Hello, can you buy or craft non magic, non metallic armor in AL? I know tat it exist magic dragon scale in higher tiers, but is there any rules for more common, non magic ones?
I am of course thinking about druids that get armor skill, but "will not wear metal armor" according to the rulebook. So I guess even a single level dip will stop you from wearing metal armor in AE...?
As far as I know, AL is supposed to enforce it. Whether it is or not comes down to individual DMs. The RAW text is pretty clear.
"PROFICIENCIES Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields (druids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal)"
It is completely clear and is written specifically in the section listing proficiencies and not in some sort of fluffy paragraph describing druids and their beliefs. Druids are proficient in medium armor and shields but will not wear ones made of metal. That is RAW. The reason they will not wear metal armor isn't given, just that a druid will not. If they had used "can not" instead of "will not" there would probably be less argument but it would mean the same thing. If a character is a druid they will not wear metal armor.
If you find a DM who thinks druids are beings of free will and that druids choose not to wear metal armor for some philosophical reason and this particular druid doesn't share that belief and decides to wear metal armor then who knows, they might let your character play with it. On the other hand, other DMs might not let you use it at all and ask your character to remove it (assuming that they notice it).
That said, there are a few sources of non-metallic medium armor in AL. (DDEX3-11(tier 2) - hardened mushroom half-plate, DDAL 5-13 (tier 2) wood scale mail +1, Scorpion plate armor ToA - non-metallic, DDEP 5-1 DDHC-MORD-03 dragon scale mail) ... which is clearly an AL legal way to deal with it. There may also be certs available through extra-life or similar but I don't really know.
Do there is no way to get something a bit like that, non-magical RAW? It is thought for a wizard with a 1 level dip into druid. I know that picking cleric instead would be much better "rules wise", but cleric dip is so common for wizards in my AL. Druid dip I have not seen so far.
Do there is no way to get something a bit like that, non-magical RAW? It is thought for a wizard with a 1 level dip into druid. I know that picking cleric instead would be much better "rules wise", but cleric dip is so common for wizards in my AL. Druid dip I have not seen so far.
The main reason the cleric dip is so common is for armor class (medium or heavy armor + shields), starting hit points, several additional spells, all without slowing the spell slot progression. Knowledge cleric is particularly popular since you also get expertise in two intelligence based skills. It is a perfect fit with most wizards ... since it is cool when a wizard has expertise in arcana. It is too bad they need a feat or a level in knowledge cleric to do so.
Druid is less common because there is less synergy AND druids can't/won't wear metal armor. They can still use a shield though. However, the reason you haven't seen druid dips is likely because they can't wear metal armor which eliminates one of the biggest benefits of dipping into cleric in the first place. Your best bet might be to ask at your local venue or ask the DM running the game you are playing in. I believe the general consensus is NO metal armor if the character is a druid but I would consult your local AL expert or try the AL facebook group forums if you want something more definitive. As far as I know, there is no way RAW to obtain non-metallic medium armors that are usually made of metal without actually finding them in particular AL modules.
P.S. It is just one of the constraints on playing a druid and has actually been in D&D in one form or another since the beginning.
I can't find any specific mention about "druids can't wear metal" being enforced in the AL resources.
As far as non-metal armor goes, there is only all light armors and hide.
True. I don't think this is mentioned specifically anywhere. However, RAW states that:
"PROFICIENCIES Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields (druids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal)"
This is not listed in the fluff type descriptions but specifically in the Armor proficiency section. The ambiguity comes from the use of the word "will". However, the statement is pretty clear that druids will not wear metal armor. The corollary being, if you are wearing metal armor, you are not a druid.
Most AL tables I have run into run it that way if it ever comes up. The number of folks who want to push druid optimization by arguing that they can wear any kind of metal armor just because it states that druids will not wear it which means that some druids could choose to wear it ... tends to stretch the logic. They also ask why there aren't any penalties mentioned for wearing it ... without really considering that penalties don't need to be mentioned since druids WILL NOT wear it. :)
Anyway, in AL it probably comes down to a DM call in terms of what they will let fly at their table but in my experience, most will say no to druids wearing metal armor.
As far as the Sage Advice Compendium goes ... it states metal armor for a druid in your specific game is a DM call but the intent is that druids will NOT wear it. However, sage advice doesn't apply to AL unless a DM wants to use it and apparently that includes the Sage Advice compendium even though it consists of official clarifications.
"What happens if a druid wears metal armor?
The druid explodes. Well, not actually. Druids have a taboo against wearing metal armor and wielding a metal shield. The taboo has been part of the class’s story since the class first appeared in Eldritch Wizardry (1976) and the original Player’s Hand-book (1978). The idea is that druids prefer to be protected by animal skins, wood, and other natural materials that aren’t the worked metal that is associated with civilization. Druids don’t lack the ability to wear metal armor. They choose not to wear it. This choice is part of their identity as a mystical order. Think of it in these terms: a vegetarian can eat meat, but chooses not to. A druid typically wears leather, studded leather, or hide armor, and if a druid comes across scale mail made of a material other than metal, the druid might wear it. If you feel strongly about your druid breaking the taboo and doning metal, talk to your DM. Each class has story elements mixed with its game features; the two types of design go hand in hand in D&D, and the story parts are stronger in some classes than in others. Druids and paladins have an especially strong dose of story in their design. If you want to depart from your class’s story, your DM has the final say on how far you can go and still be considered a member of the class. As long as you abide by your character’s proficiencies, you’re not going to break anything in the game system, but you might undermine the story and the world being created in your campaign."
