Best spells/tactics for dragons?

[Dross]

Another good Dragon tactic is to make themselves a different colour, especially if new to an area.

It could mean that the dragon foes protect themselves against the wrong breathe weapon.

 

[kerbarian]

Tactics-wise, a dragon's best bet is to choose the time and place of confrontation, recognize what spells are going up, and leave.

Seriously. Fly off if they buff up (Invisibility is good, Nondetection is... meh; although with Practiced Spellcaster, it can be viable for the more magically inclined dragons).

I had been thinking about that. I was considering Obscuring Mist rather than Invisibility as an escape spell, though. Fly 150', cast Obscuring Mist. Next round, fly (run) 600' away and hopefully be out of range. It's not vulnerable to See Invisibility (or even True Seeing), but it would be vulnerable to a dispel followed by other party members attacking.

Another variant I was considering was to fly in while invisible and try to snatch a party member (preferably an arcane caster) with a flyby. If you fail, just fly away and come back later. That would probably also cause the party to buff up. Of course, one of those buffs would likely be See Invisibility, which lasts quite a while...

Disguise Self is particularly useful for a dragon - change colors. Goes great with a Ring of Undectable Alignment. As a White, pretend to be a Red. Bluff when you get hit with a Cone of Cold. As a Red, pretend to be a white. Or, as a Red, pretend to be a Silver. Why are you after me, Mr. Paladin? With a Ring of Undetectable Alignment, Detect Evil doesn't even blip.....

Is a Ring of Undetectable Alignment available other than by using the magic item design rules? Even if not, dragons who can cast cleric spells could learn the spell. Hmm... could a dragon wear a Hat of Disguise?

 

[Jack Simth]

I had been thinking about that. I was considering Obscuring Mist rather than Invisibility as an escape spell, though. Fly 150', cast Obscuring Mist. Next round, fly (run) 600' away and hopefully be out of range. It's not vulnerable to See Invisibility (or even True Seeing), but it would be vulnerable to a dispel followed by other party members attacking.

Good variation. It's a basic technique; stealth is not technically required, but do note that many dragons have Hide as a class skill. A little obscurring miss to grant momentary total concealment (so the dragon isn't observed) and a move to hide.....

Another variant I was considering was to fly in while invisible and try to snatch a party member (preferably an arcane caster) with a flyby. If you fail, just fly away and come back later. That would probably also cause the party to buff up. Of course, one of those buffs would likely be See Invisibility, which lasts quite a while...

Dragons have Spellcraft as a racial skill, and quite a lot of hit dice. The dragon will recognize a measly little 2nd level spell on a roll of 1, and have a very good idea when to return.

Is a Ring of Undetectable Alignment available other than by using the magic item design rules? Even if not, dragons who can cast cleric spells could learn the spell. Hmm... could a dragon wear a Hat of Disguise?

The Hat of Disguise has a problem; it's got a Will save DC of 11 (It's as the spell, minimum ability modifier, 1st level spell; 10 base +1 spell level +0 ability modifier = DC 11). A commoner-1 with a Wisdom of 10 will make that exactly 50% of the time. Cleric-6? Forget it. He's liable to be in the nat-1 clause category.

Ah, sorry; got the name wrong:

Mind Shielding: This ring is usually of fine workmanship and wrought from heavy gold. The wearer is continually immune to detect thoughts, discern lies, and any attempt to magically discern her alignment.

Faint aburation; CL 3rd; Forge Ring, nondetection; Price 8,000 gp.

 

[Jack Simth]

Another good Dragon tactic is to make themselves a different colour, especially if new to an area.

It could mean that the dragon foes protect themselves against the wrong breathe weapon.

Yep. That was the note about Disguise Self. If you think you're going up against a White dragon, you use Protection From Energy (Cold) and you prepare a lot of Fire spells, Flaming weapons, flasks of Alchemist's Fire (for the Greater Invisible Rogue, of course). If it turns out that White dragon is actually a Red dragon in disguise..... well....

 

[kerbarian]

The Hat of Disguise has a problem; it's got a Will save DC of 11 (It's as the spell, minimum ability modifier, 1st level spell; 10 base +1 spell level +0 ability modifier = DC 11).

A dragon casting Disguise Self wouldn't be much better off, especially compared to a party of the same level as its CR. Even an old dragon would only be reaching DC 16 or so. I would imagine that the dragon would be relying more on the fact that you don't get a save until you interact with the illusion. Once you're in combat, you'd get a save, but just seeing the dragon fly overhead wouldn't grant one. I don't think you'd get a save even if the dragon walks up and starts talking to you (e.g. a red disguised as silver). Of course, the hat would have to be present in some form (maybe a circlet), and that might make savvy characters suspicious.

The ring of Mind Shielding would work well, but 8k is a good chunk of the treasure available by CR until you start getting to mature adults or so. Still, I don't see another good option for that effect unless you want to spend a 2nd-level spell known on Undetectable Alignment.

Another interesting ring option for dragons: Feather Falling. The idea is that it would let the dragon make a full attack against an arial opponent and then just drift down 60' rather than start to really fall due to violating its minimum forward speed. Or just be a silver dragon and get Feather Fall as a (Sp) ability.

 

[kerbarian]

I just read the Dragonskin description again, and it has some interesting benefits aside from the natural armor bonus. You get energy resistance 10 or 20 against an energy type of your choice (which can be chosen as whatever you're vulnerable to), and "Your skin toughens and becomes scaly like that of a chromatic dragon, of a color that you select."

So a red dragon casting Dragonskin and choosing a white dragon as the type would get energy resistance against cold, and its scales would turn white. The spell wouldn't actually change the dragon's features, so a knowledge (arcana) check could probably reveal its actual type.

Still, Dragonskin has three very nice benefits in one spell: An enhancement to natural armor, energy resistance, and a (perhaps flimsy) disguise as a different dragon type that doesn't allow a save for disbelief.