D&D 3E/3.5 Fighting an Old Black Dragon? (3.5)

[soulnova]

Hello there!
I need help with the big fight my party is going to have in the following session.

There's a black dragon on a nearby kingdom which seems to have a key ingredient for an artifact that one of our main NPC is working on. I guess we will need to enter the lair and I really hope not to find the dragon beforehand. :S

Our party consist 4 lvl11 and 4 lvl10 characters. The higher levers are a Fighter/Outcast Champion, a sorcerer/dragon blood sorcerer (from dndwiki), a fighter/cleric, and a rogue. The rest are a bard, a cleric, a swashbuckler and a wizard.

The fighter/outcast champion and the sorcerer are mine. The sorcerer has the following spells:

Zero-level Sorcerer spells: 6 per day (DC 15)
Ray of frost
Acid splash
Disprut Undead
Mage Hand
Light
Read Magic
Detect Magic
Resistance
Daze


First-level Sorcerer spells: 7 (6+1) per day (DC 16)
Magic Missile
Mage Armor
Burning Hands (DC 17)
Identify
Protection from Evil

Second-level Sorcerer spells: 7 (6+1) per day (DC 17)
Scorching Ray
Cat's Grace
Eagle's Splendor
Bull Strength
See Invisibility


Third-level Sorcerer spells: 7 (6+1) per day (DC 18)
Fireball (DC 19)
Protection from Energy
Lightning Bolt
Fly

Fourth-level Sorcerer spells: 7(6+1) per day DC 19
Polymorph
Black Tentacles
Invisibility Greater

Fifth-level Sorcerer spells: 5(4+1) per day DC 20
Wall of force
Cloudkill


This is the tactic I have come up with:

We are getting a Disintegrate and an Evervation scroll. My Sorcerer has Arcane Mastery and I can take 10 on my caster checks for spell resistance, so I can bypass his SP easily.


If it was possible I would start the fight already buffed against acid.

First thing would be casting Cloudkill+Spiritual Weapon+Wall of force in a combo with the wizard and Cleric to cut the dragon off the party and let it stew with the cloudkill for at least 10 rounds.


During this time, hopefully, the wizard can summon monsters as fodder to keep it busy while I cast Greater Invisibility on 7 people (one will be still visible). The bard will start buffing.

We ready to cast Enervation followed by Disintegrate the moment the wall disapears hopefully crippling him further. Cleric might send another spiritual weapon.

We wish for the best and send the invisible fighters with lots and lots of Alchemist Fire Flask in case they are really having trouble hitting him. During this time, my sorcerer will start spamming his Scorching Rays without having to worry about SP.

Do you think this can work? Do you have any suggestions?

 

[Rhun]

Invisibility doesn't work well against dragons, since they have blindsense. You may want to save those spell slots.

 

[soulnova]

They will still have 50% of total concealment. That's better than nothing. Besides, the other 2 spells of that level are Polymorph and Black Tentacles. I really doubt I'll get to use those with him anyway. lol

 

[Rhun]

They will still have 50% of total concealment.

That is a good point, and much better than nothing. I was just thinking that Displacement can get you the same results, and is a spell level lower.

Edit: I just noted that you are playing a Sorcerer, not a Wizard...so forget this.

Polymorph and Black Tentacles. I really doubt I'll get to use those with him anyway. lol

Considering an old black dragons STR score and Fort save, neither of these is probably a particularly great choice.

 

[Rhun]

After looking over your spell list again, I think the two things you can do best are 1) make sure everyone is buffed as much as possible before the fight, and 2) since you can pass his SR easily, focus on inflicting damage or on casting spells that don't allow a save. I'm not sure of your feats, but a couple of maximized lightning bolts might give the dragon something to think about.

 

[Dandu]

Considering an old black dragons STR score and Fort save, neither of these is probably a particularly great choice.

What's wrong with Polymorphing the fighter into a War Troll (MMIII)?

 

[Rhun]

What's wrong with Polymorphing the fighter into a War Troll (MMIII)?

My bad...I was thinking in terms of trying to Polymorph Any Object and changing the dragon into something. Your strategy would work well.

 

[soulnova]

Don't have the MMIII.

Huh, Is the War Troll that good? i'll try to find some info by myself.

 

[Dandu]

It's appearently a good form because it's humanoid (so the fighter gets to keep his gear), has good physical stats, and some sort of (Ex) attack.

You should try to downl - I mean, acquire it.

 

[soulnova]

MMhh... That's a very interesting idea. Ok, I guess I can use that for my fighter instead of the Greater invisibility.