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

[Chaosmancer]

Sure. And that still tends to be equal or worse than hide+shield that druids get from the get go. (And rogues don't get mage armour, unless they're arcane tricksters that want to waste on of their rare spell slots for one point AC buff.)

Popping in with a "Nope"

Monk is the only class that is limited by Unarmored Defense (the only other example is the Barbarian, who can use armor) and getting a 16 AC is trivial baseline for them, with a 16 Dex and 16 Wis. That is equal to the hide+shield that you are talking about.

I will admit it is harder for Wizards and Sorcerers, but not only can they reach 15 with little to no trouble, the shield spell allows spikes to 20, which is better than Hide+Shield

Rogues are also a bit of a case, as we have discussed. For them to get a 16 AC requires an 18 Dex, which is doable pretty quickly and definitely something they are typically aiming for. They also have some extremely good defensive features, like uncanny dodge, Evasion, and Cunning Action. And that is if they even decide to play melee, when they are equally likely to play ranged, as are wizards and sorcerers and many other casters.

So, pretty much no one is sitting at worse, except maybe some wizards and sorcerers. Who are also the only d6 classes, everyone else is d8 and looking at some good ways to get above that 16.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Sure, their AC will be fine. And that fine is about on par with a druid with hide and a shield.

A rogue with non-magical armor who goes dual-wielding can achieve an AC of 18. Archery gets them 17, and the bonus action hide, uncanny dodge and evasion.

A druid with non-magical hide and a shield maxes at 16. With no additional defensive options.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Citation still needed. Just like I said last time you claimed this, Crawford says: "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." So it is rather sensible to assume that this is what they're designed to function with.

How about this citation?

"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."

That means it is rather sensible to conclude that they are mechanically balanced to have access to Half-plate, whether it is made of chitin, bone or metal.

 

[lingual]

A no evil policy is very different. Players who don't play evil correctly are at best a disruption and ar worst destroy the campaign. I allow evil, but require the players to have their PCs to along and not betray one another. Simply banning it is understandable.

It's also understandable to have consequences for breaking the druid taboo. It's stripping away the class for single violation that is the red flag.

Totally agree on people not "getting" evil. Being in a party with Tony Montana or Tuco Ramirez can work even with good members. Could even bring up some interesting character interactions. Even a serial killer can work. Just don't walk into a crowded tavern and start indiscriminately killing or murder your friends at first opportunity.

 

[ad_hoc]

Totally agree on people not "getting" evil. Being in a party with Tony Montana or Tuco Ramirez can work even with good members. Could even bring up some interesting character interactions. Even a serial killer can work. Just don't walk into a crowded tavern and start indiscriminately killing or murder your friends at first opportunity.

It isn't matter of "can work".

It is a matter of what we want and what we find fun.

There is a big and meaningful difference between functional and fun.

I want to play heroic fantasy. It is okay to have different takes on what is heroic behaviour but it should all be done in good faith.

 

[tetrasodium]

How about this citation?

"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."

That means it is rather sensible to conclude that they are mechanically balanced to have access to Half-plate, whether it is made of chitin, bone or metal.

He's seen it & was selectively quoting it because I literally included the entire sage advice entry right down to formatting.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

How about this citation?

"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."

That means it is rather sensible to conclude that they are mechanically balanced to have access to Half-plate, whether it is made of chitin, bone or metal.

Let's try it this way: "Druids don’t lack the ability to wear metal armor. They choose not to wear it."
Then the armours they actually wear are specifically listed. So it is rather sensible to conclude that that's what they're balanced around.

Seriously. Constantly ignoring printed rules is getting super tiresome. It is pointless to try to have discussion about rules with people who keep ignoring what the rules actually say.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Also, why is chemically treated leather okay? Many leather making processes involved harsh chemicals poisonous to the environment. Mercury Nitrate was used sometimes to treat furs to make felt. Just as an example. So, why is mining worse than these practices?

Since fantasy Druids are as much based on Native American peoples as they are on Celtic Druids, how did they make all their leather goods without poisoning the land? Or did they?

 

[Maxperson]

Let's try it this way: "Druids don’t lack the ability to wear metal armor. They choose not to wear it."
Then the armours they actually wear are specifically listed. So it is rather sensible to conclude that that's what they're balanced around.

Seriously. Constantly ignoring printed rules is getting super tiresome. It is pointless to try to have discussion about rules with people who keep ignoring what the rules actually say.

The druid class was balanced around light OR medium armor, which all hit the same range of armor classes so it doesn't matter if the druid is wearing leather or metal half-plate, the class is simply going to be balanced for it. The taboo isn't relevant to that. With or without the taboo, they're balanced just the same.

 

[Maxperson]

Totally agree on people not "getting" evil. Being in a party with Tony Montana or Tuco Ramirez can work even with good members. Could even bring up some interesting character interactions. Even a serial killer can work. Just don't walk into a crowded tavern and start indiscriminately killing or murder your friends at first opportunity.

Yeah. I've seen too much of the following to not put some limits on evil.

DM: As you walk into the tavern a man sitting at the table glances in your direction.

Player: He looked at my belt funny. I nail his eyelids to the floor, cut out his tongue and kill him slowly.

DM: But you're in the middle of a crowded bar at noon.

Player: If anyone says anything they get the same treatment!

DM: ....

I've also been in some evil groups where the players know how to play evil and it goes very well.