Druids and Metal

[shilsen]

I think that Bracers of Armor are just that - Armor. If they're Metal to boot, then they're Metal Armor, and forbidden.

House Rule, right? I can't think of any place in the core books which equate bracers with armor.

 

[Scion]

Definately a houserule.

Do you also disallow amulet of natural armor? after all, it is made of metal and provides 'armor'.

Goggles? bet the have a metal component.

Or is it just that the bracers say 'armor' and are metal.

::shrugs::

According to the core rules bracers do not count as armor in the game. If, for some reason, some random piece of equipment you want to label 'armor' then make the offending piece out of something other than metal. Most bracers I have used in real life have been leather actually.

 

[kpdezend]

A quick google search

So, a druid can't wear metal armor w/o losing their spells...do metal bracers of armor count as metal armor?

Thanks!

It seems to me like bracers of any type should be allowed to be worn, but a quick google search on "Bracers arm" yield a bunch of sites with bracers, and pictures. Most of them are actually leather:
http://www.silvermane.com/EA/EA-Br400-401.html
http://www.silvermane.com/EA/EA-Br200.html
http://members.aol.com/dargolyt/TheForge/bracers.htm
http://stores.ebay.com/darkwoodleather

Additionally, for what it is worth, the DMG indicates that the only spell needed to create the item is "Mage Armor" whose spell component is a piece of cured leather, leading me to think that chances are bracers of armor are probably made of leather, and thus would not matter either way for a druid character.

Not that I have any real stake in it either way. ;-)

- Kent -

 

[kpdezend]

Most bracers I have used in real life have been leather actually.

Looks like you beat me to it while I was typing/ researching!

- Kent -

 

[GodPhoenix]

Just for the record, kpdezend has the monk/druid in question, the bracers came from a tweaked kobold fighter, and the bracers are, in fact, metal

Not that it matters, I was sure it wasn't a problem, but I was curious if the Sage or Dragon had said anything about it.

 

[kpdezend]

the bracers came from a tweaked kobold fighter, and the bracers are, in fact, metal

Curious... why would a tweaked kobold fighter only use Metal bracers? Seems like a weird argument.

- Kent -

 

[Khaalis]

Just to add a last minute thought here...

Why are Druids disallowed metalic armor?

When you answer this you have your answer for your campaign.

It is never detailed as to WHY they cannot wear metal armor other than that it is a vow. However - unlike what most of the posts here say, it is NOT a vow against using Metal. If it were they would not be granted proficiency with metalic weapons. Nor is it a vow against armor or they would not gain any armor proficiency. If it were a vow against restricted movement armors they wouldnt be able to wear Ironwood Armor (Plate).

If you want to be truly technical about it - the vow seems utterly backward to me. Metals are one of the elements (earth). Druids are masters of using nature and its elements, and are supposed to be protectors of things natural and living. Yet on the other hand they are banned from using one of the elements for protective purposed, while at the same time enouraged to use dead plant and animal parts?? Logic?

I would say the bracers are fine.

JMHO

 

[Bihor]

I would say that the oath is more against the advance technology.
metal armor is the most advance item in metalsmith before muskets.
so I would rule no advance weaponry for druids.

 

[GodPhoenix]

Curious... why would a tweaked kobold fighter only use Metal bracers? Seems like a weird argument.

I don't remember ever saying that a kobold fighter would only use metal bracers...I just said that that particular one did. Nice try though

 

[jgsugden]

By the PHB description, a druid can wear bracers of armor regardless of the composition of the bracers.

If you want to house rule that druids can not do so, it is your perogative, but it isn't in the core rules.