Monster Prestige Class : Dragon - Hidecarved Dragon
Hidecarved dragons are members of an enigmatic order of dragons and half-dragons. Their name comes from the markings engraved on their scales, which grant them incredible mystical protection. Dragons of the hidecarved order resemble monks in their strict discipline, dedicated to personal perfection, and mystical transcendence.
Most hidecarved dragons are true dragons, since many drakes, landwyrms, wyverns, and other creatures of the dragon type lack the thick, heavy scales necessary to receive the mystical engravings of the order. A half-dragon can become a hidecarved dragon only if its non-dragon parent had very significant natural armor, although some half-dragon/half-giants have been known to use magic to thicken their hides sufficiently to qualify for the class. Some dragons advance in other classes - commonly monk, wizard, sorcerer, or cleric - before adopting this prestige class, primarily to meet the minimum base Will save requirement.
Hidecarved dragons do not build monasteries, but they do gather in small groups called "lauths." These tiny communities of three to five dragons share a large territory and come together only occasionally but will gather quickly to help if one member of the lauth is threatened.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Hidecarved Dragon, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Race: Any dragon.
- Gender: Any lawful.
- Feats: Iron Will,
- Natural Armor Bonus: +20.
Base Save Bonus: Will +12.
Class Skills
The hidecarved dragon's class skills are Balance, Climb, Concentration, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (religion), Listen, Move Silently, Sense Motive, Spot, Swim, and Tumble.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The following are Class Features of the hidecarved dragon prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A hidecarved dragon gains no proficiency with any weapons, armor, or shields.
Increased Spell Resistance (Ex): A hidecarved dragon adds its class level to its natural spell resistance. Dragons without natural spell resistance do not gain spell resistance when they adopt the class. However, if a hidecarved dragon with no natural spell resistance ages to the point where it gains spell resistance, it adds its class level to the natural spell resistance it gains at its new age category
Suppress Weakness: At 2nd level, a hidecarved dragon gains Suppress Weakness as a bonus feat.
Poison Resistance (Ex): At 2nd level, a hidecarved dragon gains a +4 bonus on saving throws against poison.
Energy Resistance (Ex): At 3rd level, a hidecarved dragon gains resistance 10 to two energy types it is not already immune, vulnerable, or resistant to. The dragon can choose from resistance to acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic energy. For example, a gold hidecarved dragon could gain resistance to acid 10 and electricity 10.
Still Mind (Ex): At 4th level, a hidecarved dragon gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against spells and effects from the enchantment school.
Natural Armor (Ex): At 4th level, a hidecarved dragon's natural armor bonus increases by +2. At 8th level the increase becomes +4, and at 12th level it becomes +6.
Increased Damage Reduction (Su): At 5th level, the amount of a hidecarved dragon's natural damage reduction (the number before the slash) increases by 5, and its damage reduction can be overcome only by chaotic magic weapons. For example, a mature adult blue dragon/5th-level hidecarved dragon has damage reduction 15/magic and chaotic.
Extra Energy Immunity (Ex): At 6th level, a hidecarved dragon gains immunity to an energy type it was already resistant to. Its resistance to one other energy type it has resistance 10 against increases to 20, and it gains resistance 10 against a third energy type.
For this third energy type, a dragon with the fire subtype cannot choose cold, and a dragon with the cold subtype cannot choose fire.
The gold hidecarved dragon from the earlier example could become immune to electricity at 6th level, increase its acid resistance to 20, and gain resistance to sonic 10.
At 12th level, a hidecarved dragon's energy resistances and immunities improve again. Its resistance 20 becomes immunity its resistance 10 becomes resistance 20, and it gains resistance 10 to all other energy types, (acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic) that it is not already immune or resistant to.
The gold hidecarved dragon example, at 12th level, would have immunity to fire (naturally), electricity (since 6th level), and acid. It would have resistance to sonic 20 and cold 10.
Overcome Weakness: At 7th level, a hidecarved dragon gains Overcome Weakness as a bonus feat.
Death Ward (Sp): At 7th level, a hidecarved dragon gains the ability to use death ward on itself once per day as a cleric of its class level.
Wholeness of Body (Su): At 9th level, a hidecarved dragon can cure its own wounds. It can cure up to three times its class level in hit points each day and can spread this healing out among several uses.
Poison Immunity (Ex): At 10th level, a hidecarved dragon gains immunity to poison of all kinds.
Superior Damage Reduction (Su): At 11th level, a hidecarved dragon's damage reduction can be overcome only by epic chaotic weapons. For example, a mature adult blue dragon/11th-level hidecarved dragon has damage reduction 15/epic and chaotic.
| Hidecarved Dragon | Hit Die: d10 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | Increased spell resistance |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | Suppress Weakness, poison resistance |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | Energy resistance |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | Still mind, natural armor +2 |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +4 | +4 | Increased damage reduction |
| 6th | +6 | +5 | +5 | +5 | Extra energy immunity |
| 7th | +7 | +5 | +5 | +5 | Overcome Weakness, death ward |
| 8th | +8 | +6 | +6 | +6 | Natural armor +4 |
| 9th | +9 | +6 | +6 | +6 | Wholeness of body |
| 10th | +10 | +7 | +7 | +7 | Poison immunity |
| 11th | +11 | +7 | +7 | +7 | Superior damage reduction |
| 12th | +12 | +8 | +8 | +8 | Natural armor +6, extra energy immunity |
Source: Draconomicon