Arcane Natural Armor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arcane Natural Armor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Jack of All Trades
11-15-05, 08:48 PM Is there a spell like barkskin for wizards? If not, would there be something wrong with making a scaleskin spell that would require the wizard to be at a higher level or require an exotic spell focus like a single dragonscale or something?

Could you then use this spell to make either an amulet of natural armor or even better bracers of natural armor?

I'm not really sure about making your own spells. The book says research is involved, what does that mean?
ReverendCow
11-15-05, 09:00 PM Just a point of curiosity, but aren't most normal (ie; Chromatic/Metallic) dragon scales quite large?
smrtgmp
11-15-05, 09:04 PM depends on the age of the dragon from which they came, I would imagine.

Alter self can give you impressive natural armor bonuses at lower levels. Once you get 4th level spells, polymorph can be used to turn into a variety of creatures with both vaguely humanoid forms (allowing you to retain your spellcasting ability and your magical items) and substantial natural armor bonuses.

I think it would be completely appropriate to research an arcane spell that granted a natural armor bonus. I researched something similar (Hrunger's Earthen Hide) with a dwarven fighter/wizard I played for a while.
Kyuketsukiouji
11-15-05, 10:21 PM Is there a spell like barkskin for wizards?

No.

If not, would there be something wrong with making a scaleskin spell that would require the wizard to be at a higher level or require an exotic spell focus like a single dragonscale or something?

Definitely!

Could you then use this spell to make either an amulet of natural armor or even better bracers of natural armor?

Yes, pending your DM's approval, though I see no reason why it would be denied.

I'm not really sure about making your own spells. The book says research is involved, what does that mean?

Spell research is defined in your player's handbook, in the section of the same name. Basically, you're assembling information together and piecing your new spell. You need a library for that, though.
Jherid
11-15-05, 11:20 PM There is the Dragonskin spell on pg. 112 of the Draconomicon. It gives a maximum +5 natural armor bonus and an energy resistance up to 20 depending on which scale colour you pick.
pmurray@bigpond.com
11-15-05, 11:33 PM I'm not really sure about making your own spells. The book says research is involved, what does that mean?

Well, the wiz rents a lab, ferrets through musty tomes, singes their beard a few times, than either succeeds or fails in formulating a new spell which goes in the book.

You write a spell description as per the PHB spells. Research takes 1 week per level of the spell, and costs 1000 gp per week. At the end of that time, you roll a dc 10+spell level spellcraft check. If the spell is possible at all (ie: the DM will allow it) and you succeed on the spellcraft roll, then you have your nnew spell.

BTW: note that a familiar can assist you with skill checks: that one reason why wizards have 'em.
Grayequus
11-15-05, 11:49 PM Well with the help of the 3.5 hypertext SRD, I took a stab at Scaleskin:

Scaleskin
Transmutation
Level: Wiz/Sor 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: 10 min./level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

Scaleskin toughens a creature’s skin. The effect grants a +2 enhancement bonus to the creature’s existing natural armor bonus. This enhancement bonus increases by 1 for every three caster levels above 3rd, to a maximum of +5 at caster level 12th. Visually this effect causes scales to replace the target's skin for the duration. They may be of any hue or combination or pattern of hues desired, even matching the target's natural skin and may be of any size desired, ranging from too minute to be detectable by eye <though they remain apparent to the touch> or massive plates. They may also be made to appear like metal, crystal stone, glass or bone, or even ceramic. None of these cosmetic differences affect the armor bonus of the spell.

The enhancement bonus provided by scaleskin stacks with the target’s natural armor bonus, but not with other enhancement bonuses to natural armor. A creature without natural armor has an effective natural armor bonus of +0.

Material component: One scale from any source and a pinch of powdered mica.
Nephlite
11-16-05, 11:43 AM Is there a spell like barkskin for wizards? If not, would there be something wrong with making a scaleskin spell that would require the wizard to be at a higher level or require an exotic spell focus like a single dragonscale or something?

World of Warcraft D20 handbook: a Warlock spell (lessser, normal, and Greater versions) gives NA and Temporary hps.

I think it is called Demon Skin.
Auorix
11-16-05, 01:03 PM Is the formula the same for researching a new spell (one that does not currently exist) as it is for adding a known popular spell to your spellbook?