Anyway, my experience is that many AL tables say no to a druid in metal armor. However, if you are playing at the same table every week and that particular DM says yes, you can probably use it but don't expect it to be allowed elsewhere.
Hello, can you buy or craft non magic, non metallic armor in AL? I know tat it exist magic dragon scale in higher tiers, but is there any rules for more common, non magic ones?
I am of course thinking about druids that get armor skill, but "will not wear metal armor" according to the rulebook. So I guess even a single level dip will stop you from wearing metal armor in AE...?
Hello there! There are a few magical medium and heavy armors to be found specific to adventurers league mods. Spoilers below!
Shroud of the Mourning Warrior is +1 Scale male made of enchanted wood
There is a half-plate of poison resistance made of magic mushrooms. I think there's also another made of stone somewhere.
There is carapace-type armor found in Eberron games
There is a heavy armor made of dragon bone (I think) in season 9 that you can get from playing descent to avernus or as a DM reward from saving up points.
There are options for druids. Talk to other adventurers league players and see if they'd be willing to trade the item if they have it and you have something they want.
As far as crafting non-magic armor, look to the lizardmen as inspiration. They can craft shields out of bone and hide. I'd also assume that knowing there's magical wooden armor out there that there is a DM out there willing to let you attempt to craft it on your downtime if you're proficient with woodcarving tools or carpenter's tools and are willing to spend the money on the materials/time.
I question why druids even have medium armor proficiency. All non magic medium armor is made of metal except hide which isn't even better than leather a lot of the time, and any adventurer should be able to afford studded leather by level 2 and it is strictly better.
We're druids only given medium armor so they could wear 1 very rare magic item they may never even see? Or was it intended for other types of metal armor to be not made of metal, then they just forgot to even mention that?
I question why druids even have medium armor proficiency. All non magic medium armor is made of metal except hide which isn't even better than leather a lot of the time, and any adventurer should be able to afford studded leather by level 2 and it is strictly better.
We're druids only given medium armor so they could wear 1 very rare magic item they may never even see? Or was it intended for other types of metal armor to be not made of metal, then they just forgot to even mention that?
studded leather is made by applying metal studs to leather, so it would not be available, scale mail could potentially be made from any creature with particularly touch scales. You might also perhaps find a breastplate from magically enhanced wood, or fashion armor out of bone, or by some other means
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I question why druids even have medium armor proficiency. All non magic medium armor is made of metal except hide which isn't even better than leather a lot of the time, and any adventurer should be able to afford studded leather by level 2 and it is strictly better.
We're druids only given medium armor so they could wear 1 very rare magic item they may never even see? Or was it intended for other types of metal armor to be not made of metal, then they just forgot to even mention that?
Two comments :)
First, studded leather has "studs" but 5e doesn't specify the material these are made from. The same goes for ring mail. The armor description in the PHB specifically mentions which armors actually contain metal. Studs in studded leather could potentially be made from other non-metallic materials since the PHB doesn't specify.
Second, the reason for the druid armor restriction has nothing to do with the 5e mechanics. It has to do with the history of the druid in D&D. Since the druid was first introduced sometime around 1976, it has always had the restriction that druids would not/could not wear metal armor or shields. It was tied into fundamental aspects of the ethos of being a druid. They eschewed goods manufactured of metal. In earlier versions of the game, this included metal weapons for the most part. So the reason this restriction exists in 5e is not to limit druids to one very rare magic item but rather to retain consistency with what druids have been since the game was invented.
If you like, it is rule based flavor for the characters so that all druid characters won't wear metal armor, if they are wearing metal armor, they aren't a druid. They don't follow the beliefs of a druid as laid down in 5e if they wear metal armor. Home games are free to change it however they like and the designers freely admit that it won't change much if druids can wear metal armor (their AC might go up by 1 or 2 which isn't game breaking) but 5e continued the "tradition" from earlier versions of the game restricting the druids ability to wear metal armor.
I question why druids even have medium armor proficiency. All non magic medium armor is made of metal except hide which isn't even better than leather a lot of the time, and any adventurer should be able to afford studded leather by level 2 and it is strictly better.
We're druids only given medium armor so they could wear 1 very rare magic item they may never even see? Or was it intended for other types of metal armor to be not made of metal, then they just forgot to even mention that?
Two comments :)
First, studded leather has "studs" but 5e doesn't specify the material these are made from. The same goes for ring mail. The armor description in the PHB specifically mentions which armors actually contain metal. Studs in studded leather could potentially be made from other non-metallic materials since the PHB doesn't specify.
