Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
Dragon Fight
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="DrunkonDuty" data-source="post: 8880097" data-attributes="member: 54364"><p>Okay, thoughts on the fight.</p><p></p><p>Firstly that dragon knows 1 level 9 spell, when it's supposed to know 2. (Knowing the same spell twice doesn't do anything, whoever designed that!) So pick it another 9th level spell. Obviously Wish, because that's all the spells in one.</p><p></p><p>Secondly, swap out improved initiative for a useful feat. Even with the feat it's got a +2, it's going last. Having a -2 and going laster isn't an issue. Weirdly - how about combat reflexes? It's an extra AoO, even if you have 0 (or lower) DEX mod. </p><p></p><p>Thirdly - Vital strike does not do this draggy much good. It's really for offsetting those low bonus iterative attacks. Draggy's iterative attacks are all at much the same hit bonus as the main bite. Maybe swap out vital strike for something better. Not sure what off the top of my head. Is there a feat that allows dragons to hover? How about fly-by attack? While on the subject - draggy has empower spell and only one goddam attack spell. What????</p><p></p><p>Fourthly - draggy has Wish. Draggy, being a literal genius with amazing foresight uses that to set up a Contingency spell. </p><p></p><p>Fifthly - draggy's spell selection is a bit naff. Swap out some of them for more useful stuff. Maybe levitate or fly? Lightning bolt. </p><p></p><p>Does draggy have any friends? Any cool magic items in the hoard? </p><p></p><p>As I'm sure you know, the action economy is your real enemy here. You can cast up to 4 time stops to try to even this out. But time stop doesn't necessarily help you attack and thus kill your opponents. All the buffs and battlefield control are just delaying the enemy while you try to take them down. With only one villain there comes a time you have to stop dancing about and just hit them. You have to be putting PCs down. Also keep in mind, most combats only last 3-4 rounds.</p><p></p><p>Does draggy have any prior warning? Time to cast a few buffs? If so cast a few.</p><p></p><p>When combat begins draggy casts time stop on their first go. Gives them, 2-5 rds to cast more buffs</p><p></p><p>Which buffs??? For my own benefit I'm gonna list them. Just so I can see where this is going. </p><p></p><p><strong>Mage Armour -</strong> always good</p><p><strong>Shield </strong>- always good</p><p><strong>Resist Energy (acid) </strong>nah. superseded by Iron Body</p><p><strong>Resist Energy (lightning)</strong> nah. superseded by Iron Body</p><p><strong>displacement </strong>- good if they don't have true seeing.</p><p><strong>Haste </strong>- always good. cf. action economy</p><p><strong>Stoneskin </strong>-nah. superseded by draggy's innate DR and Iron Body.</p><p><strong>greater invisibility </strong>- always fun. unless they have true seeing or similar.</p><p>f<strong>ire shield (cold.)</strong> - they'll be loaded down with fire resistance. Some cold is gonna help.</p><p><strong>dispel good </strong>- keep it handy to banish the inevitable Solar they will Gate in. Deflection AC and saves bonus if your PCs are good.</p><p><strong>anti magic shell</strong> on the obvious casters. It won't do much but with luck they'll waste an action and a spell slot before they realise they're inside one.</p><p><strong>heal </strong>- if draggy got hurt before their go</p><p><strong>wall of force</strong> to separate the party into two evenly sized bites.</p><p><strong>true seeing </strong>- good but dragon sense alleviate a lot of the benefit from this. Also I don't know how reliant your bunch are on sneaky tricksy stuff.</p><p><strong>spell turning </strong>-it's ok. It will stop one greater dispel magic.</p><p><strong>iron body </strong>- the drop in AC isn't ideal. The reduction in movement isn't good but it doesn't stop you from flying. SPell filaure is a bitch. Only cast just before starting hitting people. All the immunities are nice. As is the bonus to STR. The DR might be useful... how many adamantine weapons do they have? How many dragon bane weapons do they have? How many adamantine dragon bane weapons do they have? Interesting note - a creature with DR of a type automatically has attacks of the same type. So draggy will now have adamantine attacks. Also dragon bane. But not magical by strict RAW.</p><p></p><p>Not buffs but maybe worthwhile - </p><p><strong>sympathy </strong>on something on the far side of the deepest lava flow. cast to effect whatever race the obvious fighter is.</p><p><strong>telekinetic sphere</strong> - will take effect after the time stop stops. Is really only good to slow people down. You have to waste standard actions moving them.</p><p></p><p>Hmm.</p><p></p><p>So, how's this sound?