D&D 5E [GUIDE] Thy Fearful Symmetry: A Circle of the Moon Handbook
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Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad (he/him)
Lunar Wilds: A Moon Druid Animal Guide
Additional commentary from Yunru on CR 0 animals, from a guide he started but never completes which he called Lunar Wilds: A Moon Druid Animal Guide:
CR 0:
Baboon - The Baboon has Pack Tactics, putting it above the deer in terms of combat, even if it's attack is weaker and hits less often (without advantage). You've a climb speed which could be very useful, but your HP is very low so try to avoid getting hit.
Badger - Now here's an interesting one. Basically useless in combat, but it has Darkvision, advantage on smell Perception checks and can Burrow. There could be a niche case in combat where you throw up a damage-over-time concentration spell and then burrow away. You're also Tiny, which helps you go places you otherwise couldn't.
Bat - Blindsight, Flight and advantage on hearing Perception checks. Great for outside of combat, useless in it (more so than the Badger, as less things burrow than do fly). You're also Tiny, which helps you go places you otherwise couldn't.
Cat - Another combat-useless creature, however the cat has quite the potential outside of combat. Cats are common enough in populated areas. Couple that will a Climb speed, decent stealth and perception and advantage on smell Perception checks and you've got yourself quite the stalker form. You're also Tiny, which helps you go places you otherwise couldn't.
Crab - Blindsight, a Swim speed, Amphibious and Tiny. Other than that there's nothing to be had here.
Deer - Deer are useless. They have high Dex and an okay Wis, but they have no special traits and terrible combat use. You're going to stick out like a sore thumb in populated areas and probably get hunted in rural/wild areas.
Eagle - Remember what I said about the Cat being a good stalker form? As long as you don't get shot down by someone, the same holds true for the Eagle. You're not Tiny, but you've a Fly speed, a high perception and advantage on sight Perception checks. You still don't have much use in combat though.
Frog - Darkvision, Tiny, Amphibious and a Swim speed. The Crab's better in basically every way, and that says something.
Giant Fire Beetle - Don't let the name fool you, you're Small. You have Blindsight and you can't help but give away your position. Avoid.
Goat - A certain simulator has proven how powerful goats can be. Unfortunately those breeds of goat aren't native to DnD. You can charge for okay damage and prone, and have advantage on Strength and Dexterity checks that would knock you prone, but that's the limit of your combat potential. You're HP's also not good, but at least you're a some-what common sight.
Hawk - See Eagle, only with a less damaging attack.
Hyena - Your HP could match certain PCs, if they had to roll for their level 1 HP. You have Pack Tactics but lack the HP to really use it. You've okay Perception, but the Cat, Eagle and Hawk have you beat there. Also you're not likely to be welcome in civilized areas.
Jackal - See Hyena, although at least you get advantage on smell and hearing Perception checks.
Lizard - Tiny, Darkvision and a Climb speed. Unfortunately that's all that's going for you.
Octopus - Low HP, good stealth and interesting actions. You're definitely a glass cannon though. Also, unless your campaign is an aquatic one, you're going to stand out when you're noticed.
Owl - Decent Stealth, decent Perception, advantage on hearing and sight Perception checks. Tiny. FLYS. Doesn't provoke OAs when flying away from enemies. You're damage and HP is useless, but if you want an infiltrator you could do worse.
Quipper - Yeah no, you're useless and immobile out of water and not much better in it.
Rat - Dark Vision and Keen Smell. That's all you've got going for you. Avoid.
Raven - Tiny, a Fly speed and decent Perception. You don't get advantage, but you can mimic what you hear (potentially, ETV).
Scorpion - Avoid. Just, avoid. Unless you're coming across one in the wild, then you can just ignore.
Sea Horse - Sea above, except you can't even survive on land.
Spider - Tiny, Darkvision and a Climb speed. A poor man's Cat.
Vulture - See Hawk.
Weasel - A +5 to Stealth?! Decent Perception too and you get advantage on hearing and sight Perception checks. An okay scout.
Additional commentary from Yunru on CR 0 animals, from a guide he started but never completes which he called Lunar Wilds: A Moon Druid Animal Guide:
CR 0:
Baboon - The Baboon has Pack Tactics, putting it above the deer in terms of combat, even if it's attack is weaker and hits less often (without advantage). You've a climb speed which could be very useful, but your HP is very low so try to avoid getting hit.
Badger - Now here's an interesting one. Basically useless in combat, but it has Darkvision, advantage on smell Perception checks and can Burrow. There could be a niche case in combat where you throw up a damage-over-time concentration spell and then burrow away. You're also Tiny, which helps you go places you otherwise couldn't.
