No, you were clear. I think it was actually myself who was not as clear as I could have been. I am/was aware that you aren't/weren't associating yourself with a "camp", and a lot of my previous post (as well as this one) wasn't directed at you specifically, but rather at the views you mentioned.
When I said "worthless" I mean from the point of view of the camp that believes Wild Shape turns you completely into an animal.
You can probably agree having to Bluff the Goblin into believing you're "just a harmless old hound" is worthless comparing to simply
becoming a harmless old hound...?
Actually, I completely disagree. Don't get me wrong, I've met players like this before.
Them- "Jeez, this RPG doesn't automatically kill the enemy? What a piece of junk!"
Me- "Ummm... it does five times the damage of the best gun, as an aoe no less... how the heck do you conclude it's a piece of junk?"
Them- "Well in the real world if you get hit with a rocket propelled grenade you're dead..."
Me- "You're aware that this is a game, right?"
I just can't fathom the thought process that if something isn't auto-win then it's worthless. I can understand the viewpoint that it
isn't as good as an auto-win, but
worthless?
Really? I guess I just can't see how having an insta-disguise up your sleeve anytime you need it can be construed by anyone as worthless.
Honestly, I can understand where the other camp is coming from because we used to play that way in 3.x. 4e, however, is a very different game and as we've seen time and time again on these forums, if you can't adapt your assumptions to the new dynamic then you are not going to get on well with the new edition. That isn't to say that people who like the dynamic of 3.x are badwrongfun or any such thing. It is, however,
different.
Well, you're still not seeing my point.
My point is that there are this other camp of people who believe their view of Wild Shape isn't a houserule but a completely natural interpretation of the rules.
And in the same way you are unquestionlingly talking about "becoming the old dog" as a house-rule, they are equally shocked you could even suggest you only become someone that could Bluff others into believing you're a dog, when to them, you become the dog.
Not saying either camp is right.
What I
am saying is there are two camps, and that the inability of each to even see that there is another camp is what's causing the confusion on the forums over questions like "why is the Druid so overpowered?" and "how can people even think the Druid to be overpowered?"
Cheers!
Believe it or not, I do understand that. However, the OP was attempting to house rule a fix to Wild Shape by delaying it's acquistion until 11th level.
Meaning no offense to the OP, but I consider that a bad fix because it removes what makes the druid a dynamic class from levels 1-10 (which IMO will make the class boring to play for those levels). Come 11th level the druid gains Wild Shape and, assuming Wild Shape was to be this druid's intended focus, now has to begin the tedious task of retraining the last 10 levels of powers. Essentially, this druid will be epic level before he can play the class according to his original character concept. I have to ask how that could be beneficial to the game?
"Auto-win" Wild Shape is still going to be a problem come level 11 because 4e has pretty much killed the "auto-win" concept, and bringing it back in this case is not going to help the game's balance any (does the druid only marginalizing the Rogue's scouting role
after 10th level makes it so much better?).
I still hold that this "camp" is better served by making Wild Shape appear lycanthropic in nature. It doesn't mess with the class balance at all, but eliminates the abuse of "auto-win" Wild Shape scouting and the like.
Limiting it to combat is technically possible, but it's kind of a weird mechanic (why is Wild Shape only usable in combat?) and it eliminates some of the interesting non-combat utility powers (Skittering Sneak).
I don't see how limiting Wild Shape to a 5 minute duration would help at all. It's an at-will power. What's to keep a druid from hiding before he reaches the 5 minute mark, then shifting out and shifting back in? Sure it's a bit cheesy, but what do you expect if you grant a power with unlimited uses that lasts 5 minutes? All you've done is replaced a periodic Bluff check to "avoid suspicion" with a periodic Stealth check to "reapply auto-win cheese".
Hence, why I responded with the house rule creation guidelines as I did. I saw your point. The other camp can run their Wild Shape however they want; it's their game. However, I felt it important to point out that the OP's proposed house rule would not fix the perceived problem; it would only delay it and creates additional problems as well.