druid's animal form & spellcasting

[Sgiò Karka]

Don't you think the druid's capacity of animal form too restrictive without the possibility to cast spells ?

I can't imagine a PC druid playing long without the feat Natural spell, and I didn't like that a feat turn to be obligatory...

Any comments, ideas, experiences ?

thanks

 

[Staffan]

Well, that feat wasn't in 3.0. That meant that the druid had to make a choice - either he went primal and wailed on people with bear claws and stuff, or he cast spells. With the introduction of Natural Spell (from Masters of the Wild, I think), a third choice has been added: spend a feat and do both.

 

[Nifft]

I agree with you: anything that's so clearly intended to be your 6th level Feat shouldn't be a Feat. (Feats Should Be Nice, Not Required(tm).)

So, what I do is this:
-> ALL Druids get the effects of Natural Spell at 5th level. It's just how Wild Shape works.
-> Druids do NOT get spontaneous spell conversion into Summon Nature's Ally. They may, however, spend a Feat picking up a sort-of Domain (including the Summon Nature's Ally Domain), into which they can spontaneously convert spells.

Taking a Domain-Feat requires 3rd level Divine spellcasting.

-- N

 

[monboesen]

I don't think that it should be a feat or ability at all. Its just too good. If they want to pull that stunt they can take Eschew materials, Still spell and Silent spell and eat the metamagic level increases.

 

[Destil]

I've house rulled natural spell as an automatic feat for druids at 5th, but it's a metamagic feat with a +0 level increase. So they have to choose ahead of time which spells they can cast as the bear and which spells they can cast as the elf.

 

[Ferret]

Hmm...That sounds like a good compromise. I was thinking of taking it out, but I like that better.

 

[Sgiò Karka]

well... I dont know... my brain is empty

I have to playtest with the officials rules (natural spell feat... etc.), I want to see in play if this feat is too powerfull or if he could be for free with the animal form.

But I don't want to catch or limit the spontaneous animal summoning, it give the opportunity for the druid to select spells non-related to combat, it is too cool.

 

[apesamongus]

I don't think that it should be a feat or ability at all. Its just too good. If they want to pull that stunt they can take Eschew materials, Still spell and Silent spell and eat the metamagic level increases.

Yea, it's definately a "no-brainer" choice, but I agree that it's because the feat is way too good, not because animal form is too weak without it. Animal form is already powerful enough even without casting.

 

[Nifft]

But I don't want to catch or limit the spontaneous animal summoning, it give the opportunity for the druid to select spells non-related to combat, it is too cool.

I agree, which is why I make it an even trade-off. Getting to the "classic" Druid configuration costs exactly one Feat either way.

I just don't think that a Druid should be limited to only summoning critters. In my opinion, a Druid should have the option of choosing to spontaneously convert spells into elemental attacks, plant-spells, or maybe even healing, instead of animals. Not everyone is an animal-Druid -- elements and plants are nature, too.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nifft]

Yea, it's definately a "no-brainer" choice, but I agree that it's because the feat is way too good, not because animal form is too weak without it. Animal form is already powerful enough even without casting.

I agree that it's a no-brainer, but I don't know if it's overpowered, or just over-flexible.

Some nerf ideas:

1/ Druid gets to pick one animal at 5th level, plus one extra per level after 5th. Those are the only animals the druid can wild shape into.

2/ Wild shape duration matches 3.5e polymorph duration: 1 min/level.

3/ Wild shape and polymorph provide stat modifiers, not stat replacements, so a clumsy druid makes a clumsy wolf, etc.

-- N