Laurefindel
Legend
Shields as an at-will spell alone is quite impressive at those levels.
D&D 5E The "Faster Features" Variant (+)
- Thread starter DND_Reborn
- Start date
For archdruid, you could probably treat it like a ritual:
"If you spend 1 minute to adopt a wildshape, it does not count against your uses of wildshape".
This still maintains the unlimited forms, but not in a way that breaks combat. Though the spellcasting in wildshape form can still lead to a lot of possible abusive scenarios.
In 3.5 we always enjoyed the "spider casts call lightning and just keeps shocking guy X. Guy X never knows what is attacking him". You can technically do the same with Archdruid.
"If you spend 1 minute to adopt a wildshape, it does not count against your uses of wildshape".
This still maintains the unlimited forms, but not in a way that breaks combat. Though the spellcasting in wildshape form can still lead to a lot of possible abusive scenarios.
In 3.5 we always enjoyed the "spider casts call lightning and just keeps shocking guy X. Guy X never knows what is attacking him". You can technically do the same with Archdruid.
Don Durito
Hero
In this sort of model I would considered squishing the Wizard and Sorcerer together and using access to metamagic as a class feature.
DND_Reborn
The High Aldwin
I agree, just throwing it out there as a possibility.
It is great at any level IMO, but yeah...
Bacon Bits
Legend
I think Wish is more than potent enough to not get it until several levels after the other characters stop getting abilities. It's really the only spell in the game that actually deserves to be higher than 7th level.
DND_Reborn
The High Aldwin
That is fine, and maybe something we can adopt if the play-test shows it is too strong otherwise.
So, was the guy in 3.5 not able to find cover to get under?
Very interesting idea. I really like it at first blush. I've long held that most higher level features, beyond progressive increments like proficiency/saves and higher level spells, could easily be switched around with and mixed with lower level features. There are a few exceptions, of course, but this idea really appeals to me.
Laurefindel
Legend
As for archdruid, I'm more worried by the moon druid taking a bonus action to wildshape in an earth elemental (126 hp, B/P/S resistance), cast a spell, taking damage on enemy's turn, wildshaping into another earth elemental as bonus action (thus renewing all hp) cast a spell, taking damage on enemy's turn, wildshaping again as bonus action...
In effect, the druid ignore the first 126 points of damage (or up to 252 damage if you factor-in resistance to B/S/P damage) each round with spending its bonus action as the only opportunity cost (that and can't cast spells with expensive spell components). Between being able to do that once per day and each round without limits, that is a whole lot of "free" hp. It becomes a 10th level feature but still...
In effect, the druid ignore the first 126 points of damage (or up to 252 damage if you factor-in resistance to B/S/P damage) each round with spending its bonus action as the only opportunity cost (that and can't cast spells with expensive spell components). Between being able to do that once per day and each round without limits, that is a whole lot of "free" hp. It becomes a 10th level feature but still...
This is a great summary of why the Archdruid is fundamentally broken as a 10th level ability.
Even at 20th level it is frequently cited as "overpowered", but at least at 20th, the amount of damage thrown around helps to somewhat negate the meat buffer, and most importantly, the plethora of condition effects means that druids will often lose the ability to take bonus actions and therefore lose the meat shield refresh.
At 10th level both of these controls are weaker and less frequent, and so it really is an ability so strong that it warrants no playtesting, it clearly fails a basic balance litmus test.
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