Hey everyone,
I have a weapon-related question for an Elven Druid character.
Normally, druids are not allowed to use bows, swords and rapiers, but Elves get automatic proficiency in them -- does this mean, then, that Elven Druids can use these weapons?
Also, I dimly seem to remember a rule -- probably from 3.0 -- saying that if a druid used a bow as a weapon, that druid would lose his/her druidic abilities for 24 hours. Does anything like that apply to druids in 3.5 or Pathfinder??
(I could understand bows being a weapon forbidden to druids, because they're often used in hunting animals/game, but figured I'd ask the resident sages around here...)
Thanks in advance, JohnH / Wanda
Normally, druids are not allowed to use bows, swords and rapiers, but Elves get automatic proficiency in them -- does this mean, then, that Elven Druids can use these weapons?
Yes.
Also, I dimly seem to remember a rule -- probably from 3.0 -- saying that if a druid used a bow as a weapon, that druid would lose his/her druidic abilities for 24 hours. Does anything like that apply to druids in 3.5 or Pathfinder??
Nope, like you said, that was only in 3.0. They now only lose their power if they use a metal armor or shield.
According to d20srd the Druid can use any weapon as long as they are proficient. It is armor that has the restrictions.
Hey everyone,
I have a weapon-related question for an Elven Druid character.
Normally, druids are not allowed to use bows, swords and rapiers, but Elves get automatic proficiency in them -- does this mean, then, that Elven Druids can use these weapons?
Also, I dimly seem to remember a rule -- probably from 3.0 -- saying that if a druid used a bow as a weapon, that druid would lose his/her druidic abilities for 24 hours. Does anything like that apply to druids in 3.5 or Pathfinder??
(I could understand bows being a weapon forbidden to druids, because they're often used in hunting animals/game, but figured I'd ask the resident sages around here...)
Thanks in advance, JohnH / Wanda
Yes, your elf druid can use his racial weapon proficiencies without penalty in Pathfinder. It's only armor that gets you in trouble. The nature gods really don't care if you shoot people with a bow or cut down enemies of the forest with your longsword, but don't try to do it in elven chainmail, that's a no-no :)
|
Yes, your elf druid can use his racial weapon proficiencies without penalty in Pathfinder. It's only armor that gets you in trouble. The nature gods really don't care if you shoot people with a bow or cut down enemies of the forest with your longsword, but don't try to do it in elven chainmail, that's a no-no :)Hey everyone,
I have a weapon-related question for an Elven Druid character.
Normally, druids are not allowed to use bows, swords and rapiers, but Elves get automatic proficiency in them -- does this mean, then, that Elven Druids can use these weapons?
Also, I dimly seem to remember a rule -- probably from 3.0 -- saying that if a druid used a bow as a weapon, that druid would lose his/her druidic abilities for 24 hours. Does anything like that apply to druids in 3.5 or Pathfinder??
(I could understand bows being a weapon forbidden to druids, because they're often used in hunting animals/game, but figured I'd ask the resident sages around here...)
Thanks in advance, JohnH / Wanda
Yea, instead use Dragonscale Armor or use Darkwood. ;)
There are ways around being penalized.
As a more general answer, the racial proficiency would not get around a class restriction. If there is a class that is prohibited from using bows (not merely not proficient in them), if you used a bow, you would lose the appropriate class abilities regardless of how you gained proficiency (or even if you were not proficient).
The answer to "can an elven druid use a bow" is "yes, because all druids can use bows", not "yes, because the racial proficiency overrules the class restriction".
Ok maybe I'm missing something,where does it say you lose class proficiencies for using different weapons?
Ok maybe I'm missing something,where does it say you lose class proficiencies for using different weapons?
IIRC, I think that was in 3.0 (don't have that anymore, can somebody check?).
