D&D (2024) Playtest Packet 6: They knocked Druid out of the Park

[Mirrorrorrim]

Well, the Moon Druid can't wildshape into a Brown Bear at Level 3 or Level 5. Their ability to access higher forms doesn't come online until level 6, when they get CR2, but they are following the Druid's Wildshape restrictions until then. So at level 5, it's CR1/2 creatures. This means they probably don't bother with Brown Bear as a form at all, because you can jump from CR 1/2 to CR 2 when the Druid gets to 6th level.

But, taking your example at level 5, the likely land combat forms are Ape, Black Bear and Giant Goat. All have the same HP, 19. So the difference is 15 tmp hp or 19 ... not exactly the insanely big difference here. And since the Druid doesn't revert unless knocked unconscious, to refresh that pool of temp hp in the same combat means reverting to normal form as a bonus action, then shifting again on your next turn. I'm not seeing the problem here.

What I am seeing is that the attack bonuses on these forms are +3 and +5 ... so not great.

Sounds like this could be solved by a wildshape beastform template that sets the AC, Temp HP, and attack and damage mods.

shrug

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

I imagine the final PHB will have common beasts printed in the back of the book for players to peruse without getting a peek at the MM.
Druids want it for Wildshape, Rangers for beast companions, Paladins for Find Steed, other characters for Find Familiar or for pack animals they've leased or bought.

I don't want monster stats in the PH. Why create design that takes up more of the precious pagecount of the PH by copy/pasting statblocks from the MM?

 

[Stalker0]

I don't want monster stats in the PH. Why create design that takes up more of the precious pagecount of the PH by copy/pasting statblocks from the MM?

So my players stop stealing my MM in the middle of a fight!

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

So my players stop stealing my MM in the middle of a fight!

lol. Maybe if they had a statblock template in the class description with bestial abilities to choose from... no reprinting needed!

 

[Yaarel]

lol. Maybe if they had a statblock template in the class description with bestial abilities to choose from... no reprinting needed!

I assume the 2024 Players Handbook will have default Beasts that the Druid player can use without needing to search.

 

[Yaarel]

I don't want monster stats in the PH. Why create design that takes up more of the precious pagecount of the PH by copy/pasting statblocks from the MM?

There are monster statblocks in the 2014 Players Handbook now, including for Wolf, Owl, Crocodile, and so on.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

There are monster statblocks in the 2014 Players Handbook now, including for Wolf, Owl, Crocodile, and so on.

And I consider it a waste of space.

 

[Yaarel]

And I consider it a waste of space..

If it is a curated list of things that most players would enjoy as Wildshapes and Familiars, it can be useful.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

If it is a curated list of things that most players would enjoy as Wildshapes and Familiars, it can be useful.

It's only useful if the design forces it to be reprinted. The design doesn't need to go that way. And I don't know anyone who uses those stat blocks in the PH. They use DDB or the MM. It feels like a waste of paper that didn't need to happen. Those pages could have been used to detail bestial abilities that were available to the druid, or stat-block templates for Wildshape, Find Familiar, or Ranger Companions, all which scale with the PC's power level.

Separate stat blocks for low-level beasts that don't scale are nigh-worthless. Your pet cat or wolf companion is going to get caught in an AoE and buck the kicket. PC's (if not the players themselves) are destined for heartbreak. That is a feelbad by design. thumbs down.

 

[Yaarel]

It's only useful if the design forces it to be reprinted. The design doesn't need to go that way. And I don't know anyone who uses those stat blocks in the PH. They use DDB or the MM. It feels like a waste of paper that didn't need to happen. Those pages could have been used to detail bestial abilities that were available to the druid, or stat-block templates for Wildshape, Find Familiar, or Ranger Companions, all which scale with the PC's power level.

Separate stat blocks for low-level beasts that don't scale are nigh-worthless. Your pet cat or wolf companion is going to get caught in an AoE and buck the kicket. PC's (if not the players themselves) are destined for heartbreak. That is a feelbad by design. thumbs down.

I mean the 2024 list would focus on statblocks that are actually useful for Wildshape and Familiar, and not many, just enough to function as solid defaults. Players who want more custom Beasts can and should go shopping!