Skeletons can wear armor, right?

[newgrace]

I read the rule a little differently and it makes sense in my mind. By description it probably implies that within the stat block. So if the MM shows the base creature as wearing armor, then the skeleton should be proficient in it as its base monster is obviously proficient. If its base monster isnt wearing any, then your skeleton (who is based off of the base) shouldnt be capable either.

And with this logic, i would think if you were to animate a skeleton, and the original was proficient in armor, your skeleton should still be proficient in armor, even if the monster manual says it normally isnt. Only makes sense, and doesnt bend or break any rule out there.

(Yeah i know, sense doesnt really belong in the rules, but sometimes it helps with clarifying what they probably meant)

 

[Bagpuss]

I actually like the idea that skeletons are proficient with whatever they are wearing when animated... it saves having to explain why they remember how to fight, but not how to ride a horse.

I'm with you on this, you animate an fallen warrior in his armour he recalls how to move in it. You animate a peasant in a tunic it hasn't got a clue. Sort of like the zombies in Day of the Dead turning up at the Mall because it's familiar to them.

You dress a peasant in armour then raise him he doesn't have the proficiency.

 

[Vahktang]

Guess it's cinematic, too.
Remember Jason and the argonauts and those skeletons.
If I am not mistaken, shields, weapons, no armor.

Decided against armor this time out.
The clerics are invading our heroes' town and have an animate dead item
(Value: only 31250) and are killing the town folk, animating them, have them hustle out of town, then, an hour later (when they're well away) animating new ones so the last batch become self willed (if you can call a skeleton that)

So, if the clerics would have to armor and weapon each skeleton they produce, it gets expensive real fast.

Thanks for the input.

 

[mvincent]

I'm with you on this, you animate an fallen warrior in his armour he recalls how to move in it. You animate a peasant in a tunic it hasn't got a clue. Sort of like the zombies in Day of the Dead turning up at the Mall because it's familiar to them.

You dress a peasant in armour then raise him he doesn't have the proficiency.

Agreed. Skeletons retain the training they had in life, but cannot be given new training. This means that a skeletal horse will not know what to do if you cast fly on it (a skeletal whale might though, since it is 'remembers' how to swim around).