Second, the reason for the druid armor restriction has nothing to do with the 5e mechanics. It has to do with the history of the druid in D&D. Since the druid was first introduced sometime around 1976, it has always had the restriction that druids would not/could not wear metal armor or shields. It was tied into fundamental aspects of the ethos of being a druid. They eschewed goods manufactured of metal. In earlier versions of the game, this included metal weapons for the most part. So the reason this restriction exists in 5e is not to limit druids to one very rare magic item but rather to retain consistency with what druids have been since the game was invented.
If you like, it is rule based flavor for the characters so that all druid characters won't wear metal armor, if they are wearing metal armor, they aren't a druid. They don't follow the beliefs of a druid as laid down in 5e if they wear metal armor. Home games are free to change it however they like and the designers freely admit that it won't change much if druids can wear metal armor (their AC might go up by 1 or 2 which isn't game breaking) but 5e continued the "tradition" from earlier versions of the game restricting the druids ability to wear metal armor.
he was not exactly complaning about the metal restriction, more the fact that since druids are proficient in light armor and in his eyes studded leather do abide by the metal restriction, there would be no point to the druid ever using hide armor and thus no reason to have the proficiency itself.
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i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Samurai had the equivalent of Medium Armor similar to Half Plate made entirely from leather plates. I have granted a Druid a Breastplate made from a tortoise shell before.
I can't find any specific mention about "druids can't wear metal" being enforced in the AL resources.
As far as non-metal armor goes, there is only all light armors and hide.
True. I don't think this is mentioned specifically anywhere. However, RAW states that:
"PROFICIENCIES Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields (druids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal)"
This is not listed in the fluff type descriptions but specifically in the Armor proficiency section. The ambiguity comes from the use of the word "will". However, the statement is pretty clear that druids will not wear metal armor. The corollary being, if you are wearing metal armor, you are not a druid.
Most AL tables I have run into run it that way if it ever comes up. The number of folks who want to push druid optimization by arguing that they can wear any kind of metal armor just because it states that druids will not wear it which means that some druids could choose to wear it ... tends to stretch the logic. They also ask why there aren't any penalties mentioned for wearing it ... without really considering that penalties don't need to be mentioned since druids WILL NOT wear it. :)
Anyway, in AL it probably comes down to a DM call in terms of what they will let fly at their table but in my experience, most will say no to druids wearing metal armor.
As far as the Sage Advice Compendium goes ... it states metal armor for a druid in your specific game is a DM call but the intent is that druids will NOT wear it. However, sage advice doesn't apply to AL unless a DM wants to use it and apparently that includes the Sage Advice compendium even though it consists of official clarifications.
"What happens if a druid wears metal armor?
The druid explodes. Well, not actually. Druids have a taboo against wearing metal armor and wielding a metal shield. The taboo has been part of the class’s story since the class first appeared in Eldritch Wizardry (1976) and the original Player’s Hand-book (1978). The idea is that druids prefer to be protected by animal skins, wood, and other natural materials that aren’t the worked metal that is associated with civilization. Druids don’t lack the ability to wear metal armor. They choose not to wear it. This choice is part of their identity as a mystical order. Think of it in these terms: a vegetarian can eat meat, but chooses not to. A druid typically wears leather, studded leather, or hide armor, and if a druid comes across scale mail made of a material other than metal, the druid might wear it. If you feel strongly about your druid breaking the taboo and doning metal, talk to your DM. Each class has story elements mixed with its game features; the two types of design go hand in hand in D&D, and the story parts are stronger in some classes than in others. Druids and paladins have an especially strong dose of story in their design. If you want to depart from your class’s story, your DM has the final say on how far you can go and still be considered a member of the class. As long as you abide by your character’s proficiencies, you’re not going to break anything in the game system, but you might undermine the story and the world being created in your campaign."
Anyway, my experience is that many AL tables say no to a druid in metal armor. However, if you are playing at the same table every week and that particular DM says yes, you can probably use it but don't expect it to be allowed elsewhere.
They also telling us re-skinning is not only acceptable, it's encouraged. I'm not a druid, I am a shaman. A DM should not enforce something that does not impact balance.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
They also telling us re-skinning is not only acceptable, it's encouraged. I'm not a druid, I am a shaman. A DM should not enforce something that does not impact balance.
Sure. However, a shaman is not a valid class in AL. Reskinning a class to avoid a constraint on the class is also homebrew and not AL. Does allowing a druid to wear metal armor "OMG! I broke the game!" no, but it does allow the druid to avoid focusing on dex AND have an AC a couple of points higher so unlike reskinning where it is just for flavor ... your suggested "reskinning" grants a mechanical advantage over someone claiming to play a druid.
As for armor made of other materials, there are several examples that have been cited in this thread of examples of non-metallic medium and heavy armor available in a number of modules. However, the PHB equipment which can be purchased and the crafting rules say you can make items from the PHB and these specific metal for most medium and heavy armors. AL doesn't allow for custom crafting using less common materials.
