Natural Armor in Play-Yourself Campaign

[emeraldmystique]

I am playing in a play-yourself campaign set in the forgotten realms but using Pathfinder rules (any 3.5 rules can be used unless a pathfinder rule supersedes it). I'm having a great time and have really taken to tabletop gaming (this being my first try!). The DM likes to run PYS games because he says that players invest a lot more in their characters and think about things that players not playing themselves often overlook - Where can I get some decent underwear in the Realms? I only have one pair of socks, I better get some of those. No, I don't want a ring of sustenance that's going to have me walking around like a crack addict never sleeping or eating, that's weird. Etc. Etc.

Now I've run into a PYS issue that I would like some help on if anyone wants to weigh in. I am very interested in the Draconic sorcerer bloodline but... I don't want scales. I like my soft skin and I don't want that to go away. Can you think of creative ways to adjust the bloodline so that I can keep my own skin? Here are some ideas I've been tossing around in my head:

-Are there spells that would allow me to retain the natural armor bonus but my skin feel soft?
-Do you think it's possible to have scales activate as a swift action when I get into a fight (à la the claws)? How could I justify that? (The benefit I seek of not having them all the time being balanced by the fact that I lose the AC bonus when not active?)
-Any argument I can make that natural armor doesn't always have to be hard scales? (Familiars have a natural armor bonus to AC, but their skin gets no tougher. Lycanthropes have natural armor bonus in all forms.)
-A bargain where I reduce that benefit of the class (just outright give it up) for something that may not be QUITE as good, but will not significantly reduce the benefits of that bloodline?

Any ideas or reflection on these ideas that I have would be much appreciated! I've scoured the interwebs looking for this to have come up before and have not yet found anything.

 

[Borthos]

I am playing in a play-yourself campaign set in the forgotten realms but using Pathfinder rules (any 3.5 rules can be used unless a pathfinder rule supersedes it). I'm having a great time and have really taken to tabletop gaming (this being my first try!). The DM likes to run PYS games because he says that players invest a lot more in their characters and think about things that players not playing themselves often overlook - Where can I get some decent underwear in the Realms? I only have one pair of socks, I better get some of those. No, I don't want a ring of sustenance that's going to have me walking around like a crack addict never sleeping or eating, that's weird. Etc. Etc.

that sounds like a really cool idea. I've never done a game like that but I think I might soon.

Now I've run into a PYS issue that I would like some help on if anyone wants to weigh in. I am very interested in the Draconic sorcerer bloodline but... I don't want scales. I like my soft skin and I don't want that to go away. Can you think of creative ways to adjust the bloodline so that I can keep my own skin? Here are some ideas I've been tossing around in my head:

-Are there spells that would allow me to retain the natural armor bonus but my skin feel soft?
-Any argument I can make that natural armor doesn't always have to be hard scales? (Familiars have a natural armor bonus to AC, but their skin gets no tougher. Lycanthropes have natural armor bonus in all forms.)
-Do you think it's possible to have scales activate as a swift action when I get into a fight (à la the claws)? How could I justify that? (The benefit I seek of not having them all the time being balanced by the fact that I lose the AC bonus when not active?)

Obligatory responses include that you could always flavor it that way. What comes to mind when you ask is that maybe the scales only appeared protecting the non-constantly visible parts of you, ie upper torso sections, back, naughty bits; at all times but growing in all over when you get agitated or for combat, etc. Or maybe it just grows visible and hardens in combat, but you can suppress the look, keeping your skin soft and supple as long as you want it. Many dragons are known for shapeshifting into humanoids (w/o scales) and sexing up the locals, like your ancestors. You character is always what you think it is, not always what the books say.

-A bargain where I reduce that benefit of the class (just outright give it up) for something that may not be QUITE as good, but will not significantly reduce the benefits of that bloodline?

I'd keep natural armor bonuses. As a caster, natural armor is invaluable because there is no spell failure chance as it's part of you, you can still have other armor bonuses, though you probably won't unless you can get a decent degree of ignoring spell failure, and it always helps in combat. Sometimes you're going to get hit by a guy with a big ax. Any armor helps out.

 

[Moleculo]

You could just have preternaturally strong bones and tough muscular tissue. Where a normal person bludgeoned by a mace would get a broken bone, you'd wind up with only a large bruise. Of course this would lead to you having a lot of scars if you're ever slashed or stabbed. Or maybe your skin is only a layer above the scales, and when you're wounded the scales show through.

 

[Almacov]

Perhaps your natural armor bonus represents a sort of reflexive elemental fluidity associated with your ancestor dragon's breath weapon type.
In moments of danger your body can flex out of the way to a degree, flickering slightly to the side like a flame or twitching back from the threat like it's just made contact with a jolt of alternating current electricity.

 

[pawsplay]

Are you sure you want the Draconic bloodline? It's flavored pretty heavily toward physical dragon characteristics. What about Arcane or Elemental?