Hi. As the title asks, I would like to hear about how others describe what wildshape looks and sounds (smells?) when others see it in the transformation process. Just that. Thanks in advance
I play a Spore Druid so I usually reserve my Wildshape for Symbiotic Entity.
When I do Wildshape I usually go with the Giant Spider as my character prefers insects from the Underdark. Since Wildhshape is an action, it all happens very quickly. First 8 legs burst from my back. Next mandibles emerge from my great beard (dwarf) at the jawline. Then extra black spider eyes form on my face. Limbs and legs dissolve and a large Black Widow-like spider body forms. This process is silent as I’m usually going for stealth...except for the clicking of my mandibles.
The way I see it, you can attack it two ways: Realistic, or humorous.
For instance, you can be specific...their body contorts, or extra limbs grow, or their skin & flesh stretches into the shape of the animal. Maybe they just blur into the form in a flash.
Personally, I see the appeal of going a bit funny with it...like, the druid can only Wild Shape when no one is looking...they need to going behind a rock, and suddenly...BOOM....they're a bear. Or maybe they're falling, and for that split-second they pass a tree branch...BAM!...they become an owl and fly away.
I'm actually thinking of a druid this very second who turns into an animal in an explosion of leaves...just, a huge puff of autumn leaves that scatter on the ground every time the druid shape changes.
The amount of leaves varies depending on the size of the animal. Sometimes it's just a leaf or two that blows away...other times, it's a pile that needs to be raked up afterwards.
I play a Spore Druid so I usually reserve my Wildshape for Symbiotic Entity.
When I do Wildshape I usually go with the Giant Spider as my character prefers insects from the Underdark. Since Wildhshape is an action, it all happens very quickly. First 8 legs burst from my back. Next mandibles emerge from my great beard (dwarf) at the jawline. Then extra black spider eyes form on my face. Limbs and legs dissolve and a large Black Widow-like spider body forms. This process is silent as I’m usually going for stealth...except for the clicking of my mandibles.
Ha, I did (or tried to describe) almost the same thing. Explained it as something out of a David Cronenberg body horror movie!
This thread just reminded me of when I saw the movie "An American Werewolf in London" at the drive-in back in the 1980s.
For anyone who is curious just how terrifying the transformation can be, go watch that scene! Even with the limited technology available in 1981 that scene STILL stands up!
I know, I know... wildshape and lycanthropy are totally different things. But I'd wager that someone watching them happen would disagree with you on that.
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Tayn of Darkwood. Lvl 10 human Life Cleric of Lathander. Retired.
Ikram Sahir ibn Malik al-Sayyid Ra'ad, Second Son of the House of Ra'ad, Defender of the Burning Sands. Lvl 9 Brass Dragonborn Sorcerer + Greater Fire Elemental Devil.
Viktor Gavriil. Lvl 20 White Dragonborn Grave Cleric, of Kurgan the God of Death.
My Spore Druid has a Coral flavour to him, and is a Water Gensei. So I let that show through in any Wild Shape he takes. My creatures always have soggy, matted fur and where appropriate they have patches of coral sprouting from them, such as encrusted onto the shells of Giant Crabs or Turtles. I realise it points me out as abnormal to the casual on-looker, but dammit I've gotten to describe myself as a moist badger and all the cringe that entails gives me joy.
My Druid is a peacock when he shifts. He makes a spectacle of turning into his Dire Wolf or Brown Bear form. He's usually charging into the fight headfirst and runs as the beast does when he starts the shift.
For things like Polymorph and Wildshape, I typically think of the standard, inexpensive Morph effect. I believe this is the effect style used in things like Willow, Ladyhawk, Michael Jackson's 'Black or White' video, etc. It's certainly less dramatic than horror shape changing, but seems more fitting for Fantasy magic.
Mine is more of an effortless shift from one form to the other. It's like he starts to physically crouch down into the animal shape as if he were just going to mimic how the creature moves, but in the process of the movement, lands as the animal...
But for the sake of flavor that hasn't been mentioned yet... if you like the idea of a long haired hippy druid, they could look down (thinking creepy girl from Ring) then the animal form could burst from the hair like it was a beaded curtain... or if they were smaller, the pile of hair could fall to the ground and your spider form crawls out from under it
In the unlikely event I ever play a druid, and use Wild Shape, I'll be tempted to have it look like the old Visionaries cartoon, where the animal leaps out of the character's chest with a magical aura, with the aura dissipating as the human(oid) body fades away.
Bizarrely Fox, that answer makes the most amount of sense to me. The different ways responders have posted are great and although body horror druids arent my personal cup of tea, I can appreciate the play in a horror themed adventure. The problem is matching concepts with the mechanic in game. The animal body is not yours, it can be mangled maimed, caltrop hobbled but when it loses its last hit point the druids body is returned fresh. (unless excess damage transfers over) Its a whole bunch of odd.
