That's why spiked armor as a work-around for ADL might be a decent idea. That's a bit harder for a DM to arbitrarily ban, especially if you got it logged that a DM allowed you to buy some with wooden spikes. Spiked armor is not /explicity/ metal, and gives the same AC as scale. Not a perfect solution but better than just sucking it up.
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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.
That's why spiked armor as a work-around for ADL might be a decent idea. That's a bit harder for a DM to arbitrarily ban, especially if you got it logged that a DM allowed you to buy some with wooden spikes. Spiked armor is not /explicity/ metal, and gives the same AC as scale. Not a perfect solution but better than just sucking it up.
I don't see any issue with that option but I am not an expert :)
From the ALPG:
"Equipment. Your character can sell or buy spell components and equipment found in the Player’s Handbook or any player resources."
I would think that SCAG is certainly a player resource. The "usually" on the spikes means that it might be possible to find or have made spiked armor that uses something else for the spikes. Otherwise the armor is specifically described as being made of leather so should be wearable by a druid if the spikes are made of petrified wood, stone, obsidian :) or any other material.
It's a way to squeeze out one more AC that should be AL legal from what I can see. (No attacking with the spikes though).
Mundane equipment in AL is not limited by the PHB +1 rule, which means that you can purchase and wear dwarven spiked armor (AC 14) as a druid with your medium armor proficiency. And no, you do not need to be a battlerager barbarian in order to use it as armor, only to use it as a weapon, and the (usually but not definitively) metal spikes are treated in the same manner as the metal studs on studded leather armor (which the druid can use by default).
And for those who don't believe me, AL admins confirmed all of this on the official Twitter account in a thread specifically concerning spiked armor for druids, though I am having trouble finding the thread to link it at this moment.
While the rules have errors stemming from legacy seasons and could be reviewed better, I disagree with both david and rach as they're picking rules, to the exclusion of others, and aren't considering the context. David's quote is restricted to the creation of a character where 'any player resources' is defined in step 1...which has the +1 limiter. The player has already defined their resources by the time they get to this step.
Here's two sources to further support the idea that you have to follow the +1 rule when purchasing mundane items:
PG v 9.2, Part 2 (which unfortunately has a typo): During Your Adventures: Your character can sell or buy equipment using the rules found in the Player’s Handbook. Between sessions, your character can purchase equipment found in any resource from Step 2 ("step 2" is the typo as it has nothing to do with this topic - its meant to say step 1 in part 1).
the FAQ is pretty clear though, under 'Equipment, gold, & Magic items": FAQ 9.1 Purchasing Mundane Equipment. Characters can purchase any equipment found in any resources available as a +1 (see ALPG). They can also purchase any spell components necessary to cast any spells in these same resources. Unless specifically described as otherwise in an adventure or other resource, armor is made of the materials described in the PHB.
not that i would care in the slightest at my table.
Here's two sources to further support the idea that you have to follow the +1 rule when purchasing mundane items:
PG v 9.2, Part 2 (which unfortunately has a typo): During Your Adventures: Your character can sell or buy equipment using the rules found in the Player’s Handbook. Between sessions, your character can purchase equipment found in any resource from Step 2 ("step 2" is the typo as it has nothing to do with this topic - its meant to say step 1 in part 1).
the FAQ is pretty clear though, under 'Equipment, gold, & Magic items": FAQ 9.1 Purchasing Mundane Equipment. Characters can purchase any equipment found in any resources available as a +1 (see ALPG). They can also purchase any spell components necessary to cast any spells in these same resources. Unless specifically described as otherwise in an adventure or other resource, armor is made of the materials described in the PHB.
not that i would care in the slightest at my table.
Heath, while I normally would have agreed with you, the AL admins themselves (the ultimate arbiters of RAW for AL) specifically called out both of these clauses as referring to ALL resources available as a possible +1, not just limited to the resource actually selected as a given characters +1 when SPECIFICALLY regarding mundane equipment. As such, "any resource" and " any resources available as a +1", by AL interpretation (again, as stated by the AL admins), is not restricted by the player's choice for a given character, but by the resources available to players within AL (though this is ONLY when regarding the purchase of non-magical equipment).
Note, also, the difference in wording for character advancement: "Your character advances using the options found in your PHB+1." Unlike the other two statements, which just references the list of resources available for players to select from, this specifically references the selection made for that character.
Given these differences, and the ruling by AL admins, it is safe to assume that when purchasing mundane equipment (and ONLY when purchasing mundane equipment) all available AL player resources may be utilized. For simplicity, I have added the list of AL player resources, as listed in the AL Player's Guide, below which clearly includes SCAG (the source for spiked armor which has been referenced in this thread for the OP).
Additional Resources Include the following products:
Elemental Evil Player's Companion (EEPC) Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide (SCAG) Volo's Guide to Monsters (VGM) Xanathar's Guide to Everything (XGE) Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (ToF) Locathah Rising (LR)
Heath, while I normally would have agreed with you, the AL admins themselves (the ultimate arbiters of RAW for AL) specifically called out both of these clauses as referring to ALL resources available as a possible +1, not just limited to the resource actually selected as a given characters +1 when SPECIFICALLY regarding mundane equipment. A
hmm. thanks. it makes more sense anyway....don't suppose you know where i could find that?
