Monk/Druid Shapeshifting while wearing Dragon Hide amor

[GodPhoenix]

Ok, i'm asking this question on behalf of a friend who can't get to a computer so forgive me if this is a bit muddled...

He's playing a 2/2 Monk/Druid. As a druid he can't wear metal armor. As a monk he loses monk abilities when wearing armor. If he wildshapes into a bear (several levels into the future) while wearing the dragon hide, it melds into the bear shape but retains it's armor bonus.

(i'm not sure that's true, can someone quote me something?)

SO, if it's true, the armor bonus remains while wildshaped...does he keep his monk abilities since he isn't wearing armor, but still gets the armor bonus?

Thanks!

 

[DM2]

No problem.

Your friend is talking about dragonhide armor with the "Wild" enchantment on it.

Wild: The wearer of a suit of armor or a shield with this ability preserves his armor bonus (and any enhancement bonus)
while in a wild shape. Armor and shields with this ability usually appear to be made covered in leaf patterns. While the
wearer is in a wild shape, the armor cannot be seen.

As you see, the wild enchantment allows the druid to retain the armor bonus while wild shaped, even though the armor melds into his form.

The "dragonhide" nature of the armor allows the druid to wear it even if it is a type of armor (chainmail, plate, etc) that he is normally prohibited from using (due to being made of metal).

It strikes me as an unintentional consequence at best if the druid can benefit from wearing the armor while it is melded, and also suddenly gain his monk bonuses as well (because the armor is melded).

Sounds like a DM call....a monk/druid isn't likely to be terribly powerful anyway, but my first inclination is to say that you are still "wearing armor" even if its melded, including movement penalties, etc.

I mean, perhaps the wild enchantment melds the armor into your skin in such a way as to toughen it, and protect you in that way...but thats just flavor.

DM2

 

[mikebr99]

does he keep his monk abilities since he isn't wearing armor, but still gets the armor bonus?

Thanks!

The armor is still there... melded into the flesh of the new form... and still dampening his monk abilities.


YMMV


Mike

 

[Magus Coeruleus]

I once asked Customer Service a related question. When armor with the Wild type is melded, you retain all properties of the armor, even though it is not visible. That includes not only its armor bonuses, but armor check penalties, weight, etc.

If you (or your DM) wants to be nice, he/she can give you the option to suppress the "Wild" property of such armor when you Wildshape, so that you can either take advantage of the armor bonuses, with all attendant penalties, OR treat it like normal armor, which no longer provides any bonuses but doesn't have penalties (although weight still counts, as with all melded objects). Once the player chooses, it cannot be changed until the character reverts to normal form and then Wildshapes again. This affords some flexibility but I don't think it adds too much power to be unbalancing.

 

[Brekki]

hahaha

I asked the same and got the answer that you do feel the weight, but don't have an armor check penalty or arcane spellfailure or other effect by the armor.

 

[GodPhoenix]

hrm...so...

So I guess the big question then is:

Does armor with the Wild ability retain its armor check penalty when it's been absorbed by wildshape?

 

[Stalker0]

So I guess the big question then is:

Does armor with the Wild ability retain its armor check penalty when it's been absorbed by wildshape?

Well animated shields still technically give their penalities even though they aren't weilded directly. I'd say the same applies in this case.

 

[Brekki]

So I guess the big question then is:

Does armor with the Wild ability retain its armor check penalty when it's been absorbed by wildshape?

Offcourse not ...

From Alter Self:
When the change occurs, your equipment, if any, either remains worn or held by the new form, or melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional.

From "Wild":
The wearer of a suit of armor or a shield with this ability preserves his armor bonus (and any enhancement bonus) while in a wild shape.

So the armor becomes completely nonfunctional, except the armor bonus (and enhancement bonusses).

 

[GodPhoenix]

New light...

So according to the SRD:

"When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a monk loses her AC bonus, as well as her fast movement and flurry of blows abilities."

If the monk wears any armor...wild or not...wildshaped or not...he/she loses monkly abilities.

 

[Magus Coeruleus]

Offcourse not ...

From Alter Self:
When the change occurs, your equipment, if any, either remains worn or held by the new form, or melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional.

From "Wild":
The wearer of a suit of armor or a shield with this ability preserves his armor bonus (and any enhancement bonus) while in a wild shape.

So the armor becomes completely nonfunctional, except the armor bonus (and enhancement bonusses).

A totally reasonable interpretation, but not the only one. The penalties associated with armor are not "functions" and are not ruled out by its becoming "nonfunctional." Also, regardless of what you think about armor check penalties, etc., I think it's clearer (not necessarily clear, but clearer at least) that you are still encumbered by the weight of what you carry. Otherwise, you could lift up your max press weight, polymorph or wildshape into a bird, and fly off as a convenient way of transporting cargo. The point being, even if you don't retain penalties outright from the armor, you should keep the ones from the weight of the armor (and your other equipment), just as before you changed form.

Ultimately, I think the best way to decide whether nonfunctional properties of Wild armor affect the new form is to consider the balance of the Wild ability. If you feel that a +3 bonus should entitle you to not only armor and armor enhancement bonuses, but free you of the penalties you had when in normal form, then that's the right choice. If you think benefiting from the armor along with the potential benefits of increased Dex, natural armor, and other perks of the new form is plenty for a +3 cost, then that's the right choice.