3.5 changed it to just metal armor and shields causing the loss of spells and abilities. I guess a lot of elven druids didn't like not using a bow.It makes sense to me that "nature" wouldn't care what weapons a druid would use. Wearing metal clothes could conceivably mess that up, though. Sounds a little cheesy, but druids in full plate just don't seem very druid-y. :)
Druids in full plates made of stone or wood might, though, especially if said armor is Wild
Druids in full plates made of stone or wood might, though, especially if said armor is Wild
Self-reply: druids aren't proficient with Heavy armors, but not being proficient doesn't forbid anyone from wearing one. When doing so, though, the armor's ACP applies to many rolls. However, if the armor has the Wild enchantment, its drawbacks are removed when the wearer is wildshaped (while keeping its AC bonus). So, a +1 Stone Plate (Adventurer's Armory) gives a +10 AC (9 for the armor, and the +1 that is required before applying Wild) to a wildshaped druid without any drawback. Except perhaps for the price: 17800gp = 1800 for the armor, and +16000 for the +4-equivalent of Wild (+3) and the required +1. Not bad. Although upon returning into its base form, the druid is handicapped by the clunky armor he's not even proficient with (ACP -6, +1 because it's magic thus masterwork).
To return to the topic at hand: I concur that druids can use any weapon. Allowing them to use scimitars and forbidding the use of longsword would be bizarre IMHO.
However, if the armor has the Wild enchantment, its drawbacks are removed.Quotation please.
More words please? ;-)
I should have written "Wildshape removes the armor, and Wild restores its AC bonus" which is akin to saying "while wildshaped, a druid gains a wild armor's AC but not its ACP"
Description of the Transmutation school (search "Polymorph"): When you cast a polymorph spell that changes you into a creature of the animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type, all of your gear melds into your body. Items that provide constant bonuses and do not need to be activated continue to function while melded in this way (with the exception of armor and shield bonuses, which cease to function).
Description of the "Wild" enchantment: 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.
However, if the armor has the Wild enchantment, its drawbacks are removed.Quotation please.
Please do the same for the opposite.
While some have argued strongly that the penalties for the armor stay for the wild armor, there is no scripture, which suggests this. While you might make the argument due to your own interpretation (in which I do not agree), it does seem rather cheap to ask other for quotation, when you have none.
| 1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Quotation please.
RAW:
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 covered in leaf patterns. While the wearer is in a wild shape, the armor cannot be seen.
Whether or not it meets intent, there are two specific things that are allowed to remain when wild shaped, Armor Bonus and Enhancement Bonus, there is nothing about armor check penalty or any other quality or statistic of the armor (besides the fact that it merges into the form and no longer exists, no weight or mass at that point).
But since Druids arnt Prohibited from Using Bows they just arnt trained in them, much like a Wizard isnt trained in them, they are just too buisy with their spells. Druids if they wanted to waste their time could take a martial feat instead of something more of their benifit. Elves who make natural Druids could easily use bow or sword with no problem. Its the metal in the armor that gets in the way of their spells.
Ooops, sorry, Arnt prohibited from using swords ... :)
Druids are able to use any type of armour and/or weapon they can lay their hands on and that are the right size for them.
It's completely their choice. Some of the choices will have negative consequences, though:
It's not exactly the same as being unable to use. I think that's an important distinction. They're not somehow magnetic or something, they can wear those armours just fine. They would also "work" for them. They just have to live with the consequences.
In 3.0, many types of weapon were as anathema to druids as metal armours are in PF, but that was done away (especially since the list of weapons that were "allowed" didn't really make that much sense. It wasn't "no metal weapon", but "no weapons not on the list", and that list included scimitars, for example.
Thanks, everyone, for your answers to this question! :-D
Cheers, JohnH / Wanda
Only if a Druid uses weapons or armor that are mostly metal unless they are on the Druid list of Weapons they can use. IMO Bows are fine but X-bows are not. A Druid probably wouldn't have any problem with people hunting for food as that is considered natural to the world. Using a fireball to catch your dinner though might piss some off.
The problem here is that druids can use scythes and scimitars, which have as much metal as most other swords. It's a carryover from 1e days, I think, but it's associated with the class. 3.X had more proscriptions, but PF doesn't carry the weapons prohibition now.
An elf druid can use long and shortbows, but notcrossbows. They wouldn't be bothered by responsible hunting, for the most part. Poachers and greedy hunters would get them fuming, though.
For anyone who doubted the rule was in 3.0 (as I did), here it is:
: Druids are proficient with the following weapons: club, dagger, dart, halfspear, longspear, quarterstaff, scimitar, sickle, shortspear, and sling. Their spiritual oaths prohibit them from using weapons other than these.
...
A druid who wears prohibited armor or wields a prohibited weapon is unable to use any of her magical powers while doing so and for 24 hours thereafter.