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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mirrorrorrim" data-source="post: 8985940" data-attributes="member: 7040132">Hi again, Ember! I'd like to respond about Druid stuff, and it is relevant to the MM mentioned in the OP! First, I do not believe that Monster stat blocks can, or even should be, balanced for player use. I want them to do their jobs as monsters. Second, how many druid players have the MM (or multiple monster books) as their 2nd+ PHBs? And how many use them efficiently and in a timely fashion during gameplay? Not many in my anecdotal experience. I was one of them. I had to bookmark a monster manual at the table and it was still slow. How many are not also looking up every monster the DM throws at them because the MM is in their hands (that has happened more than once in games I've played in. (Heck I was that player!)I really love the idea of a nature loving druid character. But I stopped playing the 2014 druid because while the themes are wonderful, mechanically they are a nightmare, and their wildshape is so limited in the ways I like to play.If I want to play a Moon Cougar druid, I can't wildshape into a cougar and still be effective in a game (even at lower levels). The Beast stat blocks are limiting and Beasts don't scale unless someone creates a new stat block. I would have to research all kinds of other stat blocks and ask the DM if I can reskin, and even then the special abilities are not going to match up. I was told to "just use the bear stat block and call it a cougar." How is that advice any different than the Playtest reskinning, which does scale for effectiveness for whatever form you want?Sure the Playtest Druid is not ready for print. It needs a LOT of work. But I strongly believe that the scaling stat block is the way to go because the base effectiveness of that druid will never be in question. Here are some things that don't yet work and I provided feedback on as potential solutions.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I want there to be a pretty decent list of possible beast abilities to choose from when I wildshape. Do I want be a cougar so I can pounce on my prey? I can just choose the pounce ability from the list. Do I want to be a wolf for pack tactics? Just select pack tactics. The free unarmed strike already lets you grapple if you want to represent a wolf dragging someone to the ground, or a constrictor snake, or a bear hugging someone with extreme prejudice. But maybe there is an ability to select that enhances that grapple or offers a better one? This will help the player better represent the animal in their minds. I also have no problem with all wildshape forms having darkvision. It's a magic world. Your primal connection gives it to you. That works.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I dislike the ablative HP as designed in 2014. That is not how any shapechanging fiction works. Using the 2014 rules you get dropped as a bear and you are still hale and hearty. I don't buy it. That said I don't mind getting some temporary hit points with the wildshape to make yourself a little tougher.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I want wildshape to be a duration that does not require concentration and you can change into any appropriate available form while under that singular wildshape use. It's not borken if you don't get the 2014 ablative armor every time you shift. Also, in my vision, you only get any temporary hit points the first time you spend the use of wildshape, not each time you shift while under that wildshape duration. Do I want to be an Owlbear to beat someone into the ground, then spend a bonus action to turn into a deer and run away? That is fine! (This design also supports the way Doric wildshapes in DADHAT, and how Merlin does it in the Sword and the Stone, and who doesn't want to do that!?)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I want tiny noncombat forms at lower level. I don't think you need to assume that the Tiny form can tank or something because they still have lots of hit points. While your hit points don't have to change, just include in the ability or stat block that if you take damage, you get knocked out of wildshape. And while you could still use your next action to get back into a new form, your cover is blown. What a story as to try to fight or run! (See Doric)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I don't need flying at level 1, but I don't want to wait too long to get it.</li> </ol>For anyone defending the 2014 druid, are my ideas remotely interesting if they were in the 2024 rules?</blockquote>

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