Wouldn't it be against every fiber in their being to take up Woodworking as their Skill?
I got a crazy idea that my Druid makes his own Caltrops, Spikes and Arrows. But after learning more about the "Nature" aspect of the Druid, it makes me think that he's totally Vegan and shouldn't do woodworking because the trees are living things and not dead.
Am I overthinking this? Wouldn't there also be a conflict between a Druid and Leatherworking?
Depends on the druid and how you think of them, I suppose.
I have a Druid char now and I certainly don't see either of those things as being opposed. My druid believes in the circle of life and of balance of nature. The deer eat the plants, the wolves eat the deer, the wolves die and the worms eat the wolves and fertilize the plants, etc... ...but intelligent creatures are just as much part of the ecosystem as any other animals. As long as their killing plants or animals for their own use, my char doesn't see anything wrong with that, no more than they see a problem with deer or wolves living their lives. There's a problem if humans upset the balance of nature by, like, clearcutting swaths of forests or redirecting rivers or something to the point that the ecosystem changes.
Won't be a woodworker because trees (a plant) are a living thing.
So you have no problem eating a living thing (in the context of plants having a type of life separate from sentient creatures) but taking a knife to it to form it into some useful and/or artistic item is off-limits?
You're not so contradictory when in regards to leatherworking, but only if you're a vegan because you don't approve of harming animals. Also as long as you don't go on adventures and harm other animals, be they humanoids, dragons or what have you.
I am of the mind that nature is neither for or against harm.
a druid can turn into a carnivorous beast, at such times the druid must be willing to give up the vegan thing. also, a tree that falls or a bison that dies can justifiably be harvested to become something else without breaking the somewhat contradictory philosophy of do no harm.
I agree with Giga. People are omnivores — like other animals and even other apes. If being a Druid is about following the natural order of things, I think druids would find veganism as abhorrent as other aberrations against nature. To deny your own nature is to deny nature.
Do Druids only eat what trees, plants & shrubs provide? I guess my understanding of Druids is limited. In my mind : They don't eat animals (their friends) and they eat only things that are a by-product of the plant? (berries, nuts, crops after they grow, etc)?
Maybe I've made this more challenging than it needs to be. Live and learn.
Well, you can play your druid however you want, but the granola crunching treehugger feels way more like a modern projection than an actual "priest of the old faith" or any of the types of priests that the game class is based on.
But in game, trees are just as much the friends of druids as animals (and apparently are just as sentient in 5e), and neither of those gives a damn about anything except their own survival. Why would the druid be any different? And why would that mean that one of those gets preferential treatment?
A druid that is circle of the moon, may choose to be a wolf most of the time. And may prefer to eat rabbits. This is consistent with the notion of honouring nature and it's particular order of things. Alternatively there may be a druid that chooses to speak with animals most of the time, and understandably does not have the appetite for meat. In either case the druid makes decisions based on their own experience and values. They are not limited by any world view, druid or otherwise.
Wouldn't it be against every fiber in their being to take up Woodworking as their Skill?
I got a crazy idea that my Druid makes his own Caltrops, Spikes and Arrows. But after learning more about the "Nature" aspect of the Druid, it makes me think that he's totally Vegan and shouldn't do woodworking because the trees are living things and not dead.
Am I overthinking this? Wouldn't there also be a conflict between a Druid and Leatherworking?
I have a lot to learn, obviously.
Dead wood. Maybe your Druid only uses wood of dead trees that were knocked over by windstorms etc.
Yes, you're over thinking it... Nature is life and death. Do you let every animal of the world live or kill every animal you come across because they must kill to eat/survive? Is it okay for cats to hunt other animals for food? If they can, why can't you? Veganism is more able slaughter house practices then eating meat is bad. (Unless we're talking about not eating anything that has a face.) Again cats and snakes must eat meat or they die.
As to the crafting of wooden items... what weapon is this druid using? clubs, staves, and spears all have wooden parts if not in whole. If you feel the need for the flavor... then say that your druid only uses fallen/dead trees, branches, etc for their crafting. That way they aren't harming the "living" wood of the forest.
