Wild Shape rules and options

[trentonjoe]

I recently received an item that allows my character to wildshape into any medium sized animal 1/day.

Having played all of zero druids since 1986 I am a little froggy on the rules and such.

Questions:

1. Do you get the creatures racial bonus? Ex: If I wildshaped into a baboon can I add +8 to my climb check.

2.You get Special attacks and qualities right? Ex: A bear's improved grab and a boars ferocity.

3. You can only wild shape into something with less than or equal to the same number of HD right? EX: As a 7th level bard I can wild shape into a wolf or bear but anything with more than 7HD.

4. If you wild shape into a fish can you breathe water? If no, If I wildshape into a porpoise can I hold my breath a really long time?

5. What are some good examples to wildshape into for non-combat situations. ANything with a bonus to spot or climb or other skills? EX: A bear would probably be the best thing to wildshape into to break a door down because of its high strength.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Hardhead]

I recently received an item that allows my character to wildshape into any medium sized animal 1/day.

Having played all of zero druids since 1986 I am a little froggy on the rules and such.

Questions:

1. Do you get the creatures racial bonus? Ex: If I wildshaped into a baboon can I add +8 to my climb check.

No, strangely enough.

2.You get Special attacks and qualities right? Ex: A bear's improved grab and a boars ferocity.

Yes and no. You get special attacks, like Improved Grab, not non-combat EX abilities, like a boar's ferocity. This was done, I assume, because druids kept using Wildshape in interesting non-combat situations

3. You can only wild shape into something with less than or equal to the same number of HD right? EX: As a 7th level bard I can wild shape into a wolf or bear but anything with more than 7HD.

Correct, up to 15 HD.

4. If you wild shape into a fish can you breathe water? If no, If I wildshape into a porpoise can I hold my breath a really long time?

Yes, you can breath if you're a fish becase it's an ability granted by the (Aquatic) subtype, which you get abilities from. You can't hold your breath, if you're a porpoise, though. That's a non-combat EX ability. And yes, it's a really dumb rule.

5. What are some good examples to wildshape into for non-combat situations. ANything with a bonus to spot or climb or other skills? EX: A bear would probably be the best thing to wildshape into to break a door down because of its high strength.

The new rules have eliminated the concept of wildshape forms being good in non-combat situations, for the most part.

Aquatic animals let you breath underwater, but that's not really useful in most campaigns. Almost all animals have low-light vision, if you don't already have that. Ummmm. I think that's about it. The plant subtype abilities can be nice, but since you can't change into those, they're not relivant.

Thanks in advance!

You're welcome!

 

[Saeviomagy]

No, strangely enough.

Bzzt. Wrong.

Wildshape references Polymorph self.
Polymorph self references alter self
alter self says:
You acquire the physical qualities of the new form while retaining your own mind. Physical qualities include natural size, mundane movement capabilities (such as burrowing, climbing, walking, swimming, and flight with wings, to a maximum speed of 120 feet for flying or 60 feet for nonflying movement), natural armor bonus, natural weapons (such as claws, bite, and so on), racial skill bonuses, racial bonus feats, and any gross physical qualities (presence or absence of wings, number of extremities, and so forth). A body with extra limbs does not allow you to make more attacks (or more advantageous two-weapon attacks) than normal.

Yes and no. You get special attacks, like Improved Grab, not non-combat EX abilities, like a boar's ferocity. This was done, I assume, because druids kept using Wildshape in interesting non-combat situations

Hmm, ferocity is listed as a special attack. So yes, you get it.

Correct, up to 15 HD.

Debatable - it could be argued that wildshape's "The new form’s Hit Dice can’t exceed the character’s druid level." clause overrides polymorph's "The assumed form can’t have more Hit Dice than your caster level (or the subject’s HD, whichever is lower), to a maximum of 15 HD at 15th level.", simply because there's no need for the line in wildshape if that isn't the case.

In the case of your magic item, I'd guess that the maximum hit dice for you to wildshape into is equal to the caster level of the item in question (and since you've only got medium wildshape, the caster level is between 5th and 7th level).

Yes, you can breath if you're a fish becase it's an ability granted by the (Aquatic) subtype, which you get abilities from. You can't hold your breath, if you're a porpoise, though. That's a non-combat EX ability. And yes, it's a really dumb rule.

I'd have to agree with this. Gaining animal senses or abilities really wasn't going to seriously disrupt the game.

The new rules have eliminated the concept of wildshape forms being good in non-combat situations, for the most part.

Aquatic animals let you breath underwater, but that's not really useful in most campaigns. Almost all animals have low-light vision, if you don't already have that. Ummmm. I think that's about it. The plant subtype abilities can be nice, but since you can't change into those, they're not relivant.

Well, no, it's not that bad. It's not as good as 3.0 (under the MotW rules anyway). Racial skill bonuses are useful. Gaining flight, burrow, climb and swim are all useful. Changing size and shape is useful. Gaining various stat levels is useful (strength for smashing down doors for instance). Moving faster is useful. Some of the racial bonus feats are nice (don't take track if you're a druid - simply change into a creature which has it as a bonus feat). Not to mention the ability to speak with any animal similar to the shape you've taken.

All in all, wildshape is a really good ability. Theres very few bonuses that you miss out on. Blindsight, Blindsense, Scent, Keen Scent, Sprint, Hold Breath, Jet, Ink Cloud, Amphibious.

While I'll admit that scent, blindsight and blindsense are all really useful, and sprint could potentially be worth the round that you could have otherwise spent running, I don't really see how you're missing out on much here.

 

[youspoonybard]

With the Druid being able to turn into a Huge elemental at level 20, as well as the ELH stuff, it's really undebatable that the 15 HD cap goes away with Wild Shape.

 

[Grant_Stoom]

Go for the Dire Badger! Dig through stone walls in mere rounds! Infinite Passwalls!

Of course, this will make your DM kill you.