In the RPG environments I have been a part of (Dungeons and Dragons, World of Warcraft etc.) the druid is instinctively my first choice. I know from playing online and from other RPGs that "pure" classes (rogue, wizard, warrior) generally have a higher damage output and as such - to many - outshine the hybrid classes. But it is precisely because of the hybridity, the fluidity, the versatility that I really, really like these classes. I always enjoy playing either a shaman or a druid the most, because in a group of players (a warrior/ barb, a mage, a rogue and maybe a more stringent "healer" expected class like the priest/cleric, the druid will always be the "eye" in the middle when the d6 lands on "5", you know what I'm saying? That hybrid just ties 'em all together.
I will always attempt to remain in the background in an encounter, as I love to watch others shine, but when the going gets tough the tough get going and bam, I am a temporary meatshield for two-three rounds until the barb is topped off again, or boom, I provide two heals on the cleric and I allow for the rogue to cut him lose again. I guess "boring" as mentioned above is super duper subjective. I personally find that not having to be the "best" at anything in the game, but awfully handy in just about any situation you can think of is anything but boring. I don't care that I am not pumping out a ton of dps. I get to be the one who scouts from above. I get to provide everybody with the ability to sneak past the guards when the lack of protection spells would have clinkedy-clanked our warrior right into the arms of the guards. I get to talk to trees. I GET TO EVENTUALLY TURN INTO A FREAKING ADULT RED DRAGON, ARE YOU KIDDIN' ME!?
The druid takes time, and as such it's not a class that appeals to the people who maybe find themselves in short term campaigns where they break up after maybe 7 sessions. A druid is like wine. Open it up and let it air for a good while - it'll get better and sit better with you. It's tanky. It's roguey/ stealthy. It's magic. It's healy. It's super flavourful and removing a druid from a naturebased environment is just a catalyst for awesome roleplaying. What more could I ask for?
I agree, I'm having a blast with my Druid. But, how do you turn into an Adult Red Dragon?
I think the person in the comment above is under the impression that Polymorph can transform you into a dragon. Unfortunately, druids don't have access to True Polymorph like bards, warlocks, and wizards. Despite all that, both spells have no effect on shapechangers so wouldn't work on druids.
I agree, I'm having a blast with my Druid. But, how do you turn into an Adult Red Dragon?
I think the person in the comment above is under the impression that Polymorph can transform you into a dragon. Unfortunately, druids don't have access to True Polymorph like bards, warlocks, and wizards. Despite all that, both spells have no effect on shapechangers so wouldn't work on druids.
"Shapechanger" is a monster tag, and doesn't apply to PC druids. So a druid can be affected by either spell, but through wild-shape the druid has the ability to shift out of the spell effect. A druid that gets polymorphed no longer has the ability to wild-shape.
Edit: Dunno about the PC Dopplgangers from Eberon. They may have Shapechanger mentioned in their racial description. Also I was wrong about being able to shift out of polymorph.
@Tim that's correct. However, just like Elejian said, only True Polymorph (it says creature instead of Beast) would allow someone to turn into a dragon, but it's not on the Druid Spell list. The poster who said they're looking forward to turning into a dragon must have assumed that they eventually get access to True Polymorph because they get access to Polymorph.
I agree, I'm having a blast with my Druid. But, how do you turn into an Adult Red Dragon?
I am thinking about this spell: Shapechange
It carries the following description: "You assume the form of a different creature for the Duration. The new form can be any creature with a Challenge rating equal to your level or lower. The creature can't be a construct or an Undead, and you must have seen the sort of creature at least once. You transform into an average example of that creature, one without any class levels or the Spellcasting trait."
Shapechange seems to be True Polymorph modified to better fit the Druid. Range is self, you keep your intelligence, wisdom and charisma, you can’t change into a construct or undead.
Shapechange seems to be True Polymorph modified to better fit the Druid. Range is self, you keep your intelligence, wisdom and charisma, you can’t change into a construct or undead.
My answer was in response to the people above (not the quote from Trirhabda), who thought I was referring to another spell (Polymorph) in order to turn into a dragon. The spell I am referencing in my last post is the one that allows a druid to do this. I am not sure what your quotation above is in reference to. Sorry. At any rate, all this is besides the point in the original thread. The thing to take note of is that NO other class can play this game as a big old red DaRgoN LOLS (And no other class, ever, has had an Alamo teh BAREDURID LÆL!1) :-)
I was just agreeing with you, Amalinze. Sorry that I didn’t make it clear. I was just musing about why druids didn’t get True Polymorph and got Shapechange instead. Also, I hadn’t really examined the two spells in detail and was wondering if anyone can find other important differences between the spells.
