ideas for building a dragon killing druid (needed for backstory)

[Brother MacLaren]

Having to roll a one on a d20 is automatic for me.

Are you referring to the save vs. baleful polymorph?
A DC 21 Baleful Polymorph (+6 Wis bonus once Owl's Wisdom is factored in) has about a 15% chance to work (60% chance of beating the SR, 25% chance of the dragon blowing its +15 Fort save). Dragons have excellent saves, but an 85% chance of surviving this one single attack is not "automatic" by any stretch of the imagination. With Resist Energy and Freedom of Movement, the druid could also try a second time when the dragon comes to attack - the beast will have a 72% chance to endure two such spells, and the druid can survive one bite attack plus an AOO when he's fleeing (if the dragon chooses to breathe, it's even easier for the druid to withstand). It gets worse.

Add in some caster feats (human to get Spell Focus, Greater Spell Focus, Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration, and Natural Spell by level 9) and get +2 DC, and +4 to beat SR. So now there is an 80% chance of beating the SR and a 35% chance of the dragon blowing its save. Total of 28% chance of success with a single spell (near 50% if you can risk two spells).

Or, at worst for the dragon, start with 18 Wisdom because you don't need high physical stats due to Wild Shape; 2 level increases, item of +6 Wis that remains active in wild shape, and the Spell Focus feats, and you can have a DC 25 spell. Now you're up to a 45% chance of failing the save, for an overall 36% chance of this tactic working on the first try.

Regardless of your other points, I'm just choosing to call you on this one - the idea that the save is automatic and the druid needs the dragon to roll a 1. That simply isn't true.

 

[Joker[ZW]]

If the Dragon's other lairs are too far away he will have to cross through the terretories of other Dragons, quite dangerous for a Dragon of his Age. He propably wouldn't have a lair more than a hour away, which is 20 miles for a Dragon his age.
If the Dragon doesn't know that he is attacked by a Druid or the Dragon doesn't know of this tactic the Druid could just cast commune with nature half an hour after the Dragon leave and extrapolate the direction the lair of the Dragon lies.
He could even use Scry to try to find clues about the Dragons whereabouts (though his chances to see something helpfull are quite small) or at least know the exact time the Dragon needed to get to his second lair.

Sending summoned creatures into the lair wouldn't be considered an evil act, though sending charmed/dominated creatures propably would.

Elementals, Xorn, Thoqqua, Janni and Nixies should be able able to dodge any trap the Dragon has laid.

As the Druid is a PC character the Dragon holding a grudge wouldn't be that much of a problem, its a good plot hook after all

 

[Derren]

Are you referring to the save vs. baleful polymorph?

No, I meant making a DC 24 spot check with +23 in Spot to notice the druid casting.

 

[Brother MacLaren]

No, I meant making a DC 24 spot check with +23 in Spot to notice the druid casting.

In that case, I suggest you re-read Sejs' post. His druid has an effective +24 to Hide (+14 to the Hide check and -10 to the Spot check). Dragon's actual die roll needs to beat druid's die roll. Not "dragon needs to roll a 1"

Sejs' doesn't even postulate any ranks in Hide for the druid, nor a Tiny-sized animal, nor cover/concealment, nor an animal with a racial Hide bonus, nor an animal with a Dex bonus.

 

[Darklone]

Well... is casting a spell while hidden similar to sniping, that it gives you a -20 to the hide check ?

 

[Derren]

Exactly.
Also, while the druid can take actions to hide, he can't surpress the sound. That would require silencing the spells which he hasn't the spell levels for. The dragon has also +24 to listen, and to hear a spell beeing cast is DC 0.

And before you start, natural spell doesn't hide sound. It sounds different than a human, but it is still spellcasting which can be identified by spellcraft.

 

[Joker[ZW]]

It’s practically impossible (–20 penalty) to hide while attacking, running or charging.

Sniping: If you’ve already successfully hidden at least 10 feet from your target, you can make one ranged attack, then immediately hide again. You take a –20 penalty on your Hide check to conceal yourself after the shot.

As long as the druid doesn't cast a spell that counts as a ranged attack he should be able to hide without penalty AFAIAC

 

[Joker[ZW]]

Exactly.
Also, while the druid can take actions to hide, he can't surpress the sound. That would require silencing the spells which he hasn't the spell levels for. The dragon has also +24 to listen, and to hear a spell beeing cast is DC 0.

With summoned creatures attacking the Dragon the DC to identify the sounds the Druid makes 50ft. away is 20, easy enough for the dragon. Identifying the spell though is a spellcraft check with a DC of 20, quite hard for a Dragon that will normally have no ranks in it as it's not a class skill for black Dragons.

So hearing the Druid is easy, but knowing that he casts a Spell while wildshaped is nearly impossible.

 

[Darklone]

Identifying the spell with that spellcraft check means knowing which spell he casts, not that he casts at all...

 

[youspoonybard]

Does the Druid even have to be within 800 feet to cast the Call Lightning (Storm) spell?

I always thought that was the bolt range from the Druid...the Druid could cast the spell 10 or so minutes before combat, then walk over to the Dragon and use "purely mental" standard actions to weaken it. While a toad or something, of course.