As far as I can tell the game States that a druid will not (doesn't say cannot) wear metal armor so
What if by some spell, or just holding a druid down and putting metal armor on him. (or maybe a really good deception check to convince him the armor isn't really metal.)
Or the more likely case,
Captured in the underdark would a druid forgo wearing any amor if all that is available metal armor?
Really only asking because it doesn't say that a druid can't wear metal armor, only that they won't.
Assume for the sake of discussion that the druid is proficent with the armor in question and wild shape is out of the equation. (magic barrier, already used it.)
No, it says that druids don't have proficiency in metal armors. Are you talking about multiclassers, and Hobgoblin druids?
The reason why for that is to give the impression that they cannot. However, get some Dragon scale mail, or Stone plate (Taken from PotA Burrowsharks and Black earth guards) Sure, the druid will wear it.
DM in the kobold fight club "Yes i know this is insane, but my usual players are murderhobos." Birdman in adventures in faerun "Flapping wings" (telepathy) "The enemies are overwhelming us, i'll go break their minds." Irthos Bladesinger in trouble in timberbottom (DED) (All PbP)
I'd probably think of it like Kosher. If you have the option of not doing it, you shouldn't do it.
I also thinks it's a stupid as a "rule" and better left to role playing then enforced mechanics.
Edited from comments below:
The wording in 5e book saying "(druids will not wear armor or use shields made o f metal)" comes off sounding like an actual mechanical prohibition like in 3rd edition "Druids are proficient with light and medium armor but are prohibited from wearing metal armor;"
But even the FAQ says " If you feel strongly about your druid breaking the taboo and donning metal, talk to your DM. "
Which makes it *sound* like it *IS* a rule, but not an "important" one.
...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....
So druids do have proficiency in metal armours. Technically, there is no restrain for a druid (or a multiclass with at least 1 druid level) to wear a metal armour. In my mind, there may be some repercussion from a roleplaying standpoint, at the DM discretion.
What i'm saying is the resaon why the druid does not have profeciency in metal armors is for story and background reasons.
Sure, the druid can wear it, but they don't know how to as it is not in the "Handbook" of how to be a druid.
What i'd say is yes they can, but good luck turning into wild shape. Metal is not affected by the magic of wild shape, (Like draconic ancestry wings) so good luck turning into the tiger, or that MAMMOTH (18+ moon) You'd have trouble turning into mastiffs and stuff too.
The way i see it is that druids are not "meant to" know how, but if they know via traits or stuff they can. However, i play a cocky CN hobgoblin, and.... Stone half plate was too expensive, so the MITHRAL would have to do.
DM in the kobold fight club "Yes i know this is insane, but my usual players are murderhobos." Birdman in adventures in faerun "Flapping wings" (telepathy) "The enemies are overwhelming us, i'll go break their minds." Irthos Bladesinger in trouble in timberbottom (DED) (All PbP)
DM in the kobold fight club "Yes i know this is insane, but my usual players are murderhobos." Birdman in adventures in faerun "Flapping wings" (telepathy) "The enemies are overwhelming us, i'll go break their minds." Irthos Bladesinger in trouble in timberbottom (DED) (All PbP)
The Druid page in PHB states they "Will not wear metal armor or shields". Not that they are not proficient in them. There's not a difference between using a wooden or metal shield that weighs the exact same and has the same shape.
Your lawful good character will not kill a helpless orphan in front of him. That said, if for whatever reason he is compelled or tricked into doing so, he wouldn't lose his proficiency bonus with his sword. Similarly, if an NPC was able to convince a particularly dull witted druid that this scalemail is made from silver dragon scales that have grown dull with age, the druid could use it without mechanical penalty.
The reason for the express RP nature of the limitation is likely specifically to prevent such scenarios in which the bad guys capture the PCs, and strap a rusty chain shirt on the druid to effectively disable all of his powers.
If your druid willfully defied the traditions of the order, there would likely be RP repercussions, but there is nothing RAW that happens to him.
DM in the kobold fight club "Yes i know this is insane, but my usual players are murderhobos." Birdman in adventures in faerun "Flapping wings" (telepathy) "The enemies are overwhelming us, i'll go break their minds." Irthos Bladesinger in trouble in timberbottom (DED) (All PbP)
DM in the kobold fight club "Yes i know this is insane, but my usual players are murderhobos." Birdman in adventures in faerun "Flapping wings" (telepathy) "The enemies are overwhelming us, i'll go break their minds." Irthos Bladesinger in trouble in timberbottom (DED) (All PbP)
As far as I can tell the game States that a druid will not (doesn't say cannot) wear metal armor so
What if by some spell, or just holding a druid down and putting metal armor on him. (or maybe a really good deception check to convince him the armor isn't really metal.)
Or the more likely case,
Captured in the underdark would a druid forgo wearing any amor if all that is available metal armor?
Really only asking because it doesn't say that a druid can't wear metal armor, only that they won't.
Assume for the sake of discussion that the druid is proficent with the armor in question and wild shape is out of the equation. (magic barrier, already used it.)
Here there is the sage advice compedium in which you cand find the Jeremy Crawford's answer:
http://media.wizards.com/2016/downloads/DND/SA-Compendium.pdf
The fact that the druid is not weraing any metal armor is due to a choice in accord with the druidic religion. So it is just a roleplaying thing.
Under extreme circumstaces, a Druid might choose to wear metal armor, grated he/she has the proficiency.
No, it says that druids don't have proficiency in metal armors. Are you talking about multiclassers, and Hobgoblin druids?
