[3.5] Druid & Ironwood-stiched Armor

[TheG]

Hi, i'm building a druid character for a low-econ Hard-Line master campign.
For the record it's a Lv8 Druid with 9100gp in equipment.

Obv the Armor issue come up.

I proposed a Dragonhide Banded Mail, but the master said that i couldn't wear an armor that i'm not proficent in, and that all dragons are dead from long time thus no dragon skin is aviable. LOL

I proposed a woodshaped Breastplate with ironwood enchantment on it.
Striclty by raw this is the math. Rules Applied: Crafting 1 (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/creatingMagicItems.htm#magicItemGoldPieceValues) 2 (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/creatingMagicItems.htm#tableEstimatingMagicItemGol dPieceValues) Ironwood (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/ironwood.htm)

The armor is enchanted with a Word-Command spell effect of Ironwood SL 6 CL11

6 x 11 x 1800 = 118800gp
That's lightly over the budget, but my Druid needs only his ironwood armor and not spamming the spell all day long, so by the table

118800 /5 = 23760gp reduces usage 1/day.. but the enchatment has duration 1day/CL so we need to cast it only 1time every 11days, so.
23760 /11 = 2160gp

Final touch, 'cose it's a druid-only armor benefit from the -30% discount (by link 1)
2160*0,70 = 1512gp that's very close to the price of a standard +1 Armor.

So, i have an breastplate wood-shaped armor that every 11 days needs i repeat my vows as druid to strengthen and protect. Seems cool to me.

Master freaked out "this is not possible" "i don't think it's by the rules" etc.

I made this 3ead for some suggestion on armors (core only) and to show community opinions on my Ironwood Custom Armor.

Please Respond ;)

EDIT: for the records "cheating" the game (= using rules and intelligence for profit) would be this:

Word Activated Extended Ironwood spell effect SL 7 CL 13
7 x 13 x 1800 = 163800 /5 (times a day) = 32760 /26 (1 time every 26 days= duartion of the spell) = 1260 -30% (druid only) = 882gp

[Heliomance]

You absolutely can use armour you're not proficient in, the rules spell out exactly what it does.


Nonproficient with Armor Worn
A character who wears armor and/or uses a shield with which he or she is not proficient takes the armor’s (and/or shield’s) armor check penalty on attack rolls and on all Strength-based and Dexterity-based ability and skill checks. The penalty for nonproficiency with armor stacks with the penalty for nonproficiency with shields.

Also, the custom magic item creation guidelines are explicitly guidelines, not rules, and need the DM to approve them on a case-by-case basis.

[eggynack]

Is there any particular reason for you to need this? It doesn't look like your armor even has wild on it, so you don't keep it while wild shape'd. Instead, why not just fly around as a dire bat (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/direBat.htm). It should probably leave you with superior AC, and you get flight based defenses besides. If enemies are swinging swords, fly out of range, if they're shooting arrows, lay down a wind wall, and if they're flying at you with a sword, frigging kill them, cause you've got spells for that. This plan of yours just seems overcomplicated, and if you really push for this crazy-armor, you're spending your DM points on a rather non-critical matter.

edit: Or dispel the flight. In a level, you'll get control winds, and the spell you cast to stop ranged attacks, the spell you cast to stop flying enemies, and the spell you cast to control the battlefield will all be the same spell.

[Greenish]

Craft a wooden breastplate (no need for masterwork). Have the Elder Druid cast Ironwood (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/ironwood.htm) on it at CL 12*. Apply Unguent of Timelessness (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#unguentofTimelessness). Your breastplate is now +1 Ironwood Breastplate for 12 years, for the total cost of 870 gp. Plus you should have some unguent left over.


*CL 12 lets you affect 60 lb. of matter, making the 30 lb. breastplate exactly half of what the spell would allow, meaning Ironwood gives it +1 enhancement bonus.

[TheG]

You absolutely can use armour you're not proficient in, the rules spell out exactly what it does.
Also, the custom magic item creation guidelines are explicitly guidelines, not rules, and need the DM to approve them on a case-by-case basis.

