The druid proficiency entry seems to make it clear that a druid can ONLY wield wooden shields. It does not make an exception for other non-metal materials. Was this intended?
Probably not intended. It should probably be the same restrictions as armour.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
From Ultimate Equipment:
Because dragonhide armor isn't made of metal, druids can wear it without penalty.
I'd say you're fine. The restriction is mostly on using metal. Druids are very much not metal. Maybe country/southern rock, but not metal.
From Ultimate Equipment:
Because dragonhide armor isn't made of metal, druids can wear it without penalty.I'd say you're fine. The restriction is mostly on using metal. Druids are very much not metal. Maybe country/southern rock, but not metal.
Being able to wear Dragonhide armor doesn't mean that you can use a Dragonhide shield. Arguably since Druids are allowed to wear hide armor, Dragonhide armor would be legal even without that clarifying statement. But the rules for Druids and shields is pretty specific. It doesn't say that they have to use non-metal shields; it says that they can only use wooden ones. So I don't think the rules support the use of Dragonhide shields, although I think it would fit the class concept if they did.
Being able to wear Dragonhide armor doesn't mean that you can use a Dragonhide shield. Arguably since Druids are allowed to wear hide armor, Dragonhide armor would be legal even without that clarifying statement. But the rules for Druids and shields is pretty specific. It doesn't say that they have to use non-metal shields; it says that they can only use wooden ones. So I don't think the rules support the use of Dragonhide shields, although I think it would fit the class concept if they did.From Ultimate Equipment:
Because dragonhide armor isn't made of metal, druids can wear it without penalty.I'd say you're fine. The restriction is mostly on using metal. Druids are very much not metal. Maybe country/southern rock, but not metal.
Your main concern is this bit:
Druids are proficient with light and medium armor but are prohibited from wearing metal armor; thus, they may wear only padded, leather, or hide armor. A druid may also wear wooden armor that has been altered by the ironwood spell so that it functions as though it were steel. Druids are proficient with shields (except tower shields) but must use only those crafted from wood.
Yet dragonhide can be used for hide, breastplates, and heavy armour (and nothing lighter). I'd think that the specific dragonhide rules would trump the general druid ones, as seems to be the intent and the flavour of the class.
This is what I see in the druid proficiency section: "Druids are proficient with shields (except tower shields) but must use only wooden ones."
They are proficient with all shields. They are proficient with metal shields.
Of the items listed in shields table in the core rulebook, the only ones they can use are wooden ones. However, the entire passage makes it very clear that the reason they can only use wooden ones is that they can't use metal ones.
Reading the whole thing in context it seems pretty clear to me that as long as it isn't metal, you are good.
Being able to wear Dragonhide armor doesn't mean that you can use a Dragonhide shield. Arguably since Druids are allowed to wear hide armor, Dragonhide armor would be legal even without that clarifying statement. But the rules for Druids and shields is pretty specific. It doesn't say that they have to use non-metal shields; it says that they can only use wooden ones. So I don't think the rules support the use of Dragonhide shields, although I think it would fit the class concept if they did.From Ultimate Equipment:
Because dragonhide armor isn't made of metal, druids can wear it without penalty.I'd say you're fine. The restriction is mostly on using metal. Druids are very much not metal. Maybe country/southern rock, but not metal.Your main concern is this bit:
Druids are proficient with light and medium armor but are prohibited from wearing metal armor; thus, they may wear only padded, leather, or hide armor. A druid may also wear wooden armor that has been altered by the ironwood spell so that it functions as though it were steel. Druids are proficient with shields (except tower shields) but must use only those crafted from wood.Yet dragonhide can be used for hide, breastplates, and heavy armour (and nothing lighter). I'd think that the specific dragonhide rules would trump the general druid ones, as seems to be the intent and the flavour of the class.
And if the Dragonhide rules said you Druids can use Dragonhide shields then that would trump the general Druid rules. But they don't. They specifically say that Druids can wear Dragonhide armor. If they intended for Druids to use Dragonhide shields it would have been a simple matter to add "or shields" in the Dragonhide section.
And if the Dragonhide rules said you Druids can use Dragonhide shields then that would trump the general Druid rules. But they don't. They specifically say that Druids can wear Dragonhide armor. If they intended for Druids to use Dragonhide shields it would have been a simple matter to add "or shields" in the Dragonhide section.
Shields are a sub-category of Armor though. Shields are in the Armor section of equipment. If you look at magic armor, it is there that you find shields.
For dragon hide shields to be prohibited, it would would have to say Druids can wear dragon hide armor except shields.
While I agree with you on the RAW Gisher - or there's at least a valid argument that way - I think you're edging near the RAW is LAW fallacy. The RAI is pretty darned clear in this case - and I don't see any GMs disallowing a druid from using a dragonhide shield.There's just no big deal about it. Dragonhide was created to give druids a heavy armor option that they were lacking due to their restrictions. Dragonhide shields don't give druids anything they don't have already.
Well, they get a matching set. Fashion is still important. (And I still think a druid should get access to them.)
Meant to say "Can a druid NOT wield a dragonhide shield?" in the thread title...