Bat - Blindsight, Flight and advantage on hearing Perception checks. Great for outside of combat, useless in it (more so than the Badger, as less things burrow than do fly). You're also Tiny, which helps you go places you otherwise couldn't.
Cat - Another combat-useless creature, however the cat has quite the potential outside of combat. Cats are common enough in populated areas. Couple that will a Climb speed, decent stealth and perception and advantage on smell Perception checks and you've got yourself quite the stalker form. You're also Tiny, which helps you go places you otherwise couldn't.
Crab - Blindsight, a Swim speed, Amphibious and Tiny. Other than that there's nothing to be had here.
Deer - Deer are useless. They have high Dex and an okay Wis, but they have no special traits and terrible combat use. You're going to stick out like a sore thumb in populated areas and probably get hunted in rural/wild areas.
Eagle - Remember what I said about the Cat being a good stalker form? As long as you don't get shot down by someone, the same holds true for the Eagle. You're not Tiny, but you've a Fly speed, a high perception and advantage on sight Perception checks. You still don't have much use in combat though.
Frog - Darkvision, Tiny, Amphibious and a Swim speed. The Crab's better in basically every way, and that says something.
Giant Fire Beetle - Don't let the name fool you, you're Small. You have Blindsight and you can't help but give away your position. Avoid.
Goat - A certain simulator has proven how powerful goats can be. Unfortunately those breeds of goat aren't native to DnD. You can charge for okay damage and prone, and have advantage on Strength and Dexterity checks that would knock you prone, but that's the limit of your combat potential. You're HP's also not good, but at least you're a some-what common sight.
Hawk - See Eagle, only with a less damaging attack.
Hyena - Your HP could match certain PCs, if they had to roll for their level 1 HP. You have Pack Tactics but lack the HP to really use it. You've okay Perception, but the Cat, Eagle and Hawk have you beat there. Also you're not likely to be welcome in civilized areas.
Jackal - See Hyena, although at least you get advantage on smell and hearing Perception checks.
Lizard - Tiny, Darkvision and a Climb speed. Unfortunately that's all that's going for you.
Octopus - Low HP, good stealth and interesting actions. You're definitely a glass cannon though. Also, unless your campaign is an aquatic one, you're going to stand out when you're noticed.
Owl - Decent Stealth, decent Perception, advantage on hearing and sight Perception checks. Tiny. FLYS. Doesn't provoke OAs when flying away from enemies. You're damage and HP is useless, but if you want an infiltrator you could do worse.
Quipper - Yeah no, you're useless and immobile out of water and not much better in it.
Rat - Dark Vision and Keen Smell. That's all you've got going for you. Avoid.
Raven - Tiny, a Fly speed and decent Perception. You don't get advantage, but you can mimic what you hear (potentially, ETV).
Scorpion - Avoid. Just, avoid. Unless you're coming across one in the wild, then you can just ignore.
Sea Horse - Sea above, except you can't even survive on land.
Spider - Tiny, Darkvision and a Climb speed. A poor man's Cat.
Vulture - See Hawk.
Weasel - A +5 to Stealth?! Decent Perception too and you get advantage on hearing and sight Perception checks. An okay scout.
The latest Sage Advice indicates that Monk no longer can add their Wisdom bonus to AC when in wildshape form, nor barbarian their Con. The idea is that they both change how you calculate AC, they don't give you a bonus to AC.
http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/rules-answers-january-2016
http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/rules-answers-january-2016
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Except it clearly states you can. You just can't combine Unarmored Defense and Natural Armour, it's one or the other.
FormerlyHemlock
Explorer
Wasn't that always the case? Nothing has changed.
It may not have changed, but it was news to players at my table. I had suspected that it didn't work, and this confirms it, so the rules lawyers amongst my crew that accepted my ruling due to DM fiat will be content with the official explanation. (And let me be clear, they totally didn't gripe about the DM fiat, they merely were asking if I could get an official answer, which I find completely acceptable, and I appreciate that they do it this way.)
And as far as "it states you can." The very issue at stake was whether or not you could get a natural armor bonus AND the Wisdom bonus added to your AC. You cannot. I had assumed you could not. You can use your animal shape's dexterity and your druid's wisdom and benefit in that fashion, but that wasn't what I was referring to. The guide above said "add your Wisdom bonus" which is useful shorthand, but you end up with players assuming that means "to the AC listed on the animal's monster manual entry" and not just "you can ignore the AC listed for the monster, and add your Wisdom and Dexterity bonuses to 10." As a clarification, it's probably expected of most optimizers, but having played at tables where people make these basic mistakes, I figured I'd clarify it to be sure.
