If you can just look for natural options. Mostly monsters with too high AC for their Dex-Mod.
The skull and outer plates of a Bulette would be perfekt for a breast- or half-plate. Gorgons might be possible.....or not. Purple Worms...are really tough cookies. Umberhuks and Mezzoloths...yeah...not gonna wear that (but you might).
If you can just look for natural options. Mostly monsters with too high AC for their Dex-Mod.
The skull and outer plates of a Bulette would be perfekt for a breast- or half-plate. Gorgons might be possible.....or not. Purple Worms...are really tough cookies. Umberhuks and Mezzoloths...yeah...not gonna wear that (but you might).
So you are suggesting doing it Monster Hunter style?
So you are suggesting doing it Monster Hunter style?
Why not? All the ones I listed aren't beasts of nature, but monstrosities (and 1 fiend). So hunting down their nature warping existence shouldn't be a concern for a druid.
i had a group one time and in roleplaying downtime another character roleplaying my sister-in-law asked me to go shopping with them to pick out a present for another character that was being roleplayed as my twin brother separated at birth. he was not a druid and had medium armor proficiency. she in roleplaying the interaction asked my character to try several colors of half plate on so she could see how it would look on him. this whole interaction was to flesh out the characters a bit having us interact socially with each other our dm decided without warning that he was going to implement the old restriction of 24 hours without powers and had my circle order a hit on me for disgracing the circle after the shopkeeper decided to report it to them for some reason. the dm backed off after 3 of the 4 of us threatened to leave the group.
Is there any non-homebrew way to get any armor better than hide armor for a druid? Are druids doomed to lower ACs for a reason?
Side-note: does studded leather count as metal armor?
For comparisons sake...assuming you aren't at a table with optimizers/power gamers, Druid AC is fine.
Compare a Druid with a Bard or Warlock if all characters have a 14 AC. The Bard and Warlock max out 14 AC without magical armor. A Druid can use a wooden shield and get 16 AC with either studded leather or hide armor.
Which also puts them in line with Wizards and Sorcerers who with Mage Armor are sitting at 15 and have to expend a resource to push to 20 (Shield)
Druids run behind Clerics who will get to about 19 with a 14 DEX, but Clerics are the exception
Don't know if anyone mentioned this yet, but Spiked Armor seems to be a medium version of Studded Leather whose spikes are usually; thus not necessarily, made of metal.
It has an AC of 14 rather than 12 + Dex (max 2) and has disadvantage on stealth, though I imagine a magic version or one made from leather derived from a more exotic creature may eliminate that and/or add a +1, along with a medium armor mastery feat (is it called that?) which lets your AC be 3. All together that will be an AC of 18. 20 with a shield or more if the shield is magic too.
This is only 1AC less than Dragonscale mail, and is only rare as opposed to very rare, which I presume means it can be had sooner? i.e. level 6-10?
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HomeBrew is obviously Homebrew and everything is up for grabs. If a Druid wants to have access to Lightning Bolt, they have to play a Circle of the Land: Mountain. That's RAW.
In RAW nothing stops a Druid from wearing metal armor. The don't lose their powers, they can still cast spells. It could/would be perfectly reasonable for other Druids to be upset that the Player's character, if they follow the social taboo and the PC doesn't. This is akin to punching an NPC as you pointed out and them being upset.
The designers even said that there is nothing that will break the balance of the game if a Druid is to wear metal armor. So it's not a question of Munchkin or being OP.
Not sure where you are going with this, but i'll let you know that at my table I don't allow druids to wear metal armor. They can try to IC if they want to; and will find that indeed it does disrupt their ability to cast spells, and it doesn't meld with wildshape the way Druid appropriate gear would (with the possible exception of mithril). 5e IMHO is incredibly Lax when it comes to mechanical enforcement of Lore. Druids are meant to draw their power from specific aspects of nature. The PHB still at least remembers even if the game doesn't have mechanics for it anymore, and says:
SACRED PLANTS AND WOOD
A druid holds certain plants to be sacred, particularly alder, ash, birch, elder, hazel, holly, juniper, mistletoe, oak, rowan, willow, and yew. Druids often use such plants as part of a spellcasting focus, incorporating lengths of oak or yew or sprigs of mistletoe.
