Tiny size should be available from level 3.
This kind is wildshape should be at-will ability, costing only (bonus) Action to activate.
why?No. Level 3 is too early. But 7 would be appropriate.
why?
you deal half damage.
You dont even get advantage on Stealth.
let's wait 11(or 7 as you suggest) levels to give druids somewhat useful exploration/role-play tool.
talk about; too little, too late.
It's same as current rangers Vanish ability. Bonus action Hide at 14th level? Yeah, about 11 levels too late.
They should really take a hint from 3.5e PHB2 druid.
1st level wild shape: medium size, land speed 40ft
+4 STR, 1d6 damage, one attack
3rd level, tiny size, half speed of any form
1 damage attack, one attack
advantage on stealth
3rd level, aquatic shape, swim speed 40, breathe water, land speed 20
+4 STR, 1d6 damage, one attack
5th level, gain 2nd attack
7th level, underdark shape: burrow speed 20, land speed 20,
+4 STR, 1d6 damage
9th level, flight shape: fly speed 60, land speed 10,
+2 STR, 1d4 damage
11th level: large size, +4 additional STR in all shapes
13th level: elemental shape
17th level: huge size: +8 additional STR for all shapes
Moon druid:
Bonus action wildshape, 1st level
+4 additional STR in all forms, 3rd level
natural weapons count as magical, 6th level
damage reduction equal to proficiency bonus, 10th level
spellcasting in wild shape, 14th level
that could work.Nope. +STR way worse than replacing STR with WIS.
Otherwise you see all those 20 STR Barbarian/Druids.
Generally the template approach us way better. It just needs some more balancing/improving.
Edit: now thinking of it, I think STR should just be a fixed value, starting at 16 and probably going up to 24 or even more.
If that is your intend, and your proposal of subclass at level 1 is in place, that could work.that could work.
but, with +x STR you can have moon druids based on STR and not so good spellcasting and good spellcasters and not so good wildshape fighters.