They can also use Padded, and I would allow them to wear Studded Leather because it specifically is "will not wear armor made of metal" and the Studs are an addition not what it is made of.
Druids, as it says in the class description, will not wear armor made of metal. So while they are proficient in things like breastplate or scale mail, they won't wear it. What happens if they do put it on is going to up to your DM. Or if you multiclass into, say fighter and start wearing full plate, what that does to your druid abilities isn't covered in RAW, so it would also be up to your DM as far as what the consequences would be. There can be an option (though admittedly not basic equipment, and it would be depending on your DM) where they might be able to custom craft some medium armor that's not made from metal. A classic example would be using the hide of a dragon to make scale armor, for example.
Studded leather (which is light), I always thought of as a grey area, since the studs are typically metal. But I think most campaigns don't overthink it like I do, and let you wear it freely as a druid.
Druids, as it says in the class description, will not wear armor made of metal. So while they are proficient in things like breastplate or scale mail, they won't wear it. What happens if they do put it on is going to up to your DM. Or if you multiclass into, say fighter and start wearing full plate, what that does to your druid abilities isn't covered in RAW, so it would also be up to your DM as far as what the consequences would be. There can be an option (though admittedly not basic equipment, and it would be depending on your DM) where they might be able to custom craft some medium armor that's not made from metal. A classic example would be using the hide of a dragon to make scale armor, for example.
Studded leather (which is light), I always thought of as a grey area, since the studs are typically metal. But I think most campaigns don't overthink it like I do, and let you wear it freely as a druid.
Larian will be my DM :) I'm designing a build for BG3. I bought the source books here, and use the character creator. The class description threw me off, since I already had a Breastplate equipped from Cleric, when I multiclassed into Druid. I didn't expect it to still equipped when I went to my character sheet, or at least have a red ! next to it. Basic Hide really sucks 12 AC max +2 Dex Bonus. Larian is suppose to follow the rules as closely as possible, so I'll count on Studded. Thanks everyone.
Druids not wearing metal armor is purely flavour and has no mechanical impact. You can play a druid that wears metal armor, or a heavy armor that's made of something other than metal.
Although I disagree with Davedamon on the part about wearing metal (it says pretty clearly that druids won't wear metal armor), you can still wear any medium or light armor you like using alternate materials.
While technically true, there aren't any non-metallic medium armors heavier than hide that are routinely available (just dragon scale mail in routine sources). The mechanical effects of a druid wearing metal armor are not specified, but given that it's listed under proficiencies, at a minimum they're probably treated as non-proficient.
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 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 the vegetarian 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.
Tl;dr - it's a narrative, descriptive conceit that's a legacy of the game and doesn't have any mechanical effect but is strongly linked to the concept of traditional druids. But it's not a mechanical rule like a proficiency or ability.
Tl;dr - it's a narrative, descriptive conceit that's a legacy of the game and doesn't have any mechanical effect but is strongly linked to the concept of traditional druids. But it's not a mechanical rule like a proficiency or ability.
Occasionally sage advice outright contradicts the rules as written, and in any case, that sage advice really boils down to "ask your DM whether you can wear metal armor without losing your class features".
Interestingly enough, this pre-dates sage advice and is from the earliest days of the current edition of D&D.
My stance on it not being a mechanical restrictions stems from this:
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.
Interestingly enough, this pre-dates sage advice and is from the earliest days of the current edition of D&D.
My stance on it not being a mechanical restrictions stems from this:
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 agree with this entirely. It really is just about the DM's opinion on how that is viewed, and how it impacts the story.
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As a DM, if a player came to me and asked if they could wear a breastplate made out of a tortoise shell I would say yes and grant them the same AC as a metal breastplate because rule of fun.
Interestingly enough, this pre-dates sage advice and is from the earliest days of the current edition of D&D.
My stance on it not being a mechanical restrictions stems from this:
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.
My reason for calling it a mechanical restriction is "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 a DM, if a player came to me and asked if they could wear a breastplate made out of a tortoise shell I would say yes and grant them the same AC as a metal breastplate because rule of fun.
Yes! I want to do this now.
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I would say it fine for your druid to wear metal armour, i mean game mechanic wise it wouldn't effect you in a way or anything. Let just say your druid is very controversial type of druid that prefers to wear metal armour then leather armour. You might look up upon Legend of Korra where earthbenders sort of forsaken their earthbending techniques in favour for modern techniques in a growing world in your campaign.
