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

[CleverNickName]

I agree. But, since there are no consequences given, it’s an incomplete rule. Your only option is to house rule consequences or to tell the player “your character wouldn’t do that,” which steps on their agency.

I think the assumption is that the player has read the druid description, understood the rule, and agreed to follow it when they rolled up their druid. So their agency has already been addressed on this matter.

 

[TwoSix]

And why is this a problem? There are a lot of classes in the game who are restricted to wearing light armour or even no armour at all.

It's a problem because medium armor proficiency sets a certain expectation of power, and that may be hindered depending on what the DM rules.

If the DM is upfront that they don't let you use medium armor proficiency and don't give natural material armor as a replacement, I know to limit myself to druid concepts where armor won't be a factor (mostly moon druid). I'm certainly not going to make a character with a substandard AC.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

That doesn't change the fact that by the PHB (you don't need the DMG to play), you cannot see light through darkness. It's dumb, and poorly written, but that is the rule. All these sacred text worshippers need to square that the rules contradict themselves, so maybe some amount of parsing through the sloppy naturalistic language is necessary.

Responding to bolded bit above: Maybe. For best results, though, I would recommend the DM actually read the DMG.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

It's a problem because medium armor proficiency sets a certain expectation of power, and that may be hindered depending on what the DM rules.

The text is right there to help you set those expectations correctly. No metal. The same book tells you which armours have metal. This is no different than any other rules a class would have.

If the DM is upfront that they don't let you use medium armor proficiency and don't give natural material armor as a replacement, I know to limit myself to druid concepts where armor won't be a factor (mostly moon druid). I'm certainly not going to make a character with a substandard AC.

Why it is substandard? Why it isn't just the standard for druids?

 

[Umbran]

It's not a "gotcha." If there's a circumstance where it's okay for the druid to wear metal armor, then there are likely other exceptions as well

No. That you can construct a hypothetical situation with entirely cherry-picked conditions does not speak to the likelihood of exceptions in actual play.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I think the assumption is that the player has read the druid description, understood the rule, and agreed to follow it when they rolled up their druid. So their agency has already been addressed on this matter.

The thing is, it doesn't read like a rule and doesn't seem to be intended to be an actual rule PER THE WRITER. Please point to ANYTHING similar that restricts a character from willingly doing something they actually COULD DO. When it's the only proud nail removing player agency, maybe that's a clue that it isnt intended to be a rule?

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Responding to bolded bit above: Maybe. For best results, though, I would recommend the DM actually read the DMG.

Then you have two bits of sacred text conflicting each other.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

The thing is, it doesn't read like a rule and doesn't seem to be intended to be an actual rule PER THE WRITER. Please point to ANYTHING similar that restricts a character from willingly doing something they actually COULD DO.

It reads like a rule and is referenced in the class rules summary chart. It is a rule. The designer explaining why it is a rule doesn't make it a not rule. It is completely mind-boggling the this is even a discussion.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

I agree. But, since there are no consequences given, it’s an incomplete rule. Your only option is to house rule consequences or to tell the player “your character wouldn’t do that,” which steps on their agency.

Bumping (and rephrasing) my question to you as I think it got lost in the torrent of other replies:

ph 45 of the PHB, which is the lead in for the Class chapter, indicates the Druid armor proficiencies with the word “nonmetal”. So the consequences are implicit. Wearing armor while lacking proficiency to that armor causes… etc…

yes?

 

[TwoSix]

Why it is substandard? Why it isn't just the standard for druids?

Because medium armor proficiency means that the character shouldn't need any more than 14 Dex to achieve their best possible starting AC. (16 AC with scale mail, 18 with shield).

The non-metal rule puts a simple aspect of character building (what armor should I get) into the realm of DM-player negotiation and world-building (well, can I find armor made of scales? What about bone armor, like Dark Sun? etc, etc.) where I don't think it's really warranted.

That's just one of the many caveats I have with the rule. It's not game-breaking, it's merely annoying and not in the spirit of the bulk of the rules.