D&D 5E Sussing Out Wild Shape

[pukunui]

Would the druid retain their own proficiency modifier, or use the beast's?

That's another good question!

 

[neogod22]

You can use yours or the beasts stats and profiency. For example. If you transform into a creature with a higher strength, but lower profiency, you can use the beast's strength, and your profiency to get a better chance to hit.

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[jaelis]

OK. I guess that's a legitimate answer to "how do other people handle this?", but it doesn't really help me understand the RAW any better. Thanks, though.

I see, I misunderstood what you were after. RAW is that you use the beast's physical stats, and whichever proficiency bonus is higher. That's how I would interpret

You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature's bonus instead of yours.

In practice we find that too be too much trouble, is why we don't play it that way.

 

[neogod22]

I see, I misunderstood what you were after. RAW is that you use the beast's physical stats, and whichever proficiency bonus is higher. That's how I would interpret

In practice we find that too be too much trouble, is why we don't play it that way.

It's up to the druid, usually the creature would have the higher physical stats, the druid would have the higher profiency. If he only uses the monster's profiency, and misses, it's his fault.

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[jaelis]

It's up to the druid, usually the creature would have the higher physical stats, the druid would have the higher profiency. If he only uses the monster's profiency, and misses, it's his fault.

Well, just to be clear, I don't believe that the druid has the option to use his own physical stats. I think you are saying you can choose between your proficiency bonus and the beast's, which means in practice use the best. But I think the actual rule does say to use the best, though the wording isn't very clear.

 

[pukunui]

Am I alone in thinking that it would've been simpler - and possibly better - to merely give the druid some specific forms to wild shape into (eg. a predator form that can represent a wolf or tiger or whatever, an avian form that can be used for flying creatures, a scout form that represent a cat or frog or spider, etc), rather than having them use actual animal statblocks?

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Am I alone in thinking that it would've been simpler - and possibly better - to merely give the druid some specific forms to wild shape into (eg. a predator form that can represent a wolf or tiger or whatever, an avian form that can be used for flying creatures, a scout form that represent a cat or frog or spider, etc), rather than having them use actual animal statblocks?

If it was just a simple swap out, where you could ignore everything on your druid sheet while you were using the tiger sheet, then it would be simple enough to just use the actual animal stats.

Since apparently you have to recalculate the animal stats based on your own proficiency bonus, it probably would be easier to just go with a handful of generic forms that you could keep ready on your own sheet.

 

[jaelis]

Since apparently you have to recalculate the animal stats based on your own proficiency bonus, it probably would be easier to just go with a handful of generic forms that you could keep ready on your own sheet.

Well you are supposed to, but you don't have to. We don't and my druid player has never complained

 

[neogod22]

If it was just a simple swap out, where you could ignore everything on your druid sheet while you were using the tiger sheet, then it would be simple enough to just use the actual animal stats.

Since apparently you have to recalculate the animal stats based on your own proficiency bonus, it probably would be easier to just go with a handful of generic forms that you could keep ready on your own sheet.

The only thing you have to look at is the animal's + to hit vs it's STR or DEX. you can easily calculate what the profiency bonus is if you subtract one from the other. Or just add your profiency to the better stat. I don't see how that's hard.b

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[The Crimson Binome]

The only thing you have to look at is the animal's + to hit vs it's STR or DEX. you can easily calculate what the profiency bonus is if you subtract one from the other. Or just add your profiency to the better stat. I don't see how that's hard.

It's not hard, but it is harder than it should be. It's a leftover remnant from third edition which is incongruous with the rest of the edition.

It's just weird that they got rid of the concept of touch attacks, and flat-footed attacks, but kept this one mechanic where you had to substitute the values.