Dragon Tactics? Could use some brains to pick!

[Lance_Work]

Howdy all!
I've been mulling over my upcoming D&D session, and was browsing here hoping to get some creative juices flowing. I came upon this interesting thread started by Sir Thorncrest:
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=124602
It just so happens that in my next game session, the party will be trying to recover an item from an Old White Dragon.

The party consists of 7 players: Paladin 4/Noble 6, Cleric 9/Fighter 1, Fighter 10, Fighter 10, Rogue 10, Monk 10, and lastly a Wizard 4/Cleric 2/Mystic Theurge 4. The Noble is a House-Rule class; rogue BAB progression, d8 HD, class skill list is mostly social/knowledge skills, every 3rd level they get a free fighter feat.

The goal is to recover an item (legendary weapon) from the dragon's hoard. The lair is in the remains of a dwarven outpost in a high mountain range. The lair is within a day's flying distance (round trip) of some nice highland farms/ranches (fast food!) and two day's flying to villages/towns/cities (grocery shopping!).

The Int for an Old White Dragon is 12. Not a genius, but no dummy either. Size is Huge.

The party is obviously combat oriented. The Mystic Theurge focuses on buffs/augments/de-buffs more than offensive spells. A favorite tactic is Haste.

Breath Weapon is a Cone of Cold, 50' long/wide, DC 27, 8d6 damage
Frightful Prescence DC 23
SR 21
DR 10/magic (they all have magic weapons)
Caster level 5
Special Abilities: Freezing Fog, Gust of Wind, Fog Cloud, Icewalking, Immunity to Cold, Vulnerability to Fire

The Mystic Theurge has a Rod of Empower. Knowing he's going to be dealing with a White Dragon, I expect him to have Fireball prepared. He normally casts at Wiz 8, but he has the feat Practiced Spellcaster, so he would be casting as a 10th level wizard, so his fireball(empowered) would be 15d6! Ouch!

Is there a way to get some sort of spell immunity to fireball? Ring of Counterspelling? Antything else?

What I am struggling with is how to deal with the party's approach. How often does an Old White Dragon leave his lair? Does he have allies? Traps? Does he exact homage from the local intelligent humanoids (orcs/gnolls/goblins etc).

Initially, the party will probably be thinking about killing the dragon. Earlier in the campaign they ran across a Juvenile White Dragon and killed it. The dwarven fighter has called himself 'Dragonslayer' (among other things :\ ) ever since! I have challenged them quite often. Each time they were able to succeed, even when I thought they would have to back down.

I know I've been all over the place here, but I guess my real questions are
(1) How does the dragon find out they're coming, or does he find out?
(2)(a) If he finds out about them, what is his strategy?
(b) If the party succeeds in finding the lair without alerting the dragon, what is his strategy for unwanted visitors?

The party usually thinks 'within the box' but they are very good at conventional thinking! I'd like to challenge them in a different manner, if it can be done.

Any ideas are appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[Rystil Arden]

Want to know a neat way to make your White Dragon immune to fireball? Make sure they don't cast it on him by having him disguise himself as a Red Dragon whenever he goes out to raid, so all the people tell them stories about a red dragon that lives in the mountains. If the party is expecting a Red, they won't prepare any fire-based spells.

 

[demiurge1138]

Let's see...

1. The dragon may or may not find out about the party coming. Does this dragon have minions and spies active in society? If he does, and the spy hears about a dwarf going around calling himself Dragonslayer, the dragon's going to know of the party's existence, if not that they're coming to visit. Personally, I think it'd be cool if he extorts service from a tribe of savage humanoids, say gnolls. These mountain gnolls or whatever are led by a winter wolf, who is the spy in town (after all, who's going to look twice at a big white dog, especially if it's sneaky and smart about its spying).

A second option is, of course, with its excellent vision, it sees a group of armed adventurers coming on a hunting/tribute run.

2. Whether or not the dragon is aware of the party's coming, penetrating its lair should be a tricky proposal. If the dragon's survived to be old, it probably has found a pretty good place with natural defenses. With icewalking, making every surface in its lair slippery is something of a no-brainer. There should also be other hazards like thin ice in passages either too small or flown over, and icicles (either designed or naturally occuring). In the first Icewind Dale book, the white dragon Icingdeath's lair was most easily entered by an underground river; people trying to swim it unawares were either dashed to pieces by the current, drowned, or froze in or after they had got out. I always liked that idea.

A dragon's best resource is its mobility. Their excellent flight speed combined with a breath weapon makes them hit-and-run machines, but they've got enough hit points to go toe-to-toe if they need to (ie everyone's cold resistant). But hopefully, your dragon won't need to. This means that your dragon's lair should have an easy way out, leading the party to fight on the dragon's terms once they arrive.