Anyway,. the bottom line is to take it up with the AL DM at the table where you are playing but don't be surprised if they say no to your request to wear metallic medium armor on your druid.
I can't find any specific mention about "druids can't wear metal" being enforced in the AL resources.
As far as non-metal armor goes, there is only all light armors and hide.
That's not 100% true. Spiked armor /can/ be non-metallic.
"Spiked armor is a rare type of medium armor made by dwarves. It consists of a leather coat and leggings covered with spikes that are usually made of metal." Usually means not always. Find a kind hearted DM who will let you buy some with wooden spikes, and you /should/ be good to go.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
They also telling us re-skinning is not only acceptable, it's encouraged. I'm not a druid, I am a shaman. A DM should not enforce something that does not impact balance.
Sure. However, a shaman is not a valid class in AL. Reskinning a class to avoid a constraint on the class is also homebrew and not AL. Does allowing a druid to wear metal armor "OMG! I broke the game!" no, but it does allow the druid to avoid focusing on dex AND have an AC a couple of points higher so unlike reskinning where it is just for flavor ... your suggested "reskinning" grants a mechanical advantage over someone claiming to play a druid.
As for armor made of other materials, there are several examples that have been cited in this thread of examples of non-metallic medium and heavy armor available in a number of modules. However, the PHB equipment which can be purchased and the crafting rules say you can make items from the PHB and these specific metal for most medium and heavy armors. AL doesn't allow for custom crafting using less common materials.
Anyway,. the bottom line is to take it up with the AL DM at the table where you are playing but don't be surprised if they say no to your request to wear metallic medium armor on your druid.
The rules do not state that a druid CANNOT wear metal armor. The rules state that a druid /will/ not wear metal armor. Since the metal armor thing is /not/ a rule, it's fluff, it confers no mechanical advantage.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
The rules do not state that a druid CANNOT wear metal armor. The rules state that a druid /will/ not wear metal armor. Since the metal armor thing is /not/ a rule, it's fluff, it confers no mechanical advantage.
Yep - the rules state that a druid WILL not wear metal armor.
The statement is made under the section describing the rules related to proficiencies. It is not in some sort of fluffy paragraph about druids.
"PROFICIENCIES Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields (druids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal)"
Whether it is a "rule" or "fluff" is entirely up to the DM, even in AL. As far as I know, AL admins have NOT said it is fluff or that druids can wear whatever armor they like.
Ask your DM, but don't be surprised if the AL DM says that your druid won't be allowed to wear metal armor. A lot of folks don't consider it "fluff" but an actual constraint on the druid class.
The Sage Advice compendium gives some insight as to why this exists and what it means for druids (sage advice though only applies to AL at the DMs discretion) but the bottom line is that in most D&D settings (including he forgotten realms), druids WON'T wear metal armor and that can apply as much to the AL Forgotten realms as any other campaign at the DM's discretion.
"Druid
What happens if a druid wears metal armor? The druid explodes.
Well, not actually. Druids have a taboo against wearing metal armor and wielding a metal shield. The taboo has been part of the class’s story since the class first appeared in Eldritch Wizardry (1976) and the original Player’s Hand-book (1978). The idea is that druids prefer to be protected by animal skins, wood, and other natural materials that aren’t the worked metal that is associated with civilization. Druids don’t lack the ability to wear metal armor. They choose not to wear it. This choice is part of their identity as a mystical order. Think of it in these terms: a vegetarian can eat meat, but chooses not to. A druid typically wears leather, studded leather, or hide armor, and if a druid comes across scale mail made of a material other than metal, the druid might wear it. If you feel strongly about your druid breaking the taboo and donning metal, talk to your DM. Each class has story elements mixed with its game features; the two types of design go hand in hand in D&D, and the story parts are stronger in some classes than in others. Druids and paladins have an especially strong dose of story in their design. If you want to depart from your class’s story, your DM has the final say on how far you can go and still be considered a member of the class. As long as you abide by your character’s proficiencies, you’re not going to break anything in the game system, but you might undermine the story and the world being created in your campaign."
Crawford has confirmed it's fluff. They do not get to determine what my character will and will not do. They only get to determine what my character can and cannot do.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Crawford has confirmed it's fluff. They do not get to determine what my character will and will not do. They only get to determine what my character can and cannot do.
In AL, Crawford's statements are completely irrelevant.
ALFAQ 9.1
"What Rules Do I Use? All Adventurers League games are played using the fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons rules—house rules and Variant and optional rules, except those listed below, aren’t permitted for use. As an Adventurers League Dungeon Master, you are empowered to adjudicate the rules as presented by the official materials (PHB, DMG, MM, etc.). Run the game according to those rules, but you are the final arbiter of any ambiguities that might arise in doing so. House rules aren’t permitted for use in play; the campaign uses the rules as presented in the PHB."
"Official Rule Sources Rules from an official D&D Adventurers League source, such as the ALPG, the ALDMG, or this FAQ establish the boundaries for our current campaign. As a general rule, the admins don’t issue official rulings on general rules questions unless it’s directly affected by the scope and purpose of the program.