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Hi. As the title asks, I would like to hear about how others describe what wildshape looks and sounds (smells?) when others see it in the transformation process. Just that. Thanks in advance
I play on Discord and love describing how it looks when my Druid turns into an animal =D
Here from our last game, where he turned into a Poisonous Snake
I play a Spore Druid so I usually reserve my Wildshape for Symbiotic Entity.
When I do Wildshape I usually go with the Giant Spider as my character prefers insects from the Underdark. Since Wildhshape is an action, it all happens very quickly. First 8 legs burst from my back. Next mandibles emerge from my great beard (dwarf) at the jawline. Then extra black spider eyes form on my face. Limbs and legs dissolve and a large Black Widow-like spider body forms. This process is silent as I’m usually going for stealth...except for the clicking of my mandibles.
Cheers for the feedback. If anyone else has something else to add please feel free.
The way I see it, you can attack it two ways: Realistic, or humorous.
For instance, you can be specific...their body contorts, or extra limbs grow, or their skin & flesh stretches into the shape of the animal. Maybe they just blur into the form in a flash.
Personally, I see the appeal of going a bit funny with it...like, the druid can only Wild Shape when no one is looking...they need to going behind a rock, and suddenly...BOOM....they're a bear. Or maybe they're falling, and for that split-second they pass a tree branch...BAM!...they become an owl and fly away.
I'm actually thinking of a druid this very second who turns into an animal in an explosion of leaves...just, a huge puff of autumn leaves that scatter on the ground every time the druid shape changes.
The amount of leaves varies depending on the size of the animal. Sometimes it's just a leaf or two that blows away...other times, it's a pile that needs to be raked up afterwards.
It's annoying...and funny as hell.
Ha, I did (or tried to describe) almost the same thing. Explained it as something out of a David Cronenberg body horror movie!
This thread just reminded me of when I saw the movie "An American Werewolf in London" at the drive-in back in the 1980s.
For anyone who is curious just how terrifying the transformation can be, go watch that scene! Even with the limited technology available in 1981 that scene STILL stands up!
I know, I know... wildshape and lycanthropy are totally different things. But I'd wager that someone watching them happen would disagree with you on that.
Tayn of Darkwood. Lvl 10 human Life Cleric of Lathander. Retired.
Ikram Sahir ibn Malik al-Sayyid Ra'ad, Second Son of the House of Ra'ad, Defender of the Burning Sands. Lvl 9 Brass Dragonborn Sorcerer + Greater Fire Elemental Devil.
Viktor Gavriil. Lvl 20 White Dragonborn Grave Cleric, of Kurgan the God of Death.
Anzio Faro. Lvl 5 Prot. Aasimar Light Cleric.
Absolute horror classic moment! I guess wild shape can look and sound like whatever you want but I think a little terror makes it more interesting.
My Spore Druid has a Coral flavour to him, and is a Water Gensei. So I let that show through in any Wild Shape he takes. My creatures always have soggy, matted fur and where appropriate they have patches of coral sprouting from them, such as encrusted onto the shells of Giant Crabs or Turtles. I realise it points me out as abnormal to the casual on-looker, but dammit I've gotten to describe myself as a moist badger and all the cringe that entails gives me joy.
My Druid is a peacock when he shifts. He makes a spectacle of turning into his Dire Wolf or Brown Bear form. He's usually charging into the fight headfirst and runs as the beast does when he starts the shift.
Item's - Sashelas' Spear, Thunder Beads, Diadem of the Owl, Bag of Stasis
Race - Fey-Touched
Subclass - Circle of Vitality
Monsters - Blood Bear
Spell - Arcbolt
For things like Polymorph and Wildshape, I typically think of the standard, inexpensive Morph effect. I believe this is the effect style used in things like Willow, Ladyhawk, Michael Jackson's 'Black or White' video, etc. It's certainly less dramatic than horror shape changing, but seems more fitting for Fantasy magic.
Mine is more of an effortless shift from one form to the other. It's like he starts to physically crouch down into the animal shape as if he were just going to mimic how the creature moves, but in the process of the movement, lands as the animal...
But for the sake of flavor that hasn't been mentioned yet... if you like the idea of a long haired hippy druid, they could look down (thinking creepy girl from Ring) then the animal form could burst from the hair like it was a beaded curtain... or if they were smaller, the pile of hair could fall to the ground and your spider form crawls out from under it
In the unlikely event I ever play a druid, and use Wild Shape, I'll be tempted to have it look like the old Visionaries cartoon, where the animal leaps out of the character's chest with a magical aura, with the aura dissipating as the human(oid) body fades away.
Bizarrely Fox, that answer makes the most amount of sense to me. The different ways responders have posted are great and although body horror druids arent my personal cup of tea, I can appreciate the play in a horror themed adventure. The problem is matching concepts with the mechanic in game. The animal body is not yours, it can be mangled maimed, caltrop hobbled but when it loses its last hit point the druids body is returned fresh. (unless excess damage transfers over) Its a whole bunch of odd.