I am thinking of adding a scaleless dragon as an enemy in my next campaign, how would the rules for one work? I am assuming a massive drop in natural armor and an equal increase in DEX with an increase in movement speed and flying capabilities? How would you handle this creature and the roles you would use them in?
I would increase spell abilities and usage -- perhaps through alterations of the breath weapon. Make him less of a tanker and more of a blitzer.
sounds interesting.
was he always like that or was he cursed in some way?
as you say I would lower his natural armor and raise dex... but also lower his DR...
he would have had to figure out a way to survive without his natural defenses... maybe more spells as abraham says... or prodigous use of spring attack and shot on the run.
alternatively you can have him live with a bunch of minions... maybe a bunch of kobolds... the kobolds craft armor for him (treat as a form of barding) replacing his natural armor with real armor and maybe even weapons like adamantium claws or even a sword or spear.
would be an interesting visual. also allows him to drop the armor mid fight to totally change his combat statistics.
Seth the scaleless! Hopefully they die less than one does in dark souls.
This is pretty funny. Let's here the reasoning, it sounds very interesting.
I actually just read E. E. Knight's "Dragon Champion." Main protagonist was a scaleless dragon, and while the book was not amazing, it was pretty good and I think you could draw some useful ideas from it. One of the main advantages the scaleless dragon had was natural camouflage, which could easily be a bonus to stealth, as well as a clearly higher DEX. Obviously, he would focus on surprises and ambushes.
Theoretically, a scaleless dragon might try to protect himself with specially crafted and enchanted armor. Probably Mythril so that he doesn't get weighed down by it. Yea, it would cost a fortune, but dragons tend to have those.
Though, just throwing armor on him might go against what you're trying to accomplish here, haha.
Edit: just noticed that blue_the_wolf already suggested armor ;)
actually my favorite part of this is the idea of a fast dragon that abuses spring attack and shot on the run. sure people could ready attacks for when he comes into range but the dragon still calls the shots on who and when he gets hit not to mention simply fly by dragon breath.
a fine mithril chain like Matrix suggested would be an added bonus though it may ruin his stealth.
now I want to make one of these LOL.
Well I was bouncing between the idea of him being born with it, in similar line of E. E. Knights Dragon Champion as Hgsolo mentioned, and the other idea was he was captured by a magic user who used his scales to fuel his magic and finally escaped but lacking all his scales.
Using the magic user line could also explain any extra magical powers he might gain in lieu of losing his armor. I had a durp moment and forgot dragons had DR as well thanks for mentioning that Blue_the_Wolf. How much would one of you boost his dex, or his skills such as fly etc...
What spells would recommend adding as well. As a reference I want to try and keep his CR in line with other true dragons so 15-20 at Ancient.
I wouldn't boost anything at all, as the lack of scales either from torture, disease, or birth defect would be a severe disability for a dragon.
I'd suggest lowering all of his stats and defensive abilities due to his disability/injuries and having him compensate with some combination of class levels, magic items, and/or minions.
I wouldn't boost anything at all, as the lack of scales either from torture, disease, or birth defect would be a severe disability for a dragon.
I'd suggest lowering all of his stats and defensive abilities due to his disability/injuries and having him compensate with some combination of class levels, magic items, and/or minions.
I could certainly see your point fully for the magician removing his scales or a birth defect, however when I said "born with it" I was referring to a natural adaption which means usually that he lost the scales but gained something that evolution thought would give him a better chance at survival.
Which as many people have been giving great ideas, maybe the scaleless dragon won better hunting grounds over his scaled brethren because of being more magically inclined, being much faster and a better flier(I'm sorry but the lack of weight added by scales would make him faster and make flying a bit easier.), or having some enhanced stealth abilities.
As for the addition of minions if I did lower his CR as SoV suggested, by how much though, what minions would you add to keep the CR of the encounter in line, Kobolds had been mentioned but at a CR 1/3 it would take a few I would think. XD
I wouldn't boost anything at all, as the lack of scales either from torture, disease, or birth defect would be a severe disability for a dragon.
I'd suggest lowering all of his stats and defensive abilities due to his disability/injuries and having him compensate with some combination of class levels, magic items, and/or minions.
I could certainly see your point fully for the magician removing his scales or a birth defect, however when I said "born with it" I was referring to a natural adaption which means usually that he lost the scales but gained something that evolution thought would give him a better chance at survival.
Which as many people have been giving great ideas, maybe the scaleless dragon won better hunting grounds over his scaled brethren because of being more magically inclined, being much faster and a better flier(I'm sorry but the lack of weight added by scales would make him faster and make flying a bit easier.), or having some enhanced stealth abilities.
As for the addition of minions if I did lower his CR as SoV suggested, by how much though, what minions would you add to keep the CR of the encounter in line, Kobolds had been mentioned but at a CR 1/3 it would take a few I would think. XD
How about making him a Synthesist Summoner, where his "suit" is his idealized image of himself?
An interesting thought with the Synthesist Summoner, but isn't an eidlions max size huge, thus make him pretty much weaker after he reached a certain age? (Depending one which type of dragon he is.)