Similarly, a druid uses such woods to make other objects, such as weapons and shields. Yew is associated with death and rebirth, so weapon handles for scimitars or sickles might be fashioned from it. Ash is associated with life and oak with strength. These woods make excellent hafts or whole weapons, such as clubs or quarterstaffs, as well as shields. Alder is associated with air, and it might be used for thrown weapons, such as darts or javelins.
Druids from regions that lack the plants described here have chosen other plants to take on similar uses. For instance, a druid of a desert region might value the yucca tree and cactus plants.
You're more correct with your subsequent thinking in that Chitan Armor is fine, Ironwood is as well and indeed was a thing in 3e along with several other special materials. I'd allow magical glass/ice armor, silk/web, etc.; that will have AC equivalents to metal armors. For the sake of how the story in my world goes though: metal and magic (at least primal and arcane) are just unhappy bedfellows who really don't get along well with one another - except for Mithril who likes nothing better than to crawl into bed with Magic.
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The developers have already said there are no game balance issues with druids having full access to their class features, ie, medium armor. This is another sad case of game developers trying to add fluff that is often unwelcome.
That just means Druids ARE already proficient in those 'types' armors; it doesn't necessarily speak to what materials are the armors made. That is; there is no special proficiency requirements to wear a Chiton breastplate as you are already proficient with breastplates. So If Druids did not have medium armor proficiency, then they'd need to spend a feat slot or take a multiclass dip in order to make full use of a Chiton Breastplate. It is indeed, at least as far as I am aware, intended that Druids should be able to wear all types of medium armors, but it is not intended (or if it is then it's another case where 5e is just wrong re lore) that druids should wear metal versions of those types of armors.
Edit: I just double checked, the proficiency with medium armor was in 3e too, so it's been a good 20+ years at least that Druids have had medium armor proficiency. 2e defined natural armors as padded, hide, or leather; but it was before my time, so I don't know if they even defined armor by light, medium, or heavy categories at the time, and if that was just 2ePHB, but more natural armors were added later.
Does the DM want to give you better AC? Does your party have good AC? Do you want to 1. get your DM onside and 2. want to roleplay it? Then yes, you get any medium armour that makes sense using body parts.
I've played my druid trying to get parts to make medium armour since level 1. His whole backstory is finding parts for enchanters and potion-makers. I'm always digging about, and looking interested in anything that might work. I play my druid as a bit of a off-tank (2 tanks, 2 squishies, and me).
I don't expect to get past studded leather until maybe level 8-10. If I get something like a breastplate by 16 I'll be very happy.
We have a Paladin. I am totally fine with her having her thing to shine.
I'm working on an idea for a Wildfire Druid (as both Warforged and with Heavy Armour) I'm trying to find and think of what to don with the HA (I know they aren't prof with Heavy Armour, but I'm experimenting at the moment) Only problem is most heavies are metal... What if flavouring the armour to be made of a different material work or would that be pushing the friendship?
From what I have seen, there is something about flavouring metal for hardwood, organic scales or Chitin, I'm not sure it would work for Wildfire, so I'm was wondering maybe Rocks or of the like
Well, that's interesting. Warforged are made of metal, so I'm not sure how that would work really. You've essentially created a character who doesn't like themself.
It's not that Druids can't wear metal armor; it's that they choose not to. That being the case, you can talk your way around most metal armor. You could have studded leather where the studs are made of bone, sabre-tooth tiger teeth, etc. You could have scale mail made of dragon scale. You could have splint armor with vertical strips of wood instead of metal, etc.
