Directions Please Druid Shapeshift

[Newbie]

I notice that if somone wants to use the polymorph spell they can only use combat special abilities, But why does this still apply to a druid, i find its silly if a druid wants to use shapeshift he can again only use the abilities that serve combat, but why? animals have nothing broken about there special abilities, it is only cool roleplaying opportunities and adds some usefulness to the druids arsonal.

So my question is why can't druids use the non-combat abilities when they dont seem to be broken but only seem to be neat?

Second question if there isnt a reason would you go so far as to make a house rule to correct this?


PS. This is 3.5

oops double PS.
If this subject has already came up, a link to the correct forum would be very kind

 

[Newbie]

Is this a dumb question? is that why im not getting any replies?

 

[Legildur]

There has been so much discussion around this topic that I don't even know where to look to find some of it.

In fact, given the level of debate around it, I'm very disappointed in WotC for not clarifying some aspects of Wildshape.

Many people would claim that Druid's are already very effective without gaining other Ex abilites outside of the Special Attacks. YMMV.

My elven druid (I know not the optimum race for a druid, but heh) only just got Wildshape, and I'm still coming to terms with it. but I tend to be using it for utility purposes (scouting), so far, rather than combat.

 

[Newbie]

There has been so much discussion around this topic that I don't even know where to look to find some of it.

In fact, given the level of debate around it, I'm very disappointed in WotC for not clarifying some aspects of Wildshape.

QUOTE]

Cool thanks for the info.

Can anyone else add to it?

 

[Camarath]

Can anyone else add to it?

The rules are pretty clear in this case. If you want to change the rules then do so. I do not see any big balance problem if you allow Wild Shape to work as Shapechange instead of Polymorph.

 

[ForceUser]

I seem to recall Andy Collins suggesting in a Wizards chat that although the 3.5 revisions state you can't use an animal's special qualities while polymorphed/wildshaped, he expected DMs to change that rule to suit their campaigns and please their players.

Yes, it makes sense that a druid wildshaped into an animal should gain that animal's low-light vision and scent special qualities. In fact, my own DM allows me to do this. This is not game-breaking, and it just makes sense. When my druid finally gains the ability to wildshape into plant creatures, however, he will not be allowed to gain qualities such as the electricity affinity of the shambling mound. To allow a druid to zap himself with call lightning ten times to gain 10d4 temporary Con is abuse, and is a clear example of why WOTC had to rule on SQs in an absolute way. But, as always, your DM has the final say.

 

[jgsugden]

What Andy said was that he didn't think it would break the game if you gave wildshaped PCs those abilities. He suggested doing it via feats.

The reason given for not allowing the special abilities was that WotC can't control 3rd party publishers. In 3.0, there were a number of problems caused when a balanced 3.0 rule was twisted by the introduction of a seemingly innocent 3rd party rule. Here, if polymorph or wildshape grants special qualities, a DM runs into trouble when a 3rd party publisher makes an animal creature with a special ability that is too strong to give to PCs. For instance, what if a 3rd party publisher created an animal that lived in a volcano and naturally was immune to fire. Then, PCs could use wildshape to be immune to fire. (Two points to the person that knows where they can find the 3rd party fire immune animal ...)

As a reminder, according to Andy Collins, when you adopt the type of a creature via polymorph/wildshape, you gain the traits of the creature's type. For animal shapes, that means you gain low-light vision. If you turn into an animal while wildshaped, by this rule, you gain low-light vision.

 

[kpdezend]

Is this a dumb question? is that why im not getting any replies?

I agree with you completely. This one topic makes me madder than mad. It is dumb that druids can change into a cheetah, but one that cannot sprint; a wolf that cannot smell; a bat that has to rely on it's normal eyes; etc. etc.

3/3.5 is great for a lot of things, but it has turned a whole lot of people into rules biotches.

- Kent -