Draconic woes

Remove all ads!

I used to think my character was pretty hyped, but after fighting Liches and Dragons I begin to see a few fatal flaws.

First of all the Shadow Dragon was sending my fighters into walls with it's wing attack, and with the extra time it bought proceeded to level drain both Aerie and Viconia into dust.

I was thinking of everything I could do to defeat the beast, there was no way I was coming back for it later because of my ego. So I treid and reloaded and tried and reloaded. Finally I used a cheesy tactic, I used Yoshimo to set traps while resting for several times. After resting and setting traps twice, I said "Fuck it! It's so cheesy to do this!" So I just took positions and started the fight as usual.

Then, before a single wing buffet ad before I even had to drink a potion or heal, the Shadow Dragon died. WTF? I had only hit it a few times! So I took a look and it said in Yoshimo's info "Toughest Enemy Killed: Thaxll'sylia".

I was unsatisfied in the extreme. It's slaying had no honour, it's fall unheroic.

Since then I resolved never to use the Set Traps cheese tactic again because it cheapens and whores my capabilities. I resolved to settle scores later when I'm at the appropriate level.

But there was a chance for redemption! There was still Frikraag to take care of! I did a few more quests, got a few powerful weapons and leveled up a few times. Even then I was a little unhappy because I had heard people say Firkraaag was easier than the Shadow Dragon.

And indeed I thought so too. I thought: The Shadow Dragon wasn't too tough to hit, and it shouldn't be hitting me too often with my -5 AC right? Besides I attack 8 times a round. Also, how tough can its breath weapon be? Certainly not as deadly as the Shadow Dragon's which took away 12 levels in one go and turned one into dust. Maybe like a fireball, since it's a Red Dragon....yea....I can take a few fireballs.

So I took positions around the Dragon and started the fight. My fighter was hardly scratching it! They were being blown all over the place! And worse of all later IT BLEW BOTH MINSC AND AERIE TO BITS WITH ONE BREATH DOING 70 to 80 DAMAGE A POP!

After killing four of my five party members and Jaheira running around pissing herself I swore "I will kill this little F*CK if it's the last thing I do!! " So I picked myself up from the pillar Firkraag blew me into and ran right to his face. Two claws from the Dragon and none from me and I was dead. (And to think I thought I could fight a Tarrasque).

So anyway I reloaded and went to him and said "I'll be back for you!" And when I do, I'll be with a mage from Sigil with Mechanus Cannon!

Anyway to you guys who've managed to kill the Dragons with uncheesy tactics, I salute you. You are true heroes.

 

There's cheese, and then there's cheese.

The difference between a fine slice of brie, and mouldy, mild cheddar.

When I've fought dragons in the past I've popped off a quick 'lower resistance' before the dragon turns hostile, then let the battle begin. I think that the dragons are generally pretty smug, and see me as so much pocket lint. If I see a surprise element that gives me the edge, I have no problem with using it.

 

My tactic to kill Dragons :
- Summon a pack of creatures (elementals...)
- Cast Haste, Harmonic Defense...
- Put the party all around the Dragon.
- Use special abilities like Kiai, Berserk...

Then fight with some nice weapons like Carsomyr, Celestial Fury... Sometimes, summons other creatures...

For my first trip against the Blackie... hmmm... I killed him with a Finger of Death, I guess I was really lucky to bypass his Magic Res. AND his saving throws.

Rasalgethi, servant of Light.

 

If you have a fighter/cleric or fighter/druid, the spell Harm works wonders if it hits. I gotta admit, it was cool to see the Shadow Dragon wither to nothing with one hit. But I just can't use it again. It was way to easy. It was nice to pull it off once, but never again. I like to fight 'em all out now. It's a lot more fun and I manage to survive. Oh, and if someone calls Harm cheap, it was to a degree, but no different than the monks quivering palm blow, which from what I understand is a lot less difficult to pull off.