Dragon hunting tactics?

[RangerWickett]

We're playing the Red Hand of Doom, and last night we ran afoul of a dragon who killed one of our party, then fled when we got it low on HP.

I'm a mounted archer, so I could easily keep pace with it and fire arrows. But it ended up casting some defensive buffs that got its AC up to 27 or so, which is, y'know, hard to hit. We're 6th level, and my attack bonus is +11/+6 with my bow, or +9/+9/+4 if I rapid shot.

I thought I was fairly well prepared, with tanglefoot bags, nets, and whips to give me at least a chance to keep it from getting away. I tagged it with one tanglefoot bag, but then it retreated and drank healing potions for a few rounds before returning. Afterward it stayed at least 60 in the air.

Really, when confronted with a smart, hit-and-run tactic using dragon whose CR is close to your level, what kind of tactics should a party use? Me? I'm thinking next time I'll rapidshot a bunch of alchemist fires at the thing, what with its Touch AC of 9. Sadly, the DM won't let me use the lasso out of Book of Exalted Deeds, which would have at least given me a chance to snag the critter.

 

[RangerWickett]

Oh, by the way, can you retrieve alchemist fire like ammunition, or does it take a move action?

 

[Mycanid]

Zoiks. Another tough question. I wouldn't go anywhere NEAR a dragon if I could help it at all.... But maybe you could not help it? :\

Lassoing a dragon? Oh yes ... 6th level. So the dragon is pretty small if CR is a measure. Hmm. That makes sense about the tanglefoot bags and all that sort of stuff.

Well, if it was me, I would try to choose the ground to fight the creature on as much as possible and prepare ahead of time as much as possible. The fact that some dragons like to sleep in enclosed spaces can help this. Of course, being in an enclosed space has its drawbacks with dragons too ... but at least its harder for them to get away or fly 60 feet above you or whatnot.

Hitting it hard and fast is the way to go. Soften it up before it has the opportunity to do any of that spell buffering nonsense. I like the use of missile weapons en masse and in hiding to harry the creature as much as possible before going hand to hand. Another nice thing about this method is that while the distance weapons are flying it makes it a little riskier to cast spells.

But this is all off the top of my head. Doesn't the Draconomicon give some ideas for how to take out a dragon too?

 

[shilsen]

Oh, by the way, can you retrieve alchemist fire like ammunition, or does it take a move action?

Move action.

 

[Klaus]

I wonder where that dragon pulled the healing potion out of...

Or maybe I shouldn't?

 

[Land Outcast]

Hunting dragons? then you need to be coordinated.

One way of cutting down their flight (or at least maneuverability) is to coordinate two archers and some silk rope [also known as elven rope], both adjust with leather cords the 5 feet of rope to a pair of arrows and decide who is firing over the wing and who fires under the wing (of course, choosing which wing to ensnare first).

Readied actions to shoot the arrows simultaneously, beat touch AC+4 (for non-proficiency) and there you go.

That worked in my group, but then, we are known as being creative when a good ol' greataxe isn't enough.

 

[Bryon_Soulweaver]

If its in a forest or jungle, use the trees to trap it by making them fall on it. Otherwise, just make the nets have hooks in them.

 

[Eytan Bernstein]

Even though FR specific, I think you'll find some helpful material in the book for hunting dragons.

 

[Fieari]

Think like Schwartzenager in "Preditor", and start setting traps. Fire traps are nice... alchemist's fire isn't THAT expensive and you can stack up quite a bit of damage that way. Include traps that help with immobilization, and you may have a winner...

Ambushes help too.

In either case though, the trick is in baiting the trap, and dragons can be VERY wily about these things. And hopefully you'll be able to get the search DC for these traps higher than 20 so the dragon CAN'T find them in advance. This may mean hiring kobolds... or threatening them, although that could produce shoddy work and there's the potential for being betrayed.

 

[Land Outcast]

Of course, for the trap-settting you'd need some time...