06, 12:49 AM In the water... you're dead. If its unavoidable make sure the party tank isn't using bludgeoning weapoins. Piercing is preferable underwater.

If it gets out in the open a smart DM will have it fly. Make sure everyone has some sort of ranged weapon. I don't care of the greatsword wielding fighter only has 10 dex... he wont be able to do ANYTHING if that sucker takes to the air... get him a long bow.

And got the sake of the gods never let more that two of you get into a line... maneuvering a dragon should be able to get two in a line effect no matter what you do... but never three unless you're sloppy.
Insane Pixie
08-29-06, 12:50 AM Young Adult is CR 9, so we can assume the party is ECL 8-10. There's a difference in those spells (4th and 5th level), so I'd say if you have 5th level spells, Mud to Rock might be usefull if you're fighting in a swamp. Transmute the top to rock. No more dragon problem. (Or you can always bargain with him to let him free. Say, his hoard for his life?)
Seraphine_Harmonium
08-29-06, 01:13 AM The dragon isn't going to be swimming in mud, it will be swimming in water. Murky water, yes, but not mud. still, if you can find enough mud, you could use that same spell to seriously limit the dragon's mobility, for a while at least.
What would be great is to have a supply of mud stored in extradimensional space, open the door above the dragon's head, cast Mud to Stone and you've got an exquisite black dragon statue!
Before I was just naming off spells and effects that would be useful, I was not really paying attention to levels.
Return of the Flumph
08-29-06, 03:25 AM As far as buffs go, you need something to protect from acid, and bull's strength on any melee characters will increase their chance to hit by 10% (if you flank it, its a full 20% bonus) and +2 to damage. That's the nice thing about surrounding a dragon; it can only see in one direction, but it takes up lots of space, so its easy to flank.

If you can get an enchanted longspear, use it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thanlok 08-28-06, 02:29 PM	We are going to be fighting a young adult black dragon in our home game soon. ANy advice on how to best deal with it? Thanks,Thanlok
Anubis.c.k 08-28-06, 02:35 PM	yes dont lol leave it well alone lol
Return of the Flumph 08-28-06, 03:48 PM	Catch him underground or indoors, flank the bastard (preferably with the rogue coming from behind), and make sure the person in front has acid resistance. That's how we did it.
Seraphine_Harmonium 08-28-06, 04:29 PM	If it goes underwater, use lightning or other electricity based spells/effects. I don't think there's a rule for it, but I'd say water doubles lightning damage seeing as water conducts electricity. Don't use boats or Water walk if you don't want to be lunch. Bring plenty of protection from acid, but don't think the dragon won't have other tricks in store. The red dragon that casts cone of cold is classic. NEVER let the dragon use it's full attack action; stay on the move, use reach weapons. Stock up on wands and potions of cure spells. Have an escape route.
Talisman 08-28-06, 05:46 PM	Get the heavy-duty fighters in hard and fast and hammer the heck out of it. Flank with the rogue. Make sure the rogue has a quick escape route. Spellcasters might be better off buffing the melee guys than trying to punch through dragon SR. Divine casters should stand by with the major healing. Three words: protection from acid. If at all possible, you pick the terrain. Lure the dragon where you want it. Keep an eye out for minions. Although individually weak, a handful of dragon-servants can clutter up the battlefield and give the dragon several free rounds to beat on you. DO NOT let it gain air superiority. Don't let the dragon act; make it react. Force it to attack the fighter or barbarian instead of the rogue or mage. Use wall spells and PC positioning to keep it where you want it. Never underestimate the low-level environmental hazard spells, such as grease (dragons have lousy Reflex saves), web and glitterdust. Finally, make peace with your patron deity.
Dunamin 08-29-06, 12:21 AM	Keep the battle out of the water!
Insane Pixie 08-29-06, 12:40 AM	The other posts have given great advice. I'll give you this: Your DM is most likely going to throw the Black Dragon near a lake or something. Remember, unless it drags you in, you don't have to follow it into the water. Use the rounds that he's spending in the water to get some range, and buff your party.
Seraphine_Harmonium 08-29-06, 12:44 AM	If you can't pick the terrain yourself, try not to let the dragon have that advantage either. Use terrain shaping spell to alter the dragon's turf and limit their home-field advantage. Walls of stone, force, cold, iron, fire all help somewhat. Maybe control water, telekinesis etc, could remove water from the marsh, taking away the dragon's hiding place and swimming advantage. Buff up with all kinds of spells before battle, anything that lets you fly or move fast is really good. I'm just going to reiterate a point from my last post, NEVER LET THE DRAGON TAKE A FULL ATTACK ACTION. If you do, it will just pick you off one by one. I would say keep some Dispel Magic scrolls handy, incase the dragon uses spells to summon poison gas, insect swarms, entangle, etc.
Nived 08-29-06, 12:49 AM	In the water... you're dead. If its unavoidable make sure the party tank isn't using bludgeoning weapoins. Piercing is preferable underwater. If it gets out in the open a smart DM will have it fly. Make sure everyone has some sort of ranged weapon. I don't care of the greatsword wielding fighter only has 10 dex... he wont be able to do ANYTHING if that sucker takes to the air... get him a long bow. And got the sake of the gods never let more that two of you get into a line... maneuvering a dragon should be able to get two in a line effect no matter what you do... but never three unless you're sloppy.
Insane Pixie 08-29-06, 12:50 AM	Young Adult is CR 9, so we can assume the party is ECL 8-10. There's a difference in those spells (4th and 5th level), so I'd say if you have 5th level spells, Mud to Rock might be usefull if you're fighting in a swamp. Transmute the top to rock. No more dragon problem. (Or you can always bargain with him to let him free. Say, his hoard for his life?)
Seraphine_Harmonium 08-29-06, 01:13 AM	The dragon isn't going to be swimming in mud, it will be swimming in water. Murky water, yes, but not mud. still, if you can find enough mud, you could use that same spell to seriously limit the dragon's mobility, for a while at least. What would be great is to have a supply of mud stored in extradimensional space, open the door above the dragon's head, cast Mud to Stone and you've got an exquisite black dragon statue! Before I was just naming off spells and effects that would be useful, I was not really paying attention to levels.
Return of the Flumph 08-29-06, 03:25 AM	As far as buffs go, you need something to protect from acid, and bull's strength on any melee characters will increase their chance to hit by 10% (if you flank it, its a full 20% bonus) and +2 to damage. That's the nice thing about surrounding a dragon; it can only see in one direction, but it takes up lots of space, so its easy to flank. If you can get an enchanted longspear, use it.