Question about an Item on a Druid (possibly minor Spoilers? I don't know...)

justfeelinathome

Should pure-class Druids be able to use the Dragonscale Shield +3? It clearly isn't a Buckler and Shamans, Bards and Thiefs can't use it. Yet in the past there has been some exceptions regarding druids and natural armor (notably Dragon and Ankheg). How do you check if it's a bug?

I'll report it, if it is. I finally got around to use redmine.

justfeelinathome

I'd like to ask this question to someone on the team. @Dee maybe? Who would be a suitable candidate to know?

Dee

I'd report it as a "Feature"; the class description doesn't say that druids "cannot use metal shields"; insted it says they "cannot use shields larger than a buckler". So personally I would say that's working as intended, but I also didn't design the item, so I don't know for sure. If you think it should work differently, go ahead and report it.

GrimLefourbe

I noticed something similar for archers. I think their description used to say " can't wear metal armor" which made the ankhed plate super strong on them but it's now "can't wear armor heavier than x" and they can still wear the ankheg plate.

justfeelinathome

If you'd go purely by size, it definitely IS larger than a buckler, since it's a medium sized shield (both in appearance and absent AC class penalties). So yeah, a "Feature" it shall be.

justfeelinathome

Just checked in game, the Rhino Beetle Shield is also usable by druids, for anyone who's interested in that sort of stuff. Included it in my feature request to a) update their item descriptions ton recognize a exception is being made or b) make both items unequipable by non multi-/dual- Druids.

Krotos

Personally, I'd rather update the druid class description to "Can't wear a shield larger than buckler unless it's of druidic origin." or give the item "Can be worn by druids" in the description. Druids have a scarce item selection as it is imo, no need to make it smaller. :P

justfeelinathome

Well you can submit a feature request yourself, then. My request was updated to a Bug report.

http://support.baldursgate.com/issues/22516#change-126829

I agree, though, that druid gear is somewhat limited and Avengers armor selection is especially lackluster. Their best armor in SoD is almost identical (the Combat ability is cool, though) to the piece looted from Durlags Tower and clearly directed more towards thieves. (I'm talking about Karajahs Life and Death VS. The Night's Embrace) Dragonscale Armor could have easily been a un-studded leather armor, for example (a la Shadow Dragon Scale in BG II).

justfeelinathome

To anyone who STILL cares, now it's the class description of druid being updated, to:

– May only wear non-metallic armor.
– May only equip bucklers and non-metallic shields.

Thus, the shields will stay equipable by druid. Happy about this fact.