If the Adept is crap without those two spells, why aren't those the spells he's using to beat this Dragon? I went with Web and Scorching Ray... Animate Dead was mostly giving me nasty stuff to distract the dragon with (and make it harder to just run in and snatch).
I mean yeah, they're really strong spells, but Web and Scorching Ray are really solid too. And the Imp is quite potent, with his stealth and social skills and divination abilities.
Your saying Web + Scorching Ray because you think that does something, and as you pointed out you're dependent on Animate Dead to distract him and which in every post you remark as towards controlling a Hydra level of creature.
A. If you have at least 5 feet of web between you and an opponent, it provides cover. If you have at least 20 feet of web between you, it provides total cover.
B. The strands of a web spell are flammable. A magic flaming sword can slash them away as easily as a hand brushes away cobwebs. Any fire can set the webs alight and burn away 5 square feet in 1 round. All creatures within flaming webs take 2d4 points of fire damage from the flames.
You're 7 damage on your second turn and around 63ish the next puts you three turns in and it at 75% HP. Poking it with a stick is more effective than your plan outside of pokemon.
An adept can survive levels 1-7 with handle animal optimization, poison optimization, his decent selection of 1st and 2nd level spells, and his familiar.
Sorry, I haven't played pokemon since Gold/Silver. I do think you're point of Pet/Item abuse to prove your Adapt isn't proving anything other than how useful those things that everyone (including the dragon) can and probably should have.
The Dragon's maximum effective range is shorter than the Adept's range
How did the Adapt get over 200ft flight in speed?
Only difference is, the strafing dragon vs. Monk results in the dragon taking no damage and the melee vs. Adept taking some (possibly significant) damage. Not to mention that the Adept can walk back and Web (since the dragon is almost assuredly in a place where he can be nabbed by it if he's in melee range).
See Web comments (helps to know the spell) and (again not talking of Gia's build) the Monk can charge after DDooring as a move action via Battle Jump, possible killing it outright right then and there. Barring Battle Jump abuse, the Necropoliton/Soul Drinker combo means being ate is a great thing since you can deal two (or four with snap kick) negative levels per round. Branching from items & races, the Monk sports Evasion or Blink and probably Total Concealment meaning Breath is the only thing that can really bother the Monk, coupled with superior damage (no 50% miss chance) in combat the so call Monk sports three alternatives to fight a dragon without cowering in the corner and relying on Handle Animal (which he can use, just as he can UMD Animate Dead). The Adapt has what again? Wasted actions by the current plan of action. But I blame player skill there.
We're not talking about a Wizard, or hell even a Sorcerer. The Adapt's spell list sucks and is fixed. He has 4th level spells not 6th. The Adapt's most offensive option really is pets and he doesn't really have Crowd Control either. Diplomacy is the greatest proxy ability in D&D, not Animate Dead or even Dominate Monster.
Why is the poor dragon forced to fight featless, spellless, equipmentless and skilless against the pimped up adept again?
Not me. I voted for a Steel Dragon Gish. You know, a JPM/AC mix.
I'm not sure why Giacomo thinks the Monk's just going to sneak up on the dragon.
Did he take Darkstalker?
Ok, so wait, I can invest in magic then?
Yes
But Dragon's to love their gold piles, Whites them selves have a fondness for Diamonds and coat their piles of coins with ice (per MMI), so they won't actually be wearing all of it. A single set of WBL and the rest for the lair is a very modest amount. Mindful, the White is Evil and may not have any qualms of creating his own undead legion, and said minions may still be wearing their scarred armor...
Any Gold or Red Dragon with 7th level spells who doesn't have Energy Immunity: Cold on all the time however deserves what he gets.
Mantle Of The Icy Soul (10,450gp to pay someone else to cast it, Frostburn) gives you the [Cold] subtype making you immune to Shivering Touch while ditching that weakness.
I support no wealth. Not because it's the most representative of a Dragon's actual circumstances, but because I don't think you need it and because someone will always complain about it being the item's power rather than the Dragon's.
To note, I'm only on board with the pokemon bashing as a counter to bitching about an ACF being too powerful and it's not the Monk (a big wtf there since it's the Monk's ACF).
Ok, I always pokemon bash. But hey, I didn't start up until then
A: You cannot trip a flying opponent.
A. You can, it stalls them in midair (see FAQ) which can in fact make them fall (which in turn sets up moar Battle Jump abuse). Srsly, I've had Battle Jump banned from most games after I use it (not the entire book its in, the feat, see also intelligent DM)
Anyway,