Would it be too much to ask a DM to replace my 2024 PHB Moon Druid Feature "Moonlight Step" with the 2014 Feature "Elemental Wildshape"?
I really hate that they removed elemental forms since I had a character that was entirely built around the elemental forms. The teleport is cool but not as cool as turning into an elemental and I'd swap it back any day of the week tbh. I don't think allowing it as a replacement would break the game, but I wanted to ask here first before trying.
Of course it's worth asking, esp. if you started your druid using the 2014 rules. IMO druid is a class that is best with more homebrew than the typical classes.
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Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023
I think you should absolutely ask. Moonlight Step is a limited-use ability, as is the Elemental Wild Shape. EWS has more zing to it, but costs much more, so there's a balanced trade-off. Though, for balance purposes, your DM may want to treat your elemental shape like the new Wild Shape rules, with temp HP instead of replacing your HP pool, etc.
As far as elemental-themed Druids go, I think the devs are likely to release more single-element focused builds like Wildfire or Sea Druids, rather than making the Moon Druids do too many things. I mean, Wildfire druids have a Fire Elemental and Sea Druids basically become a Water Elemental without changing forms, so I'd argue the overal druidic flavor of elemental power is stronger, but I totally get being bummed by losing your build's keystone feature. If it helps, I've started a new campaign with a Druid, and I'm planning on taking Circle of the Seas, and I'm going to "transform into a water elemental" - visually for flavor - while retaining the same stats.
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"Stories never end. They merely mark the beginning of the next chapter." -Rory Bristol "Failure means you've tried." -RB
As always ask your DM. I think elemental shapes were a big part of my Druid experience in earlier editions and they made a big difference for my 2014 Moon Druid.
However, there are a number of things you can do with Moonlight Step that are a lot of fun. I look forward to playing at this level and combining Conjure Woodland Beings, charging forms and Moonlight Step. Start by casting the spell, wild shaping and moving up to the bad guys doing damage with the emanation. Then on your turn you Moonlight Step back and charge in triggering the emanation again, getting the charge off without provoking and getting advantage on the charge. Its also a great way to get out of grapples, restrains, difficult terrain and even popping in behind the enemy lines and chomping down on their casters.
As you get higher in levels you can even feed 2nd level slots so you have even more uses. Just be careful, it will conflict with some bonus action attacks like the Mammoth. Even then, charging in with Advantage on the first attack, knocking them prone so you get advantage on the second or even knocking two different creatures prone could be valuable to the party.
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Would it be too much to ask a DM to replace my 2024 PHB Moon Druid Feature "Moonlight Step" with the 2014 Feature "Elemental Wildshape"?
I really hate that they removed elemental forms since I had a character that was entirely built around the elemental forms. The teleport is cool but not as cool as turning into an elemental and I'd swap it back any day of the week tbh. I don't think allowing it as a replacement would break the game, but I wanted to ask here first before trying.
Of course it's worth asking, esp. if you started your druid using the 2014 rules. IMO druid is a class that is best with more homebrew than the typical classes.
Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023
You can still use 2014 rules unless your table forbid it
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InsiderI think you should absolutely ask. Moonlight Step is a limited-use ability, as is the Elemental Wild Shape. EWS has more zing to it, but costs much more, so there's a balanced trade-off. Though, for balance purposes, your DM may want to treat your elemental shape like the new Wild Shape rules, with temp HP instead of replacing your HP pool, etc.
As far as elemental-themed Druids go, I think the devs are likely to release more single-element focused builds like Wildfire or Sea Druids, rather than making the Moon Druids do too many things. I mean, Wildfire druids have a Fire Elemental and Sea Druids basically become a Water Elemental without changing forms, so I'd argue the overal druidic flavor of elemental power is stronger, but I totally get being bummed by losing your build's keystone feature. If it helps, I've started a new campaign with a Druid, and I'm planning on taking Circle of the Seas, and I'm going to "transform into a water elemental" - visually for flavor - while retaining the same stats.
"Stories never end. They merely mark the beginning of the next chapter." -Rory Bristol
"Failure means you've tried." -RB
As always ask your DM. I think elemental shapes were a big part of my Druid experience in earlier editions and they made a big difference for my 2014 Moon Druid.
However, there are a number of things you can do with Moonlight Step that are a lot of fun. I look forward to playing at this level and combining Conjure Woodland Beings, charging forms and Moonlight Step. Start by casting the spell, wild shaping and moving up to the bad guys doing damage with the emanation. Then on your turn you Moonlight Step back and charge in triggering the emanation again, getting the charge off without provoking and getting advantage on the charge. Its also a great way to get out of grapples, restrains, difficult terrain and even popping in behind the enemy lines and chomping down on their casters.
As you get higher in levels you can even feed 2nd level slots so you have even more uses. Just be careful, it will conflict with some bonus action attacks like the Mammoth. Even then, charging in with Advantage on the first attack, knocking them prone so you get advantage on the second or even knocking two different creatures prone could be valuable to the party.