PHB II druid variant (shapeshifting) (Yes-3 votes, No-0 votes)
In my latest train trip I tried to kill some time deciding what character could I make as my 3rd option in both Living campaings. A druid always came to my mind, especially for the Eberron campaing, where druids' reason for existence and goals are very well treated. But it's always discarded.
The reason is that I don't feel comfortable with the Wild shape rules. First, they are based on polymorph, one of the clumsiest and poorly balanced rules on the book and which have been errataed an changed so many times that I can't even tell how they work (I even encourage my players not to take anything related to it). The second is that you get it at 5th level.
In a campaing where you're supposed to reach mid or high levels, spending 4 without your most distinctive class ability isn't much. But in the Living campaings, where 8th level PCs are high level, 4 levels is a very large amount or time being worse than a cleric with the plant and animal domains.
Shapeshifting variant druid solves this nicely. Everyone I've read that uses it thinks greatly of the rule, and is simple enough for DMs who don't have PHB II to adjudicate if the player has the variant shapes detailed in his sheet (the DM only has to know that the PC can change into these forms and back as a swift action, without daily limit.)
Last edited by Someone; 14th June 2007 at 10:58 PM..
The Druid's animal companion is fairly distinctive (Ranger gets it at 4th, which is fairly late, and it's much weaker) as well though, and they do have other abilities and spells that make them fun till 5th. Particularly, their spell selection is a bit more offensive.
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Yeah, it's a good variant. I use it in my home games, and every player loves it. A lot less of a headache, too.
__________________ Current Campaign:The Shattered Isles Homebrew - Hammer (Minotaur Fighter 8), Kirra (Drow Rogue 8), Shedin (Dragonborn Paladin 8), Zahar (Half-Eladrin/Half Drow Bard 8), and Seahorse (Halfling Rogue 8). Currently the group is in the Feywild, trying to discover who is poisoning the drow.
I like it. I think it fits this venue perfectly. The other option is to use some of hte druidic shapeshift spells from Complete Scoundrel and whatnot...
__________________ Current Campaign:The Shattered Isles Homebrew - Hammer (Minotaur Fighter 8), Kirra (Drow Rogue 8), Shedin (Dragonborn Paladin 8), Zahar (Half-Eladrin/Half Drow Bard 8), and Seahorse (Halfling Rogue 8). Currently the group is in the Feywild, trying to discover who is poisoning the drow.
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