OP is actually pretty spot on IMO. Moon druid is vastly overrate because of the low level experience. Especially when people start talking about nerfing your most powerful feature (spellcasting) by taking levels of barbarian/monk/etc. Low AC is a huge weakness. Optimized tank builds with solid base AC, magic items, the shield spell etc can just avoid damage while your beast gets totally wrecked.
I would agree generally, but Moon Druid with a multiclass can give a bag of hps to fall back on. I don't like Barbarian because you can't cast spells in rage, but Monk is pretty doable, the best though is a multiclass to Eldritch Knight so you can pick up shield and you have more spell slots to cast it.
The metal armor prohibition may be a concern in some campaigns, but it is not going to matter in others.
Bear totem barbarian/moon druid gives you great health, and raging while in wildshape lets you take lots of hit and do lots of damage.
The BarBEARian is really powerful at level 4 (and doesn't come online before then as you need wild shape and reckless attack) but even my level 5 is looking Meh.
Level 5 straight Barb (assuming typical point buy stats, ASI in str and half plate, raging and wielding a greatsword / maul) Str +4, Con +3, Dex +2, AC 17, To hit +7, Two attacks per round Avg Damage (per non critical hit) 14, HP 55
Barbearian Str +4, Con +3, Dex +0, AC 11, To hit +6, Avg Damage (per non critical hit) Bite 11 Claw 14, HP 34
While you can go into wild shape twice that 68 HP will go away VERY quickly with an AC of 11 you have a lower to hit than a straight barb and do less damage (on one of your attacks) if you do hit.
A bear totem barbarian will be resistance to all damage except psychic, you can do that but would sacrifice 2nd level spells to do so.
The straight barbarian would be even more powerful if they took GWM instead of an ASI but that makes the maths much more complex.
The Beast form doesn't any better until you are level 6 druid and a cave bear is only a tiny improvement (+1 to hit +1 damage and 8 extra HP). If you take more levels in barbarian Extra attack doesn't stack with multi attack your DM will probably allow extra attack to work for 2 claw attacks by taking your action to make two claw attacks (and no bite) rather than take the multiattack action but that is only a very small increase.
Good thing nobody was talking about that then. They said you can comfortably spend your rounds reactivating spells like Moonbeam, Heat Metal, Dust Devil and the like without having to be worried about your HP because you are sitting in your Wildshape form with their separate HP pool. That's something completely different than being just a meat shield.
That being said… this right here is why I’ve decided I will never play a Moon Druid again. Moon Druid sells itself as being a beast and leveraging your wildshape at the cost of being able to cast spells. Except if you want to be able to contribute to your party… you have to cast spells. That means avoid being in melee, cause beast forms cannot hold concentration as well due to lower constitution scores and terrible AC.
At that point.. just play a Land Druid. You can do the main trick a Moon Druid does, have a lot more access to magical items that make you better at the role you’ve chosen, and don’t feel like you’ve been missold a bill of goods.
I played a land druid. It was fine, she was pretty cool, but honestly when I switched her to moon I actually had a lot more fun. She only took warcaster recently, but at the same time she could usually hold a concentration spell. She's level 9 now (just took warcaster) and I'm hoping the giant scorpion and things will keep her going till she gets elementals. By level 6 your wildshape starts falling off HARD.
I would agree generally, but Moon Druid with a multiclass can give a bag of hps to fall back on. I don't like Barbarian because you can't cast spells in rage, but Monk is pretty doable, the best though is a multiclass to Eldritch Knight so you can pick up shield and you have more spell slots to cast it.
The metal armor prohibition may be a concern in some campaigns, but it is not going to matter in others.
Bear totem barbarian/moon druid gives you great health, and raging while in wildshape lets you take lots of hit and do lots of damage.
The BarBEARian is really powerful at level 4 (and doesn't come online before then as you need wild shape and reckless attack) but even my level 5 is looking Meh.
Level 5 straight Barb (assuming typical point buy stats, ASI in str and half plate, raging and wielding a greatsword / maul)
Str +4, Con +3, Dex +2, AC 17, To hit +7, Two attacks per round Avg Damage (per non critical hit) 14, HP 55
Barbearian
Str +4, Con +3, Dex +0, AC 11, To hit +6, Avg Damage (per non critical hit) Bite 11 Claw 14, HP 34
While you can go into wild shape twice that 68 HP will go away VERY quickly with an AC of 11 you have a lower to hit than a straight barb and do less damage (on one of your attacks) if you do hit.
A bear totem barbarian will be resistance to all damage except psychic, you can do that but would sacrifice 2nd level spells to do so.
The straight barbarian would be even more powerful if they took GWM instead of an ASI but that makes the maths much more complex.
The Beast form doesn't any better until you are level 6 druid and a cave bear is only a tiny improvement (+1 to hit +1 damage and 8 extra HP). If you take more levels in barbarian Extra attack doesn't stack with multi attack your DM will probably allow extra attack to work for 2 claw attacks by taking your action to make two claw attacks (and no bite) rather than take the multiattack action but that is only a very small increase.
Introducing: the half-caster druid. And it's got a 'big animals' subclass. But ask your DM, naturally.
Wild Blade (5e Class) - D&D Wiki (dandwiki.com)
Or, dip into barbarian and be a massive tank not worrying about concentration spells.
Or take war caster.
Or take fighter levels, although this will hurt your wildshape progression.
I played a land druid. It was fine, she was pretty cool, but honestly when I switched her to moon I actually had a lot more fun. She only took warcaster recently, but at the same time she could usually hold a concentration spell. She's level 9 now (just took warcaster) and I'm hoping the giant scorpion and things will keep her going till she gets elementals. By level 6 your wildshape starts falling off HARD.
Path of the Beast barbarian might also be cool for you, or Order of the Lycan Blood Hunter if your DM will allow it. Or this: Wild Blade (5e Class) - D&D Wiki (dandwiki.com)
Already mentioned it but it looks pretty cool and what you want. It's homebrew though, so ask your DM if you can make the switch.