Wild Shape and Equipment

[Scharlata]

Haven't you see dogs wearing costumes, before?

Oh, yes, those silly rain coats some poor poodles wear?

By the way, thanx very much for the new input.
The "new druid in town" and me will make an arrangement with that info of yours.

Kind regards

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I disagree on both counts.

A magical vest doesn't need to become a saddle blanket. It needs to become a wolf-sized (or lion-sized, or whatever) vest. Haven't you see dogs wearing costumes, before?

]*shrug* There is wiggle room, but I still maintain that the item's shape is too dissimilar when created for a humanoid to be work regularly by a non-humanoid. It's not a matter of size. The cut of the fabric for a doggie vest is not the same as a human's vest.

Similarly, the amulet doesn't even need to change at all. It's presumably hanging on a necklace, which can shrink or grow to fit anything from a dragon to a troll to a pixie. It'll fit a dog just as well.

If you'll note, quadruped animals (such as dogs) don't even have an amulet slot. They have a collar slot. And an amulet will not morph into a collar.

And what about gloves? Would you allow them to morph into doggie mitts? I would not. It isn't mentioned as possible anywhere in the rules, and completely overpowers druid wildshaping.

*shrug* I recognize that I am interpreting the rules strictly here. But I think there's plenty of backing for my interpretation, and that druid wildshaping is powerful enough without letting the druid use all his gear while doing so.

 

[moritheil]

]*shrug* There is wiggle room, but I still maintain that the item's shape is too dissimilar when created for a humanoid to be work regularly by a non-humanoid. It's not a matter of size. The cut of the fabric for a doggie vest is not the same as a human's vest.If you'll note, quadruped animals (such as dogs) don't even have an amulet slot. They have a collar slot. And an amulet will not morph into a collar.

And what about gloves? Would you allow them to morph into doggie mitts? I would not. It isn't mentioned as possible anywhere in the rules, and completely overpowers druid wildshaping.

*shrug* I recognize that I am interpreting the rules strictly here. But I think there's plenty of backing for my interpretation, and that druid wildshaping is powerful enough without letting the druid use all his gear while doing so.

I think you've just dovetailed with yourself.

Ruling that amulets, gloves, etc. cannot be worn by a dog is strictly correct. However, that helps druids, rather than hindering them. Such items will meld into their new forms seamlessly, thus implying that all they need is the Wild feature in order to work.

It is immensely better to be a squirrel that looks like a regular squirrel rather than a squirrel adorned with a dozen bangles. Hmm, which one is summoning all the elementals?

 

[shilsen]

I think you've just dovetailed with yourself.

Ruling that amulets, gloves, etc. cannot be worn by a dog is strictly correct. However, that helps druids, rather than hindering them. Such items will meld into their new forms seamlessly, thus implying that all they need is the Wild feature in order to work.

The Wild feature is a special ability for armor only, AFAIK. Or were you referring to something else?

 

[moritheil]

The Wild feature is a special ability for armor only, AFAIK. Or were you referring to something else?

Wasn't sure when I made the post, so I went ahead and stated that. However, even so, it's more convenient for the druid to have the gear meld - no danger of it being stolen or giving him/her away to the enemy.

 

[Dark Dragon]

Wasn't sure when I made the post, so I went ahead and stated that. However, even so, it's more convenient for the druid to have the gear meld - no danger of it being stolen or giving him/her away to the enemy.

Well, as long as the druid is NOT targeted by Disintegrate or a Sphere of Ultimate Destruction and fails the save...

Ioun stones, animated shields, wildshape armor and dancing weapons should be usable in any form, even if the druid or master of many forms wildshapes into something ...strange.

 

[moritheil]

Well, as long as the druid is NOT targeted by Disintegrate or a Sphere of Ultimate Destruction and fails the save...

Ioun stones, animated shields, wildshape armor and dancing weapons should be usable in any form, even if the druid or master of many forms wildshapes into something ...strange.

Oh, if you want to be a squirrel with purple stones whirling about your head, sure. I'm not going to stop someone from doing that. It's just that one of the main uses of wildshape tends to be "I turn into a squirrel of the type normally seen in this forest and blend in."

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Wasn't sure when I made the post, so I went ahead and stated that. However, even so, it's more convenient for the druid to have the gear meld - no danger of it being stolen or giving him/her away to the enemy.

No, because when the gear melds, it's nonfunctional. It's far more beneficial for the druid to have all his/her gear functional, on top of the benefits of the wildshaped form.

Ioun stones, animated shields, wildshape armor and dancing weapons should be usable in any form, even if the druid or master of many forms wildshapes into something ...strange.

Absolutely. A Wilding Clasp can also be used to allow an amulet to function, even though melded into the new form. Thus a druid can continue to benefit from his/her +6 Periapt of Wisdom even when wildshaped into a squirrel or polar bear.

I have no problem with the above items, or the Wild Armor property and Wilding Clasp. All have an additional expense to compensate for their usefulness. Other than that, if a druid wants to wear magic items while wildshaped, they need to have animal-type magic items crafted.

 

[moritheil]

No, because when the gear melds, it's nonfunctional. It's far more beneficial for the druid to have all his/her gear functional, on top of the benefits of the wildshaped form.Absolutely. A Wilding Clasp can also be used to allow an amulet to function, even though melded into the new form. Thus a druid can continue to benefit from his/her +6 Periapt of Wisdom even when wildshaped into a squirrel or polar bear.

I have no problem with the above items, or the Wild Armor property and Wilding Clasp. All have an additional expense to compensate for their usefulness. Other than that, if a druid wants to wear magic items while wildshaped, they need to have animal-type magic items crafted.

I am aware that it's nonfunctional when it melds. My assertion is that even the gear being nonfunctional is usually better than it being present and functional, due to the reasons the druid has behind taking wild form.

IME, most druids do not want to look like squirrels with magical bracers and whirling ioun stones when they turn into a squirrel to avoid being spotted by the enemy as "the one dropping all the fire elementals on us."

Of course, if your druids are continually wildshaping into bears to maul the enemy, then what do they care what they look like? But I stated my assumptions about the scenario previously.