Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mclimbin 11-28-05, 01:10 AM	Hey all, Do you have any advice for us? The DM is starting to give us crazy XP and whispering the "D" word (dragon, if you didn't get it). Normally we would be stoked but our party is kind of...unbalanced right now. Can you give any suggestions about how we can improve our chances? Our party: (all are around 10th lvl, and I'm assuming (hoping!) we will have the chance to level up at least once or twice before we meet the d----n.) Dwarven Defender Gnome mage (evoker I think) Elf eldritch knight (not as strong as he could be...) 1 elf rogue 1 halfling rogue 1 elf rogue/shadowdancer (8R/2SD) I think you can see the problem... I think our main problem is we don't have enough meat shields, and no way to summon more. What we could really use is a 10th lvl druid, but then, who couldn't? ;) I guess we could equip all the rogues with some wands of summoning and hope for the best? Any ideas?
Torack 11-28-05, 03:51 AM	Have the dwarven defender face the challenge head on, than have the three rogue's flank the dragon. Beefy-guy plus mobile characters with sneak attacks = good damage output. Have the three casters pelt the dragon with spells.
mclimbin 11-28-05, 11:49 AM	That is exactly what we have been doing. The dwarf, however, gets so badly worked every time that he ends up going down after a few rounds. Usually by then we have done enough damage to soften up the bad guys so it is not too scary, but we have to spend so much money on healing (and eventually we run out of potions and stuff) that it does not seem to be optimal. That is why I think we need more guys in the front to take more of the punishment, not just the dwarf. How many rounds do you think a 12th lvl dwarven defender will last going toe-to-toe with a dragon?
ehrin 11-28-05, 01:29 PM	no cleric? good luck... You could help your dwarf out with buff spells, even a few illusions wouldn't hurt, but without a cleric, you lose a lot of pre-melee buffing, and all your healing. Not sure what your evoker or eldritch knight has, but you need to get your rogues able to help out with spells. even one or two extra wand attacks could help, especially from behind. your party's strength seems to be in chronic attacks... little by little, a few points here, a few more there, strike and run. However, this won't work against a dragon. Go with the suggestions, if you must go, and have your knight and dwarf split the front between them, your mage in the back, and let the rogues do what they do best, sneak around behind and pester the dragon. bad side, better make sure your healing potions are well spread... anyone gets in trouble, they won't get much help.
Zorminster 11-28-05, 03:02 PM	do what ever other adventuring party would do- hire a cleric! alternatively, its time to start purchasing wands of cure light wounds (750 for 50 charges) and hope the rogues are skilled enough to use them