Druid/Ranger Wood Choice Magic

The Druid page on the D&D Beyond website says that certain woods give druids advantages for certain weapons. It only lists a couple of examples for the weapons and their woods and never says whether there are actually any advantages to it. Therefore, I have provided a more detailed description of the sacred woods and their uses in weapons. Apart from yew being associated with rebirth (and it being used for scimitars and sickles), oak and ash being used for whole weapons and shields (and they symbolize strength and life respectively), and that alder is associated with air and is used for throwing weapons, all of the things on this document are homebrew.

Please note that I have given a variety of woods so that in most places, you will find a wood from this list. However, if your campaign never goes anywhere that has these woods, you might want to consider making your own wood list.

## **Lore**

Centuries ago, all the druids and rangers were meeting together to discuss nature and learn from each other. Around their meeting spot, a forest, there was an empire. The rangers and druids were on good terms with the empire. In fact, the druids and rangers had decided to help the empire fight another nation, because the nation was deforesting and generally ruining nature. However, that night, the emperor had decided it would be much more profitable to ally the empire with the other nation.

The rangers learned of this plot and addressed the senior rangers and druids. All of the druids were there, and a beast master ranger sent his hawk to get the other rangers to put together a force. But then, the senior rangers realized something. “THE TRAITORS HAVE ALL OF OUR WEAPONS!” one boomed as she addressed the rangers and druids. That was true, since they had left all of their weapons in the empire’s capital city for the attack on the other nation. They realized she was right. “What should we do?” asked the panicked rangers and druids. The Druidic Council didn’t know what to do, but they decided to pray to Silvanus for deliverance. At the end of their prayer, Silvanus appeared on top of a tree, in the form of a mighty stag.

“Hello, my followers. What aid do you require?” The senior rangers and druids told him what had happened. “Well, you must make new weapons.” “Even with all of our weapons and all of our fighters, we cannot fight the two nations and their allies!” “I will fight with the wrath of nature.” “But what should we do? There will be many fronts in this war. You are only one god. How will we win them all?” “Hmm, good point. Let me think.”

One minute later, Silvanus had a solution. “Some woods are associated with air, some with rebirth, some with strength. Right?” “Yes.” “Well then, I will infuse these woods with my power. Whenever rangers or druids use these woods to make weapons, they will be more powerful than an ordinary weapon.” “Okay.” “Air woods will be good for aerial weapons. Strength and life woods will be good for all-wood weapons. Death woods will be good for bladed weapons. Rebirth woods will be good for makeshift weapons. And this tree I am standing on, the juniper, will excel in all of these uses, except don’t use it for makeshift weapons. It’s too powerful for that.”

With these weapons, powered by nature, and Silvanus’s power backing them up, the rangers and druids were able to save the wild and force the empires to form more eco-friendly ones.

## **Uses**

### **Ranged Weapons (such as crossbows) and Thrown Weapons (such as javelins)**

Alder, Elm, Linden, Laurel, Beech, Ebony, Cypress, Hornbeam, Poplar, Acacia, Cedar, Willow, Juniper

### **Wooden Weapons (such as staffs) and Shields**

Ash, Redwood, Cocobolo, Oak, Holly, Mahogany, Chestnut, Ombu, Aspen, Birch, Fir, Pine, Juniper

### **Bladed Weapons (such as swords)**

Mesquite, Olive, Mango, Cherry, Spruce, Yew, Apple, Lemon, Hawthorn, Elder, Redwood, Mangrove, Juniper

## **Obtaining Process**

1. Expend one first-level spell slot
2. Obtain the wood you want.
3. Use 1 hour of preparation time.
4. Use prayer beads costing 50 gp. You can also make them yourself using clay.

## **Advantages**

### **Weapon Advantages**

Add your proficiency bonus on all attacks you make using these weapons (damage and attack bonus).

They are all considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances

Bladed makeshift weapons do NOT get double bonuses, they get one bonus.

Weapons with the Ranged property get to add half their range to their current range. For example, a dagger would now have a 30/90 range instead of a 20/60 range.

## **Restrictions**

These woods’ power comes from the blessing of nature, so if you harvest it in a non-eco-friendly way, it loses its powers and if you use it for anti-nature purposes it loses its powers.

The powers only work for druids and rangers, as they are the classes closest to nature. The player needs to have at least 3 levels in druid and/or ranger. Additionally, druids and rangers must harvest the wood and make the item themselves.

Acacia, ash, Ishtoc oak, and hornbeam wood will only give advantages to its owner.