So there is this Red Dragon...

[MacMathan]

I have a big fight with a Dragon coming up and I need some ideas on how to avoid a TPK. None of my group has fought a dragon in 3e and we no idea how to go about it successfully.

Here is the setup-

The Party;
F3-Archer Spec.
F2/Rog2
C4
W4- Evoker- Fire elementalist type-My character. Yes I have no spells that will damage this thing.
W3- Enchantress
D3
F3-Mounted Combat Spec.

The Dragon-
Young Adult Red- Unknown Feats and Items

We have taken care of its Kobold helpers but the big fight is upcoming.

So far I am having trouble thinking of a way to prevent it from just flying above us and breathing for 4-40 points of fire damage every 1-4 rounds until we are cooked

Our best fire resistance spell only blocks 12 points a round so if people make thier Reflex saves they are okay on average but if they don't....

Thanks In Advance

 

[LGodamus]

anytime fighting a dragon....it is best to fight on your own turf if you can help it. unless you are extremely powerfull never let him have the home field advantage


research your opponent...ask questions of the locals, read books, pay for a diviner...even a young dragon is bound to draw attention.

prepare ahead......people who fight dragons without a game plane are usually found in peices by the next group who comes to fight the dragon....

 

[Nightfall]

My advice, find a nice dragonslayer and run the other way.

 

[Impeesa]

Pool your resources, buy a scroll of maximized teleport, and send in someone with good Bluff and UMD skills who is willing to die for the rest of you.

--Impeesa--

 

[Cedric]

Come back in 5 years when you are all close to 20th level...and he's still a young adult red dragon.

Barring that...hmm...pray?

Cedric

 

[Larry Fitz]

I suggest you boldly go on into the dragon's lair, declaring in booming voices your intention to slay him and use his hoard to buy overpriced ale and magic items. Of course I'm rooting for the dragon, so you might want to not listen to me....

 

[Balgus]

level 4 and already chasing dragone. May the force be with you

 

[RangerWickett]

Wait, your average party level is about 3.5, with 7 PCs (figure that's equivalent of 4 6th level PCs, if you're good), and you're going up against a Young Adult Red Dragon? As in the Huge (20-ft. long) beasty that is CR 12?

Hopefully you meant, like, Young. That's only CR 6 (and we all know that Dragon CRs are usually a bit low compared to what they should be).

If you've got the facts straight, you don't have to worry about fighting it. You'll panic at the first wave of dragonfear (Will DC 21, creatures 4 HD or less panic and flee for 4d6 rounds). Odds are maybe two people in the party will save against that, if you're lucky, and the rest will run like little screaming children.

Of course, that's all meta-game knowledge. If your PCs think they can handle a 6-ton fire-breathing dragon, by all means, battle for great justice!

 

[S'mon]

I have a big fight with a Dragon coming up and I need some ideas on how to avoid a TPK. None of my group has fought a dragon in 3e and we no idea how to go about it successfully.

Here is the setup-

The Party;
F3-Archer Spec.
F2/Rog2
C4
W4- Evoker- Fire elementalist type-My character. Yes I have no spells that will damage this thing.
W3- Enchantress
D3
F3-Mounted Combat Spec.

The Dragon-
Young Adult Red- Unknown Feats and Items

The 3rd-4th level party seems far too low level to have any chance vs a young adult red - rated CR 12, realistically more like CR 16. In my campaign a very well prepared party of 13 characters averaging about 9th level had a tough fight beating a single young adult red, even with summoned avorrals helping. The party might have a chance vs a young red (not young adult) - rated CR 6, realistically CR about 10.

Edit: young adult red breathes for 10d10 dmg. Even a young red breathes for 6d10. Maybe you're facing a Very Young red, which does do 4d10, rated CR 4, really about CR 7 - which seems the kind of tough but not totally ridiculous fight a DM might put a 4th level party up against.

Tactics: lots of buff spells, ambush it in a confined space where it can't take flight, hit hard & fast, assume some party members will die.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

It depends somehow on the actual size of the beast - if it is the CR 12 version you and the others indicate, you will have no chance, unless the DM plans something else for you (maybe that you don`t fight him?)

A Net can make flying difficult (and its only a Touch attack to get it on the dragon). Just to be sure get more than one net ready, because if no one of you is proficient with it, making it ready again will take to long.

If the Dragon is forced to fight indoors, he cannot use his fly ability to best advantage, so try to get him there.
The mounted combat expert will, unfortunately, also have trouble indoors, but maybe you can set up a situation where he can at least try to charge his opponent..

If you are forced to fight outdoors, or you have some vegetation indoors, the Druid should have an Entangle handy...
Summon Swarm might be useful, too, though it does only really help against spellcasters...

It might be best to avoid coming in close formations, because his breath weapon would make this a real short fight - but that`s obvious.

The archer and maybe any other character that doesn`t expect to survive a hand to hand combat with the Dragon should use his arrows and bolts as best as possible.
Consider using Tower Shields and other means of covers.

Maybe you should find a kind of decoy, so the dragon uses his breath weapon (without harming anyone) and then attack him in the 1d4-1 rounds of flaming free time. (Summon Nature`s Ally might help here..)

Oh, do you, as an Fire ELementalist, don`t get Magic Missile? I know, it is not that impressive and without fire, but always useful ...

Mustrum Ridcully