Hey all. Just wanted to see what everyone’s take on the rules of wearing heavy armor. I started out as a bard, but then I multiclassed to paladin. From what I understand, paladins can wear heavy armor and I know bards can’t. Part of the reason I multiclassed is to be able to wear the armor that seems to be prevalent in my campaign and to help tank the group. (Besides it kind of goes well storyline wise with my background)
Hey all. Just wanted to see what everyone’s take on the rules of wearing heavy armor. I started out as a bard, but then I multiclassed to paladin. From what I understand, paladins can wear heavy armor and I know bards can’t. Part of the reason I multiclassed is to be able to wear the armor that seems to be prevalent in my campaign and to help tank the group. (Besides it kind of goes well storyline wise with my background)
why can’t my character just wear heavy armor?
As explicitly spelled out in the rules for multiclassing, multiclassing into Paladin does not grant proficiency in heavy armor.
As explicitly spelled out in the rules for armor proficiency, you do not need proficiency in heavy armor in order to wear it.
No classes grant heavy armor when multiclassing, the only way to get it is to multiclass into a class with a subdomain that grants proficiency as part of the subclass, like cleric (level 1) or artificer (level 3).
As quindraco says, you don't need proficiency in heavy armor to wear it, but without proficiency you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you can’t cast spells.
You could see about taking the heavily armored feat, or talking with your DM about swapping out some of the other proficiencies gained for heavy armor proficiency.
If you had stared with a level of paladin then gone to bard:
You would be proficient in heavy armour
You would only be proficient in one instrument
You would have on average 1hp more
You would be proficient in wisdom saves instead of dex
You would have some restrictions on the skills you chose.
I would discuss with your dm whether you can rebuild based on that or a subset. If I was dm I would probably let you have heavy armor if you drop two instrument proficiencies, especially if you have tended to only use one instrument.
Your DM might let you rebuild your character as if you had selected paladin first. I
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Hey all. Just wanted to see what everyone’s take on the rules of wearing heavy armor. I started out as a bard, but then I multiclassed to paladin. From what I understand, paladins can wear heavy armor and I know bards can’t. Part of the reason I multiclassed is to be able to wear the armor that seems to be prevalent in my campaign and to help tank the group. (Besides it kind of goes well storyline wise with my background)
why can’t my character just wear heavy armor?
Hope this helps.
Proficiencies gained when multiclassing
No classes grant heavy armor when multiclassing, the only way to get it is to multiclass into a class with a subdomain that grants proficiency as part of the subclass, like cleric (level 1) or artificer (level 3).
As quindraco says, you don't need proficiency in heavy armor to wear it, but without proficiency you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you can’t cast spells.
You could see about taking the heavily armored feat, or talking with your DM about swapping out some of the other proficiencies gained for heavy armor proficiency.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
If you had stared with a level of paladin then gone to bard:
I would discuss with your dm whether you can rebuild based on that or a subset. If I was dm I would probably let you have heavy armor if you drop two instrument proficiencies, especially if you have tended to only use one instrument.
Your DM might let you rebuild your character as if you had selected paladin first. I