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General Tabletop Discussion
D&D Older Editions
3.5 Druids - what to do about them?
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<blockquote data-quote="BSF" data-source="post: 2422354" data-attributes="member: 13098"><p>Why not be in Wildshape? Well, talking with your fellow PCs is a big reason. Talking with NPCs is another big reason. What if you are in an average dungeon bash? Rhinocerous is not very handy in such tight corridors. Let's take it a step further and assume you are assaulting a kobold or goblin lair. In such a case, a Druid's wildshape into a smaller form is a wonderful thing. But the large animal companion is stuck outside. What if you need to use a wand/staff/rod? What if you want to use a potion? </p><p></p><p>Wildshape is great. Druids are fun to play. Although I appreciate the RP aspects much mroe than the mechanics. I have played Druids from 1st Ed on up. But I also run games where combat might not even happen in a session. Even in sessions where combat is heavy, a Druid's Wildshape wouldn't have been overbearing. Heck, the last major fun combat we ran was on a flying ship being powered by necromantic engines over the ocean. The rhino in that situation would have been difficult to pull off since the PCs were on a dirigible at the beginning of the encounter. </p><p></p><p>If you give the PCs the opportunity to project the situation they will be in, there will always be optimizations that provide a strong response from them. If they know they are going to assault a Red Dragon, you expect that they will be heavy on energy resistance spells and you had better expect your Druid to memorize Quench. If they are out on the plains for days on end, a rhinocerous makes wonderful sense. It certainly isn't DM vs Players, but sometimes encounters will not be exactly what the PCs expected. The hobgoblin shaman casting spells on the hill is protected by a dozen hobgoblin spear wielders hiding in the grass. The Druid and his companion charge and suck up all that damage from the suddenly appearing hobgoblins with spears set to receive a charge. Or they charge across the area that has already had Spike Growth cast. Or they find that the ground is rough and the companion cannot charge. The Druid might be able to, but suddenly she is ahead of the group, by herself. </p><p></p><p>These aren't difficult situations to envision. You don't need to use them all the time. Your PCs should excel at what they do. But you do need to give each PC that room to shine. Sometimes that means the opponents are in a situation where the PCs favorite tricks aren't usable. When the PCs overcome the unexpctedly difficult challenge, they will become even better and they will remember that particular challenge all the more. Lull them into the sense of security with their 'unstoppable' tactics, then change things a little and watch them squirm.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BSF, post: 2422354, member: 13098"] Why not be in Wildshape? Well, talking with your fellow PCs is a big reason. Talking with NPCs is another big reason. What if you are in an average dungeon bash? Rhinocerous is not very handy in such tight corridors. Let's take it a step further and assume you are assaulting a kobold or goblin lair. In such a case, a Druid's wildshape into a smaller form is a wonderful thing. But the large animal companion is stuck outside. What if you need to use a wand/staff/rod? What if you want to use a potion? Wildshape is great. Druids are fun to play. Although I appreciate the RP aspects much mroe than the mechanics. I have played Druids from 1st Ed on up. But I also run games where combat might not even happen in a session. Even in sessions where combat is heavy, a Druid's Wildshape wouldn't have been overbearing. Heck, the last major fun combat we ran was on a flying ship being powered by necromantic engines over the ocean. The rhino in that situation would have been difficult to pull off since the PCs were on a dirigible at the beginning of the encounter. If you give the PCs the opportunity to project the situation they will be in, there will always be optimizations that provide a strong response from them. If they know they are going to assault a Red Dragon, you expect that they will be heavy on energy resistance spells and you had better expect your Druid to memorize Quench. If they are out on the plains for days on end, a rhinocerous makes wonderful sense. It certainly isn't DM vs Players, but sometimes encounters will not be exactly what the PCs expected. The hobgoblin shaman casting spells on the hill is protected by a dozen hobgoblin spear wielders hiding in the grass. The Druid and his companion charge and suck up all that damage from the suddenly appearing hobgoblins with spears set to receive a charge. Or they charge across the area that has already had Spike Growth cast. Or they find that the ground is rough and the companion cannot charge. The Druid might be able to, but suddenly she is ahead of the group, by herself. These aren't difficult situations to envision. You don't need to use them all the time. Your PCs should excel at what they do. But you do need to give each PC that room to shine. Sometimes that means the opponents are in a situation where the PCs favorite tricks aren't usable. When the PCs overcome the unexpctedly difficult challenge, they will become even better and they will remember that particular challenge all the more. Lull them into the sense of security with their 'unstoppable' tactics, then change things a little and watch them squirm. [/QUOTE]
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