Gahh!! Wild shape!?

[Cyan Wisp]

I'm surprised how often the druids I DM for (about 5 across 4 groups) opt for little things, most popularly the spider. I actually find it refreshing that they are choosing a vulnerable little critter that really no one would pay any attention to in a dungeon or wilderness setting. I think it's clever play. Oh, yeah. All those druid players are kids 9-10 years old.

 

[wedgeski]

I seem to spend half my life as a dog when I'm playing my druid. Insane fun.

I think the designers did a fine job with the class. The utility is undeniable, and in combat the forms are interesting but nowhere *near* as powerful as a regular PC, or the druid in normal form. Their resilience, though, especially for Moon druids, is undeniable. It is very hard to kill a Moon druid.

I actually would like to see the number of Wild Shapes per Short Rest increased.

 

[Azurewraith]

I'm surprised how often the druids I DM for (about 5 across 4 groups) opt for little things, most popularly the spider. I actually find it refreshing that they are choosing a vulnerable little critter that really no one would pay any attention to in a dungeon or wilderness setting. I think it's clever play. Oh, yeah. All those druid players are kids 9-10 years old.

You should totally throw in some starving birds giving them the eye. I imagine at that age they would enjoy outwitting the bird as they ran off to safety

 

[Li Shenron]

So any 'beast' in the MM is open - have monster by CR list from WOTC site but of course doesn't tell you creature type you have to look at each one and see which are 'beasts' . . ? Some are of course obvious.

The MM could have had better lists, sure. You can find fan-made lists easily, or you can just ask your Druid player to be prepared before the game, to know which beasts she wishes to turn into in advance.

Besides, IMHO you don't really need to know all the options. Maybe for combat purposes you'd better do a little study to figure out if there is an 'optimal' choice, but for scouting, sneaking etc. most of the times it doesn't matter much what beast you choose.

Can a druid turn into another creature that is not in the MM that would logically be a 'beast'?

Why not? All real animals are certainly going to be fine.

Are there any size restrictions? A druid can wild shape into anything from an ant or tiny spider to a camel or an elephant?

IMHO this is the only part that could have been restricted more, like in 3e. Even moreso than turning into anything huge, it is the ability to turn into anything very small that can be very powerful, potentially allowing you access to almost any location. But AFAIK there are no such restrictions in 5e, only some indirect restrictions via CR for very large animals, but smaller animals are all allowed.

The max CR is 1 the wild shape ability is not meant to be used to turn into nastier & nastier creatures as the druid goes up in levels, it's for utility?

The CR limit is there because major combat usability of wildshape was restricted to Druids of the Circle of the Moon. That doesn't mean other druids cannot use it in combat, just that they probably won't do much damage and it will last shorter, making it generally more convenient to cast combat spells instead.

 

[Herobizkit]

Ghostwise Halfling Druids can speak telepathically in Wild Shape.

Just sayin'. ^_^

Also, that Druid has to be level 8 to change into a fly because it can, well, fly.

Also also would a fly be considered a vermin and not a beast in 5e? I don't recall for sure.

 

[spectacle]

Hiya!

Yeah, a fly, being captured and taken into a spiders lair deep inside a crack in the floor could end rather..."graphically" for the druid

Oh, and I still don't get the whole "Polymorph is broken" thing. You keep your personality and alignment...but that's it. Polymorphing into a low-int and/or low-wisdom critter is dangerous (e.g., you poly into a T-rex, Int 2; good luck trying to remember anything specific, or even general, after you come out of it; "What did I see?" ...DM: "I don't know, make an Int check at -4, DC 10"..."Er, 7"...DM: "Well, you remember chewing into the icky tasting monster, and a bunch of two-legs running around, you liked them, and you remember the flashy lights that scared you"..."So I don't remember seeing the wizard fall down the cliff?" ...DM: "Nope, 'fraid not'. ).

The Giant Ape has INT 7, that's almost as smart as the typical barbarian, and with WIS 12 it might even be wiser than much of the party. And it's one of the most powerful beasts available for polymorphing.

 

[mellored]

Mellored, I agree although players try weird stuff . . .

Let them.

You have a micro-adventure about a fly avoiding (giant) spiders, umber-hulk (ladybugs), carnivorous plants (venus fly trap) and winged monstrosities (sparrows).

Still seems like like D&D to me.

Just be wary of letting the druid hog the spot light.


Either that, or classify "insects" as different from "beasts".

 

[mellored]

A druid doesn't have to be that worried. If a sparrow or a spider eats him, he just turns back into a druid with full HP. Not a problem unless the sparrow eats him in midair 1000' off the ground.

Or in a crack in the wall.
Or in the middle of some orcs.
Or... lot's of dangerous places. I mean, if it was safe, you probably wouldn't turn into a fly to begin with.

 

[Morlock]

Oh, and I still don't get the whole "Polymorph is broken" thing. You keep your personality and alignment...but that's it. Polymorphing into a low-int and/or low-wisdom critter is dangerous (e.g., you poly into a T-rex, Int 2; good luck trying to remember anything specific, or even general, after you come out of it; "What did I see?" ...DM: "I don't know, make an Int check at -4, DC 10"..."Er, 7"...DM: "Well, you remember chewing into the icky tasting monster, and a bunch of two-legs running around, you liked them, and you remember the flashy lights that scared you"..."So I don't remember seeing the wizard fall down the cliff?" ...DM: "Nope, 'fraid not'. ).

I wouldn't play low-Int creatures as if they're incapable of remembering things. E.g., most complex organisms, when threatened, will run directly back the way they came. On being restored to full Int, I'd rule that a character can remember what he saw, and do a much better job of interpreting that info than he would have when in low-Int form. Visual processing is pretty advanced in mammals, seems consistent to assume their visual memories are pretty good, too.

I could see doing that with a fly, or the like, though.