D&D 3E/3.5 Why the change in DR from 3.0 to 3.5

[Vegepygmy]

That said, I quite agree that 50 archers who are armed with magic arrows and are immune to fear are a potential threat to a dragon.

Furthermore, I would assert, they should be.

 

[TanisFrey]

A more likely scenario is that the Dragon ignores the 50 archers that made their saves against fear. The Dragon pursues and uses his breath weapon on the 950 archers that failed.

Because the 950 archers are running full speed (x4) away from the dragon, they are also running away from their 50 buddies that made the fear save. So the 50 buddies will have to move or run to catch up and be in range to be able to shoot at the dragon.

Also, how many spell casters are you going to have casting spells on quivers full of arrows? It takes a lot of spell casters to arm 1000 archers. And some of the spell casters are also fleeing for their lives.

That said, I quite agree that 50 archers who are armed with magic arrows and are immune to fear are a potential threat to a dragon.

The 50 archer only need to stay within 10 range increments of the dragon, that is 600 to 1200 feet depending on weapon. 600 feet for short bow, 700 feet for composite short bows, 1000 feet for long bow, 1100 feet for the composite long bows and 1200 feet for heavy crossbow. Lets face is range does not matter for a first level fighter/ranger shooting at a dragon. There are most of them are likely looking for natural 20 even in the first range increment for many of the larger dragons with DR XX/Magic.

Now if you consider the army knows that the dragon is in the area and has been warned over the dragon approach it gets much uglier for the dragon as a 1000 archers unload during the first or second round at the dragon at long range.

The army sees and prepares for the dragon. The young adult Green dragon you mentioned before needs 2 full rounds of triple moves before he is close enough for the fear aura to affect the army. The fear aura extends 150 feet from the dragon and it's normal move is 150 fly. 1000 Long Bow Archers firing say 1 arrow a round will inflict at least 50 hits a round. At d8+1 times 50 hits is on average 275 damage per round the dragon is closing. (This damage is assuming that the rangers do not have favored enemy on the dragon.)