Sage Advice/Twitter. Sage Advice (SA) and tweets from the Wizards of the Coast staff are a great barometer for the ‘rules-as-intended’, in any case. The DM can choose to utilize them at their discretion for rules adjudication.
Social Media (Detect Thoughts, Facebook, Google+, Etc.). Rules guidance given by an Admin using the #AL_Admin or #AL_Official hashtag is considered official rules guidance. In time, it may be added to this FAQ. As a matter of practice, the campaign staff doesn’t provide official rulings on general rules unless it impacts or is impacted by the rules of the program at-large."
As far as I know, there is no official ruling on it from the AL Admins. As a result, when you sit down at the table, the AL DM you are playing with is fully empowered to decide whether the rules allow a druid to wear metal armor or not. It is strictly a DM call. Your belief on the meaning of WILL vs CAN is entirely irrelevant. It is the DMs decision as to whether a druid will be allowed to wear metal armor at their table when playing an AL game. Make your case, talk to the DM, live with their decision ... keep some non-metal armor in your backpack in case the DM says no .. or find some of the non-metallic medium or heavy armors that drop in AL modules either by playing or trading if you want to be sure to avoid a possible issue.
P.S. On the topic of will vs can ... I completely understand where you are coming from. The rules say a druid is proficient with medium armor but that druids won't wear metal armor. "Well, I am a druid who doesn't care about metal, to me it doesn't represent the encroachment of civilization, it is just as "natural" to me as armor made of something else, why shouldn't I wear it?" I totally get it.
However, the back story on druids is such that their beliefs about manufactured goods are so strong that they won't wear it. They are trained and brought up not to wear it. In fact, it is such a strong belief that if they choose to follow the druidical path they make a vow, swearing never to wear metal armor (or whatever other explanation you want to come up with), ALL druids do this, if they won't or don't they aren't a druid, they are something else, maybe a nature cleric? The point is that the constraint is imposed that Druids WON'T wear metal armor. It isn't a character choice. Yes, it would have been simpler if they had simply written CAN'T ... it is less ambiguous and doesn't invoke all the questions about free will and character choice. Why can't I choose to wear metal armor as a druid? Because, druids don't do that, they won't do it ... but no explanation or mechanics are tied to that statement.
Anyway, folks can and will argue about the significance of CAN'T and WON'T in the context of RPGs. The strict reading is that druids WON'T wear it ... that is what it says ... if they are a druid, metal armor is something they will never wear even if they know how to use it. Some folks see this as an encroachment on character free will, others see it as a simple rules statement. We can argue it back and forth without resolution since the meaning of CAN'T and WON'T isn't going to change.
The bottom line ... and I have said this all along ... is that the DM at the table you are playing at will make the call, they will decide whether the druid can wear metal armor, some will agree with you and some won't. Even in AL, there is no single correct answer to this and different DMs will adjudicate it differently. Sage Advice, Crawford's comments and anything outside the rule books themselves are not factors in how an AL DM decides to make a ruling. They can consider these sources if they want but Crawford has frequently replied on twitter with answers about how he would play it in his game. The latest Sage Advice compendium makes it clear that his comments on twitter aren't official but are worth considering because they come from a very experienced DM with a broad knowledge of the system.
Anyway, when you sit down at an AL table with a new DM, it is worth asking whether your DM will allow a druid to wear metal armor. Alternatively, just play, but if it comes up, the DM can tell you to remove the metal armor from your character so it is worthwhile to carry a backup.
Hello,
can you buy or craft non magic, non metallic armor in AL? I know tat it exist magic dragon scale in higher tiers, but is there any rules for more common, non magic ones?
I am of course thinking about druids that get armor skill, but "will not wear metal armor" according to the rulebook. So I guess even a single level dip will stop you from wearing metal armor in AE...?
The druid non-metal is mostly a flavor thing. I am not sure that the league enforces it.
Anyone know for sure?
As far as I know, AL is supposed to enforce it. Whether it is or not comes down to individual DMs. The RAW text is pretty clear.
"PROFICIENCIES
Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields (druids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal)"
It is completely clear and is written specifically in the section listing proficiencies and not in some sort of fluffy paragraph describing druids and their beliefs. Druids are proficient in medium armor and shields but will not wear ones made of metal. That is RAW. The reason they will not wear metal armor isn't given, just that a druid will not. If they had used "can not" instead of "will not" there would probably be less argument but it would mean the same thing. If a character is a druid they will not wear metal armor.
If you find a DM who thinks druids are beings of free will and that druids choose not to wear metal armor for some philosophical reason and this particular druid doesn't share that belief and decides to wear metal armor then who knows, they might let your character play with it. On the other hand, other DMs might not let you use it at all and ask your character to remove it (assuming that they notice it).
That said, there are a few sources of non-metallic medium armor in AL. (DDEX3-11(tier 2) - hardened mushroom half-plate, DDAL 5-13 (tier 2) wood scale mail +1, Scorpion plate armor ToA - non-metallic, DDEP 5-1 DDHC-MORD-03 dragon scale mail) ... which is clearly an AL legal way to deal with it. There may also be certs available through extra-life or similar but I don't really know.
