D&D 3E/3.5 Why be a 3.5 fighter?

[Dandu]

So pick an opponent it makes sense to melee.

Hydra in an close quarters environment.

That's like sending a wizard up against a golem, a dragon with awakened spell resistance, and something that has globe of invulnerability, then observing that all the wizard does is cast summoning spells.

Not true. Orbs of Fire/Acid/Cold/etc, Acid Arrow, Melf's Unicorn Arrow, Web, Solid Fog, Ice Storm Wall of Force, Wall of Stone, Acid Fog, Acid Breath, Glitterdust, and Grease would all work fairly well against the golem, especially if cast while flying and/or invisible.

(If it's a clay golem, it would be best to Energy Substitute the Acid spells.)

Most of those would also work against the dragon, though some may require heightening to get past the Lesser Globe of Invulnerability... though if you note, that can be dispelled by a targeted Dispel Magic.

Incidentally, a Black Dragon (assuming we're still using those) has to be a CR 18 Very Old dragon to cast Lesser Globe of Invulnerability (At a CL of 9). At the level you face CR 18 monsters, I'm willing to bet the wizard will have more tricks up his sleeves than just summons and be able to dispel that effect rather easily.

How about a lich? Or a medusa assassin?

As opponents for the fighter? Sounds good; can we assume the Lich is going to fight intelligently (ie, cast spells to neutralize party members) as opposed to wading into melee and getting killed like an idiot?

 

[Alexanderone]

I think your selling the black dragon short, it would only take one round in melee or one dispel followed by a breath weapon to kill the wizard. And if the fighter is playing proper attention to his armour class and has close quarters fighting and shield ward he can duke it out with a hydra. See my earlier post for the general idea of the breadth of fighting talents a high level fighter can have.

 

[Dandu]

I think your selling the black dragon short, it would only take one round in melee or one dispel followed by a breath weapon to kill the wizard.

At the level you face CR 18 Black Dragons, I'm just going to throw it out that defenses against breath weapons* and melee attacks** are going to be present.

Certainly, if you play like an idiot you're toast, but that applies to anyone facing a dragon.

*Resist Energy, Protection from Energy, Energy Immunity, Ruin Delver's Fortune, Superior Resistance...

**Contingency, Celerity, Superior Invisibility, Project Image, Wall of Force, Wall of Stone...

 

[Alexanderone]

but the dragon is also very well defended from the wizard with good saves and SR 28 and don't forget insect plague which is a nasty caster killer.

 

[Dandu]

but the dragon is also very well defended from the wizard with good saves and SR 28

Dispel Magic cares not for your saves and SR, nor do many Conjuration spells.

and don't forget insect plague which is a nasty caster killer.

That the dragon can't even cast since it's a 5th level Cleric/Druid spell, and the Dragon casts as a 9th level sorcerer (with access to some cleric spells depending on the dragon type), meaning 4th level spells at most.

It also summons stationary locust swarms, which force DC 12 Fortitude saves vs nauseated. This is not hard to make as a level 10 caster, much less a level 15 or higher one.

 

[Alexanderone]

Look in the monster manual the dragon has it as a spell like ability. and your forgeting its consdierable martail capabilities as well as its ability to fly and its freightening precence. is their a spell to make you immune to fear. your forgeting the 2d6 damage which can easily make you fail a concentration check.

 

[Dandu]

Look in the monster manual the dragon has it as a spell like ability.

That's the SLA of an Ancient Black Dragon, not a Very Old Black Dragon.

It's still a stationary swarm that deals a small amount of damage and forces an easy to make fortitude save.

and your forgeting its consdierable martail capabilities as well

No, I'm pretty sure I'm not, judging by the fact that I'm including countermeasures against being hit in the face.

as its ability to fly

1. Casters can fly too.
2. It flies with poor maneuverability.

and its freightening precence. is their a spell to make you immune to fear.

Offhand? Ruin Delver's Fortune. There's others as well.

your forgeting the 2d6 damage which can easily make you fail a concentration check.

Why yes, it could if you somehow neglected to put any ranks in concentration.

Or you could just move out of the affected area and cast a spell.

 

[Alexanderone]

well the check is 10 + spell level + somthing for being in the enemies raduis + damage dealt theres plenty their to spoil the casting. granted wizards are tough but a well played dragon has little to fear from anyone.

 

[Dandu]

well the check is 10 + spell level + somthing for being in the enemies raduis + damage dealt theres plenty their to spoil the casting.

Actually, less so.

If while trying to cast a spell you take damage, you must make a Concentration check (DC 10 + points of damage taken + the level of the spell you’re casting). If you fail the check, you lose the spell without effect.

At level 15, you have 18 ranks in Concentration and will probably have a +5 Constitution Modifier. This results in a +23 modifier, which means that assuming you take max damage from the locust swarm, you face a DC 22+spell level check.

granted wizards are tough but a well played dragon has little to fear from anyone.

Want to play one? CR 18 Very Old Dragon in its lair vs a team composed of a Wizard of mine, a Fighter made by Pawsplay, and perhaps a Rogue/Cleric of Wyvernhand's seems like it would be very entertaining.

 

[Andras]

There's also Greater Mirror Image, which my Wizard was never without the ability to cast and a Psionic Skin of Power Damping greatly reduces the effects of a BW without expending spells.

Assay Spell Resistance essentially gave my 16th level Wizard a +29vs SR with other bonuses.