luckless wrote:I do quit whenever I get monstrous, but that's because I (a) am a bad/lazy player, (b) like items more than winning, and (c) irrationally hate unarmed. A monstrous Ds berserker or transmuter does just fine.
Yup, this is pretty much my view!
The thing I really don't understand is: Why do monstrous DS lose the scales slot? That sounds less 'monstrous' to me.
Basically monstrous swaps the scales facets for the 'loss' of 2 extra body slots. If it was an addition, then there would be the chance of getting, for example, rugged brown scales (+3AC +7%HP) also, which is similar to the OP's suggestion. I think the fundamental problem is that the body slots are often a neutral/bad trade (would you usually prefer hooves or boots of running?) whereas the scales and tier facets are mostly a nice bonus. It does feel that unless you've made the 'right' background choice, getting monstrous results in an annoying challenge game. In some ways, I'd almost like them as separate species, but cannot see that happening.
Personally, I'd just give them the scales facet. So that will typically give you a bit of an AC boost, making up for the slot loss.
If you wanted to make monstrous
more desirable, I'd then give them a small UC skill boost or a strength bonus at the same time. Both of those feel a bit more in the monstrous theme.