Do there is no way to get something a bit like that, non-magical RAW? It is thought for a wizard with a 1 level dip into druid. I know that picking cleric instead would be much better "rules wise", but cleric dip is so common for wizards in my AL. Druid dip I have not seen so far.
The main reason the cleric dip is so common is for armor class (medium or heavy armor + shields), starting hit points, several additional spells, all without slowing the spell slot progression. Knowledge cleric is particularly popular since you also get expertise in two intelligence based skills. It is a perfect fit with most wizards ... since it is cool when a wizard has expertise in arcana. It is too bad they need a feat or a level in knowledge cleric to do so.
Druid is less common because there is less synergy AND druids can't/won't wear metal armor. They can still use a shield though. However, the reason you haven't seen druid dips is likely because they can't wear metal armor which eliminates one of the biggest benefits of dipping into cleric in the first place. Your best bet might be to ask at your local venue or ask the DM running the game you are playing in. I believe the general consensus is NO metal armor if the character is a druid but I would consult your local AL expert or try the AL facebook group forums if you want something more definitive. As far as I know, there is no way RAW to obtain non-metallic medium armors that are usually made of metal without actually finding them in particular AL modules.
P.S. It is just one of the constraints on playing a druid and has actually been in D&D in one form or another since the beginning.
I can't find any specific mention about "druids can't wear metal" being enforced in the AL resources.
As far as non-metal armor goes, there is only all light armors and hide.
True. I don't think this is mentioned specifically anywhere. However, RAW states that:
"PROFICIENCIES
Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields (druids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal)"
This is not listed in the fluff type descriptions but specifically in the Armor proficiency section. The ambiguity comes from the use of the word "will". However, the statement is pretty clear that druids will not wear metal armor. The corollary being, if you are wearing metal armor, you are not a druid.
Most AL tables I have run into run it that way if it ever comes up. The number of folks who want to push druid optimization by arguing that they can wear any kind of metal armor just because it states that druids will not wear it which means that some druids could choose to wear it ... tends to stretch the logic. They also ask why there aren't any penalties mentioned for wearing it ... without really considering that penalties don't need to be mentioned since druids WILL NOT wear it. :)
Anyway, in AL it probably comes down to a DM call in terms of what they will let fly at their table but in my experience, most will say no to druids wearing metal armor.
As far as the Sage Advice Compendium goes ... it states metal armor for a druid in your specific game is a DM call but the intent is that druids will NOT wear it. However, sage advice doesn't apply to AL unless a DM wants to use it and apparently that includes the Sage Advice compendium even though it consists of official clarifications.
"What happens if a druid wears metal armor?
The druid explodes. Well, not actually. Druids have a taboo against wearing metal armor and wielding a metal shield. The taboo has been part of the class’s story since the class first appeared in Eldritch Wizardry (1976) and the original Player’s Hand-book (1978). The idea is that druids prefer to be protected by animal skins, wood, and other natural materials that aren’t the worked metal that is associated with civilization. Druids don’t lack the ability to wear metal armor. They choose not to wear it. This choice is part of their identity as a mystical order. Think of it in these terms: a vegetarian can eat meat, but chooses not to. A druid typically wears leather, studded leather, or hide armor, and if a druid comes across scale mail made of a material other than metal, the druid might wear it. If you feel strongly about your druid breaking the taboo and doning metal, talk to your DM. Each class has story elements mixed with its game features; the two types of design go hand in hand in D&D, and the story parts are stronger in some classes than in others. Druids and paladins have an especially strong dose of story in their design. If you want to depart from your class’s story, your DM has the final say on how far you can go and still be considered a member of the class. As long as you abide by your character’s proficiencies, you’re not going to break anything in the game system, but you might undermine the story and the world being created in your campaign."
Anyway, my experience is that many AL tables say no to a druid in metal armor. However, if you are playing at the same table every week and that particular DM says yes, you can probably use it but don't expect it to be allowed elsewhere.
Hello there! There are a few magical medium and heavy armors to be found specific to adventurers league mods. Spoilers below!
Shroud of the Mourning Warrior is +1 Scale male made of enchanted wood
There is a half-plate of poison resistance made of magic mushrooms. I think there's also another made of stone somewhere.
There is carapace-type armor found in Eberron games
There is a heavy armor made of dragon bone (I think) in season 9 that you can get from playing descent to avernus or as a DM reward from saving up points.
There are options for druids. Talk to other adventurers league players and see if they'd be willing to trade the item if they have it and you have something they want.
As far as crafting non-magic armor, look to the lizardmen as inspiration. They can craft shields out of bone and hide. I'd also assume that knowing there's magical wooden armor out there that there is a DM out there willing to let you attempt to craft it on your downtime if you're proficient with woodcarving tools or carpenter's tools and are willing to spend the money on the materials/time.
