Druids and jewelery

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

Does the normal jewelery craftable on the jeweler's bench interfere with a druid's connection to nature? I.e., rings, amulets... Not something like fine chain to cover their arms or something. *Chuckles*

[Pen N Popper]

From LORE : A druid may only wear natural clothing, to include wood, leather, fur, silk, feathers, gems and jewelry, or other animal parts. They are not to wear refined material such as metal as that harms the connection with nature.
  I read that as yes, jewelry is allowed.

[Black Cat]

Yes, I read it the same. Don't take that from them, they are restricted enough already in what they can wear or not *grins*

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

That's what I was thinking. Thanks!

[Drizzlin]

But they can only wear jewlery made by a certain drow *winks*

ROAR =)

[lonnarin]

The amulets and ring are woven in a circular fashion, and we ALL know that it is simply the curviture of metal, and not the unworldly process of refinement which qualifies them for use.  Hence why longswords and rapiers will shock the hands and obliterate the oaths of the druid, whereas curvy scimitars and sickles of the same material do not.

*does the Crocodile Hunter voice*

"oi, here we see the scimitar in its natural environment.  Travelling the groves, it makes its way past the flocks of sickles... but wait!  What's this?  A Greatsword has invaded its natural habitat, by Crikey!  The whole of the herd is doomed to the rigors of civilization!"

*kneels down to the quivering, injured little sickle, cradles it in his arms and pats it*  "it's alright there little bloke... we'll nurse ye back to health and release ye from captivity when yer well enough."

[miasma_hemlock]

Jewelry absolutely should NOT interfere with Druidic abilities. Really if you look at the the true "Druids" that they're based on (the Celts) they created some of the finest body ornaments in the ancient world and the patterns etc. they created are still very popular today.  They also believed (and this is why, completely to the opposite of what you are saying, Druids should actually be expert jewelcrafters and enchanters) that the patterns they created themselves were conduits and had magical properties.  

Remember metal is an element of nature, I can understand the restrictions on weapons and armor because it's wrought or forged or whatever else which would make it the "plastic" of Layo.  It's also obviously done for balance too, of course, which let's all be honest is the real reason (I mean I don't see why if it all comes down to explaining it logically that a druid could not wear a special handcrafted suit of chainmail made in a manner that's allowed like the scimitar...  I don't argue that they SHOULD though because the restrictions are fair enough and anyway chainmail isn't THAT much better than leather)

But to say all metal should be taboo because it interferes with natural abilities would be wrong, first because like I say metal is a natural element that should be able to be used in jewerly if it is worked appropriately, second because the people the class is modelled after were master jewelcrafters, and third because (if you choose to ignore all that) it would be completely unfair to say they are the one class that could not benefit from amulets and rings. And last but not least I should add they do have to wear a holy symbol necklace and there is a set of rings of natural splendor (made of metals and gems) that is for the druid class alone.

I think a lot of us have the idea druids are like modern day new age vegan hippies (which I won't deny I have have of been at certain points in my own life!) when the true Celtic Druids were much, much more than that...

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

Something to remember is that the D&D druids, as they are today, are about as far-removed from the original inspiration as it can get.

That said, I think you just redefined the character concept I was going for.

[miasma_hemlock]

Well I don't know anything about the D&D rules and don't really care...  This isn't really D&D anyway, it's its own world and I'd rather go by the Layo handbook of what they want the druids to be (filling in the gaps with the real legend which is extremely rich) than by D&D rules..

[Stephen_Zuckerman]

From what I can tell, Layo druids aren't patterned, particularly, after the Celts, either. *Shrugs.* Still, the point regarding the knotwork is very true; their work with crystals was also rather impressive.

That said, you can do the same stuff with hemp or rawhide that you can with silver. It just isn't as shiny.

[Drizzlin]

miasma_hemlock - 1/5/2007  6:49 PM

Well I don't know anything about the D&D rules and don't really care...  This isn't really D&D anyway, it's its own world and I'd rather go by the Layo handbook of what they want the druids to be (filling in the gaps with the real legend which is extremely rich) than by D&D rules..

D&D rules and NWN game coded rules are much closer to layo rules than real life. It is good that you find something to make your characters "rich" in the sense of being something you can relate too. Remember layonara uses NWN, which uses D&D 3.5 rules. This is what layo had to work with.

[Lucius]

NWN uses 3.0 actually, when monks had weird BABs and the funniest damage dices *watches his own attacks deal from 5 to 21 damage*

[Drizzlin]

I meant 3.0 =P I could just ninja edit my post =)