D&D 5E (2024) Playtest Packet 6: They knocked Druid out of the Park

[darjr]

 

[Kobold Stew]

You can swap after a long rest.

I'd missed that. That's too bad, I think -- I liked what I (failed to read) more.

 

[TerraDave]

All three subclasses have a lot going on. And metal armor, or be a a druid-magician!

 

[ChameleonX]

This is ... fine. I really like the new flavour of the Moon Druid and all the lunar abilities, but the reason I prefer templates is that they scale with you ... MM statblocks do not. So the "I just want to be the wolf-guy" Druid ... which I've run into more than once is once again in a trap.

How, though?

If you go Moon Druid, your AC is going to be based on your Humanoid form, which with Warden is going to be 15+. You also keep your class features, which includes the damage buffs from Primal Strike, and your proficiency bonus and skills are going to scale with your base form, as are your hit points.

The only thing you're really getting from going Mammoth is more temporary hit points and a few dice of damage. Yeah, a big buff, but it doesn't necessarily make theme builds unplayable. If you go Dire Wolf, all you're really missing out on is 23 Temporary hit points and 2d6 more damage per attack, in exchange for Pack Tactics and a Prone ability that doesn't require you to charge first.

 

[Vael]

How, though?

If you go Moon Druid, your AC is going to be based on your Humanoid form, which with Warden is going to be 15+. You also keep your class features, which includes the damage buffs from Primal Strike, and your proficiency bonus and skills are going to scale with your base form, as are your hit points.

The only thing you're really getting from going Mammoth is more temporary hit points and a few dice of damage. Yeah, a big buff, but it doesn't necessarily make theme builds unplayable. If you go Dire Wolf, all you're really missing out on is 23 Temporary hit points and 2d6 more damage per attack, in exchange for Pack Tactics and a Prone ability that doesn't require you to charge first.

Well, the big one is the +10 (Mammoth) vs +4 (Wolf) or +5 (Dire Wolf) attack bonus for those attacks. Sure there's damage buffs, but when your attacks are that much more unlikely to hit at all, what does it matter?

Also, there's just a lack of variety in CR3+ beasts. Especially if your DM doesn't allow dinosaurs (has happened more than once).

 

[Leatherhead]

IMO, they picked the absolute worst option for Wildshape possible.

 

[Charlaquin]

Honestly, using the Druid’s actual HP is a stealth buff. Getting the monster’s HP as effective temp HP was only a significant boost to survivability for moon druids, and they’re keeping that anyway, with a new cap of 3x Druid Level. So, a bit of a survivability nerf there, but in exchange moon Druids can cast any abjuration spell while shapeshifted (which includes most healing spells), and they get the secret buff to all Druids: they no longer get knocked out of their wild shape form if they take too much damage. You can stay a brown bear (or whatever) all the way until you get knocked out. That means fewer uses of wild shape getting expended in combat, and more uptime on your beast form attacks. Which also all deal an extra 1d8 damage after 7th level now if you take Primal Strike!

 

[mellored]

but in exchange moon Druids also get 3x Druid Level as a floor to the temp HP,

Nope.
"which ever number is lower".

A level 20 moon druid turning into a house cat gets 2 temporary hit points.

Though you get to keep your 17 AC.

 

[Sulicius]

At least the players now page through the MM during a long rest, instead of in the middle of combat.

"INCREMENTAL CHANGE! YEAGH!"

 

[Charlaquin]

Nope.
"which ever number is lower".

A level 20 moon druid turning into a house cat gets 2 temporary hit points.

Though you get to keep your 17 AC.

Yeah, misread that. Fixed in the post. Still, I think getting to remain in beast form all the way to 0 HP is a buffer buff than people realize.