"[D]ruids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal" --2014 Player's Handbook
That is so vague. What does it mean? More specifically:
#1: Is it even possible, RAI (that does mean "ruled as intended," right?), for a druid to wear metal armor? Like, if I tried the DM would just say "nope, can't do that?"
#2: What if I'm wearing metal armor and then gain the druid class? Sounds weird, but it's entirely possible thanks to multiclassing. Would I be forced to take it off? Would it simply teleport off my body?
#3: I understand that according to D&D lore that dates back several decades, druids have a big taboo against humanoid-made, "unnatural" things like metal armor. But what if my druid isn't a legit "druid," they're just a regular person or a fey creature with nature magic? Is metal armor fine then?
In short: In what circumstances can a druid use metal armor, and are there any real limitations on druids using metal armor?
Hi! I'm Potato. I am a theater kid and a player and DM using 2014 5th edition D&D. I am always happy to help with whatever you need. D&D issues, unrelated questions, anything. They/them pronouns. Aroace, gay, pangender! Baalze title: Bearer of the Standard Golden Title: That Mad Pokémon Dragon
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 Handbook (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.
I have never viewed it as a "rule" or anything mechanical. To me it is there as a bit of lore/guidelines for developing a character. A druid won't wear metal armor, the same as a lawful good cleric of Selune won't murder an innocent person. It doesn't say they can't, just that they won't.
If in your DMs world it is very important that druids do not wear metal armor for whatever reason, then if you play a druid and choose to wear metal armor then there might be consequences, ranging from mundane (people whisper behind your back, other druids refuse to work with you, etc) to extreme (the forests view your choice as an assault on your bond with nature and therefore the trees come alive and attempt to destroy you, the forest itself rejects you, etc).
If it is important for you to have your druid character wear metal armor, work with your DM. If you're mostly worried about missing out on AC, perhaps there are "natural" versions of traditionally metal-made armors that can be purchased or crafted.
The way 2024 handled it was to give Druids proficiency only in Light Armor - padded, leather, and studded, which pretty much makes it so they don't wear metal armor. There is no rule difference between a metal and wood shield either so that is a non issue.
2024 also did not mention (I think) the aversion to metal armor.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
Basically, the line is a holdover from older editions where druids would lose all their class powers if they wore metal armor. There's no mechanical penalties for doing so in 5th Edition, but the line was left in.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Players choice for Roleplaying purposes only. You can choose either to follow that or not (arbitrary). Or your DM could interfere and say I like that and say I’m doing that.
The way 2024 handled it was to give Druids proficiency only in Light Armor - padded, leather, and studded, which pretty much makes it so they don't wear metal armor. There is no rule difference between a metal and wood shield either so that is a non issue.
2024 also did not mention (I think) the aversion to metal armor.
Yeah, you're right. But it's also worth mentioning that the next option is available for Druids:
Level 1: Primal Order
You have dedicated yourself to one of the following sacred roles of your choice.
Magician. [...]
Warden. Trained for battle, you gain proficiency with Martial weapons and training with Medium armor.
Even if your druid can't wear armor made of metal, you could wear medium armor made from other materials. Half-Plate made from the bones of a Tarrasque, Scale Mail made from the scales of Tiamat, or a Breastplate made from the skull of a Demogorgon. Flavor it as being made from natural materials, and you'll be fine.
"[D]ruids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal" --2014 Player's Handbook
That is so vague. What does it mean? More specifically:
#1: Is it even possible, RAI (that does mean "ruled as intended," right?), for a druid to wear metal armor? Like, if I tried the DM would just say "nope, can't do that?"
#2: What if I'm wearing metal armor and then gain the druid class? Sounds weird, but it's entirely possible thanks to multiclassing. Would I be forced to take it off? Would it simply teleport off my body?
#3: I understand that according to D&D lore that dates back several decades, druids have a big taboo against humanoid-made, "unnatural" things like metal armor. But what if my druid isn't a legit "druid," they're just a regular person or a fey creature with nature magic? Is metal armor fine then?
In short: In what circumstances can a druid use metal armor, and are there any real limitations on druids using metal armor?
Edit: This is for 2014 rules specifically.
Hi! I'm Potato. I am a theater kid and a player and DM using 2014 5th edition D&D. I am always happy to help with whatever you need. D&D issues, unrelated questions, anything.
They/them pronouns.
Aroace, gay, pangender!
Baalze title: Bearer of the Standard
Golden Title: That Mad Pokémon Dragon
It's more a taboo than anything. You can find a Sage Advice on this topic here https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/sac/sage-advice-compendium#SA014
I have never viewed it as a "rule" or anything mechanical. To me it is there as a bit of lore/guidelines for developing a character. A druid won't wear metal armor, the same as a lawful good cleric of Selune won't murder an innocent person. It doesn't say they can't, just that they won't.
If in your DMs world it is very important that druids do not wear metal armor for whatever reason, then if you play a druid and choose to wear metal armor then there might be consequences, ranging from mundane (people whisper behind your back, other druids refuse to work with you, etc) to extreme (the forests view your choice as an assault on your bond with nature and therefore the trees come alive and attempt to destroy you, the forest itself rejects you, etc).
If it is important for you to have your druid character wear metal armor, work with your DM. If you're mostly worried about missing out on AC, perhaps there are "natural" versions of traditionally metal-made armors that can be purchased or crafted.
The way 2024 handled it was to give Druids proficiency only in Light Armor - padded, leather, and studded, which pretty much makes it so they don't wear metal armor. There is no rule difference between a metal and wood shield either so that is a non issue.
2024 also did not mention (I think) the aversion to metal armor.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Basically, the line is a holdover from older editions where druids would lose all their class powers if they wore metal armor. There's no mechanical penalties for doing so in 5th Edition, but the line was left in.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Players choice for Roleplaying purposes only. You can choose either to follow that or not (arbitrary). Or your DM could interfere and say I like that and say I’m doing that.
Yeah, you're right. But it's also worth mentioning that the next option is available for Druids:
A related thread here: 2024 druid armor
Even if your druid can't wear armor made of metal, you could wear medium armor made from other materials. Half-Plate made from the bones of a Tarrasque, Scale Mail made from the scales of Tiamat, or a Breastplate made from the skull of a Demogorgon. Flavor it as being made from natural materials, and you'll be fine.
That’s all pretty exotic for most PCs though.