Good spells for a Juvenile Green Dragon?

[Oryan77]

I'll be using a dragon for the first time (yes, a shame since this is Dungeons & Dragons). This guy gets to know four 0-lvl spells and 2 first level spells if I've figured it up correctly. It doesn't seem like much to work with for a CR8 encounter...so what should I choose to benefit him the most? I use spells from the PHB and the Spell Compendium. The encounter will be in a jungle setting.

 

[frankthedm]

Mage armor and Shield.

Kill spell casters first to prevent dispelling. Then finish tanks at your leisure.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Shield is good to deflect magic missiles. Mage armor is also good, but shield of faith might be a reasonable alternative. Although it would be a lower AC, the SOF would apply to touch attacks. You can tweak the dragon for you party, if you wish. If you want this dragon to survive and have a chance to repair itself a little, then cure light wounds is a good choice. Cure minor wounds, otherwise, would be a necessity.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Protection from good. A must-have if the PCs like to summon things.

I also like razorclaw (or razorfang, I can't remember) from Draconomicon. Doubles the threat range on a single type of attack (I usually use bite since it doesn't apply to both claws). It's low level (2nd?).

 

[Arkhandus]

What Frank said.

Shield of Faith won't help much since dragons already have pathetic touch ACs; their Dex is too low! It'll be easy for a wizard to zap him with a Ray of Enfeeblement or Scorching Ray, whether or not he uses Shield of Faith.

Protection From Good is a fine alternative to Shield, but it's more situational (less potent against warriors, especially if they're nongood, and no use against Magic Missiles, but otherwise more useful against spellcasters....overall it may be slightly more useful to have Protection From Good).

 

[Zurai]

I third Mage Armor and Shield. Those were the two spells I thought of instantly.

RE: Low touch AC, it won't help this particular dragon, but there's a second level wiz/sorc spell called Shimmering Scales that turns Natural Armor into Deflection. Solves that particular problem nicely.

 

[Nifft]

Silent Image -- nothing better than creating the image of a Juvenile Green Dragon where there is, in fact, no Juvenile Green Dragon. Particularly if the party is expecting to find a Juvenile Green Dragon.

"Wizard, your fireball takes him completely flat-footed! He is now lightly crispy. Barbarian, your charge is unimpeded! He gets no AoO on you! You swing, and as you do so, make a Will save please..."

... then when the Rage runs out, the real Juvenile Green Dragon appears. Buffed with mage armor.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Vorput]

Silent Image -- nothing better than creating the image of a Juvenile Green Dragon where there is, in fact, no Juvenile Green Dragon. Particularly if the party is expecting to find a Juvenile Green Dragon.

"Wizard, your fireball takes him completely flat-footed! He is now lightly crispy. Barbarian, your charge is unimpeded! He gets no AoO on you! You swing, and as you do so, make a Will save please..."

... then when the Rage runs out, the real Juvenile Green Dragon appears. Buffed with mage armor.

Cheers, -- N

Nifft wins. I'm not sure what... but he should win something for that.

 

[eamon]

You may also be interested in the Spell Compendium Spell Scintillating Scales which transforms natural armor into a deflection bonus which applies to touch attacks too. This is, of course, only relevant if the dragon has a reason to fear touch attacks.