As an example, say I wanted to add magic missile to my spell book (and did not have a scroll or have the ability to buy one), would I use the same formula of 1 week per spell level and 1000gp a week?
periscope
11-18-05, 09:48 PM Theres is a spell in the Underdark book called Spider skin that I think wizards get gives natural armor bonuses and bonuses on hide checks.
Ian Delor
11-22-05, 02:56 PM Barkskin naturally fits the nature of Druids. If a wizard in my campaign were trying to make the same (or a similar) spell, I would probably allow it, but raise it to 2nd level, since the effect is druish. The effect would be that the wizard would add Barkskin to his spell list as a 2nd level wizard spell. The research costs would be as though creating a spell from scratch, as has been dicussed in previous posts on this thread.

I've been thinking along the same lines for the longstrider spell, because my wizard cannot make boots of striding, since he's missing the all important spell. If he could cast longstrider as a 2nd level spell, the cost of the boots of longstriding would be higher if made by a wizard, but perhaps more readily available in large cities where wizards may congregate, but which druids avoid like the plague.
zelf_gale
11-22-05, 04:19 PM There is a Wu Jen spell from Complete Arcane called Scales of the Serpent but its duration is attrociously short.
rat_bastard
11-22-05, 09:12 PM the draconomicon has multiple natural armor building arcane spells, however, it is not worth it to pay full price for the book, I would recomend using amazon marketplace or ebay, if you pay more than ten dollars for it (before shipping) you will have been screwed. that said if you want to increase naural armor or ride a dragon that is the book for you.
Alamanther's comeback
11-27-05, 12:24 PM The FR supplement Underdark details the spell spiderskin, which gives a bonus of up to +5 on natural armor, hide checks, and saves vs. poison. It is a 3rd level druid spell and a third level sorcerer/wizard spell.
Nom
11-27-05, 03:45 PM Spell research is defined in your player's handbook, in the section of the same name.Actually, in the PH it's hidden on pg 179, in a subsection titled "independent research", that just refers you to the DMG. It's an optional rule in the DMG on pg 198.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jack of All Trades 11-15-05, 08:48 PM	Is there a spell like barkskin for wizards? If not, would there be something wrong with making a scaleskin spell that would require the wizard to be at a higher level or require an exotic spell focus like a single dragonscale or something? Could you then use this spell to make either an amulet of natural armor or even better bracers of natural armor? I'm not really sure about making your own spells. The book says research is involved, what does that mean?
ReverendCow 11-15-05, 09:00 PM	Just a point of curiosity, but aren't most normal (ie; Chromatic/Metallic) dragon scales quite large?
smrtgmp 11-15-05, 09:04 PM	depends on the age of the dragon from which they came, I would imagine. Alter self can give you impressive natural armor bonuses at lower levels. Once you get 4th level spells, polymorph can be used to turn into a variety of creatures with both vaguely humanoid forms (allowing you to retain your spellcasting ability and your magical items) and substantial natural armor bonuses. I think it would be completely appropriate to research an arcane spell that granted a natural armor bonus. I researched something similar (Hrunger's Earthen Hide) with a dwarven fighter/wizard I played for a while.
Kyuketsukiouji 11-15-05, 10:21 PM	Is there a spell like barkskin for wizards? No. If not, would there be something wrong with making a scaleskin spell that would require the wizard to be at a higher level or require an exotic spell focus like a single dragonscale or something? Definitely! Could you then use this spell to make either an amulet of natural armor or even better bracers of natural armor? Yes, pending your DM's approval, though I see no reason why it would be denied. I'm not really sure about making your own spells. The book says research is involved, what does that mean? Spell research is defined in your player's handbook, in the section of the same name. Basically, you're assembling information together and piecing your new spell. You need a library for that, though.
Jherid 11-15-05, 11:20 PM	There is the Dragonskin spell on pg. 112 of the Draconomicon. It gives a maximum +5 natural armor bonus and an energy resistance up to 20 depending on which scale colour you pick.
