@V2Blast Hi - I think it covers the general creature/object rule. I feel this is a subset of that (maybe more from overthinking - you may not agree) where the armour is an object that is being controlled by some magical force. The main thing I want to know is whether heat metal should or shouldn't work on animated armour. I've edited to reflect that and hopefully phrase my question a little better. :)

@Medix2 The first one is pretty spot on as an answer actually as it addressed the problem end to end. I'm still not sure how it works physically (what has changed to make the spell no longer work) but in terms of rules/classification it makes sense. Second one I'd seen but the problem there was quite different as the stumbling block was more that the scales are grown, rather than manufactured.

@V2Blast This is a duplicate but I'd say more of This one does that need changing?

@PJRZ Please don't answer, even partially or on dupes, in comments.

@NautArch They were clarifying why the question is a duplicate, referencing the duplicate question, rather than answering directly. The alternatives are either I leave unsatisfied because I feel it doesn't make sense or I get the (duplicate) question reopened so people can post duplicate but slightly refocused answers. This is a reasonable use of comments I believe.

@LioElbammalf By explaining the answer and detailing how it would work, it becomes an answer in comments. If you are unsatisfied with the existing answers to the linked duplicate, then you can bounty for clarification and PJRZ (or someone else) can answer fully. But doing so in comments is a no-no.

@NautArch as I see it a clarification is far from an answer - the answer is in the linked question, its just that I didn't understand well enough what was written there so they broke it down. If you think it is sufficiently different that that comment is answer-like then does that mean you think this question is sufficiently different that it isn't a duplicate?

Both questions are asking if something can be an object and a creature. I'm not seeing the difference to be honest. What do you think is missing from that answer?

The only thing missing was a clarification of how that applies to heat metal and animated armour. I'm not saying I don't think it is a separate question, only that if you thought PKRZ's comment was anything like an answer (and it hold information that wasn't directly in the answers on the other questions) then you must think there is something distinctly different.

They clarified with: So by RAW cannot be targeted by Heat Metal. Though sometimes you do just have to go with rule-of-fun (or rule-of-"it-makes-sense") so as a DM I would probably make the same ruling as your own group!

@LioElbammalf I still strongly believe that their comment acts as a (partial) answer.

You are always able to, as DM, rule anything you'd like for fun.

I didn't really open this up to a chat to debate the potential answer in comments, though. It's really more to understand what you think may be missing.

Sure - so that isn't really an answer, is it? Its just a helpful comment to someone who is new to DnD

@LioElbammalf It is, though. It's a valid answer on what to do in this situation. THat makes it an answer.

So I'm not allowed to answer, because its closed as a duplicate. Yet I'm not allowed to comment as to why the question is a dupe because that counts as an "answer". Great. Don't know why I bother.

@PJRZ You can absolutely put an answer up on the duplicate question!

There's not hing wrong with that and it gives you an opportunity to put it down and get rep.

But if the Mods don't agree it's an answer in comments, then this is moot :P

@PJRZ I found it useful - thanks :)

@PJRZ You get that option on the linked question, though.

And if it's valid here, it's valid there.

You can absolutely disagree and I may be wrong on it being a partial answer, but for now, I'd rather focus on helping Lio with getting an answer somewhere that others can use, too (and that's not what comments are for.)

But please see the above meta on why it's important to have answers as answers and not in comments. THey can still be 'helpful' in comments, but once deleted (and comments can be removed at any time), then they no longer are helpful to the site.