Animal Companions and spells

[Steverooo]

Don't forget the Natural Spell Feat, or you won't be casting anything, while Wildshaped!

Also, Awaken won't work on a Wildshaped Druid: "You awaken a tree or animal to humanlike sentience." Sorry, you're already there...

 

[Nail]

Don't forget the Natural Spell Feat, or you won't be casting anything, while Wildshaped!

Also, Awaken won't work on a Wildshaped Druid: "You awaken a tree or animal to humanlike sentience." Sorry, you're already there...

Although I agree with you in spirit; that quote's just flavor text.

 

[Urbanmech]

They said that you gain the traits that are listed under the creature type that are not listed under extraordinary qualities, supernatural qualities or spell-like qualities under the monster special qualities section.

Well most of the plant creatures in the MM 3.5 list "Plant Traits" under Special Qualities. Polymorph states that you do not get any of a forms Special Qualities. So no critical or poison immunity for changing into a shambling mound.

Anyone have any idea what plant shape is useful for?

 

[DM2]

I can see where balance enters into the process, and throws off logic...but its hard to imagine how a druid in shambling mound form would be any easier to pinpoint critical spots on than an actual shambling mound.

DM2

 

[jgsugden]

Hold on a second. Andy Collins just clarified some of this stuff regarding animal and plant traits on his web site:

I asked:

To summarize, it seems that:

Druids in animal form via wildshape gain the animal traits of low-light vision, proficiency with natural weapons, the need to eat, the need to sleep and the need to breathe. They also gain all extraordinary attacks of the specific animal form.

Druids in plant form via wildshape gain low-light vision, immunity to mind-affecting effects, immunity to poison, immunity to sleep effects, immunity to paralysis, immunity to polymorph, immunity to stunning, immunity to critical hits/sneak attacks, proficiency with natural weapons, the ability to avoid sleeping, the need to eat, and the need to breathe. They also gain all the extraordinary attacks of the specific plant creature.

Does that sound correct?

Andy Collins answered:

Looks right at a glance.
Andy Collins
Senior Designer
Wizards of the Coast Roleplaying R&D

 

[BVB]

Anyone have any idea what plant shape is useful for?

Feeding your herbivore animal companion?

"Oh my gawd. I think I'm going to be sick. ... Ol' Swifty just ate Bob's berries while he was in the shape of a shrub..."

 

[BVB]

Andy Collins said this. ... Andy Collins clarified that. ... On Andy Collins' web site it's clearly stated that ...

Andy Collins be darned. If it's not in official errata, it's just one man's opinion and/or rumor at best.

 

[Nail]

Andy Collins be darned. If it's not in official errata, it's just one man's opinion and/or rumor at best.

Amen.

 

[Urbanmech]

I'm inclined to agree with Nail and BVB, all of the current 3.5 sources say you don't get all the Plant types "good stuff." What Andy Collins says isn't exactly law. Once again the Wildshape and Polymorph are some of the most confusing concepts in the game.

 

[DM2]

Maybe 3.75 will fix it or 4.0. LOL

I love the new edition, but I can't believe that after all the progress made in MotW to fix wildshape's confusing areas, they re-tied it to polymorph and put all the confusion back in.

You can turn into a wolf, but your wolfy nose doesn't smell too well...I still wish it did in 3.5, and I've yet to play a freaking druid anyway!

DM2