Yes, every area is different and lack of water can be a real issue. Since you are not tilling, you are conserving what moisture your soil does have which is good. I find clover needs rain to germinate, but once germinated, some varieties are reasonably drought tolerant as is chicory. Durana is known for drought tolerance and persistence. I also find the cool nights favor clover germination. I'm in zone 7a and we get ample rain in the fall so summers can be more of a drought period here.
Also, keep in mind that clover seed is hard and will often last until spring. Just one more thought if you decide to try another fall plant. Waiting until you do have a good rain in the forecast before planting may be more important than planting sooner. Frost seeding takes advantage of the heaving and cracking of the soil during the freeze/thaw cycle of early spring. Frost seeding over snow makes seed very visible for birds during a time when food is scarce making seed predation an issue. Since clover surface broadcasts pretty well, especially when cultipacked and the seed is hard and stays viable for many months, I wonder if a fall plant that doesn't germinate is any different than frost seeding functionally.
These are all just things to consider. You know your situation better than I do. I wish you success whatever approach you take.