I was just agreeing with you, Amalinze. Sorry that I didn’t make it clear. I was just musing about why druids didn’t get True Polymorph and got Shapechange instead. Also, I hadn’t really examined the two spells in detail and was wondering if anyone can find other important differences between the spells.
Ah, gotcha :-) Glad we agree :-) I guess Polymorph is slightly too "mage'ish" *shrug*
I agree, I'm having a blast with my Druid. But, how do you turn into an Adult Red Dragon?
I think the person in the comment above is under the impression that Polymorph can transform you into a dragon. Unfortunately, druids don't have access to True Polymorph like bards, warlocks, and wizards. Despite all that, both spells have no effect on shapechangers so wouldn't work on druids.
"Shapechanger" is a monster tag, and doesn't apply to PC druids. So a druid can be affected by either spell, but through wild-shape the druid has the ability to shift out of the spell effect. A druid that gets polymorphed no longer has the ability to wild-shape.
Edit: Dunno about the PC Dopplgangers from Eberon. They may have Shapechanger mentioned in their racial description. Also I was wrong about being able to shift out of polymorph.
Looks like I was under the wrong impression lol. I figured that an organism that had physical control over its anatomy like a druid would be considered a shapechanger. Interesting that druids just can't wild shape out of polymorph.
At least I learned something new, thanks Ckelley717!
Looks like I was under the wrong impression lol. I figured that an organism that had physical control over its anatomy like a druid would be considered a shapechanger.
They don't, though. It's all done through magic. You wouldn't call a wizard a shapechanger just because they added Polymorph to their spellbook either.
Looks like I was under the wrong impression lol. I figured that an organism that had physical control over its anatomy like a druid would be considered a shapechanger.
They don't, though. It's all done through magic. You wouldn't call a wizard a shapechanger just because they added Polymorph to their spellbook either.
I meant "physical control" in the sense that they have the power to alter their physical/biological structure. I realize these are both done magically, but druids having that innately compared to other spellcasters who would otherwise have to blow the spell slot to accomplish the same result.
'Druids are boring' has been my opinion for three or four editions.
But is there any substantiation to this or is it merely a middle-finger-kind-of-statement? Why boring? (Not that you HAVE to love it, just curious) :-)
I agree, I'm having a blast with my Druid. But, how do you turn into an Adult Red Dragon?
I think the person in the comment above is under the impression that Polymorph can transform you into a dragon. Unfortunately, druids don't have access to True Polymorph like bards, warlocks, and wizards. Despite all that, both spells have no effect on shapechangers so wouldn't work on druids.
No, I am not under the impression that Polymorph can transform me into a dragon. It's still the 9th lvl spell that allows a druid to do this.
For me, I loathe shape change. A class pretty much built around it? That's never going to work out for me. I'm not a huge fan of the spell selection either. Sadly, it's just not the class for me. I /want/ to like druids. Everytime I build one though, I look at it and say "meh"
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
For me, I loathe shape change. A class pretty much built around it? That's never going to work out for me. I'm not a huge fan of the spell selection either. Sadly, it's just not the class for me. I /want/ to like druids. Everytime I build one though, I look at it and say "meh"
I can see what you mean with this (I think). But with the Xanathar's Guide to Everything, there seems to have been developed a few new more evocative-oriented spells. Ice Knife? Effing kewl!
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Play ranger its better
I stole my pfp from this person: https://mobile.twitter.com/xelart1/status/1177312449575432193
In the RPG environments I have been a part of (Dungeons and Dragons, World of Warcraft etc.) the druid is instinctively my first choice. I know from playing online and from other RPGs that "pure" classes (rogue, wizard, warrior) generally have a higher damage output and as such - to many - outshine the hybrid classes. But it is precisely because of the hybridity, the fluidity, the versatility that I really, really like these classes. I always enjoy playing either a shaman or a druid the most, because in a group of players (a warrior/ barb, a mage, a rogue and maybe a more stringent "healer" expected class like the priest/cleric, the druid will always be the "eye" in the middle when the d6 lands on "5", you know what I'm saying? That hybrid just ties 'em all together.
I will always attempt to remain in the background in an encounter, as I love to watch others shine, but when the going gets tough the tough get going and bam, I am a temporary meatshield for two-three rounds until the barb is topped off again, or boom, I provide two heals on the cleric and I allow for the rogue to cut him lose again. I guess "boring" as mentioned above is super duper subjective. I personally find that not having to be the "best" at anything in the game, but awfully handy in just about any situation you can think of is anything but boring. I don't care that I am not pumping out a ton of dps. I get to be the one who scouts from above. I get to provide everybody with the ability to sneak past the guards when the lack of protection spells would have clinkedy-clanked our warrior right into the arms of the guards. I get to talk to trees. I GET TO EVENTUALLY TURN INTO A FREAKING ADULT RED DRAGON, ARE YOU KIDDIN' ME!?
