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<blockquote data-quote="Vael" data-source="post: 8973789" data-attributes="member: 57043">Unfortunately, I don't think we have good data on this, but one way to check this would be to compare how often Druids were played in other editions and other TTRPGs. WoW data ... while good, having the computer to automate gaming functions makes it an apple/orange comparison, except for flavour and theme.Now, my first RPG character ever was a 3.5 Druid, but that campaign didn't last long enough for me to get to Wildshape. And mostly I was using my animal companion and chucking Produce Flame orbs, so while managing the pet wasn't easy, it wasn't particularly difficult. And while I think it wasn't as well received (but then I mainly hung out on optimization forums, so that definitely coloured my view), I did want to try the PH2 Druid, that got at-will shapeshifting combined with generic statblocks.In 4e, I loved the Druid. I liked their uniqueness, and the at-will shapeshifting was a major draw to the class.In 5e ... Druids and Sorcerers are my two favourite classes. I haven't had a problem playing them, but I have noticed problems DMing them. I've had the &quot;I just want to be a wolf&quot; player that got frustrated that the various Wolf statblocks didn't keep up with the party. So, to me, yes, shapeshifting is a core part of the Druid's identity, but having played both the &quot;use a MM statblock&quot; and &quot;use a generic player aimed statblock&quot; variants of the Druid, I think I'm team generic.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Vael, post: 8973789, member: 57043"] Unfortunately, I don't think we have good data on this, but one way to check this would be to compare how often Druids were played in other editions and other TTRPGs. WoW data ... while good, having the computer to automate gaming functions makes it an apple/orange comparison, except for flavour and theme. Now, my first RPG character ever was a 3.5 Druid, but that campaign didn't last long enough for me to get to Wildshape. And mostly I was using my animal companion and chucking Produce Flame orbs, so while managing the pet wasn't easy, it wasn't particularly difficult. And while I think it wasn't as well received (but then I mainly hung out on optimization forums, so that definitely coloured my view), I did want to try the PH2 Druid, that got at-will shapeshifting combined with generic statblocks. In 4e, I loved the Druid. I liked their uniqueness, and the at-will shapeshifting was a major draw to the class. In 5e ... Druids and Sorcerers are my two favourite classes. I haven't had a problem playing them, but I have noticed problems DMing them. I've had the "I just want to be a wolf" player that got frustrated that the various Wolf statblocks didn't keep up with the party. So, to me, yes, shapeshifting is a core part of the Druid's identity, but having played both the "use a MM statblock" and "use a generic player aimed statblock" variants of the Druid, I think I'm team generic. [/QUOTE]

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