D&D 5E Can your Druids wear metal armor?

[DnD Warlord]

There is no need for a penalty because they won't wear it. But it's the same penalty for rogues sneak attacking with a greatsword.

It's not like the rule is buried in flavor text, it's in the most logical place it could possibly be.

But I need to go back to not posting anything serious. There's no point.

So what happens when one IN GAME makes the choice, or is forced (possession charm dominate ect) to wear it.

mid my mind flayed dominates the Druid to pick up a metal Sheild what happens?

 

[Faolyn]

There is no need for a penalty because they won't wear it.

And you truly believe that, in the entire history of D&D, there have never been druids who tried to wear metal armor? That no druid PC has ever been so desperate as to choose to wear some? That no druid PC has ever decided to say "the heck with it; I'll wear what I want"? That no druid has ever been mind-controlled into wearing armor?

Whether or not you would run a game like that or allow PCs to break that taboo is moot; there are many DMs who don't run games like you would. So what happens if a druid wears metal armor?

But it's the same penalty for rogues sneak attacking with a greatsword.

So druids who wear metal armor don't inflict sneak attack damage? Is that what you're saying?

Because a rogue can use all the greatswords they want. There's no penalties for it. They just don't get to add their proficiency bonus (unless they're proficient in them) and they don't get sneak attack dice.

 

[Maxperson]

Except it is not just an in fiction rule, it is an actual rule of the game.

No, it's not. It's explicitly a taboo. That's it. A druid taboo. The game designers have said this straight out. It's story.

 

[ad_hoc]

Does not this thread show there is no consensus on if it is or is not a rule?

In this thread people argue that vegetarians eat meat.

Just because someone argues something doesn't mean there is validity to their argument.

 

[Oofta]

And you truly believe that, in the entire history of D&D, there have never been druids who tried to wear metal armor? That no druid PC has ever been so desperate as to choose to wear some? That no druid PC has ever decided to say "the heck with it; I'll wear what I want"? That no druid has ever been mind-controlled into wearing armor?

Whether or not you would run a game like that or allow PCs to break that taboo is moot; there are many DMs who don't run games like you would. So what happens if a druid wears metal armor?


So druids who wear metal armor don't inflict sneak attack damage? Is that what you're saying?

Because a rogue can use all the greatswords they want. There's no penalties for it. They just don't get to add their proficiency bonus (unless they're proficient in them) and they don't get sneak attack dice.

What? Something in D&D not making total sense or having an answer for everything? Gygax must be rolling in his grave!

 

[Faolyn]

No, you're still not getting it. RAW answer to that is same than to the question to what happens if rogue adds sneak attack damage to a great sword attack. There is no answer, because that simply isn't allowed by the rules. Rules don't allow druids to to wear metal armour so question 'what if they do' isn't covered by the rules.

There is an answer to what happens if a rogue uses a greatsword in a sneak attack: they don't get sneak attack dice. They can still attack from stealth, likely giving them advantage on the roll.

So since you refuse to answer this question, let's change it a bit: what force prevents a druid from wearing metal armor? Tradition? PCs often scoff at tradition. An oath? Then what happens if they break the oath, and why is that not listed as an oath like with paladins? An invisible sprite that follows the druid around and attacks whenever they put on metal armor?

I understand not liking this. I don't like it either. What I don't understand is not understanding it.

I don't understand how you don't see that it's nothing more than badly-worded fluff with no actual rules attached to it.

Wizards can't cast spells in armor. Why? Because they're not proficient in armor. If a wizard gains proficiency in armor, they can cast spells in armor. Whether you like it or not, you have to admit that this is a very obvious cause-and-effect, and that more importantly, it's across the board. All spellcasters are hindered this way. Some spellcasters are just proficient in more types of armor than a typical wizard is. So a non-proficient wizard or other spellcaster who wears armor can't cast spells.

Rogues can't sneak attack with weapons that don't have the Finesse or Light properties. Why? It's because they need smaller, more agile weapons to hit that sweet spot they've learned to attack; other weapons simply aren't precise enough. So a rogue can't get sneak attack dice with a greatsword.

Druids don't wear metal armor. Why? I dunno. You can't say it's because they object to metal, since they can use metal weapons. You can't say it's because metal is unnatural, because it's not. So a druid in metal armor can't... what, again? "Just because" is not an acceptable answer.

So you have this bit of fluff masquerading as rules, despite no reasoning behind it beyond tradition and no penalties for breaking it.

 

[Faolyn]

What? Something in D&D not making total sense or having an answer for everything? Gygax must be rolling in his grave!

Nice non-answer.

 

[Oofta]

Nice non-answer.

I doubt any answer I give after more than 1,400 posts is going to add anything new.

Real answer? If a druid freely dons metal armor in my campaign they would no longer be a druid.

It's never happened in all my years of playing, it's never even been questioned.

 

[Yaarel]

In this thread people argue that vegetarians eat meat.

Just because someone argues something doesn't mean there is validity to their argument.

However, the Druid does use metal.

So the comparison to a vegan who doesnt use meat, or a traditionalist who avoids a taboo, is inexact or incorrect.

 

[SkidAce]

I doubt any answer I give after more than 1,400 posts is going to add anything new.

Real answer? If a druid freely dons metal armor in my campaign they would no longer be a druid.

It's never happened in all my years of playing, it's never even been questioned.

If a druid freely dons armor in my campaign (habitually) they are SHUNNED! SHUNNED I TELL YOU!

And then they repent (or not) and all is well. Until another sect of druids runs into them wearing metal armor and they are SHUNNED! SHUUUUNNNNED!

(you get the idea)

and of course there are those heathen druids that live over there...and they ALL wear metal armor...and RAISE THE DEAD! SHUNNED!


Hyperbole aside..most all of our campaigns over the years looked at it as a taboo, similar to a wu jen who must not...say...cut their hair.

Let each home campaign and group decide the ramifications, there is no right or wrong here.