From: kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov
Subject: Re: To Kill a Black Dragon
Originator: kjenks@gothamcity
Keywords: Plan
Organization: NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 18:57:34 GMT

In article <GSPIEGEL.57.0@bsa1.kent.edu> GSPIEGEL@bsa1.kent.edu (Greg Spiegelberg) writes:
>[...]  How should we go about killing/subduing this black dragon?

The cleric can kill it alone, but you ought to let the others help out
so they can feel useful.

Glyph of Warding can do all of the work for you.  If you cast enough of
them, he can't make his magic resistance against all of them.  (Maybe.
I'm not exactly sure how AD&D2 MR works, but under AD&D1, MR is
modified by 5% per level above/below 11th, so your spells would give
the dragon +25%.  Thus, if his MR were less than 75%, large numbers 
of Glyphs will eventually kill him.)

There are several possibilities, all of which depend on your tactical
situation.  If the dragon is holed up in a cave with one entrance, try
this approach: 

 (1) Prepare a dozen Continual Darkness rocks on 70 foot ropes.
 (The spell is 60' radius, so you'll have 10' of rope sticking out
 of the darkness.)  You'll need a dozen overlapping areas to overcome
 the dragon's MR.

 (2) Cast the Glyph of Warding spells on pieces of lumber long enough
 to stretch across the entrance(s).  Ensure that there are rope handles
 at the end of each board.  I suggest Frost glyphs, since they do 
 one hit point per level (two if you get lucky and the dragon misses
 its save) and they don't destroy magic items as much as Fire or 
 Lightning glyphs.

 (3) Use Silence 15' Radius spells to prevent the dragon from hearing
 the commotion outside.  The spells can be cast so that their overlapping
 globes completely block the cave entrance, so the dragon can't
 overhear your team.

 (4) Under cover of natural darkness (so the dragon won't detect the
 Continual Darkness), drag the Continual Darkness rocks into place
 around the entrance, with the spheres of darkness overlapping.

 (5) Have your team of adventurers drag in the lumber with the Glyph of
 Warding spells on them into the Continual Darkness, placing the lumber
 in a pile blocking the entrance.

 (6) From outside the Darkness, have one brave adventurer (hopefully
 equipped with a Potion of Gaseos Form, in case a rapid escape is
 needed) taunt the dragon into barging through the Continual Darkness
 and walking over the Glyphs.  Or wait for dragon to get hungry enough
 to emerge all by himself.  Boom.

 (7) Collect treasure.

It would be a good idea to use Clairvoyance, Crystal Ball, Magic Mirror
or some such to check on the dragon while all this is going on to
make sure he's cooperating.  If you can't scry on the dragon, scry on
your buddy, the virgin.  You'll probably see the dragon nearby.  Note:
due to the dragon's ability to detect invisible things, it's likely to
detect the fact that you're scrying on it, but that might not matter.

Note that this method requires plenty of preparation time and lots of
diamond dust for Glyph of Warding material components.

I can think of more creative methods, depending on your items and the
spell books of your Wizard, but this will work for any "standard" cleric.
This method works especially well in AD&D1 rules, where dragons don't
have magic resistance, but can be made to work in AD&D2 by overwhelming
the MR by vast numbers of Glyphs.

Rolled-up canvas mats might work better than the lumber for a vehicle
for transporting your Glyph of Warding spells, and canvas is easier to
camoflage and easier to carry.  You may have to speak the names of the
Glyph(s) to prevent your team from being blown up as they install the
Glyph boards/mats, but the Silence spells should prevent the dragon
from hearing the name of the Glyph(s).  You might want to use more than
one kind of Glyph, and you'll definitely want to practice this ahead of
time.  Just because it's so much fun, I'd recommend a live-action
practice in the back yard, with flour outlines showing the terrain and
full-sized lumber to demonstrate placement.

This plan has several holes in it -- what if you don't find all of
the entrances?  How do you find the entrances?  What if the dragon
has friends?  What if the dragon can cast spells?  What if the dragon
figures out what you're doing and throws your virginal buddy through
the Glyphs first, detonating them, then follows and kills you all?
What if your DM grants the dragon knowledge he shouldn't have (cheats)?
What if the dragon gets REALLY lucky and isn't killed by the masses
of Glyphs?  You should try to plan for these contingencies.  A Will
seems in order.

An alternative plan would be to distract the dragon and sneak in and
rescue the virgin while it's gone.  This might be safer, but it doesn't
kill the dragon.

Good luck, and please let us know what transpires.

-- Ken Jenks, NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
      kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov  (713) 483-4368

      "Orcs appear particularly disgusting because their
       coloration -- brown or brownish-green with a bluish sheen
       -- highlights their pinkish snouts and ears.  Their
       bristly hair is dark brown or black, sometimes with tan
       patches."
         -- AD&D Monster Manual 1, p. 76.
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