I question why druids even have medium armor proficiency. All non magic medium armor is made of metal except hide which isn't even better than leather a lot of the time, and any adventurer should be able to afford studded leather by level 2 and it is strictly better.
We're druids only given medium armor so they could wear 1 very rare magic item they may never even see? Or was it intended for other types of metal armor to be not made of metal, then they just forgot to even mention that?
studded leather is made by applying metal studs to leather, so it would not be available, scale mail could potentially be made from any creature with particularly touch scales. You might also perhaps find a breastplate from magically enhanced wood, or fashion armor out of bone, or by some other means
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Two comments :)
First, studded leather has "studs" but 5e doesn't specify the material these are made from. The same goes for ring mail. The armor description in the PHB specifically mentions which armors actually contain metal. Studs in studded leather could potentially be made from other non-metallic materials since the PHB doesn't specify.
Second, the reason for the druid armor restriction has nothing to do with the 5e mechanics. It has to do with the history of the druid in D&D. Since the druid was first introduced sometime around 1976, it has always had the restriction that druids would not/could not wear metal armor or shields. It was tied into fundamental aspects of the ethos of being a druid. They eschewed goods manufactured of metal. In earlier versions of the game, this included metal weapons for the most part. So the reason this restriction exists in 5e is not to limit druids to one very rare magic item but rather to retain consistency with what druids have been since the game was invented.
If you like, it is rule based flavor for the characters so that all druid characters won't wear metal armor, if they are wearing metal armor, they aren't a druid. They don't follow the beliefs of a druid as laid down in 5e if they wear metal armor. Home games are free to change it however they like and the designers freely admit that it won't change much if druids can wear metal armor (their AC might go up by 1 or 2 which isn't game breaking) but 5e continued the "tradition" from earlier versions of the game restricting the druids ability to wear metal armor.
he was not exactly complaning about the metal restriction, more the fact that since druids are proficient in light armor and in his eyes studded leather do abide by the metal restriction, there would be no point to the druid ever using hide armor and thus no reason to have the proficiency itself.
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Samurai had the equivalent of Medium Armor similar to Half Plate made entirely from leather plates. I have granted a Druid a Breastplate made from a tortoise shell before.
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
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Epic Boons on DDB
They also telling us re-skinning is not only acceptable, it's encouraged. I'm not a druid, I am a shaman. A DM should not enforce something that does not impact balance.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Sure. However, a shaman is not a valid class in AL. Reskinning a class to avoid a constraint on the class is also homebrew and not AL. Does allowing a druid to wear metal armor "OMG! I broke the game!" no, but it does allow the druid to avoid focusing on dex AND have an AC a couple of points higher so unlike reskinning where it is just for flavor ... your suggested "reskinning" grants a mechanical advantage over someone claiming to play a druid.
As for armor made of other materials, there are several examples that have been cited in this thread of examples of non-metallic medium and heavy armor available in a number of modules. However, the PHB equipment which can be purchased and the crafting rules say you can make items from the PHB and these specific metal for most medium and heavy armors. AL doesn't allow for custom crafting using less common materials.
Anyway,. the bottom line is to take it up with the AL DM at the table where you are playing but don't be surprised if they say no to your request to wear metallic medium armor on your druid.
That's not 100% true. Spiked armor /can/ be non-metallic.
"Spiked armor is a rare type of medium armor made by dwarves. It consists of a leather coat and leggings covered with spikes that are usually made of metal." Usually means not always. Find a kind hearted DM who will let you buy some with wooden spikes, and you /should/ be good to go.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
The rules do not state that a druid CANNOT wear metal armor. The rules state that a druid /will/ not wear metal armor. Since the metal armor thing is /not/ a rule, it's fluff, it confers no mechanical advantage.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Yep - the rules state that a druid WILL not wear metal armor.
The statement is made under the section describing the rules related to proficiencies. It is not in some sort of fluffy paragraph about druids.
"PROFICIENCIES
Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields (druids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal)"
Whether it is a "rule" or "fluff" is entirely up to the DM, even in AL. As far as I know, AL admins have NOT said it is fluff or that druids can wear whatever armor they like.
Ask your DM, but don't be surprised if the AL DM says that your druid won't be allowed to wear metal armor. A lot of folks don't consider it "fluff" but an actual constraint on the druid class.
The Sage Advice compendium gives some insight as to why this exists and what it means for druids (sage advice though only applies to AL at the DMs discretion) but the bottom line is that in most D&D settings (including he forgotten realms), druids WON'T wear metal armor and that can apply as much to the AL Forgotten realms as any other campaign at the DM's discretion.
"Druid
What happens if a druid wears metal armor? The druid explodes.
