About druids and armor material *includes some FR notings* [Archive] - Wizards Community

About druids and armor material *includes some FR notings* [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mad Mage
08-15-05, 07:04 PM Sure, druid body armor needs to be non-metal (ie: quilted, leather, hide armor) and shields need to be (completely?) wooden, but I have to ask of other pieces of equipment, like helmets. Do they need to be non-metallic as well, or are there exceptions?

In the Forgotten Realms, druids of Mielikki can equip armor that rangers can. Sure, 3.5 ed. rangers are only proficient in light armor (as well as shields and some-such) but I would wonder if that would mean Mielikki's druids can equip metal helmets, shields, and ALL light armors.
xver
08-15-05, 08:49 PM Druids consider metal an unnatural abomination. (Iresepective of RL Druids and golden sickles etc.) They don't get too uptight about others and thier use of it, but they'll be giving no business to the iron mongers. That'll just encourage them. Blasted heathens (^_-)
Mad Mage
08-15-05, 09:34 PM Druids consider metal an unnatural abomination. (Iresepective of RL Druids and golden sickles etc.) They don't get too uptight about others and thier use of it, but they'll be giving no business to the iron mongers. That'll just encourage them. Blasted heathens (^_-)

So, in short, metal helmets = no-no? :confused:
BaelinWhale
08-15-05, 09:38 PM This is a bit of misnomer actually and not one that I've ever considered before. Thanks for pointing it out.

Now for my 2 Cents: Druids can't really hate metal since they happily wield metal weapons, but I suppose it's more appropriate to say that they just refuse to place their trust in metal-based protective gears above their faith in nature.

Note also that they can wear any form of metal, such as jewelry in the form of heavy crowns and diadems without violating their oaths (A high druid wears ornamentation as well, This appears in a fair number of books).

Since Helmets, Hats, and Crowns aren't made using Craft Magic Arms and Armor and offer no protective value in the form of Armor or Shield AC bonuses, an astute rules lawyer could argue that his helmet is purely decorative.

As with most things, however, it ultimately boils down to what your DM's interpretation of the Druid's Oath is.
Mad Mage
08-15-05, 09:48 PM This is a bit of misnomer actually and not one that I've ever considered before. Thanks for pointing it out.

Now for my 2 Cents: Druids can't really hate metal since they happily wield metal weapons, but I suppose it's more appropriate to say that they just refuse to place their trust in metal-based protective gears above their faith in nature.

Note also that they can wear any form of metal, such as jewelry in the form of heavy crowns and diadems without violating their oaths (A high druid wears ornamentation as well, This appears in a fair number of books).

Since Helmets, Hats, and Crowns aren't made using Craft Magic Arms and Armor and offer no protective value in the form of Armor or Shield AC bonuses, an astute rules lawyer could argue that his helmet is purely decorative.

As with most things, however, it ultimately boils down to what your DM's interpretation of the Druid's Oath is.

Well, I'm more concerned with the interpretation of such in D&D/FR-based computer games, to tell the truth. Thanks a bunch for your input.
Yanagita Kunio
08-16-05, 01:25 AM I think with the D&D Druid it really comes down to covering oneself in metal [unacceptable] versus adornment with a few trinkets [acceptable]. "Cover" ends up meaning body armor, helms and shields. One could in-game-logic it as unnatural because the druid is using metal to seperate/protect himself from the natural world, or because of the link between cold iron and fey [nature spirit] creatures, or just because worked metal is symbolic of the domination of nature rather than coexistence.
Callahan
08-16-05, 01:40 AM I think most people forget that the MAIN reason the metal phobia is there is to balance the game.
Druids are not allowed to have any metal armour because a full plated druid at early levels would really throw things off balance. Later on however, with the help of spells, the druid can wear plate mails made of iron wood.

So I say that as long as it doesn’t give the druid an AC boost, he/she can wear metal. I’ve always hated restricting players due to interpretations of the Class’ personality (eg. 2ed Cleric’s no cutting rules)
Majick
08-16-05, 01:48 AM In a game i've seen someone (a druid i believe, because i can't see a reason why anyone else would do this) had full plate made of wood and a wooded tower shield :P
Callahan
08-16-05, 01:55 AM In a game i've seen someone (a druid i believe, because i can't see a reason why anyone else would do this) had full plate made of wood and a wooded tower shield :P
That wouldn't be too effective... especially if the enemy had an axe... or a flint and tinder.
Mad Mage
08-16-05, 10:12 AM In a game i've seen someone (a druid i believe, because i can't see a reason why anyone else would do this) had full plate made of wood and a wooded tower shield

