D&D 5E Druids and taxidermy

Fleetwood C. DeVille

Explorer

• Mar 17, 2017

• #1

Druids can assume the shape of beasts, "that you have seen before" (PHB p66).

Does taxidermy count? My squad has a druid and they probably will find the menagerie of stuffed beasts soon and I know he will ask.

Sometimes DMing makes my hair hurt.

 

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MechaTarrasque

Hero

• Mar 17, 2017

• #2

I think RAI is that they should be alive. All kinds of things could be taxidermied and sometimes they are done incorrectly (sometimes on purpose). You might let them do it if they make a nature check (level depends on how well/correct the taxidermy has been done).

 

Fleetwood C. DeVille

Explorer

• Mar 17, 2017

• #3

Makes sense. And I agree that it fits with the spirit of the rules. Otherwise you could have all sorts of shenanigans.

"I just got a postcard from Uncle Bob. There's a photo of a jackalope on it. Sweet! Now I can transform into one!"

 

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Cap'n Kobold

Hero

• Mar 17, 2017

• #4

I'd say no. A Druid would need to observe the animal in action, ideally in its natural habitat for a while.

Otherwise, if a Druid was shown one of those hoax creatures assembled through taxidermy, would they be able to take the form of it?

 

TwoSix

Dirty, realism-hating munchkin powergamer

• Mar 17, 2017

• #5

 

TwoSix

Dirty, realism-hating munchkin powergamer

• Mar 17, 2017

• #6

 

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The Crimson Binome

Hero

• Mar 17, 2017

• #7

Cap'n Kobold said:

Otherwise, if a Druid was shown one of those hoax creatures assembled through taxidermy, would they be able to take the form of it?

Click to expand...

Sure, why not? A jackalope isn't any weirder than a platypus, except that it doesn't exist. If a druid can turn into a platypus, then it should be able to turn into something less weird and less complicated than a platypus.

 

Gardens & Goblins

First Post

• Mar 17, 2017

• #8

Saelorn said:

Sure, why not? A jackalope isn't any weirder than a platypus, except that it doesn't exist. If a druid can turn into a platypus, then it should be able to turn into something less weird and less complicated than a platypus.

Click to expand...

I dunno man. It's not so much the physiology of a platypus that's weird so much as their ideas. Their crazy, crazy ideas.

Those guys really weird me out.

 

BookBarbarian

Expert Long Rester

• Mar 17, 2017

• #9

I think seeing how a creature moves would be a perquisite for shifting into one. I don't believe one can get that from a stuffed corpse.

 

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lowkey13

Guest

• Mar 17, 2017

• #10

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