I mean metal are a natural mineral, you could consider trying gems, ivory or chitin. that my suggestion.
Druids are only allowed Leather or Hide Armors? I'm talking basic supplies. What about Studded Leather, or if they multi-class?
What do you mean by 'allowed'? If you mean what can they use, the get proficiency in Light and Medium Armor, plus shields.
If you mean what do they get at first level, they get leather armor. Anything else would have to be bought.
Hide and studded leather are both medium armor, so a druid could use them if they acquired it.
For multiclassing, that depends entirely one what class they MC into.
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They can also use Padded, and I would allow them to wear Studded Leather because it specifically is "will not wear armor made of metal" and the Studs are an addition not what it is made of.
Druids, as it says in the class description, will not wear armor made of metal. So while they are proficient in things like breastplate or scale mail, they won't wear it. What happens if they do put it on is going to up to your DM. Or if you multiclass into, say fighter and start wearing full plate, what that does to your druid abilities isn't covered in RAW, so it would also be up to your DM as far as what the consequences would be. There can be an option (though admittedly not basic equipment, and it would be depending on your DM) where they might be able to custom craft some medium armor that's not made from metal. A classic example would be using the hide of a dragon to make scale armor, for example.
Studded leather (which is light), I always thought of as a grey area, since the studs are typically metal. But I think most campaigns don't overthink it like I do, and let you wear it freely as a druid.
Larian will be my DM :) I'm designing a build for BG3. I bought the source books here, and use the character creator. The class description threw me off, since I already had a Breastplate equipped from Cleric, when I multiclassed into Druid. I didn't expect it to still equipped when I went to my character sheet, or at least have a red ! next to it. Basic Hide really sucks 12 AC max +2 Dex Bonus. Larian is suppose to follow the rules as closely as possible, so I'll count on Studded. Thanks everyone.
Druids not wearing metal armor is purely flavour and has no mechanical impact. You can play a druid that wears metal armor, or a heavy armor that's made of something other than metal.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Although I disagree with Davedamon on the part about wearing metal (it says pretty clearly that druids won't wear metal armor), you can still wear any medium or light armor you like using alternate materials.
While technically true, there aren't any non-metallic medium armors heavier than hide that are routinely available (just dragon scale mail in routine sources). The mechanical effects of a druid wearing metal armor are not specified, but given that it's listed under proficiencies, at a minimum they're probably treated as non-proficient.
Unique material is a special trait that any magic item can have. I would venture that it would be fair to allow mundane armors of similar materials.
Per the March 2016 Rules Answers (https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/rules-answers-march-2016)
Tl;dr - it's a narrative, descriptive conceit that's a legacy of the game and doesn't have any mechanical effect but is strongly linked to the concept of traditional druids. But it's not a mechanical rule like a proficiency or ability.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
Occasionally sage advice outright contradicts the rules as written, and in any case, that sage advice really boils down to "ask your DM whether you can wear metal armor without losing your class features".
Interestingly enough, this pre-dates sage advice and is from the earliest days of the current edition of D&D.
My stance on it not being a mechanical restrictions stems from this:
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
I agree with this entirely. It really is just about the DM's opinion on how that is viewed, and how it impacts the story.
Please check out my homebrew and give me feedback!
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As a DM, if a player came to me and asked if they could wear a breastplate made out of a tortoise shell I would say yes and grant them the same AC as a metal breastplate because rule of fun.
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My reason for calling it a mechanical restriction is "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. "
Yes! I want to do this now.
Please check out my homebrew and give me feedback!
Subclasses | Races | Spells | Magic Items | Monsters | Feats | Backgrounds
I have read all I needed.
I wasn't trying to start a fight, just trying to point out that there is more than one way to skin some cats.
I would say it fine for your druid to wear metal armour, i mean game mechanic wise it wouldn't effect you in a way or anything. Let just say your druid is very controversial type of druid that prefers to wear metal armour then leather armour. You might look up upon Legend of Korra where earthbenders sort of forsaken their earthbending techniques in favour for modern techniques in a growing world in your campaign.
I mean metal are a natural mineral, you could consider trying gems, ivory or chitin. that my suggestion.
Um...Tortle Druid?