I know this is old, but I thought I heard of some errata or nerf, that this perhaps used to work, but doesn't now??
Assuming no actual armor when wildshaped, but only bracers of armor, ring of protection, amulet of natural armor, etc., does the druid still get his Wis mod as a bonus to AC when wildshaping, if he takes one level of monk?
If he's wearing a monk's robe, does that effectively give him an additional +1 to AC, per a 6th level monk?
What about the improved unarmed attacks? i.e., if the druid wildshapes into a huge earth elemental, then what?
Lastly, would the monk's robes take up the same item slot as druid vestments? (or do the robes go over the vestments?) WTH is a vestment, anyway? I have yet to see them on the rack at Sears.
Monk Robes and Druid's Vestment go in the same slot, so no stacking, but yeah he would get the AC bonus.
I don't think Wild Shaped forms would have unarmed strikes.
I would not say this is overpowered, though. A fairly solid multiclassing choice, but not overpowered.
You can stack multiple magical enchantments on the same item, but the additional enchantments will cost 50% more.
A Monk/Druid should get Wis to AC while wildshaped even without a Monk's Robe. The MR is more useful for increasing your unarmed strike damage a die step. Due to the polymorph rules (RAW at least) you'd lose the armor bonus from bracers of armor when you wildshape, but you could still benefit from spells like Mage Armor.
I can see no reason why you couldn't make unarmed strikes while wildshaped, but if it is not permitted in your group for some reason then you might want to consider the Feral Combat Training feat from Ultimate Combat instead of or in addition to the Monk's Robe.
Why do you think you'd lose the armor bonus from bracers of armor when wildshaping?
As I've read everything, worn items continue to function.
EDIT: Nevermind, I see the bit on the PRD about items providing a static armor and shield bonus cease to function. This is completely stupid, btw. I can see that rule making sense, due to "your leather/hide/wooden armor melds into your new badger form, thus making you vulnerable to hits, because... well, you don't have thick armor covering your body anymore."
To extend that to bracers of armor seems like an unintended RAW grab-all.
I'll have to go back and read treantmonk's druid guide, but I think that's where I got the idea of dropping my wild armor and shield, in favor of the bracers of armor.
To extend that to bracers of armor seems like an unintended RAW grab-all.
Not do derail the thread, but I'm pretty sure it was done deliberately for balance reasons - if the fighter loses his armor, so should the wizard. The fact that druids don't get something to replace it is a bit problematical.
As far as unarmed strikes while wild-shaped, you're generally able to do them, but you probably can't combine them with natural attacks (depending on what your natural attacks are), and they're almost certainly going to be less effective than the natural weapons.
I'm all for game balance, but when is a fighter going to use any type of polymorph effect, and how would a fighter keeping his armor and shield bonuses when polymorphed potentially be game-breaking?
If I go with wild armor, I'm still penalized by the armor's max dex bonus and armor check penalties to skills, correct?
I suppose one thing I could do is add the wild property to the bracers of armor. If +8 bracers of armor cost 64,000 gold, then I figure +8 wild bracers of armor would be 121,000 gold. Or, if that exceeds the +10 limitation, call them +7 wild bracers of armor for 100,000 gold.
I seem to recall reading something recently to the effect that even a wild shield isn't supposed to work in wildshape form, per some errata or something.
So what would the base cost be for MW ironwood full plate?
If I go with wild armor, I'm still penalized by the armor's max dex bonus and armor check penalties to skills, correct?
Actually:
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.
It only says that you get the armor bonus, nowhere does it say that you still take the penalties, or are limited by max dex.
I'm all for game balance, but when is a fighter going to use any type of polymorph effect, and how would a fighter keeping his armor and shield bonuses when polymorphed potentially be game-breaking?
Deck out a fighter with AC through the roof and high strength. Cast polymorph on him to turn him into a dire tiger. He now has three natural attacks, pounce, rake, reach, +4 AC (making his high AC even higher), +4 strength, is faster, and his only downsides are -2 Dex and an inability to speak. Sure, it takes a 5th level spell, but it lasts long enough that it can be a factor in several sequential combats, can be pre-cast before bursting into the BBEG's sanctum, or just cast each combat in a game where combat is rare (such as Kingmaker, where it's rarely more than one encounter a day). And between the high AC and pounce, the fighter can be wherever he needs to be, and can just ignore most attacks of opportunity - and he can't even be disarmed of his shield or have his armor sundered! It becomes the same kind of no-brainer spell that haste is.
Whereas if he loses his armor, it then becomes a choice. Give up some defensive ability to gain a great deal of offensive ability and mobility.
Bracers of Armor cannot have a modified Bonus higher than +8. So you're looking at a maximum of +5 Wild Bracers. Unless you have 64,000 GP burning a hole in your pocket, potions of Mage Armor (or a friendly Wizard) are generally preferrable for the cost.
Why can't they have a modified bonus higher than +8?
If you'd said +10, I could see why, but I see no reason why they'd be limited to a modified +8.
Per the text, wild armor gives you all the benefits and no.e of the drawbacks, as the armor is still absorbed into your body, the only difference is you get to keep the ac and enhancement bonus active.
NOWAI!!!
For some reason, I was thinking that you got screwed with the armor check penalty and max dex, for whatever armor you were wearing.
So that's my solution, then, is just to get a set of ironwood full plate.
What about shields? Per the CRB, they can have wild, also. I "seem" to recall that there was some errata or something that came out to the effect of "shields don't work in wild shape, ever ever ever."
Am I good to keep a shield bonus from a wild shield when I wildshape?
Lulz, a fiendish dire woodpecker sundered my armor...
Bracers of Armor cannot have a modified Bonus higher than +8. So you're looking at a maximum of +5 Wild Bracers. Unless you have 64,000 GP burning a hole in your pocket, potions of Mage Armor (or a friendly Wizard) are generally preferrable for the cost.Why can't they have a modified bonus higher than +8?
If you'd said +10, I could see why, but I see no reason why they'd be limited to a modified +8.
Because the item says so.
Well why the hell didn't you just say "RTFM" in the first place? :)
Amazing what I discover when I go back and read the actual item description...