Registered Member #685
Joined: 10:12:38 pm GMT 01/14/06
Posts: 1252
I'll lay it down straight and true:
"Druids shouldn't be able to wear metal armor."
This is purely from my aspect and as well from PnP rules. I know NWN is not PnP and that thus it doesn't need to take up every rule that PnP has.
As to those who don't understand why druids technically shouldn't be able to wear metal, it's because it's not natural. It's ore to begin with but through many processes it's been changed into armor and it's really no longer it's natural state.
Now I know that many people will argue against this because they like having their druid wearing the highest metal AC armor they can grab. But I'd just like to have a discussion on how everyone feels about how NWN takes this and how PnP takes it.
On a side note, there's a script in NWNVault that introduces the Druid's armor restriction.
Registered Member #157
Joined: 5:18:57 pm GMT 06/25/04
Posts: 15510
I personally don't wear metal armour on my druid PC, but it's my choice in my RP
There is no need for any game or mechanics alterations, because if you want to RP this, you just don't wear metal armour
At the moment it might be a possibility to RP a heavier armour perhaps as an Ironwood armour, as such a thing doesn't exist in-game, but that's up to the player too
Registered Member #625
Joined: 11:10:21 pm GMT 10/02/05
Posts: 1241
Ironwood or Dragonhide armor both have the same stats as Full Plate, I believe, and neither are mechanically IG. But it makes sense for Druids to RP having this, if they so choose.
Registered Member #442
Joined: 8:50:19 pm GMT 02/24/05
Posts: 972
Actually, flamedance, that's not quite accurate.
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting pg. 23 wrote ...
Mielikki, who is famous for the number of druid/rangers who worship her, has more lenient spiritual oaths than most deities that druids worship in the Realms. Druids of Mielikki can use any of the standard armor or weapons that rangers normally use (all simple and martial weapons, all light and medium armor, and all shields) without violating their spiritual oaths.
As for druids in heavy armor being abusive, even the standard PnP game seems to disagree:
SRD v3.5 wrote ...
Ironwood Transmutation Level: Drd 6 Components: V, S, M Casting Time: 1 minute/lb. created Range: 0 ft. Effect: An ironwood object weighing up to 5 lb./level Duration: One day/level (D) Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No Ironwood is a magical substance created by druids from normal wood. While remaining natural wood in almost every way, ironwood is as strong, heavy, and resistant to fire as steel. Spells that affect metal or iron do not function on ironwood. Spells that affect wood do affect ironwood, although ironwood does not burn. Using this spell with wood shape or a wood-related Craft check, you can fashion wooden items that function as steel items. Thus, wooden plate armor and wooden swords can be created that are as durable as their normal steel counterparts. These items are freely usable by druids. Further, if you make only half as much ironwood as the spell would normally allow, any weapon, shield, or suit of armor so created is treated as a magic item with a +1 enhancement bonus. Material Component: Wood shaped into the form of the intended ironwood object.
Always Preceding Miggen Registered Member #136
Joined: 4:31:27 am GMT 06/13/04
Posts: 16130
I get the feeling that those who take their RP seriously on Thain, don't have their druids wear metal armor. Note that Umber Hulk armor is in the AC class of metal armors but the description clearly says it's made from an Umber Hulk's shell--that armor is not in the module by accident.
FD wrote ... On a side note, there's a script in NWNVault that introduces the Druid's armor restriction.
I doubt the builder's will consider this as you're free to RP most of the classes "as is" on Thain without any special restrictions (although RDDs will be set hostile for wings and some spells have been adjusted for balance on a low magic-item world).
FEAR the Moorhen of Death (tm). Registered Member #26
Joined: 4:31:20 pm GMT 02/25/04
Posts: 3209
Thain isn't about enforcing strict RP rules like that, though. Never has been, doubt it ever will be.
Those who want to RP that their druid cannot wear metal armour are totally free to - there are even heavy non-metal options available IG to facilitate those who choose to RP like that. And of course DMs will also take notice of people who choose their items, stats etc for RP reasons rather than "cos it's most powerful, innit".
However, not everyone's druid RP will follow the "druids can't wear metal armour" line. Thain is not solidly set in FR, it is loosely set there. So while druids may be restricted from wearing metal armour in FR (and even there, not completely restricted dependent on deity), that does not mean that they cannot wear metal armour in Thain. Not to mention that there will certainly be those who are unaware of the FR/PnP restriction.
It's therefore not really fair to assume that anyone whose druid wears metal armour just "like[s] having their druid wearing the highest metal AC armor they can grab."
Finally, even if "druids can't wear metal armour" were to be a firm truth, which it is not, not everyone wants to roleplay that fully on Thain, and that's fine too, because something like this is highly unlikely to disrupt the fun of any on Thain who do wish to RP.
Basically, Thain is set up to cover all these different possibilities, and the way we've done it is to try and make it possible to choose any of them, without feeling at a disadvantage (whether through providing items available in-game at all times, or through compensating RP by giving out special items). You can set your own limits on how your character behaves; we try to restrict that as little as possible, to allow for maximally creative and enjoyable RP.
Registered Member #815
Joined: 8:20:35 am GMT 07/17/06
Posts: 36
My druid doesn't wear any amour at all but not because off a oath, myself I always felt the nonmetal oath a bit... silly actually I oath to only use things you created by your own hands, fine (but extremely hard...) but metal.. um.. there is tons off things in the world that are equally "unnatural" (whatever that means.. last time I checked metals are found in nature...)
Not saying that those that play druids that follow that is silly or something, its just my opinion on things
[ The Island of Thain ]
Druids and Armor
