Nerfed Wildshape?

[Hardhead]

What's everyone's thoughts on the new version of Wildshape that does not grant EX abilities?

On one hand, I can see how some EX abilities might be too powerful, but on the other hand, Wildshape is *not* that great of a combat ability. In fact, in my experience, it's rather bad. One of the few useful things about it was the Scent and the Low-Light vision it granted.

The odd thing, I thought, was that Andy said it'd be too much trouble to make a list of abilities they got, as opposed to a blanket ruling, but then, that's exactly what they did with the Druid's animal companion - change it from a blanket rule regarding HD to a list. And would it have been much more trouble to say that they gain combat EX abilities as well as scent, low light vision, and one or two others?

 

[Sixchan]

Wildshape is still one of the best combat spells, IMO.

Haven't you heard (I think it was P-Kitty's) the story of the BBEG who swallowed a fly? What happens when it's no longer a fly? Perhaps the BBEG will die.

 

[Arnwyn]

What's everyone's thoughts on the new version of Wildshape that does not grant EX abilities?

*shrug* Sounds fine to me.

 

[Wolfspider]

So, a druid who turns into a dog doesn't have the doggie's keen sense of smell?

Sounds pretty dumb to me.

 

[LGodamus]

LAME

 

[Rel]

What bugs me about this change as well as a number of others that I've seen with 3.5 is that I'm getting a rather distinct feeling that if something doesn't directly contribute to combat prowess, it has been given little regard. In my opinion, "role-playing" (as opposed to combat) is not just about having the characters with the high charisma chatting with the NPC's. It's about using a character's abilities to do things outside of combat.

So if the Druid wants to wildshape into a Dog to help the Ranger track using scent, why not? If the Druid wants to have a flock of sparrows as animal companions to keep tabs on what is happening throughout the forest (as opposed to having a wolf or dire bear), why not? If the Cleric wants to cast Bull's Strength on himself to help clear a cave collapse off of some trapped miners, why not? (Of course he can still do that, so long as the job can be finished in 1 min/lvl).

Those are the sorts of things that I'm going to need to Rule 0 when I move to 3.5. And they are also the things that are going to have the players balking at the switch.

 

[Pielorinho]

I have mixed feelings.

On the one hand, it bugs me for flavor reasons. I think that when you turn into an animal, you ought to turn into an animal. You oughtta have a doggie body, doggie legs, doggie paws, and a doggie nose.

If your nose doesn't work like a dog's nose, then you come across as a human wearing a dog suit. Terrible flavor.

On the other hand, I play a druid, and I'm worried about coming off as a minmaxer.

I might suggest to my DM that he ignore two changes to wildshaping:

1) Wildshaping will still allow all abilities of the animal; and
2) Very few items will stay "equipped" on a wildshaped animal.

The second, of course, would be far more of a nerf than the first would be a bonus; however, I think it'd lead to better flavor.

Daniel

 

[youspoonybard]

The new Wildshape is AWESOME.

Yes, you lose out on cool abilities. HOWEVER:

If you CAN wear the equipment in the new form, you can continue wearing it when you meld. No more low AC's when shaped; in fact, AC will get pretty good (Bracers of Armor, Rings of Deflection, etc).

Natural Spell gives you access to material components and foci (including divine foci) melded into your current form. Hello, stealth casting!

"As you walk through the forest, you hear several birds chirp. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning crashes down from the sky. Make a reflex save."

"I look around. Do I see a bird holding a piece of mistletoe, or one with a small golden chain around his neck, or something similar?"

"No."

"Oh crap."

 

[DM_Matt]

One small consolation: as long as you can say that you've seen them before somehow, you can wild shape into dinosaurs, now. some of those, particularly the ones in the MM2, are quite powerful (Allosaurus, for instance, Trample, Improved Grab, Swollow Whole, and Rake!)

 

[WizarDru]

So, a druid who turns into a dog doesn't have the doggie's keen sense of smell?

I suppose that would depend on whether or not the dog's scent ability is still an EX. It's quite possible that all of those animal stat blocks have been rewritten.