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

[Crimson Longinus]

Yes or no. Do you think it's reasonable for the druid to let nature die, or would he don the armor?

The situation isn't going to happen so it doesn't matter.

 

[CleverNickName]

The PHB also says the players decide what their characters do.

And that is the only thing that might be ambiguous about this rule, as far as I can tell. (It isn't really all that ambiguous to me; seems pretty straightforward in fact, but a couple of folks clearly see it differently.)

Anyway, I think I'll be moving on. This thread has circled back upon itself enough already, and I'm not helping. I can understand the issues people have with the rule, and I can understand why people might want to change it or ignore it entirely. Heck, I'm on your side: I let druids make those all-important, world-saving breastplates out of giant beetle shells. It wasn't a big deal.

But there are plenty of folks (I'd argue most folks) who have no problem with this rule, and haven't had a problem with it for decades across several editions of the game. It's as much a part of D&D as pointy ears on elves. Folks will just house-rule it if they don't care for it, just like every other rule. Trying to convince others that such a long-standing rule isn't really a rule or doesn't belong in the game is just...weird.

 

[Northern Phoenix]

I mean that the player has sole authority over what their own character “would” or “wouldn’t” do.

In theory sure, but realistically there will be certain things you cannot do, depending on the GM. Torture, to use a common example, or PVP.

 

[Maxperson]

The situation isn't going to happen so it doesn't matter.

Of course it will. DMs create world ending scenarios like that all the time. Just because you won't do it, doesn't mean that it it's not going to happen. So stop dodging and answer the question.

 

[Oofta]

The situation isn't going to happen so it doesn't matter.

Or if it does happen the DM is being a dick and I'll stop playing in that campaign.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Of course it will. DMs create world ending scenarios like that all the time.

Not ones solution of which relies on druid wearing metal armour.

Just because you won't do it, doesn't mean that it it's not going to happen. So stop dodging and answer the question.

That's for those GMs to answer who would build such a bizarre gotcha.

 

[Oofta]

Of course it will. DMs create world ending scenarios like that all the time. Just because you won't do it, doesn't mean that it it's not going to happen. So stop dodging and answer the question.

We have. Or at least I have. The campaign ends because the player is under no obligation to ignore the rules of the game. I would also look for a different DM.

 

[Oofta]

I agree with @CleverNickName. I honestly don't know how you can interpret "will not" as being the pirates code, more of a guideline really. Player agency is not restricted they chose to play a druid. It's only potentially an issue if they didn't see the rule and the DM didn't point it out.

Last, but not least, unless exceptions have been made following the rules of the game is expected behavior at any table I've played at.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

That's fine. At least you are allowing their choice as the wording in the PHB indicates that they have. It's actually less prohibitive than what I have been saying since a metal armor wearing druid would still be able to shapechange.

I disagree with the assessment that they re non-proficient, but wouldn't argue that in a game. My opinion on that is Occam's Razor applies and the simplest explanation is that the two more completely wordings on pages 65 and 165 are correct, than the one wording on page 45.

Interesting, I would think Occam's Razor would favor page 45, it being the simplest and more consistent explanation rather than the weirdly worded two other copy-pasted pages. Go figure!

 

[Maxperson]

Or if it does happen the DM is being a dick and I'll stop playing in that campaign.

No he's not. Once again, D&D is all about exceptions and rulings over being a slave to rules. There's absolutely nothing wrong with such a scenario because and DM worth his salt is going to allow the druid to don the armor and save all of nature.