I know of one Realms wooden material that can be used in place of metal plates, at least for a breastplate or a shield. In all, it's not unheard of.
ajmastrean
08-16-05, 11:33 AM @OP
The answer to your actual question, which everyone else dodged, is "YES". Meilikki allows her Druids to wear ALL light armor, you already had the answer.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mad Mage 08-15-05, 07:04 PM	Sure, druid body armor needs to be non-metal (ie: quilted, leather, hide armor) and shields need to be (completely?) wooden, but I have to ask of other pieces of equipment, like helmets. Do they need to be non-metallic as well, or are there exceptions? In the Forgotten Realms, druids of Mielikki can equip armor that rangers can. Sure, 3.5 ed. rangers are only proficient in light armor (as well as shields and some-such) but I would wonder if that would mean Mielikki's druids can equip metal helmets, shields, and ALL light armors.
xver 08-15-05, 08:49 PM	Druids consider metal an unnatural abomination. (Iresepective of RL Druids and golden sickles etc.) They don't get too uptight about others and thier use of it, but they'll be giving no business to the iron mongers. That'll just encourage them. Blasted heathens (^_-)
Mad Mage 08-15-05, 09:34 PM	Druids consider metal an unnatural abomination. (Iresepective of RL Druids and golden sickles etc.) They don't get too uptight about others and thier use of it, but they'll be giving no business to the iron mongers. That'll just encourage them. Blasted heathens (^_-) So, in short, metal helmets = no-no? :confused:
BaelinWhale 08-15-05, 09:38 PM	This is a bit of misnomer actually and not one that I've ever considered before. Thanks for pointing it out. Now for my 2 Cents: Druids can't really hate metal since they happily wield metal weapons, but I suppose it's more appropriate to say that they just refuse to place their trust in metal-based protective gears above their faith in nature. Note also that they can wear any form of metal, such as jewelry in the form of heavy crowns and diadems without violating their oaths (A high druid wears ornamentation as well, This appears in a fair number of books). Since Helmets, Hats, and Crowns aren't made using Craft Magic Arms and Armor and offer no protective value in the form of Armor or Shield AC bonuses, an astute rules lawyer could argue that his helmet is purely decorative. As with most things, however, it ultimately boils down to what your DM's interpretation of the Druid's Oath is.
Mad Mage 08-15-05, 09:48 PM	This is a bit of misnomer actually and not one that I've ever considered before. Thanks for pointing it out. Now for my 2 Cents: Druids can't really hate metal since they happily wield metal weapons, but I suppose it's more appropriate to say that they just refuse to place their trust in metal-based protective gears above their faith in nature. Note also that they can wear any form of metal, such as jewelry in the form of heavy crowns and diadems without violating their oaths (A high druid wears ornamentation as well, This appears in a fair number of books). Since Helmets, Hats, and Crowns aren't made using Craft Magic Arms and Armor and offer no protective value in the form of Armor or Shield AC bonuses, an astute rules lawyer could argue that his helmet is purely decorative. As with most things, however, it ultimately boils down to what your DM's interpretation of the Druid's Oath is. Well, I'm more concerned with the interpretation of such in D&D/FR-based computer games, to tell the truth. Thanks a bunch for your input.
Yanagita Kunio 08-16-05, 01:25 AM	I think with the D&D Druid it really comes down to covering oneself in metal [unacceptable] versus adornment with a few trinkets [acceptable]. "Cover" ends up meaning body armor, helms and shields. One could in-game-logic it as unnatural because the druid is using metal to seperate/protect himself from the natural world, or because of the link between cold iron and fey [nature spirit] creatures, or just because worked metal is symbolic of the domination of nature rather than coexistence.
Callahan 08-16-05, 01:40 AM	I think most people forget that the MAIN reason the metal phobia is there is to balance the game. Druids are not allowed to have any metal armour because a full plated druid at early levels would really throw things off balance. Later on however, with the help of spells, the druid can wear plate mails made of iron wood. So I say that as long as it doesn’t give the druid an AC boost, he/she can wear metal. I’ve always hated restricting players due to interpretations of the Class’ personality (eg. 2ed Cleric’s no cutting rules)
Majick 08-16-05, 01:48 AM	In a game i've seen someone (a druid i believe, because i can't see a reason why anyone else would do this) had full plate made of wood and a wooded tower shield :P
Callahan 08-16-05, 01:55 AM	In a game i've seen someone (a druid i believe, because i can't see a reason why anyone else would do this) had full plate made of wood and a wooded tower shield :P That wouldn't be too effective... especially if the enemy had an axe... or a flint and tinder.
Mad Mage 08-16-05, 10:12 AM	In a game i've seen someone (a druid i believe, because i can't see a reason why anyone else would do this) had full plate made of wood and a wooded tower shield I know of one Realms wooden material that can be used in place of metal plates, at least for a breastplate or a shield. In all, it's not unheard of.
ajmastrean 08-16-05, 11:33 AM	@OP The answer to your actual question, which everyone else dodged, is "YES". Meilikki allows her Druids to wear ALL light armor, you already had the answer.