The druid takes time, and as such it's not a class that appeals to the people who maybe find themselves in short term campaigns where they break up after maybe 7 sessions. A druid is like wine. Open it up and let it air for a good while - it'll get better and sit better with you. It's tanky. It's roguey/ stealthy. It's magic. It's healy. It's super flavourful and removing a druid from a naturebased environment is just a catalyst for awesome roleplaying. What more could I ask for?
best of lck with your druid!
I agree, I'm having a blast with my Druid. But, how do you turn into an Adult Red Dragon?
Professional computer geek
I think the person in the comment above is under the impression that Polymorph can transform you into a dragon. Unfortunately, druids don't have access to True Polymorph like bards, warlocks, and wizards.
Despite all that, both spells have no effect on shapechangers so wouldn't work on druids."Shapechanger" is a monster tag, and doesn't apply to PC druids. So a druid can be affected by either spell,
but through wild-shape the druid has the ability to shift out of the spell effect.A druid that gets polymorphed no longer has the ability to wild-shape.Here is a filter for the monsters that have the shapechanger tag: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters?filter-type=0&filter-search=&filter-cr-min=&filter-cr-max=&filter-armor-class-min=&filter-armor-class-max=&filter-average-hp-min=&filter-average-hp-max=&filter-is-legendary=&filter-has-lair=&filter-tags=63
Edit: Dunno about the PC Dopplgangers from Eberon. They may have Shapechanger mentioned in their racial description. Also I was wrong about being able to shift out of polymorph.
Polymorph only let's you change into Beasts though.
Professional computer geek
@Tim that's correct. However, just like Elejian said, only True Polymorph (it says creature instead of Beast) would allow someone to turn into a dragon, but it's not on the Druid Spell list. The poster who said they're looking forward to turning into a dragon must have assumed that they eventually get access to True Polymorph because they get access to Polymorph.
I am thinking about this spell: Shapechange
It carries the following description: "You assume the form of a different creature for the Duration. The new form can be any creature with a Challenge rating equal to your level or lower. The creature can't be a construct or an Undead, and you must have seen the sort of creature at least once. You transform into an average example of that creature, one without any class levels or the Spellcasting trait."
Shapechange seems to be True Polymorph modified to better fit the Druid. Range is self, you keep your intelligence, wisdom and charisma, you can’t change into a construct or undead.
My answer was in response to the people above (not the quote from Trirhabda), who thought I was referring to another spell (Polymorph) in order to turn into a dragon. The spell I am referencing in my last post is the one that allows a druid to do this. I am not sure what your quotation above is in reference to. Sorry.
At any rate, all this is besides the point in the original thread. The thing to take note of is that NO other class can play this game as a big old red DaRgoN LOLS (And no other class, ever, has had an Alamo teh BAREDURID LÆL!1) :-)
I was just agreeing with you, Amalinze. Sorry that I didn’t make it clear. I was just musing about why druids didn’t get True Polymorph and got Shapechange instead. Also, I hadn’t really examined the two spells in detail and was wondering if anyone can find other important differences between the spells.
Ah, gotcha :-) Glad we agree :-) I guess Polymorph is slightly too "mage'ish" *shrug*
Looks like I was under the wrong impression lol. I figured that an organism that had physical control over its anatomy like a druid would be considered a shapechanger. Interesting that druids just can't wild shape out of polymorph.
At least I learned something new, thanks Ckelley717!
They don't, though. It's all done through magic. You wouldn't call a wizard a shapechanger just because they added Polymorph to their spellbook either.
I meant "physical control" in the sense that they have the power to alter their physical/biological structure. I realize these are both done magically, but druids having that innately compared to other spellcasters who would otherwise have to blow the spell slot to accomplish the same result.
'Druids are boring' has been my opinion for three or four editions.
But is there any substantiation to this or is it merely a middle-finger-kind-of-statement? Why boring? (Not that you HAVE to love it, just curious) :-)
No, I am not under the impression that Polymorph can transform me into a dragon. It's still the 9th lvl spell that allows a druid to do this.
For me, I loathe shape change. A class pretty much built around it? That's never going to work out for me. I'm not a huge fan of the spell selection either. Sadly, it's just not the class for me. I /want/ to like druids. Everytime I build one though, I look at it and say "meh"
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
I can see what you mean with this (I think). But with the Xanathar's Guide to Everything, there seems to have been developed a few new more evocative-oriented spells. Ice Knife? Effing kewl!