Improving Natural Armor


Rules Questions


So read threads can't seem to decide exactly if natural armor stacks. They say in some cases it does in others do not.
Here's my example. Lizard folk +1 Natural armor. Witch Hex gets IcePlant Hex adds +2 Natural armor. Now take Dragon Discipline which states you natural armor improves. So do I now have a Natural armor of +3 or +1. I say +3. From some of the examples I have read that the bonuses as long as they are from different sources should stack. Lizardfolk have a natural armor. I get the witch hex getting a bonus of +2. Then take the Prestige Class adding to my AC.


Natural armor bonuses don't stack by default, but there's exceptions. Lots of them.

Dragon disciple improves an existing natural armor bonus so should work with iceplant or inborn natural armor on a lizardfolk.

Quote:
At 1st, 4th, and 7th level, a dragon disciple gains an increase to the character's existing natural armor (if any)

Iceplant grants a natural armor bonus. It probably doesn't stack with a lizardfolk's natural armor bonus.

Quote:
This hex grants the witch and her familiar a +2 natural armor bonus and the constant effects of endure elements. The effect leaves the witch’s skin thick and stiff to the touch.

One you didn't mention is barkskin and the amulet of natural armor based off it. This adds to any of the above because it calls itself an enhancement bonus to natural armor.

Quote:
The enhancement bonus provided by barkskin 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.


I'm aware of Enhancement bonuses. I'm more concerned with what does stack such as Ice Plant Hex with a creatures natural armor and or the feat Improve Natural Armor which my GM would allow in my case.
I'm a two handed weapon damage dealer and Witches don't get the Shield spell trying to boost my armor any way I can. The archtype I am is a spontaneous caster allowing me to go into Dragon Disciple. It fits the story arc our party is on.

Shadow Lodge

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Here's how I read it:

An effect that grants a +2 bonus to natural armor is different than than an effect that grants +2 to your natural armor bonus.

One of those gives you natural armor that doesn't stack with existing natural armor. The other increases your natural armor, stacking with existing. Ice plant hex is the former, Improved natural armor is the latter.


I think you'd get the better of Iceplant Hex and lizard person, plus dragon disciple, plus amulet/barkskin/ironskin (ironskin is a witch spell).

Derek Dalton wrote:
I'm a two handed weapon damage dealer and Witches don't get the Shield spell trying to boost my armor any way I can.

I think you could use a Vibrant Purple Prism ioun stone to cast Shield, if you can get someone on your team to cast it into the item. It's 2k, so fairly affordable at some point. The stone casts at minimum CL, so wand recharges can work.

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