I can wear it with the malus. i'm just applying rules by RAW for justificating a simple +1Armor for 1500gp


Is there any particular reason for you to need this? It doesn't look like your armor even has wild on it, so you don't keep it while wild shape'd. Instead, why not just fly around as a dire bat (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/direBat.htm). It should probably leave you with superior AC, and you get flight based defenses besides. If enemies are swinging swords, fly out of range, if they're shooting arrows, lay down a wind wall, and if they're flying at you with a sword, frigging kill them, cause you've got spells for that. This plan of yours just seems overcomplicated, and if you really push for this crazy-armor, you're spending your DM points on a rather non-critical matter.

edit: Or dispel the flight. In a level, you'll get control winds, and the spell you cast to stop ranged attacks, the spell you cast to stop flying enemies, and the spell you cast to control the battlefield will all be the same spell.

haha Thx for the suggestion for strategy :) control winds+gust of wind tricks are awesome. however i need armor 'cose master has a druid variant for me without wildshaping but more summoning.

[eggynack]

haha Thx for the suggestion for strategy :) control winds+gust of wind tricks are awesome. however i need armor 'cose master has a druid variant for me without wildshaping but more summoning.
What does the trade look like? More important than that, it's entirely possible that you still don't really need armor, or at least not particularly strong armor. You come with a built in meat shield, and if you have a summoning focus, you are presumably adding meat shields to the table every round or so. In that context, it can often be difficult to put you in a position where AC is relevant, especially if you add wind wall to the equation again. Sure, tossing on some basic armor is a no brainer, but if you're investing serious capital into the plan, then that's not a great idea. Anyway, depending on your wisdom, you might be better off with a monk's belt (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#beltMonks). It's entirely possible that a monk's belt will give you a greater quantity of more universally applicable AC for less GP.

[TheG]

Craft a wooden breastplate (no need for masterwork). Have the Elder Druid cast Ironwood (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/ironwood.htm) on it at CL 12*. Apply Unguent of Timelessness (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#unguentofTimelessness). Your breastplate is now +1 Ironwood Breastplate for 12 years, for the total cost of 870 gp. Plus you should have some unguent left over.


*CL 12 lets you affect 60 lb. of matter, making the 30 lb. breastplate exactly half of what the spell would allow, meaning Ironwood gives it +1 enhancement bonus.

wow i nerver heard about this unguent! i'll check it with the master. Thx :D


What does the trade look like? More important than that, it's entirely possible that you still don't really need armor, or at least not particularly strong armor. You come with a built in meat shield, and if you have a summoning focus, you are presumably adding meat shields to the table every round or so. In that context, it can often be difficult to put you in a position where AC is relevant, especially if you add wind wall to the equation again. Sure, tossing on some basic armor is a no brainer, but if you're investing serious capital into the plan, then that's not a great idea. Anyway, depending on your wisdom, you might be better off with a monk's belt (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#beltMonks). It's entirely possible that a monk's belt will give you a greater quantity of more universally applicable AC for less GP.

Variant seems fun to me: i can convoke creatures that i made a pact with expending spells slots for HD. my HD it's the maximum HD of controlled/convoked creatures and they serve me all-day or until dismiss. a sort of nature necromancer

[Diarmuid]

I've always taken the whole unguent of timelessness thing at face value as presented on these boards, but this time I decided to actually look it up and I dont get how this is supposed to work at all.

Sure, your item isnt going to age/rot/etc, but that has nothing to do with the magic on said item. The spells are independent of the item and would not be effected by the unguent.

How is this such a widely accepted use when it's so obviously not intended to work in that way at all?

[Greenish]

How is this such a widely accepted use when it's so obviously not intended to work in that way at all?The Unguent says that "[e]ach year of actual time affects the substance as if only a day had passed". The substance you apply it to is the effect of the Ironwood spell.

I don't see a problem.

[Diarmuid]

When applied to any matter that was once alive..

The "effect of the ironwood spell" is not "matter that was once alive".

[Greenish]

The "effect of the ironwood spell" is not "matter that was once alive".How do you figure?

"Ironwood is a magical substance created by druids from normal wood."

I'd assume normal wood was once alive.