</p><p></p><p>General - stay off the ground. Sure flying while under the influence of Iron Body is cheesy. But it's legal. Stay over lava and be prepared to cast dispel magic on fly spells if the opportunity comes up.</p><p></p><p>Pre-pre-fight. A contingency. Me, I play a lot of buff/de-buff. So I'd contingency a greater dispel magic to counter spell any greater dispel magic cast on me. If you use the identical spell as a counter spell it automatically succeeds. Another option is Heal if reduced below half hit points.</p><p></p><p>Pre-fight - whatever long term (anything with a duration of 1 minute/level or more) buffs you can justify.</p><p> </p><p>Round 1 - automatic - dragon fear</p><p>I'd use the round to cast some buffs and move next to the enemy casters. So: Time Stop (haste, iron body. Chance allowing - wall of of force to separate fighters from casters, spell turning, greater dispel magic on the juiciest looking target.) In between casting spells draggy moves around the battle field so they can reach the casters when the time stop ends. Then cast a quickened spell. Shield (5th level slot)? Dispel good (9th level slot)? How about Pyrotechnics (5th level slot) to fill the space with smoke thereby giving everyone except draggy a miss chance. How many people memorise gust of wind? More I think about it, the more I like pyrotechnics.</p><p></p><p>Round 2 - is draggy still alive? Honestly, I suspect not. </p><p>But if yes - </p><p>automatic - dragon fear - the Great Terror ability means PCs have to save twice before becoming immune to it.</p><p>need more spells? Time Stop! Maybe Telekinetic sphere on 2-5 schmoes. This will at least start wasting all the casters actions casting dispel magic. Then a quickened spell. Quickened dispel good if a damn solar has shown up. Quickened fire shield (cold.) (8th level slot.) </p><p></p><p>Are there casters in melee range? smack the crap out of the casters. Just go all out attacks. Maximise your bite attacks, that's the one with improved critical. Don't forget you've got cleave. You can cast a quickened spell as well as attack. I'd go with fire shield but you might need true strike. Or an empowered lightning bolt. (8th level slot.)</p><p></p><p>Are the fighter types getting close? Torrent of flames to bull rush everyone away. Maybe do some fire damage but I wouldn't bet on it. Melt stone might be able to slow them down. 1 foot deep liquid counts as rough terrain. </p><p></p><p>Round 3</p><p>dragon fear should be played out by now. People are either running already or immune.</p><p></p><p>Honestly, by this point you better start hitting people. Add in a quickened empowered attack spell.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Hope some of this help, Claire. Good luck. I hope draggy lasts into round 4.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DrunkonDuty, post: 8880097, member: 54364"] Okay, thoughts on the fight. Firstly that dragon knows 1 level 9 spell, when it's supposed to know 2. (Knowing the same spell twice doesn't do anything, whoever designed that!) So pick it another 9th level spell. Obviously Wish, because that's all the spells in one. Secondly, swap out improved initiative for a useful feat. Even with the feat it's got a +2, it's going last. Having a -2 and going laster isn't an issue. Weirdly - how about combat reflexes? It's an extra AoO, even if you have 0 (or lower) DEX mod. Thirdly - Vital strike does not do this draggy much good. It's really for offsetting those low bonus iterative attacks. Draggy's iterative attacks are all at much the same hit bonus as the main bite. Maybe swap out vital strike for something better. Not sure what off the top of my head. Is there a feat that allows dragons to hover? How about fly-by attack? While on the subject - draggy has empower spell and only one goddam attack spell. What???? Fourthly - draggy has Wish. Draggy, being a literal genius with amazing foresight uses that to set up a Contingency spell. Fifthly - draggy's spell selection is a bit naff. Swap out some of them for more useful stuff. Maybe levitate or fly? Lightning bolt. Does draggy have any friends? Any cool magic items in the hoard? As I'm sure you know, the action economy is your real enemy here. You can cast up to 4 time stops to try to even this out. But time stop doesn't necessarily help you attack and thus kill your opponents. All the buffs and battlefield control are just delaying the enemy while you try to take them down. With only one villain there comes a time you have to stop dancing about and just hit them. You have to be putting PCs down. Also keep in mind, most combats only last 3-4 rounds. Does draggy have any prior warning? Time to cast a few buffs? If so cast a few. When combat begins draggy casts time stop on their first go. Gives them, 2-5 rds to cast more buffs Which buffs??? For my own benefit I'm gonna list them. Just so I can see where this is going. [B]Mage Armour -[/B] always good [B]Shield [/B]- always good [B]Resist Energy (acid) [/B]nah. superseded by Iron Body [B]Resist Energy (lightning)[/B] nah. superseded by Iron Body [B]displacement [/B]- good if they don't have true seeing. [B]Haste [/B]- always good. cf. action economy [B]Stoneskin [/B]-nah. superseded by draggy's innate DR and Iron Body. [B]greater invisibility [/B]- always fun. unless they have true seeing or similar. f[B]ire shield (cold.)