Difference between revisions of "Ice dragon scales"

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==Desirability==
 
==Desirability==
Ice dragon scales offer almost as much AC as a [[plate armour]], but with much lower encumbrance. Therefore, they are good for casters/[[EV]]-based fighters who can afford the weight, or melee brutes with no heavier scales available. It's often best to wait until you have a source of fire resistance, as taking 150% damage from fire can be dangerous.
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Compared to [[fire dragon scales]], ice dragon scales offer +1 base AC (and +1 max [[enchant]]ment) and have the same encumbrance. However, players may prefer fire resistance or cold resistance. rFire is particularly important in [[Zot]] as [[orbs of fire]] exist, but there is no equivalent "orb of ice".
  
This item has better stats than [[fire dragon scales]]: ice scales offer +1 base AC (and +1 max [[enchant]]ment) with no extra encumbrance. However, players may prefer fire resistance over cold resistance. This mostly applies to [[Zot]], as [[orbs of fire]] exist, but orbs of ice don't.
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Otherwise, ice dragon scales offer nearly the same AC as [[plate armour]] with much lower encumbrance, making them good for casters/[[EV]]-based fighters who can afford the weight, or melee brutes with no heavier scales available. It's often best to wait until you have a source of fire resistance, as taking 150% damage from fire can be dangerous.
  
 
Paradoxically, a [[Fire Magic]] specialist may actually find these scales useful: combined with a [[staff of fire]] and a [[ring of fire]], such a character would have two spell enhancers, and a level each of fire and cold resistance.
 
Paradoxically, a [[Fire Magic]] specialist may actually find these scales useful: combined with a [[staff of fire]] and a [[ring of fire]], such a character would have two spell enhancers, and a level each of fire and cold resistance.

Latest revision as of 13:30, 16 March 2025

Version 0.32: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.
Name Ice dragon scales
Size to wear Any
Armour Class 9
Encumbrance rating 11
Maximum Enchantment +9
Grants rC++, rF-
Time to Wear 5


The scales of a cold-breathing dragon. It provides great protection from cold, while rendering its wearer more susceptible to fire.

Ice dragon scales are a medium-weight body armour. They provide 2 ranks of cold resistance (rC++), but 1 rank of fire vulnerability (rF-).

This item has a 33% chance to generate when you slay an ice dragon.

Desirability

Compared to fire dragon scales, ice dragon scales offer +1 base AC (and +1 max enchantment) and have the same encumbrance. However, players may prefer fire resistance or cold resistance. rFire is particularly important in Zot as orbs of fire exist, but there is no equivalent "orb of ice".

Otherwise, ice dragon scales offer nearly the same AC as plate armour with much lower encumbrance, making them good for casters/EV-based fighters who can afford the weight, or melee brutes with no heavier scales available. It's often best to wait until you have a source of fire resistance, as taking 150% damage from fire can be dangerous.

Paradoxically, a Fire Magic specialist may actually find these scales useful: combined with a staff of fire and a ring of fire, such a character would have two spell enhancers, and a level each of fire and cold resistance.

Trolls and Oni, unable to wear normal plate armour, may want to wear these even without fire resistance. Just be careful with it.

History

Ice dragon scales Image
Mundane Ice dragon armour.png
Artefact Ice dragon armour artefact.png
Armour
Body Armour Leather armourRing mailScale mailChain mailPlate armourCrystal plate armour

RobeAnimal skinTroll leather armourSteam dragon scalesAcid dragon scales
Swamp dragon scalesQuicksilver dragon scalesFire dragon scalesIce dragon scales
Pearl dragon scalesShadow dragon scalesStorm dragon scalesGolden dragon scales

Miscellaneous HatHelmetCloakScarfGlovesBootsBarding
Shields BucklerKite shieldTower shieldOrb