As has been said - death is part of nature. It's the whole "circle of life" thing. A druid would have no problem culling a herd for the greater good, or eliminating diseased portions of a populations.
Druids aren't all sunshine and rainbow tree huggers. Druids are also claws and fangs.
And for leatherworking - consider Native Americans. if you have to kill an animal, it would be extraordinarily rude and wasteful NOT to make good use of every single part of that animal.
also, druids have an aversion to metal...so doubt they'd be making caltrops and spikes (which would probably be made by a metal smith, not a woodworker).
I wouldn't say that they have an aversion to metal (daggers, sickles, scimitars, spears, scythes [older editions], heck, even a shillelagh is a club that has been weighted with metal in the real world).
They have an aversion to metal armor and shields. The traditional reason for this is that cold iron interferes with some magic, so surrounding yourself in it would impede your casting. I'm sure that 5e druids also have it in the back of their mind how bad it would be to get caught by a heat metal spell themselves in a suit of half-plate.
I wouldn't say that they have an aversion to metal (daggers, sickles, scimitars, spears, scythes [older editions], heck, even a shillelagh is a club that has been weighted with metal in the real world).
They have an aversion to metal armor and shields. The traditional reason for this is that cold iron interferes with some magic, so surrounding yourself in it would impede your casting. I'm sure that 5e druids also have it in the back of their mind how bad it would be to get caught by a heat metal spell themselves in a suit of half-plate.
And, thinking about they can summon animals ( no matter what alignment those animals have ), it's like a double edged sword's dylemma. I mean, what if this animal is hungry and the 1st reaction is: KILL&EAT his/her own summoner.....
The Druid would be fitted to handle this self-sacrifice ???
And, thinking about they can summon animals ( no matter what alignment those animals have ), it's like a double edged sword's dylemma. I mean, what if this animal is hungry and the 1st reaction is: KILL&EAT his/her own summoner.....
The Druid would be fitted to handle this self-sacrifice ???
What if the animal is sleeping? ex: people summon wolves a lot...
Wolves are nocturnal, meaning that, as opposed to humans, they are awake at night and sleep all day long.
you got to think about sleep habits of animals you summon too.
Wouldn't it be against every fiber in their being to take up Woodworking as their Skill?
I got a crazy idea that my Druid makes his own Caltrops, Spikes and Arrows. But after learning more about the "Nature" aspect of the Druid, it makes me think that he's totally Vegan and shouldn't do woodworking because the trees are living things and not dead.
Am I overthinking this?
Wouldn't there also be a conflict between a Druid and Leatherworking?
I have a lot to learn, obviously.
Depends on the druid and how you think of them, I suppose.
I have a Druid char now and I certainly don't see either of those things as being opposed. My druid believes in the circle of life and of balance of nature. The deer eat the plants, the wolves eat the deer, the wolves die and the worms eat the wolves and fertilize the plants, etc... ...but intelligent creatures are just as much part of the ecosystem as any other animals. As long as their killing plants or animals for their own use, my char doesn't see anything wrong with that, no more than they see a problem with deer or wolves living their lives. There's a problem if humans upset the balance of nature by, like, clearcutting swaths of forests or redirecting rivers or something to the point that the ecosystem changes.
But you can make your druid however you like.
You're not overthinking, you're underthinking.
Vegan = only eats plant-based food.
Won't be a woodworker because trees (a plant) are a living thing.
So you have no problem eating a living thing (in the context of plants having a type of life separate from sentient creatures) but taking a knife to it to form it into some useful and/or artistic item is off-limits?
You're not so contradictory when in regards to leatherworking, but only if you're a vegan because you don't approve of harming animals. Also as long as you don't go on adventures and harm other animals, be they humanoids, dragons or what have you.
I am of the mind that nature is neither for or against harm.
a druid can turn into a carnivorous beast, at such times the druid must be willing to give up the vegan thing. also, a tree that falls or a bison that dies can justifiably be harvested to become something else without breaking the somewhat contradictory philosophy of do no harm.
I think you have over thought this.
Jesus Saves!... Everyone else takes damage.
