Dealing with a Shadow Dragon?

[Mephistopheles]

The caster level of the dragon is only one lower than the one of the wizard or even equal. Not a very good protection from diespelling

Obvious spell effects aside, the dragon is not omniscient so unless it's going to take some measures to figure out who to sling dispel magic at it's going to be playing lucky dip. If it does take the time to analyze the party for magical auras to figure out who to dispel, either via detect magic or more efficiently arcane sight, then it's making a significant time investment in a situation where time is valuable. Additionally, if it uses detect magic or arcane sight it needs to get fairly close to be able to detect auras. And when it comes actually casting dispel magic the dragon is going to be lucky to have a fifty percent chance of dispelling any given effect. It may get lucky and dispel the fly spell from the incoming fighter, or it may waste a round trying to do so when there are far better things it could be doing instead. In my opinion, or at least at my table, an old shadow dragon is too old and too smart to adopt a tactic with such a low likelihood of achieving anything. Hit and run breath weapon and melee attacks are likely to serve it much better.

Okay, found a pillow in a colleagues bag of holding, but it already has teeth marks in it.

Seems like you are in good company. *grin*

What sort of save for the energy drain? Is it Reflex or Fortitude?

Reflex save to half the number of negative levels taken when you're hit by the breath weapon, and then Fortitude saves for any negative levels which remain 24 hours after they were gained to avoid actual level loss.

 

[Derren]

Party has 9th and 10th level Paladins, a Ftr7/Pal4, Wiz8, Clr9, and a couple of decent NPCs (Ftr/Rog/Shadow Dancer) and Ranger of unknown levels. Also 9 henchmen (Ftr4). But we tend have more powerful magical items than expected for level, and individual stats are good. But I still don't think we have enough firepower.

Okay, seems night time is bad. Which is a pity, as that is when it is let off the leash. Terrain isn't very useful either.

We don't tend to use many buffs, so dispels are not a big threat.

What sort of save for the energy drain? Is it Reflex or Fortitude?

Reflex save for half.
With that many people you might have a chance, but I think not. Without flying all your melee fighters are useless and most of them can't hit the dragon anyway except on a natural 20 (or nearly).
Forget those henchman, they'll die in one breath weapon hit when they don't make the save.(Which is very likely, even four your shadowdancer). Your wizard and cleric can't really beat the dragons SR when they don't have spell penetration so buffing and summoning is all they can do.

Also, the dragon, as I have said before, is much faster than you and can use hit and run tactics.

Imo you normally wouldn't have a chance unless the DM does play the dragon very bad which he does seems to do when you could win against a old black dragon without deaths.

@Mephistopheles
Basically anyone without Death Ward is as good as dead, so when this is dispelled say bye bye to the character.
And don't forget that a targeted dispell magic checks against all spells and without buffs you are dead anyway. Its a win win situation for the dragon.

Problem is also that with that many people the party doesn't have enough magical ressources to protect everyone except they have many scrolls (which seems to be the case)

 

[Thanee]

Party has 9th and 10th level Paladins, a Ftr7/Pal4, Clr9

Three paladins and a cleric.

All of the same faith?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Legildur]

Three paladins and a cleric.

All of the same faith?

2 paladins of one faith (LG god of elves) and a paladin and cleric of another faith (LG god of humans)