And as far as "it states you can." The very issue at stake was whether or not you could get a natural armor bonus AND the Wisdom bonus added to your AC. You cannot. I had assumed you could not. You can use your animal shape's dexterity and your druid's wisdom and benefit in that fashion, but that wasn't what I was referring to. The guide above said "add your Wisdom bonus" which is useful shorthand, but you end up with players assuming that means "to the AC listed on the animal's monster manual entry" and not just "you can ignore the AC listed for the monster, and add your Wisdom and Dexterity bonuses to 10." As a clarification, it's probably expected of most optimizers, but having played at tables where people make these basic mistakes, I figured I'd clarify it to be sure.
Go for flattered! I'm glad your stuff was saved when WotC sunk their forums; it didn't deserve to drown. Still, I'm pretty sure that if you want your content removed, it will happen on your say so.
Why would you be frustrated? You posted something on the internet that the whole world could have seen if they wanted. Someone saw that WoTC was closing their forums and migrated your post here, giving you credit for it. Thicker skin is needed.
- Because it bears my name and yet I cannot edit or maintain it
- Because the formatting is incorrect and looks terrible
- Because if the information is incorrect or obsolete I look bad
- Because someone else gets credit/karma/whatever for my work
- Because in the US, when you write something, you own it and get to choose how/if it is distributed except for a few fair use cases of which this is not one.
I intentionally didn't migrate my post here. It wasn't a mistake or an oversight. I didn't want it here. That choice was taken from me.
Insults aren't required. I didn't report the post, I'm not saying bad things about the OP. It's just surprise and frustration. Empathy is needed.
mellored
Hero
- [MENTION=1]Morrus[/MENTION] can give you ownership.
Or he can deleted for you.
Barring any input from you, I don't feel it was an undue assumption that things posted online where intended to be public. It's not ignoring you wished, but rather being ignorant of them.
1. Couldn't you ask a moderator for permission to do so or ask that you can create a new thread and then this one is deleted after it was copied over?
2. Matter of opinion, but it doesn't look too terribly different than what I remember the WoTC forum one looking like
3. People tend to correct or suggest changes when rules change / new products are available to use, and no one is going to think you look bad for something that was migrated over from the WotC forums
4. It clearly says that the credit for making the guide originally came from you. The original poster of this particular thread isn't claiming credit for your work.
5. D&D is a world-wide game, not just the U.S. As for use, there is the consideration of fair use which is generally accepted when the idea is credited to the original author, is of a non-profit nature, and/or considered to be of a social benefit to the public.
Once the public was told that the WotC forums were being taken down, there was a period of weeks where people declared that useful information was going to be moved to enworld. I don't recall any protest from you saying that you did not want your work being moved over. I'm sorry, but I just fail to see how someone saving work that you did as valuable and useful to the D&D community as an insult.
Suggesting thicker skin seemed an appropriate comment, considering you suggest you are frustrated at your work being reposted.
Be happy that someone considered your work good enough to warrant keeping and be flattered that people didn't want it lost. If you don't like it here, just ask for it to be deleted. I'll be happy write up a new guide for the public to use at their leisure.
Click on the Google Doc. Notice the consistent spacing and careful use of white space that makes it pleasant to read. Then come back to enworld and see how everything is smooshed together. The WotC forums had the same problems, and I was meticulous about fixing them.
That is not the definition of fair use, but many people on the internet don't mind stealing in such circumstances. I suggest you read up on it.
You remember incorrectly. There was a period of weeks where people declared, "move your stuff to enworld." I was a very active user on the WotC forums, I wasn't here, and at the time I wasn't interested in joining this community.
I didn't say it was. All I said was that I was surprised and didn't know how to feel. I said you insulted me by telling me to get thicker skin.
Also: how is it that you only have two posts here and are so invested in this?
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From your own link archiving is fair use, which this is.
Huh. Thanks. Well, I was considering updating the original guide for SCAG anyway, so I'll repost it.
I wrote up a detailed response, but out of respect to the moderator I elected to not post it. I will suggest that anyone interested in the validity of my comment needs only to search web archives to find much of what I said is backed up by fact. As for this.......
I'll leave it at that, again out of respect for the moderator and people's feelings.
The actual U.S. code that I am referring to states that "the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright."
I'll leave it at that, again out of respect for the moderator and people's feelings.
1. Take a race that can bump Wis. Variant human as always is ideal for free feat.
2. ASIs-> Sentinel, then Wis to 20, then Resiliency (Con). Can take Res (Con) earlier if your DM actually remembers to do concentration saves.
3. Brown Bear form -> Giant Octopus -> Polar Bear -> Elemental (likely Earth because of Earth Glide).
4. Cast concentration spell before shapeshifting. Grapple enemies to stay within Flaming Sphere/Moonbeam.
5. Multiclass at some point into Barbarian or Monk for increased AC. Generally Barbarian just to get the rage resistance + damage.
Boom, Moon Druid guide.
