D&D 5E (2014) Druid Shape Forms

[orog58]

Any one using Circle of the Moon having trouble finding shapes to transform into after 12th level? there's at most only 1x CR 4,5,6 beast in the monster manual that i've seen and a couple of those are HUGE so no dungeons. Anyone else have something different?

 

[jamesjhaeck]

Higher level druids need to judge when to use their resources carefully. This limiting of options for druids is purposeful. If a druid always had the right choice for wild shape, they'd have a game-breaking level of utility and power before they even touched their spells.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

That a Druid is not a perfect fit for dungeon exploration may not be entirely surprising.

 

[keterys]

It's a reverse of usual D&D - they're crazily too good at low level, so at higher level they get to be more limited

 

[Paraxis]

You are correct the list is.
CR4 - Elephant
CR5 - Giant Crocodile, Giant Shark, Triceratops
CR6 - Mammoth

Don't forget about the elemental forms that unlock at level 10 those are pretty powerful CR5 and are size large.

As a house rule I could see a DM allowing the druid to add shambling mound CR6 to the list, older editions let the druid have plant forms. I might make it a reward for a sidequest, or if I don't have dinosaurs in my campaign world let him just have plant forms to make up for that diminishment to his abilities.

 

[TwoSix]

Yea, elementals all the way. Giant croc might have uses at 15, and mammoth could be fun in the right situations.

 

[orog58]

Yeah I forgot about the elementals. Those would be nice. I forget... in this version If I were to change into something large or huge would smaller creatures get more ac vs me?

 

[DEFCON 1]

And once the DMG comes out... you can just start adding some Class levels to some of the lower CR animals to make them better. Put a couple Rogue levels onto a Giant Weasel, or some Barbarian onto a Giant Badger and you'll be all set.

 

[TwoSix]

Yeah I forgot about the elementals. Those would be nice. I forget... in this version If I were to change into something large or huge would smaller creatures get more ac vs me?

No, size has zero impact on hit or AC. That was a 3.X only thing, as far as I know.

 

[Paraxis]

Yeah I forgot about the elementals. Those would be nice. I forget... in this version If I were to change into something large or huge would smaller creatures get more ac vs me?

No. There isn't a size modifier for attacking.

The only size rules that matter I can think of are enemies can move through your space treating it as difficult terrain if you are two size categories bigger than them, while squeezing into smaller places you are at disadvantage to attacks and dex saves and enemies have advantage to hit you, and you can only try and grab a target one size larger than you.

So against a huge crocodile for example medium enemies can move through his space as difficult terrain and they can not grab you.