The reason why for that is to give the impression that they cannot. However, get some Dragon scale mail, or Stone plate (Taken from PotA Burrowsharks and Black earth guards) Sure, the druid will wear it.
I'm that cat guy, and i do stuff. Youtube account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGyrtkNMBOOCxyH4Eueno3w
Tabaxi Bard Level 15
DM in the kobold fight club "Yes i know this is insane, but my usual players are murderhobos."
Birdman in adventures in faerun "Flapping wings" (telepathy) "The enemies are overwhelming us, i'll go break their minds."
Irthos Bladesinger in trouble in timberbottom (DED)
(All PbP)
I'd probably think of it like Kosher. If you have the option of not doing it, you shouldn't do it.
I also thinks it's a stupid as a "rule" and better left to role playing then enforced mechanics.Edited from comments below:
The wording in 5e book saying "(druids will not wear armor or use shields made o f metal)" comes off sounding like an actual mechanical prohibition like in 3rd edition "Druids are proficient with light and medium armor but are prohibited from wearing metal armor;"
But even the FAQ says " If you feel strongly about your druid breaking the taboo and donning metal, talk to your DM. "
Which makes it *sound* like it *IS* a rule, but not an "important" one.
Which I personally think leads to confusion.
The mountain dwarf has proficiency with armor and multiclassing would be another way.
Basically if a fighter 8 druid 1 took the druid class would they chose to then not wear metal armor?
Basiclaly hypothetically, if a player wanted to use metal armor with a dip into druid could they?
From JC:
...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....
So druids do have proficiency in metal armours. Technically, there is no restrain for a druid (or a multiclass with at least 1 druid level) to wear a metal armour. In my mind, there may be some repercussion from a roleplaying standpoint, at the DM discretion.
Hypothetically yes.
What i'm saying is the resaon why the druid does not have profeciency in metal armors is for story and background reasons.
Sure, the druid can wear it, but they don't know how to as it is not in the "Handbook" of how to be a druid.
What i'd say is yes they can, but good luck turning into wild shape. Metal is not affected by the magic of wild shape, (Like draconic ancestry wings) so good luck turning into the tiger, or that MAMMOTH (18+ moon) You'd have trouble turning into mastiffs and stuff too.
The way i see it is that druids are not "meant to" know how, but if they know via traits or stuff they can. However, i play a cocky CN hobgoblin, and.... Stone half plate was too expensive, so the MITHRAL would have to do.
Good luck in playing your druids!
I'm that cat guy, and i do stuff. Youtube account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGyrtkNMBOOCxyH4Eueno3w
Tabaxi Bard Level 15
DM in the kobold fight club "Yes i know this is insane, but my usual players are murderhobos."
Birdman in adventures in faerun "Flapping wings" (telepathy) "The enemies are overwhelming us, i'll go break their minds."
Irthos Bladesinger in trouble in timberbottom (DED)
(All PbP)
Let's say that it is like a cleric of Lathander casting Animate dead or similar spell.
He/she can do it, technically, but doing it is against his/her religion.
Lathander is life rite?
I'm that cat guy, and i do stuff. Youtube account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGyrtkNMBOOCxyH4Eueno3w
Tabaxi Bard Level 15
DM in the kobold fight club "Yes i know this is insane, but my usual players are murderhobos."
Birdman in adventures in faerun "Flapping wings" (telepathy) "The enemies are overwhelming us, i'll go break their minds."
Irthos Bladesinger in trouble in timberbottom (DED)
(All PbP)
Yes Life and Light domains.
The Druid page in PHB states they "Will not wear metal armor or shields". Not that they are not proficient in them. There's not a difference between using a wooden or metal shield that weighs the exact same and has the same shape.
Your lawful good character will not kill a helpless orphan in front of him. That said, if for whatever reason he is compelled or tricked into doing so, he wouldn't lose his proficiency bonus with his sword. Similarly, if an NPC was able to convince a particularly dull witted druid that this scalemail is made from silver dragon scales that have grown dull with age, the druid could use it without mechanical penalty.
The reason for the express RP nature of the limitation is likely specifically to prevent such scenarios in which the bad guys capture the PCs, and strap a rusty chain shirt on the druid to effectively disable all of his powers.
If your druid willfully defied the traditions of the order, there would likely be RP repercussions, but there is nothing RAW that happens to him.
I'm that cat guy, and i do stuff. Youtube account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGyrtkNMBOOCxyH4Eueno3w
Tabaxi Bard Level 15
DM in the kobold fight club "Yes i know this is insane, but my usual players are murderhobos."
Birdman in adventures in faerun "Flapping wings" (telepathy) "The enemies are overwhelming us, i'll go break their minds."
Irthos Bladesinger in trouble in timberbottom (DED)
(All PbP)
*Facepalm*
A truly viable deity for your example would be semanuya, the lizardfolk goddess. She is purely of the life domain.
I'm that cat guy, and i do stuff. Youtube account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGyrtkNMBOOCxyH4Eueno3w
Tabaxi Bard Level 15
DM in the kobold fight club "Yes i know this is insane, but my usual players are murderhobos."
Birdman in adventures in faerun "Flapping wings" (telepathy) "The enemies are overwhelming us, i'll go break their minds."
Irthos Bladesinger in trouble in timberbottom (DED)
(All PbP)
I think there should be a mechanical advantage. Something like +1 to Ac while not wearing metal armor.
As is, it just seems like the only reason is because that's how the game has always been.