Well, not actually. Druids have a taboo against wearing metal armor and wielding a metal shield. The taboo has been part of the class’s story since the class first appeared in Eldritch Wizardry (1976) and the original Player’s Hand-book (1978). The idea is that druids prefer to be protected by animal skins, wood, and other natural materials that aren’t the worked metal that is associated with civilization. Druids don’t lack the ability to wear metal armor. They choose not to wear it. This choice is part of their identity as a mystical order. Think of it in these terms: a vegetarian can eat meat, but chooses not to. A druid typically wears leather, studded leather, or hide armor, and if a druid comes across scale mail made of a material other than metal, the druid might wear it. If you feel strongly about your druid breaking the taboo and donning metal, talk to your DM. Each class has story elements mixed with its game features; the two types of design go hand in hand in D&D, and the story parts are stronger in some classes than in others. Druids and paladins have an especially strong dose of story in their design. If you want to depart from your class’s story, your DM has the final say on how far you can go and still be considered a member of the class. As long as you abide by your character’s proficiencies, you’re not going to break anything in the game system, but you might undermine the story and the world being created in your campaign."
Crawford has confirmed it's fluff. They do not get to determine what my character will and will not do. They only get to determine what my character can and cannot do.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
In AL, Crawford's statements are completely irrelevant.
ALFAQ 9.1
"What Rules Do I Use?
All Adventurers League games are played using the fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons rules—house rules and Variant and optional rules, except those listed below, aren’t permitted for use. As an Adventurers League Dungeon Master, you are empowered to adjudicate the rules as presented by the official materials (PHB, DMG, MM, etc.). Run the game according to those rules, but you are the final arbiter of any ambiguities that might arise in doing so. House rules aren’t permitted for use in play; the campaign uses the rules as presented in the PHB."
"Official Rule Sources
Rules from an official D&D Adventurers League source, such as the ALPG, the ALDMG, or this FAQ establish the boundaries for our current campaign. As a general rule, the admins don’t issue official rulings on general rules questions unless it’s directly affected by the scope and purpose of the program.
Sage Advice/Twitter. Sage Advice (SA) and tweets from the Wizards of the Coast staff are a great barometer for the ‘rules-as-intended’, in any case. The DM can choose to utilize them at their discretion for rules adjudication.
Social Media (Detect Thoughts, Facebook, Google+, Etc.). Rules guidance given by an Admin using the #AL_Admin or #AL_Official hashtag is considered official rules guidance. In time, it may be added to this FAQ. As a matter of practice, the campaign staff doesn’t provide official rulings on general rules unless it impacts or is impacted by the rules of the program at-large."
As far as I know, there is no official ruling on it from the AL Admins. As a result, when you sit down at the table, the AL DM you are playing with is fully empowered to decide whether the rules allow a druid to wear metal armor or not. It is strictly a DM call. Your belief on the meaning of WILL vs CAN is entirely irrelevant. It is the DMs decision as to whether a druid will be allowed to wear metal armor at their table when playing an AL game. Make your case, talk to the DM, live with their decision ... keep some non-metal armor in your backpack in case the DM says no .. or find some of the non-metallic medium or heavy armors that drop in AL modules either by playing or trading if you want to be sure to avoid a possible issue.
P.S. On the topic of will vs can ... I completely understand where you are coming from. The rules say a druid is proficient with medium armor but that druids won't wear metal armor. "Well, I am a druid who doesn't care about metal, to me it doesn't represent the encroachment of civilization, it is just as "natural" to me as armor made of something else, why shouldn't I wear it?" I totally get it.
However, the back story on druids is such that their beliefs about manufactured goods are so strong that they won't wear it. They are trained and brought up not to wear it. In fact, it is such a strong belief that if they choose to follow the druidical path they make a vow, swearing never to wear metal armor (or whatever other explanation you want to come up with), ALL druids do this, if they won't or don't they aren't a druid, they are something else, maybe a nature cleric? The point is that the constraint is imposed that Druids WON'T wear metal armor. It isn't a character choice. Yes, it would have been simpler if they had simply written CAN'T ... it is less ambiguous and doesn't invoke all the questions about free will and character choice. Why can't I choose to wear metal armor as a druid? Because, druids don't do that, they won't do it ... but no explanation or mechanics are tied to that statement.
Anyway, folks can and will argue about the significance of CAN'T and WON'T in the context of RPGs. The strict reading is that druids WON'T wear it ... that is what it says ... if they are a druid, metal armor is something they will never wear even if they know how to use it. Some folks see this as an encroachment on character free will, others see it as a simple rules statement. We can argue it back and forth without resolution since the meaning of CAN'T and WON'T isn't going to change.
The bottom line ... and I have said this all along ... is that the DM at the table you are playing at will make the call, they will decide whether the druid can wear metal armor, some will agree with you and some won't. Even in AL, there is no single correct answer to this and different DMs will adjudicate it differently. Sage Advice, Crawford's comments and anything outside the rule books themselves are not factors in how an AL DM decides to make a ruling. They can consider these sources if they want but Crawford has frequently replied on twitter with answers about how he would play it in his game. The latest Sage Advice compendium makes it clear that his comments on twitter aren't official but are worth considering because they come from a very experienced DM with a broad knowledge of the system.
Anyway, when you sit down at an AL table with a new DM, it is worth asking whether your DM will allow a druid to wear metal armor. Alternatively, just play, but if it comes up, the DM can tell you to remove the metal armor from your character so it is worthwhile to carry a backup.