I've been playing around with Wildshape
Added 2021-03-17 04:28:24 +0000 UTCThis is probably too powerful for non-moon druids, but it's a starting point, and if anyone is inclined to take a look and provide your feedback, that would be great.
Comments
Great start. I lack play experience with Druids, mostly because I have always hated the minutiae you're trying to clean up here. That being the case, my input will be of limited use. I think this cleaner paradigm with purpose-built statblocks is great, and likely the way WotC would go if they got a do-over.
Element Zero
2021-03-17 15:21:42 +0000 UTCThe guy above had some great points about diversity. Maybe add a player choice option Player may select one of the following Blind sense Climb speed Swim speed Stealth Overall I really like this. I would also go in the direction of more modern characters and give the player wild shapes = to proficiency bonus. As someone who played a Druid for 15 levels what I really wanted was to be able to wild shape outside of combat for RP purposes and it not count as one of my uses of the ability. How about a form that added no temp HP can be small size or smaller with no appreciable attacks and some of the options I describe above. I really think you are on to something here.
Bryan S. Warren
2021-03-17 10:13:17 +0000 UTCHi Chris, interesting thoughts about Wildshape. And yes, it is a good starting point. And more than that: It's very promising! Here are my thoughts: First of all, you probably were too combat-focused while inventing the different Beast Forms. You completly missed out on tiny beasts for scouting. And on Spider Climb, wich is the "poor man's flying" before level 8. So i'd wish for an additional Beast Form wich is tiny, not very good in combat (perhaps with a poor poison attack), has Spider Climb AND an additional stealth bonus like advantage, as your wildshapes do not grant proficiencies. Every single one of my Druids would not want to miss out on this kind of utility... Going forward to balancing: You Beast Forms A and B are too strong. Why? The THP they provide are too high, look at the special wildshape option of the Circle of Spores Druid and tell me if he/she would ever use it, if your wildshape Options were a thing... They should only give 4-times Druid Level in THP (and every other form respectively 1 Point less as these do now) Also the damage output is too high. 2d6 / 2d8 + Wis per attack is too much. Look at the wolf (at level 2) and the black bear (at level 5) for comparison. The damage dice should change from 2d6 to 1d8 for form A, and from 2d8 to 1d10 for form B. And it still would be very strong for (non-moon) druids (The damage dice for Form C is ok. For forms D and E too high, again. Perhaps reduce those by 1d6 each). Going forward to Moon Druid: As i reduced the damage dice for your forms, the Moon Druid should get a damage boost: give it an additional D4 damage to every hit. :) And give it the ability to wild shape as a bounus action back..! And the ability to heal itself in beastform with spell slots in some kind: perhaps give it the ability to spent a spell slot as a free action when turning into a beast to gain proficiency bonus additional THP + 1d8 additional THP per spell level, wich count to the initial THP of the beast form. Those two features are essential for Moon Druids imho. And the Elemental Shapes could need a little damage buff, too. Especially as i lowered the damage of your forms ^^ so give them an additional D4 damage of a special elemental type (fire, lightning/thunder, ice, bludgeoning). So that's it from me, i think :) Glad to give you feedback!
Bolduin
2021-03-17 08:52:09 +0000 UTC