I know that it is on the AL official Twitter threads, but do not have a Twitter account myself and find the forum very difficult to search. However, I do have a link to a thread on the official D&D Adventurer's League Facebook page where screen caps of the Twitter threads have been posted: https://www.facebook.com/groups/adventurersleague/?post_id=2869424629849739
If someone more Twitter-savvy than I could post a direct link to the threads, it would be much appreciated. The referenced threads might be located with the following information:
Jan 8, 2019, posted by Revarr Johnson with replies by Travis Woodall and Amy Lynn Dzura (moderators)
Dec 11, 2017, posted by Jamie Sutton with replies by Travis Woodall and Tom Hill (moderators)
NOTE:
This thread includes multiple different screen caps of both Twitter threads which selectively cover the usability of spiked armor by druids and the accessibility of non PHB+1 sources for the purposes of purchasing mundane equipment. Baring access to the threads themselves, you should read all included screen caps if you seek to understand both aspects of these rulings as stated in those threads.
That's why spiked armor as a work-around for ADL might be a decent idea. That's a bit harder for a DM to arbitrarily ban, especially if you got it logged that a DM allowed you to buy some with wooden spikes. Spiked armor is not /explicity/ metal, and gives the same AC as scale. Not a perfect solution but better than just sucking it up.
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
I don't see any issue with that option but I am not an expert :)
From the ALPG:
"Equipment. Your character can sell or buy spell components and equipment found in the Player’s Handbook or any player resources."
I would think that SCAG is certainly a player resource. The "usually" on the spikes means that it might be possible to find or have made spiked armor that uses something else for the spikes. Otherwise the armor is specifically described as being made of leather so should be wearable by a druid if the spikes are made of petrified wood, stone, obsidian :) or any other material.
It's a way to squeeze out one more AC that should be AL legal from what I can see. (No attacking with the spikes though).
Mundane equipment in AL is not limited by the PHB +1 rule, which means that you can purchase and wear dwarven spiked armor (AC 14) as a druid with your medium armor proficiency. And no, you do not need to be a battlerager barbarian in order to use it as armor, only to use it as a weapon, and the (usually but not definitively) metal spikes are treated in the same manner as the metal studs on studded leather armor (which the druid can use by default).
And for those who don't believe me, AL admins confirmed all of this on the official Twitter account in a thread specifically concerning spiked armor for druids, though I am having trouble finding the thread to link it at this moment.
While the rules have errors stemming from legacy seasons and could be reviewed better, I disagree with both david and rach as they're picking rules, to the exclusion of others, and aren't considering the context. David's quote is restricted to the creation of a character where 'any player resources' is defined in step 1...which has the +1 limiter. The player has already defined their resources by the time they get to this step.
Here's two sources to further support the idea that you have to follow the +1 rule when purchasing mundane items:
PG v 9.2, Part 2 (which unfortunately has a typo): During Your Adventures: Your character can sell or buy equipment using the rules found in the Player’s Handbook. Between sessions, your character can purchase equipment found in any resource from Step 2 ("step 2" is the typo as it has nothing to do with this topic - its meant to say step 1 in part 1).
the FAQ is pretty clear though, under 'Equipment, gold, & Magic items":
FAQ 9.1 Purchasing Mundane Equipment. Characters can purchase any equipment found in any resources available as a +1 (see ALPG). They can also purchase any spell components necessary to cast any spells in these same resources. Unless specifically described as otherwise in an adventure or other resource, armor is made of the materials described in the PHB.
not that i would care in the slightest at my table.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
A rather comprehensive list of free WotC D&D resources
Deck of Decks
Heath, while I normally would have agreed with you, the AL admins themselves (the ultimate arbiters of RAW for AL) specifically called out both of these clauses as referring to ALL resources available as a possible +1, not just limited to the resource actually selected as a given characters +1 when SPECIFICALLY regarding mundane equipment. As such, "any resource" and " any resources available as a +1", by AL interpretation (again, as stated by the AL admins), is not restricted by the player's choice for a given character, but by the resources available to players within AL (though this is ONLY when regarding the purchase of non-magical equipment).
Note, also, the difference in wording for character advancement: "Your character advances using the options found in your PHB+1." Unlike the other two statements, which just references the list of resources available for players to select from, this specifically references the selection made for that character.
Given these differences, and the ruling by AL admins, it is safe to assume that when purchasing mundane equipment (and ONLY when purchasing mundane equipment) all available AL player resources may be utilized. For simplicity, I have added the list of AL player resources, as listed in the AL Player's Guide, below which clearly includes SCAG (the source for spiked armor which has been referenced in this thread for the OP).
hmm. thanks. it makes more sense anyway....don't suppose you know where i could find that?
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
A rather comprehensive list of free WotC D&D resources
Deck of Decks
I know that it is on the AL official Twitter threads, but do not have a Twitter account myself and find the forum very difficult to search. However, I do have a link to a thread on the official D&D Adventurer's League Facebook page where screen caps of the Twitter threads have been posted: https://www.facebook.com/groups/adventurersleague/?post_id=2869424629849739
If someone more Twitter-savvy than I could post a direct link to the threads, it would be much appreciated. The referenced threads might be located with the following information:
Jan 8, 2019, posted by Revarr Johnson with replies by Travis Woodall and Amy Lynn Dzura (moderators)
Dec 11, 2017, posted by Jamie Sutton with replies by Travis Woodall and Tom Hill (moderators)
NOTE:
This thread includes multiple different screen caps of both Twitter threads which selectively cover the usability of spiked armor by druids and the accessibility of non PHB+1 sources for the purposes of purchasing mundane equipment. Baring access to the threads themselves, you should read all included screen caps if you seek to understand both aspects of these rulings as stated in those threads.
Thanks!
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
A rather comprehensive list of free WotC D&D resources
Deck of Decks