[/B] - they'll be loaded down with fire resistance. Some cold is gonna help. [B]dispel good [/B]- keep it handy to banish the inevitable Solar they will Gate in. Deflection AC and saves bonus if your PCs are good. [B]anti magic shell[/B] on the obvious casters. It won't do much but with luck they'll waste an action and a spell slot before they realise they're inside one. [B]heal [/B]- if draggy got hurt before their go [B]wall of force[/B] to separate the party into two evenly sized bites. [B]true seeing [/B]- good but dragon sense alleviate a lot of the benefit from this. Also I don't know how reliant your bunch are on sneaky tricksy stuff. [B]spell turning [/B]-it's ok. It will stop one greater dispel magic. [B]iron body [/B]- the drop in AC isn't ideal. The reduction in movement isn't good but it doesn't stop you from flying. SPell filaure is a bitch. Only cast just before starting hitting people. All the immunities are nice. As is the bonus to STR. The DR might be useful... how many adamantine weapons do they have? How many dragon bane weapons do they have? How many adamantine dragon bane weapons do they have? Interesting note - a creature with DR of a type automatically has attacks of the same type. So draggy will now have adamantine attacks. Also dragon bane. But not magical by strict RAW. Not buffs but maybe worthwhile - [B]sympathy [/B]on something on the far side of the deepest lava flow. cast to effect whatever race the obvious fighter is. [B]telekinetic sphere[/B] - will take effect after the time stop stops. Is really only good to slow people down. You have to waste standard actions moving them. Hmm. So, how's this sound? General - stay off the ground. Sure flying while under the influence of Iron Body is cheesy. But it's legal. Stay over lava and be prepared to cast dispel magic on fly spells if the opportunity comes up. Pre-pre-fight. A contingency. Me, I play a lot of buff/de-buff. So I'd contingency a greater dispel magic to counter spell any greater dispel magic cast on me. If you use the identical spell as a counter spell it automatically succeeds. Another option is Heal if reduced below half hit points. Pre-fight - whatever long term (anything with a duration of 1 minute/level or more) buffs you can justify. Round 1 - automatic - dragon fear I'd use the round to cast some buffs and move next to the enemy casters. So: Time Stop (haste, iron body. Chance allowing - wall of of force to separate fighters from casters, spell turning, greater dispel magic on the juiciest looking target.) In between casting spells draggy moves around the battle field so they can reach the casters when the time stop ends. Then cast a quickened spell. Shield (5th level slot)? Dispel good (9th level slot)? How about Pyrotechnics (5th level slot) to fill the space with smoke thereby giving everyone except draggy a miss chance. How many people memorise gust of wind? More I think about it, the more I like pyrotechnics. Round 2 - is draggy still alive? Honestly, I suspect not. But if yes - automatic - dragon fear - the Great Terror ability means PCs have to save twice before becoming immune to it. need more spells? Time Stop! Maybe Telekinetic sphere on 2-5 schmoes. This will at least start wasting all the casters actions casting dispel magic. Then a quickened spell. Quickened dispel good if a damn solar has shown up. Quickened fire shield (cold.) (8th level slot.) Are there casters in melee range? smack the crap out of the casters. Just go all out attacks. Maximise your bite attacks, that's the one with improved critical. Don't forget you've got cleave. You can cast a quickened spell as well as attack. I'd go with fire shield but you might need true strike. Or an empowered lightning bolt. (8th level slot.) Are the fighter types getting close? Torrent of flames to bull rush everyone away. Maybe do some fire damage but I wouldn't bet on it. Melt stone might be able to slow them down. 1 foot deep liquid counts as rough terrain. Round 3 dragon fear should be played out by now. People are either running already or immune. Honestly, by this point you better start hitting people. Add in a quickened empowered attack spell. Hope some of this help, Claire. Good luck. I hope draggy lasts into round 4. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
Dragon Fight
Top