Ultimately, it's up to your DM, so check with them, but you should be able to make something work.
I am purest myself and cant stand people wanting to put druids in heavy armor. Id shut it down as a DM as its clearly against the rules but you guys play how ever you want.
I am purest myself and cant stand people wanting to put druids in heavy armor. Id shut it down as a DM as its clearly against the rules but you guys play how ever you want.
I feel mostly the same, but I think some creative leeway could be had depending on the character background, etc. My druid wears +1 hide with a wooden shield.
I find myself extremely suspect of “creative leeway” that also happens to power game the character.
“My LG Paladin absolutely would make a pact with a morally ambiguous entity from the shadowfell. It’s purely coincidence that it also removes the class balancing aspect of being MAD.”
”My Wizard briefly started as an artificer for story reasons…..not medium armor.”
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rice armor
If you can just look for natural options. Mostly monsters with too high AC for their Dex-Mod.
The skull and outer plates of a Bulette would be perfekt for a breast- or half-plate.
Gorgons might be possible.....or not.
Purple Worms...are really tough cookies.
Umberhuks and Mezzoloths...yeah...not gonna wear that (but you might).
So you are suggesting doing it Monster Hunter style?
Why not? All the ones I listed aren't beasts of nature, but monstrosities (and 1 fiend). So hunting down their nature warping existence shouldn't be a concern for a druid.
It's in here if you're interested in a homebrew pub https://www.dmsguild.com/product/321143/Armor-and-Weapons-Foehammers-Book-of-Secrets
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
A rather comprehensive list of free WotC D&D resources
Deck of Decks
i had a group one time and in roleplaying downtime another character roleplaying my sister-in-law asked me to go shopping with them to pick out a present for another character that was being roleplayed as my twin brother separated at birth. he was not a druid and had medium armor proficiency. she in roleplaying the interaction asked my character to try several colors of half plate on so she could see how it would look on him. this whole interaction was to flesh out the characters a bit having us interact socially with each other our dm decided without warning that he was going to implement the old restriction of 24 hours without powers and had my circle order a hit on me for disgracing the circle after the shopkeeper decided to report it to them for some reason. the dm backed off after 3 of the 4 of us threatened to leave the group.
For comparisons sake...assuming you aren't at a table with optimizers/power gamers, Druid AC is fine.
Compare a Druid with a Bard or Warlock if all characters have a 14 AC. The Bard and Warlock max out 14 AC without magical armor. A Druid can use a wooden shield and get 16 AC with either studded leather or hide armor.
Which also puts them in line with Wizards and Sorcerers who with Mage Armor are sitting at 15 and have to expend a resource to push to 20 (Shield)
Druids run behind Clerics who will get to about 19 with a 14 DEX, but Clerics are the exception
3.5 Ankheg armor.
Quest. Craft. Wear or sell.
Don't know if anyone mentioned this yet, but Spiked Armor seems to be a medium version of Studded Leather whose spikes are usually; thus not necessarily, made of metal.
It has an AC of 14 rather than 12 + Dex (max 2) and has disadvantage on stealth, though I imagine a magic version or one made from leather derived from a more exotic creature may eliminate that and/or add a +1, along with a medium armor mastery feat (is it called that?) which lets your AC be 3. All together that will be an AC of 18. 20 with a shield or more if the shield is magic too.
This is only 1AC less than Dragonscale mail, and is only rare as opposed to very rare, which I presume means it can be had sooner? i.e. level 6-10?
Thank you for your time and please have a very pleasant day.