Spell selection is important for dragons. Due to their great attacks and breath weapon, direct attack spells aren't crucial. Buffs would be a better idea, such as animal-ability spells and resist elements. The dragon might even have a ring of fire resistance in its hoard, obtained from a foolish adventurer who had faulty knowledge of dragonkind.

Demiurge out.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Want to know a neat way to make your White Dragon immune to fireball? Make sure they don't cast it on him by having him disguise himself as a Red Dragon whenever he goes out to raid, so all the people tell them stories about a red dragon that lives in the mountains. If the party is expecting a Red, they won't prepare any fire-based spells.

I love this one.

 

[Jdvn1]

Have you looked through the Draconomicon? That book is painful. I think it mentions something like dragon always knowing what's in their domain.

Oh, and welcome to the boards!

 

[Greatwyrm]

After the first time the dragon sees the fireball, think about positioning it near several other party members then wailing away on the theurge. The dragon puts itself too close to friendlies for the PCs to use blast magic and eats the theurge in the mean time.

 

[Evilhalfling]

The dragon should demand Protection from fire scrolls or potions from a nearby tribe. He should always have these on hand. If the damage doesn't get through then it doesn't double.

Do not fight in hallways . If attacked in your lair, collapse the roof, it will be much easier for you to dig it out again than punny humans.

Avalanches are your friend.

A red is prolly not believable in the wintery climates that whites favor, but silver might be.
Show up (in disguise) and offer to help. Although with a 12 int this has its problems.

I would have a tendency to forgo the breathweapon if challanged by humans.
I mean sure if you see some when you are out and about go ahead, but anyone who comes purposefully to your lair is probably immune or heavily protected.

Freezing Fog and Fog clould make good spells to drop and then circle behind a group.

A snow sculpture of yourself, when coverd by such a fog, might lure stupid prey to attack it.

 

[Lance_Work]

Want to know a neat way to make your White Dragon immune to fireball? Make sure they don't cast it on him by having him disguise himself as a Red Dragon whenever he goes out to raid, so all the people tell them stories about a red dragon that lives in the mountains. If the party is expecting a Red, they won't prepare any fire-based spells.

Heh heh! I like it! I'm not sure an Int 12 dragon would think this up though.

Have you looked through the Draconomicon? That book is painful. I think it mentions something like dragon always knowing what's in their domain.

Oh, and welcome to the boards!

No, I don't have the Draconomicon. I may have to get it though, if it's that good.
And thanks for the welcome!

1. The dragon may or may not find out about the party coming. Does this dragon have minions and spies active in society? If he does, and the spy hears about a dwarf going around calling himself Dragonslayer, the dragon's going to know of the party's existence, if not that they're coming to visit. Personally, I think it'd be cool if he extorts service from a tribe of savage humanoids, say gnolls. These mountain gnolls or whatever are led by a winter wolf, who is the spy in town (after all, who's going to look twice at a big white dog, especially if it's sneaky and smart about its spying).

No spies in society. However, I'm really starting to lean towards extorting service from the local humanoids.

About selecting spells; they cast as Sorcerors, so as a 5th level sorceror, he knows 4 1st lvl, and 2 2nd lvl spells.

Good ideas, guys! Keep 'em coming!

 

[Jdvn1]

No, I don't have the Draconomicon. I may have to get it though, if it's that good.
And thanks for the welcome!

Dude, some people say it's the best book yet. It's certainly full of color and will make your dragons near-impossible to beat.

 

[Lance_Work]

The dragon should demand Protection from fire scrolls or potions from a nearby tribe. He should always have these on hand. If the damage doesn't get through then it doesn't double.

Do not fight in hallways . If attacked in your lair, collapse the roof, it will be much easier for you to dig it out again than punny humans.

Avalanches are your friend.

A red is prolly not believable in the wintery climates that whites favor, but silver might be.
Show up (in disguise) and offer to help. Although with a 12 int this has its problems.

I would have a tendency to forgo the breathweapon if challanged by humans.
I mean sure if you see some when you are out and about go ahead, but anyone who comes purposefully to your lair is probably immune or heavily protected.

Freezing Fog and Fog clould make good spells to drop and then circle behind a group.

A snow sculpture of yourself, when coverd by such a fog, might lure stupid prey to attack it.

Nice post Evilhalfling! You posted while I was composing my last one.
Snow sculpture! Hah! I'm using that! Hahahaha!
Good idea also on the demanding of scrolls and potions as tribute! Avalanches also! Hmmmmm......