So, I know there's a rule with druids that they don't wear metal armor, but what about if said druid is multi-classed as a fighter or paladin? Do they get to use metal heavy armor? That's probably a DM preference thing, but I just want to see more opinions on that.
In the Class Features for the Druid, it states, "druids will not wear armour or use shields made of metal" which is a specific restriction for the class and is not changed by multiclassing.
Druids start with proficiency in Light Armour and Medium Armour.
"What happens if a druid wears metal armor? The druid explodes."
All a Druid needs to wear metal armor is to say "That social taboo is stupid, and I don't follow it."
Stormknight is also correct. You have to START as a Fighter or Paladin to get proficiency in Heavy Armor, so you'll either want to M.Class as a Cleric with Heavy Armor from the domain or use a feat.
I know this is an old post and I haven't played for a very long time, but I'd always thought that the 'Druids don't wear metal' rule wasn't based so much on a preference as that it conflicted with their abilities - shapechanging, certain spells, extra noise may affect spell effect or limit somatic gestures....so maybe the "Druid Explodes" from a casting in metal that went terribly wrong - maybe DM prerogative.
There have been many posts on this topic. All we really have is what the book says, some advice by the designers, some advice by random people on the internet, and what your group agrees to. To that end, there is no indication in the PHB that there is any penalty for wearing metal armor or reason for the restriction, only that they "will not" do it. You can invent any reason why druids may not want to wear armor in your world that you'd like - that is really between the DM and the group at your table (as well as whether to even stand by using that restriction).
An easy solution is to make medium armor out of natural resources. Chain mail made from alligator scales, or some lizard creature. Scale Mail out of dragon scales, or breast plate and half plate out of some other animal. Have your PCs be creative on how they want to create armor out of some animal hide, or have them work with their DM about how they can create their armor.
I have all my druid characters that I make have a distaste for metal as a flaw, that way I can role play it out of fun. My Scimitar is made out of bones, while the handle is charred wood. Fun ideas like that.
Multiclassing would still give your druid the idea that they don't like it, if they started as a druid. If you were a fighter, using metal, and learned the powers to harness nature to become a druid, you wouldn't just dislike metal out of nowhere.
All a Druid needs to wear metal armor is to say "That social taboo is stupid, and I don't follow it."
Yeah, that's exactly how deeply-held beliefs actually work. You just casually decide not to follow it, and go about your day. Also, it's not a social taboo, it's a personal taboo. The rule doesn't state "You don't wear metal armor because of what other Druids might think." Even if you put on the armor when you're alone, you'd still know you did it, therefore you don't do it.
If you were a fighter, using metal, and learned the powers to harness nature to become a druid, you wouldn't just dislike metal out of nowhere.
It's not out of nowhere, it's part of your education and philosophy as you become a Druid. If you want to harness the power of nature while still wearing metal armor, you become a Nature Cleric, or a Ranger.
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So, I know there's a rule with druids that they don't wear metal armor, but what about if said druid is multi-classed as a fighter or paladin? Do they get to use metal heavy armor? That's probably a DM preference thing, but I just want to see more opinions on that.
According to the multi-classing rule, a druid level gives you the restriction on metal armour as well:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/compendium/rules/basic-rules/customization-options#MulticlassingProficiencies
In the Class Features for the Druid, it states, "druids will not wear armour or use shields made of metal" which is a specific restriction for the class and is not changed by multiclassing.
Druids start with proficiency in Light Armour and Medium Armour.
Also worth noting that multiclassing into Fighter or Paladin doesn't give proficiency in Heavy Armour.
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Funny we had a long discussion about Druids and Metal Armor in here earlier.
As it turns out the rule says
"(druids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal)" I never states they can't!
Literally it's a social taboo that has been "kept" since 1976, not an actual "rule" against it. It's fluff not a rule.
This gets covered in: http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/rules-answers-march-2016
"What happens if a druid wears metal armor? The druid explodes."
All a Druid needs to wear metal armor is to say "That social taboo is stupid, and I don't follow it."
Stormknight is also correct. You have to START as a Fighter or Paladin to get proficiency in Heavy Armor, so you'll either want to M.Class as a Cleric with Heavy Armor from the domain or use a feat.
Multiclassing Life Cleric gets you the Life Domain which is pretty awesome and the details of the forum discussion are here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/class-forums/cleric/216-life-clerics-and-the-new-and-improved-good-berries
I know this is an old post and I haven't played for a very long time, but I'd always thought that the 'Druids don't wear metal' rule wasn't based so much on a preference as that it conflicted with their abilities - shapechanging, certain spells, extra noise may affect spell effect or limit somatic gestures....so maybe the "Druid Explodes" from a casting in metal that went terribly wrong - maybe DM prerogative.
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There have been many posts on this topic. All we really have is what the book says, some advice by the designers, some advice by random people on the internet, and what your group agrees to. To that end, there is no indication in the PHB that there is any penalty for wearing metal armor or reason for the restriction, only that they "will not" do it. You can invent any reason why druids may not want to wear armor in your world that you'd like - that is really between the DM and the group at your table (as well as whether to even stand by using that restriction).
An easy solution is to make medium armor out of natural resources. Chain mail made from alligator scales, or some lizard creature. Scale Mail out of dragon scales, or breast plate and half plate out of some other animal. Have your PCs be creative on how they want to create armor out of some animal hide, or have them work with their DM about how they can create their armor.
I have all my druid characters that I make have a distaste for metal as a flaw, that way I can role play it out of fun. My Scimitar is made out of bones, while the handle is charred wood. Fun ideas like that.
Multiclassing would still give your druid the idea that they don't like it, if they started as a druid. If you were a fighter, using metal, and learned the powers to harness nature to become a druid, you wouldn't just dislike metal out of nowhere.
Yeah, that's exactly how deeply-held beliefs actually work. You just casually decide not to follow it, and go about your day. Also, it's not a social taboo, it's a personal taboo. The rule doesn't state "You don't wear metal armor because of what other Druids might think." Even if you put on the armor when you're alone, you'd still know you did it, therefore you don't do it.
It's not out of nowhere, it's part of your education and philosophy as you become a Druid. If you want to harness the power of nature while still wearing metal armor, you become a Nature Cleric, or a Ranger.