As a gm, I'd let it work.
Typically, as long as the living steel is harvested from a dead tree, I'd allow the druid to use weapons and armor crafted from it (no problem). The important thing is that they don't go razing a forest to retrieve the material; that's definitely not allowed by the druid's code of ethics.
Then again, in times of duress, I'd think druids would be able to harvest some living steel from healthy trees, so long as they don't entirely uproot them. Clipping some branches wouldn't hurt--hell, I could see 'em felling a couple trees even, if things are that bad (you've got to repel the orc invasion somehow, don't you?)... just not all of 'em (they've got to be some sort of endangered species, these trees).
In short, respect nature and don't overdo it, and all's fine (in my opinion).
Ironwood, use it.
Iron wood for armor
Living Steel weapons yes
Living Steel Armor No
It is still metal.
Ironwood, use it.Not ideal. You can't enhance it.
You really need Dragonhide.
Why can't you enhance it?
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.
Because it's not permanent?
Duration 1 day/level (D)
Of course, the Focus of the spell is "wooden object", not "non-magical wooden object", so perhaps you can enhance it before (or after?) the spell is cast.
Thoughts on this? Should a druid be allowed to use Living Steel items like armor?
Druids should just be allowed to use metal, period.
Because it's not permanent?
Duration 1 day/level (D)Of course, the Focus of the spell is "wooden object", not "non-magical wooden object", so perhaps you can enhance it before (or after?) the spell is cast.
That's certainly true, but its pretty reasonable to be allowed to use permanency with it. By the time you're able to cast it, the ~2000gp value of +1 armor will be paltry compared to your total wealth by level. Not to mention you need a scroll of permanency and UMD.
The prohibition against wearing metal armor seems arbitrary when you consider that the druid can wield all manner of metal weapons (daggers, scimitars, etc.). That aside, I've always assumed the reason they were unable to wear metal armor had to do with the quantity of metal required to forge most armors, as well as the mining techniques used to acquire said metal (i.e. it's destructive to the environment). However, in the case of living metal, there's no mining involved, hence why, as a DM, I'd allow druids to wear living metal armor. (Yes, I realize this isn't RAW.)