Not sure where you are going with this, but i'll let you know that at my table I don't allow druids to wear metal armor. They can try to IC if they want to; and will find that indeed it does disrupt their ability to cast spells, and it doesn't meld with wildshape the way Druid appropriate gear would (with the possible exception of mithril). 5e IMHO is incredibly Lax when it comes to mechanical enforcement of Lore. Druids are meant to draw their power from specific aspects of nature. The PHB still at least remembers even if the game doesn't have mechanics for it anymore, and says:
You're more correct with your subsequent thinking in that Chitan Armor is fine, Ironwood is as well and indeed was a thing in 3e along with several other special materials. I'd allow magical glass/ice armor, silk/web, etc.; that will have AC equivalents to metal armors. For the sake of how the story in my world goes though: metal and magic (at least primal and arcane) are just unhappy bedfellows who really don't get along well with one another - except for Mithril who likes nothing better than to crawl into bed with Magic.
Thank you for your time and please have a very pleasant day.
That just means Druids ARE already proficient in those 'types' armors; it doesn't necessarily speak to what materials are the armors made. That is; there is no special proficiency requirements to wear a Chiton breastplate as you are already proficient with breastplates. So If Druids did not have medium armor proficiency, then they'd need to spend a feat slot or take a multiclass dip in order to make full use of a Chiton Breastplate. It is indeed, at least as far as I am aware, intended that Druids should be able to wear all types of medium armors, but it is not intended (or if it is then it's another case where 5e is just wrong re lore) that druids should wear metal versions of those types of armors.
Edit: I just double checked, the proficiency with medium armor was in 3e too, so it's been a good 20+ years at least that Druids have had medium armor proficiency. 2e defined natural armors as padded, hide, or leather; but it was before my time, so I don't know if they even defined armor by light, medium, or heavy categories at the time, and if that was just 2ePHB, but more natural armors were added later.
Thank you for your time and please have a very pleasant day.
-snip
Thank you for your time and please have a very pleasant day.
Does the DM want to give you better AC? Does your party have good AC? Do you want to 1. get your DM onside and 2. want to roleplay it? Then yes, you get any medium armour that makes sense using body parts.
I've played my druid trying to get parts to make medium armour since level 1. His whole backstory is finding parts for enchanters and potion-makers. I'm always digging about, and looking interested in anything that might work. I play my druid as a bit of a off-tank (2 tanks, 2 squishies, and me).
I don't expect to get past studded leather until maybe level 8-10. If I get something like a breastplate by 16 I'll be very happy.
We have a Paladin. I am totally fine with her having her thing to shine.
It's a fun part of the character. Lean in.
I'm working on an idea for a Wildfire Druid (as both Warforged and with Heavy Armour) I'm trying to find and think of what to don with the HA (I know they aren't prof with Heavy Armour, but I'm experimenting at the moment) Only problem is most heavies are metal... What if flavouring the armour to be made of a different material work or would that be pushing the friendship?
From what I have seen, there is something about flavouring metal for hardwood, organic scales or Chitin, I'm not sure it would work for Wildfire, so I'm was wondering maybe Rocks or of the like
Well, that's interesting. Warforged are made of metal, so I'm not sure how that would work really. You've essentially created a character who doesn't like themself.
It's not that Druids can't wear metal armor; it's that they choose not to. That being the case, you can talk your way around most metal armor. You could have studded leather where the studs are made of bone, sabre-tooth tiger teeth, etc. You could have scale mail made of dragon scale. You could have splint armor with vertical strips of wood instead of metal, etc.
Ultimately, it's up to your DM, so check with them, but you should be able to make something work.
warforged i dont think are only metal its just an option?
I am purest myself and cant stand people wanting to put druids in heavy armor. Id shut it down as a DM as its clearly against the rules but you guys play how ever you want.
I suppose it's possible to have a warforged made of some natural material, but...
I feel mostly the same, but I think some creative leeway could be had depending on the character background, etc. My druid wears +1 hide with a wooden shield.
I find myself extremely suspect of “creative leeway” that also happens to power game the character.
“My LG Paladin absolutely would make a pact with a morally ambiguous entity from the shadowfell. It’s purely coincidence that it also removes the class balancing aspect of being MAD.”
”My Wizard briefly started as an artificer for story reasons…..not medium armor.”