D&D (2024) Playtest Packet 6: They knocked Druid out of the Park

[DavyGreenwind]

I'm very happy with this new Druid. Circle of the Sea is sick.

 

[Willie the Duck]

Circle of land is also quite the upgrade -- upgrade in flavor and adaptability.

 

[Clint_L]

Circle of the Moon is hugely nerfed, though, and that's 60% of druids.

 

[Willie the Duck]

Circle of the Moon is hugely nerfed, though, and that's 60% of druids.

Well, it's 60% of druids because people found some of the other subtypes lackluster. I deeply suspect the boost to land druid will make more people want to play them (as does the warden primal order, which means you can have one walking around with 18 AC relatively easily).

As for nerfing, they culled the hp boost to a more reasonable level, which I think was the major complaint about/against moon druids, and made all druids have forms known, cutting down the MM-diving (a main complaint about/against druids in general). In return, the moon druid can keep their regular AC (which, again with warden, can be ~17 just with Dex 14 and half-plate, no magic needed), and cast Moonbeam and abjuration spells while in animal form (at levels people generally play). It's definitely not the same beast as the 2014 Moon Druid, but I don't think I'd see a huge dropoff in people playing them.

 

[OB1]

Only have time for a quick scan right now, but I'm liking what I'm seeing. The new limited forms/ change on a long rest Wildshape rule should help with in combat decision making on wildshape slow down. Keeping your own HP is both a nerf and a boost, depending on the form. I like the Moon Druid changes, much more thematic now and with a spell slot cost to fully unlock the power in the class.

 

[MockingBird]

I do like the nerf of HP in wild shape. It seemed a little op when I witnessed it in play. Really wished Dndbeyond had these play test rules in the character builder. I get why that's not possible at this time though.

 

[mellored]

Circle of the Moon is hugely nerfed, though, and that's 60% of druids.

I don't see it.

They just capped the extra (T)HP you could get, as well as forms knows, but that needed to be done.

And in return you get...
+3-4 AC buff,
d8 damage buff,
flexible damage types
cast abjuration spells
And moonbeam is a good spell too, scaling well with slot level.

My main issue is that you can't stay a wolf at higher levels. You still need to go mammoth.

 

[mellored]

Also, I think Channel Nature was smoother, rather than all of these "expend a use of wild shape".

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I don't see it.

They just capped the extra (T)HP you could get, as well as forms knows, but that needed to be done.

And in return you get...
+3-4 AC buff,
d8 damage buff,
flexible damage types
cast abjuration spells
And moonbeam is a good spell too, scaling well with slot level.

My main issue is that you can't stay a wolf at higher levels. You still need to go mammoth.

I'd just call my mammoth-form a mammoth-sized wolf. (But I get your complaint).

 

[mellored]

I'd just call my mammoth-form a mammoth-sized wolf. (But I get your complaint).

Would it work for a mammoth sized spider if you want to be a spider queen druid?