Wildshape

[CleverNickName]

Would only being able to turn into the form of the creature you have the strongest affinity with, i.e. your animal companion, be a good way of staving off druidzilla?

Wildshape should be a spell on the Druid (and/or Ranger?) spell list. Wildshape (Large), Wildshape (Tiny), Wildshape (Elemental), Wildshape (Plant), etc. should all be different levels or variations of that same spell.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I like the wildshape = spell slot idea. Allow spontaneous casting.

I also think there need to be two different versions -- the many forms, flexible version that basically keeps the druid's stats, and a single-form version that provides a combat boost. You shouldn't get both from one ability.

I'd go for a druid where you pick one of about five focus areas, while retaining common nature skills and general spellcasting. The focus areas could be: beastmaster (animal companions), master of forms (many forms of non-combat animal shapes), shapeshifter (single form transformation, almost lycanthrope), summoner (fights with called creatures), and elementalist (nature-based spell specialist).

 

[Mattachine]

Again, the 3.5 PHB version, with defined abilities you could get by level (and restricting the interaction of items with wildshape), and the 4.0 version (wildshape is largely cosmetic, with spells, abilities, and feats needed for special stuff) are great examples for having a fun and flexible wildshape. Also, wild shape done either of these ways is quick, with little bookkeeping.

It doesn't have to function as a stat-replacement ability.

 

[SLOTHmaster]

Perhaps, in addition to not being able to cast spells, wildshape should have an element of danger. In various mythologies shapeshifters were sometimes trapped in their forms. Why not require a will save to change back, with the DC based on how long you spent in the shape?

 

[Mattachine]

Perhaps, in addition to not being able to cast spells, wildshape should have an element of danger. In various mythologies shapeshifters were sometimes trapped in their forms. Why not require a will save to change back, with the DC based on how long you spent in the shape?

Abilities with serious drawbacks generally aren't used by players until those drawbacks are mitigated.

 

[Vael]

I fully expect to see Animal Companions make the move to Specialization.

As for wildshape, I'm torn. I love the at-will shifting of the shapeshifter in 3.5's PH2, or the 4e wildshaping druid. But those were very generic forms, and I'd like to see where you actually shifted into different creatures and it matters. However, I don't like the abuseability of 3.5's wildshape, and Pathfinder's menu and cross-referencing wildshape writeup gives me hives.

 

[Li Shenron]

Paladin will choose maybe Virtues (Courage, Humilty) and oppose Vices

That would be fantastic...

Obviously they would have to clarify that it would be the "main" virtue, so that the Paladin possibly also abides to other virtues.

But I would absolutely love to see Paladins less concerned with a specific deity (we already have Clerics to cover for "deity champions"), or at least not necessarily, and be instead more encompassing and above actual religions. More Champions of Good than Champions of (a) God, in a sense, although the latter could be easily added e.g. by giving a paladin the Priest background.

 

[Prickly]

Paladin will choose maybe Virtues (Courage, Humilty) and oppose Vices

The 4E essentials Paladin worked of virtues (Valour and Sacrifice) and the Blackguard embodied vices.

Its a good idea