I agree with Giga. People are omnivores — like other animals and even other apes. If being a Druid is about following the natural order of things, I think druids would find veganism as abhorrent as other aberrations against nature. To deny your own nature is to deny nature.
Now, I'm even more confused.
Do Druids only eat what trees, plants & shrubs provide?
I guess my understanding of Druids is limited.
In my mind : They don't eat animals (their friends) and they eat only things that are a by-product of the plant? (berries, nuts, crops after they grow, etc)?
Maybe I've made this more challenging than it needs to be.
Live and learn.
Well, you can play your druid however you want, but the granola crunching treehugger feels way more like a modern projection than an actual "priest of the old faith" or any of the types of priests that the game class is based on.
But in game, trees are just as much the friends of druids as animals (and apparently are just as sentient in 5e), and neither of those gives a damn about anything except their own survival. Why would the druid be any different? And why would that mean that one of those gets preferential treatment?
Interesting.
A druid that is circle of the moon, may choose to be a wolf most of the time. And may prefer to eat rabbits. This is consistent with the notion of honouring nature and it's particular order of things. Alternatively there may be a druid that chooses to speak with animals most of the time, and understandably does not have the appetite for meat. In either case the druid makes decisions based on their own experience and values. They are not limited by any world view, druid or otherwise.
Jesus Saves!... Everyone else takes damage.
An extremely similar conversation to this thread took place a few months ago and in much greater detail. Here is the link. Live long and prosper.
Dead wood. Maybe your Druid only uses wood of dead trees that were knocked over by windstorms etc.
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Yes, you're over thinking it... Nature is life and death. Do you let every animal of the world live or kill every animal you come across because they must kill to eat/survive? Is it okay for cats to hunt other animals for food? If they can, why can't you? Veganism is more able slaughter house practices then eating meat is bad. (Unless we're talking about not eating anything that has a face.) Again cats and snakes must eat meat or they die.
As to the crafting of wooden items... what weapon is this druid using? clubs, staves, and spears all have wooden parts if not in whole. If you feel the need for the flavor... then say that your druid only uses fallen/dead trees, branches, etc for their crafting. That way they aren't harming the "living" wood of the forest.
As has been said - death is part of nature. It's the whole "circle of life" thing. A druid would have no problem culling a herd for the greater good, or eliminating diseased portions of a populations.
Druids aren't all sunshine and rainbow tree huggers. Druids are also claws and fangs.
And for leatherworking - consider Native Americans. if you have to kill an animal, it would be extraordinarily rude and wasteful NOT to make good use of every single part of that animal.
Read the "Sacred Plants and Wood" portion of the Druid class in the PHB.
Spoiler; it talks about what types of woods that a Druid would use to fashion their foci, weapons, and shields. Thus, they absolutely wood carve.
also, druids have an aversion to metal...so doubt they'd be making caltrops and spikes (which would probably be made by a metal smith, not a woodworker).
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
A rather comprehensive list of free WotC D&D resources
Deck of Decks
I wouldn't say that they have an aversion to metal (daggers, sickles, scimitars, spears, scythes [older editions], heck, even a shillelagh is a club that has been weighted with metal in the real world).
They have an aversion to metal armor and shields. The traditional reason for this is that cold iron interferes with some magic, so surrounding yourself in it would impede your casting. I'm sure that 5e druids also have it in the back of their mind how bad it would be to get caught by a heat metal spell themselves in a suit of half-plate.
good point. :)
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
A rather comprehensive list of free WotC D&D resources
Deck of Decks
And, thinking about they can summon animals ( no matter what alignment those animals have ), it's like a double edged sword's dylemma. I mean, what if this animal is hungry and the 1st reaction is: KILL&EAT his/her own summoner.....
The Druid would be fitted to handle this self-sacrifice ???
My Ready-to-rock&roll chars:
Dertinus Tristany // Amilcar Barca // Vicenç Sacrarius // Oriol Deulofeu // Grovtuk
What if the animal is sleeping?
ex: people summon wolves a lot...
Wolves are nocturnal, meaning that, as opposed to humans, they are awake at night and sleep all day long.
you got to think about sleep habits of animals you summon too.
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I had never even thought about daily behavior of wild shape animals. Fascinating!