Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 bloodofgods Mar 29, 2008 14:33:53	I know that Druids cannot take Dragon hide armor without taking the feat armor proficeny heavy, since it is still heavy armor. Anyways, this thread is to ask the question, it is better for a druid to take this feat and then use wilding dragon hide armor, or to simply use a monks belt. The upside of the dragon hide armor is it does provide more armor class (Although more expensive) but the downside is it still applies the armor check penality while in wild shape. The upside of monks belt is that is has no penalty, and it is much cheaper (Although in the current campaign money is not really an issue, long story) SO what does the optimizing board think of these two options?
#2 CantripN Mar 29, 2008 14:36:03	Monk's Belt, of course. Not only is it lighter (your natural form isn't very strong usually) and has no ACP nor Max Dex, but it also adds to Touch AC and might well give HIGHER AC than the armor.
#3 alastar Mar 29, 2008 14:41:28	Quote: 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. Moderate transmutation; CL 9th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, baleful polymorph; Price +3 bonus. I was referring to that, and yes, i forgot the druid did not have heavy armor proficiency. But, however, if you,re outside core a bit, darkleaf armor from eberon is a bit like mithral. And works for druids. So you could have a Darkleaf Full Plate that is considered medium armor and you'd have no penalties. Make it Nimble afterwards (so a great total of +5, +1 base, +3 Wild, +1 Nimble) and you have a full plate with -1 to skill checks, and +4 max dex bonuses. all of that doesn't really matter anyways, cause you're just going to Wild Shape with it and keep those tasty armor bonuses while in your legendary ape form. From an Earlier post. And also, the max reasonable bonus you can get from monk's belt is +14, while it is very easy with a wooden heavy shield and a Darkleaf Full Plate to reach +20 armor and shield bonus combined. Granted it's not touch Ac, but the raw AC is higher, way higher. Plus some DM's may not look kindly on the monk's belt thing :roll:
#4 bloodofgods Mar 29, 2008 14:50:37	Ah alahaster thank you for reading my other post and posting again! but I agree that touch armor class higher is better than higher base armor class I don't know about anyone else, but when ii'm playing a druid, I worry far more about spell casters hitting me with rays than the BIG BAD FIGHTER hitting me.. my hit points is already 111 at level 10.... I usually am in ABSOLUTELY no trouble of dying when in fighting form. This hitpoints is only with a simple +2 to my con.... I usually buff it much more beyond this, and I just go to town on people Now that ranged touch attack that drains levels, or that reflex save that I fail (happens a lot... silly actually) scares me much much more
#5 Chaos_Redefined Mar 29, 2008 18:14:06	Another aspect of this is: what kind of druid are you playing? Are you playing the druid who turns into a BSF and smashes people around? Are you playing the druid who summons a lot? or are you playing the druid who focuses on his spells. If the first one, then raw AC is important, but for the caster and the summoner, you will usually be further away from combat, and therefore touch AC becomes more of a factor. For the former, the armor will probably be better. For the caster/summoner, the monk's belt will probably be better. Also, are you a good druid, and therefore able to cast sanctified spells? If so, greater luminous armor combined with monk's belt may provide larger bonuses than the normal armor. The above debate is assuming you can get wild armor with a higher AC than the monk's belt would provide.
#6 runestar Mar 29, 2008 21:35:57	Actually, because wild dragonhide fullplate and shield meld into your new form, it should stack with monk's belt, because you technically aren't wearing them anymore. So get all 3 if your funds permit it.
#7 Chaos_Redefined Mar 29, 2008 21:49:39	RAW, yes that might work. RAI, I doubt it. I know I'd rule against allowing all 3 to stack. (And it's not like druids have a problem with AC... Barkskin, halo of sand, bite of the wererat (for the dex), in addition to wildshape. If you are that desperate, clearly you should not be on the frontlines...)
#8 The_Orange_Pet Mar 29, 2008 23:37:51	The upside of the dragon hide armor is it does provide more armor class (Although more expensive) but the downside is it still applies the armor check penality while in wild shape. This interpretation makes Wild armor a terrible choice. This is an easy question already. The upside of monks belt is that is has no penalty, and it is much cheaper (Although in the current campaign money is not really an issue, long story) No ACP Allows for monetarily painless Wis optimization Adds to Touch AC Easily equivalent AC with a simple casting of Greater Luminous Armor
#9 bloodofgods Mar 30, 2008 0:34:52	Actually, because wild dragonhide fullplate and shield meld into your new form, it should stack with monk's belt, because you technically aren't wearing them anymore. So get all 3 if your funds permit it. No way in the depths of the abyss ould my Dm allow this since you are sitll benefiting from the armor.... you are still wearing your armor, now where does it say the new item is not the same as wearing the armor... If it truly melded into your skin and did not apply an armor bonus, it would be natural armor. So yeah, no hell would my dm allow all of that....
#10 x-codes Mar 30, 2008 0:59:46	...and what of the armor of the Luminous sort? Are you allowed to cast that, or are you LN or something? If you can cast it, then the Monk's Belt is the obvious choice.