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Barkskin

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Barkskin
  • Level: 2
  • School: Transmutation
  • Class: Druid, Ranger
  • Casting Time: Bonus Action
  • Range: Touch
  • Components: V, S, M (a handful of bark)
  • Duration: 1 hour

You touch a willing creature. Until the spell ends, the target's skin assumes a bark-like appearance, and the target has an Armor Class of 17 if its AC is lower than that.

Tactical Usage​

When to Choose Barkskin:

  • Excellent for protecting low-AC allies or spellcasters
  • Strong choice for characters without armor proficiency
  • Valuable for situations where metal armor is problematic
  • Essential backup protection when armor is damaged or unavailable

Target Selection:

  • Wizards and Sorcerers: Usually have AC 10-13, significant improvement
  • Unarmored Characters: Barbarians, Monks, or others with low starting AC
  • Wild Shape Druids: Many animal forms have AC below 17
  • Emergency Protection: Any ally whose armor has been destroyed

Duration Advantage:

  • 1-hour duration covers multiple encounters
  • No concentration required, freeing caster for other spells
  • Can be cast during short rests for pre-encounter preparation
  • Bonus action casting allows tactical mid-combat application

Spell Combinations​

Enhancement Synergies:

  • Shield of Faith: Stack +2 AC bonus for 19 total AC
  • Bless: Additional protection through saving throw bonuses
  • Mirror Image: Combine with illusion defense for layered protection
  • Blur: Disadvantage on attacks against bark-protected targets

Tactical Applications:

  • Healing Spells: Keep protected allies alive longer
  • Guidance: Help with saves while maintaining AC protection
  • Pass Without Trace: Stealth with reliable AC backup
  • Faerie Fire: Apply debuffs while staying protected

Material Component Details​

Handful of Bark:

  • Availability: Easily gathered from any wooded area
  • Variety: Different tree types may provide different bark textures
  • Preparation: Fresh bark preferred but dried bark also works
  • Cost: Essentially free in natural environments

Roleplay Opportunities:

  • Describe the specific tree type and bark characteristics
  • Reference the target's skin taking on woody texture and appearance
  • Use bark type to reflect caster's druidic tradition or regional origin
  • Emphasize the natural armor's organic, living appearance

Creator Notes​

Adjudication Guidance:

  • Sets AC to exactly 17, doesn't stack with armor or natural armor
  • Only affects creatures whose AC is normally below 17
  • Bark appearance is purely cosmetic, doesn't affect other mechanics
  • Duration allows protection through multiple encounters

Encounter Design Considerations:

  • Significantly improves survivability of low-AC characters
  • Allows squishier characters to take more active combat roles
  • NPCs can use this to enhance minion survivability
  • Creates interesting visual description opportunities

Balancing Notes:

  • 2nd-level slot cost appropriate for long-duration AC enhancement
  • Bonus action casting prevents turn economy issues
  • No concentration requirement allows stacking with other effects
  • Touch range requires proximity but not ongoing positioning

Environmental Interactions​

Natural Camouflage:

  • Bark-like skin provides advantage on stealth in forested areas
  • May help with animal handling by appearing more natural
  • Could influence social interactions with druids or nature-focused NPCs
  • Might trigger recognition from creatures sensitive to nature magic

Physical Properties:

  • Skin becomes noticeably rougher and more rigid
  • Takes on brown, gray, or other bark-like coloration
  • May create slight crackling sounds during movement
  • Resistant to minor environmental scrapes and scratches

Social Considerations:

  • Dramatic physical change may alarm or fascinate NPCs
  • Urban environments might react poorly to obviously magical transformation
  • Nature-focused communities may view transformation positively
  • Can serve as clear signal of druidic magic use

Common Rulings & Clarifications​

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Does Barkskin stack with natural armor or Unarmored Defense? A: No, it sets AC to 17 if that would be higher than current AC.

Q: Can I cast this on myself? A: Yes, the caster can target themselves with touch spells.

Q: Does the bark appearance affect disguise attempts? A: Yes, the obvious physical change would require magical disguise to hide.

Q: What happens if the target's AC becomes higher than 17 later? A: The higher AC takes precedence; Barkskin doesn't reduce AC.

Alternative Applications​

Non-Combat Uses:

  • Social Disguise: Appear as tree-person or nature spirit
  • Environmental Protection: Extra resilience against thorns, rocks, weather
  • Performance Art: Dramatic physical transformation for entertainment
  • Ritual Participation: Traditional druidic ceremonies requiring natural appearance

Creative Problem-Solving:

  • Blend in with forested environments for stealth or hiding
  • Demonstrate druidic authority to nature-focused communities
  • Provide protection during dangerous environmental traversal
  • Create temporary disguise for infiltration among nature creatures

Protective Magic:

  • Shield of Faith: AC bonus through divine magic
  • Mage Armor: Arcane AC enhancement
  • Protection from Energy: Elemental damage resistance
  • Stoneskin: Physical damage resistance

Transmutation Effects:

  • Enhance Ability: Improve physical capabilities
  • Spider Climb: Movement enhancement
  • Water Walk: Locomotion alteration
  • Alter Self: Comprehensive physical changes

2nd-Level Alternatives:

  • Mirror Image: Illusion-based protection
  • Blur: Disadvantage-based defense
  • Invisibility: Stealth protection
  • Hold Person: Incapacitation effect

Scaling Analysis​

Level Progression:

  • Early Game (Levels 3-6): Significant AC improvement for many characters
  • Mid Game (Levels 7-12): Less impactful as natural AC improves
  • Late Game (Levels 13+): Situational use for specific circumstances

AC Comparison:

  • Low-Level Characters: Often 8-10 AC improvement
  • Mid-Level Characters: 2-4 AC improvement typically
  • High-Level Characters: May provide no benefit

Long-Term Viability:

  • Utility decreases as characters acquire better armor
  • Remains useful for specific situations (anti-metal environments)
  • Emergency protection always retains some value
  • Duration makes it efficient for extended adventures

Narrative Flavor​

Extended Description: As you press the handful of bark against your ally's skin, you speak words that echo the ancient language of trees and growing things. The bark crumbles into fine particles that seem to melt into the target's flesh, and slowly their skin begins to transform. A network of brown, woody texture spreads across their body, creating a natural armor that looks and feels like the protective bark of an ancient oak, while maintaining the flexibility needed for movement and combat.

Sensory Details:

  • Tactile: Rough, woody texture replacing smooth skin
  • Visual: Intricate bark patterns with natural color variations
  • Auditory: Subtle creaking sounds during movement
  • Aromatic: Earthy scent of forest and growing wood

Cultural Context: Barkskin represents the druid's ability to channel the protective power of the forest, temporarily granting the resilience of ancient trees to mortal flesh. Different druidic traditions may manifest this differently—some creating armor-like bark plates, others a more subtle woody toughening of the skin.