pmurray@bigpond.com 11-15-05, 11:33 PM	I'm not really sure about making your own spells. The book says research is involved, what does that mean? Well, the wiz rents a lab, ferrets through musty tomes, singes their beard a few times, than either succeeds or fails in formulating a new spell which goes in the book. You write a spell description as per the PHB spells. Research takes 1 week per level of the spell, and costs 1000 gp per week. At the end of that time, you roll a dc 10+spell level spellcraft check. If the spell is possible at all (ie: the DM will allow it) and you succeed on the spellcraft roll, then you have your nnew spell. BTW: note that a familiar can assist you with skill checks: that one reason why wizards have 'em.
Grayequus 11-15-05, 11:49 PM	Well with the help of the 3.5 hypertext SRD, I took a stab at Scaleskin: Scaleskin Transmutation Level: Wiz/Sor 2 Components: V, S, M Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Touch Target: Living creature touched Duration: 10 min./level Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) Scaleskin toughens a creature’s skin. The effect grants a +2 enhancement bonus to the creature’s existing natural armor bonus. This enhancement bonus increases by 1 for every three caster levels above 3rd, to a maximum of +5 at caster level 12th. Visually this effect causes scales to replace the target's skin for the duration. They may be of any hue or combination or pattern of hues desired, even matching the target's natural skin and may be of any size desired, ranging from too minute to be detectable by eye <though they remain apparent to the touch> or massive plates. They may also be made to appear like metal, crystal stone, glass or bone, or even ceramic. None of these cosmetic differences affect the armor bonus of the spell. The enhancement bonus provided by scaleskin stacks with the target’s natural armor bonus, but not with other enhancement bonuses to natural armor. A creature without natural armor has an effective natural armor bonus of +0. Material component: One scale from any source and a pinch of powdered mica.
Nephlite 11-16-05, 11:43 AM	Is there a spell like barkskin for wizards? If not, would there be something wrong with making a scaleskin spell that would require the wizard to be at a higher level or require an exotic spell focus like a single dragonscale or something? World of Warcraft D20 handbook: a Warlock spell (lessser, normal, and Greater versions) gives NA and Temporary hps. I think it is called Demon Skin.
Auorix 11-16-05, 01:03 PM	Is the formula the same for researching a new spell (one that does not currently exist) as it is for adding a known popular spell to your spellbook? As an example, say I wanted to add magic missile to my spell book (and did not have a scroll or have the ability to buy one), would I use the same formula of 1 week per spell level and 1000gp a week?
periscope 11-18-05, 09:48 PM	Theres is a spell in the Underdark book called Spider skin that I think wizards get gives natural armor bonuses and bonuses on hide checks.
Ian Delor 11-22-05, 02:56 PM	Barkskin naturally fits the nature of Druids. If a wizard in my campaign were trying to make the same (or a similar) spell, I would probably allow it, but raise it to 2nd level, since the effect is druish. The effect would be that the wizard would add Barkskin to his spell list as a 2nd level wizard spell. The research costs would be as though creating a spell from scratch, as has been dicussed in previous posts on this thread. I've been thinking along the same lines for the longstrider spell, because my wizard cannot make boots of striding, since he's missing the all important spell. If he could cast longstrider as a 2nd level spell, the cost of the boots of longstriding would be higher if made by a wizard, but perhaps more readily available in large cities where wizards may congregate, but which druids avoid like the plague.
zelf_gale 11-22-05, 04:19 PM	There is a Wu Jen spell from Complete Arcane called Scales of the Serpent but its duration is attrociously short.
rat_bastard 11-22-05, 09:12 PM	the draconomicon has multiple natural armor building arcane spells, however, it is not worth it to pay full price for the book, I would recomend using amazon marketplace or ebay, if you pay more than ten dollars for it (before shipping) you will have been screwed. that said if you want to increase naural armor or ride a dragon that is the book for you.
Alamanther's comeback 11-27-05, 12:24 PM	The FR supplement Underdark details the spell spiderskin, which gives a bonus of up to +5 on natural armor, hide checks, and saves vs. poison. It is a 3rd level druid spell and a third level sorcerer/wizard spell.
Nom 11-27-05, 03:45 PM	Spell research is defined in your player's handbook, in the section of the same name.Actually, in the PH it's hidden on pg 179, in a subsection titled "independent research", that just refers you to the DMG. It's an optional rule in the DMG on pg 198.