I checked and wild shape has been a druid feature in every single D&D edition back to the original. They've always been spellcasters with a connection to nature and an ability to shapchange into animals.
I checked and wild shape has been a druid feature in every single D&D edition back to the original. They've always been spellcasters with a connection to nature and an ability to shapchange into animals.
Wild shape has always been there but it didn't have it's current prominence. First edition druids didn't get wildshape until 7th level. Wildshape was A feature of the druid but it wasn't THE CORE MECHANIC it has become.
The Druid was first introduced as a monster, rather than a playable character, with only two noteworthy mechanics: the ability to cast both cleric and magic-user spells, and shapechange three times a day. It has absolutely been a core mechanic since its inception. Just because later editions allow you to get the ability sooner doesn't make it any less of a core feature to the class. Like every other class, certain features may occur sooner or later than in previous editions to be able to balance with the new rules.
I checked and wild shape has been a druid feature in every single D&D edition back to the original. They've always been spellcasters with a connection to nature and an ability to shapchange into animals.
Wild shape has always been there but it didn't have it's current prominence. First edition druids didn't get wildshape until 7th level. Wildshape was A feature of the druid but it wasn't THE CORE MECHANIC it has become.
I follow what you mean. I'm pretty frustrated with 5e druid incarnation, coming from 3.5e where I barely used wild shape and was much more about the flavour of druids in RP, personally. I am completely baffled as to why the animal companion was removed completely and wildshape pushed as your main ability.
Specifically because with the different circles, why isn't there one that retains more of the old feel and doesn't hinge on wildshape or summons(that kind of just come across as meat shields, particularly bc they are a temporary summons and no matter how you utilize an individual summons you can continue to summon more "nature spirits" vs the animal companion who had agency separate from you and could choose to end the relationship, etc. )
I dunno, I am going to work up a homebrew circle that doesn't hinge on wild shape at all for an upcoming game.
There are two existing circles - circle of spores and circle of wild fire (the latter of which is UA) - that can use their Wild Shape charges for other things.
There are two existing circles - circle of spores and circle of wild fire (the latter of which is UA) - that can use their Wild Shape charges for other things.
I think that going forward, this will be what most of the new druid circles will be like. They add new features to your druid that let you be viable without making wild shape your main jam, but still allow access to it. I enjoy Circle of The Land, but I often feel like I'm missing out when I play a druid that doesn't focus on wild shape as a core feature of the character. I know that druids are very competent spellcasters, but it doesn't make the feeling go away. I'm glad that WotC have decided to design druids with a more elementalist/force of nature flavor in these recent additions, I associate being a druid more with that than shapeshifting.
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It's ok Ranger, you'll always be cool to me.. Unless druid gets another use for its wild shape charges.
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When did shape changing become a druid thing?
I know that shape changing is an ancient magic user thing but, why wild shape? Why indeed with so many a spell for the same purpose?
Druid, etymologically, means truth knower. What about shape changer, says truth knower?
I don't mind shape changing druids and I don't want them to stop, but why must that be a perfunctory quality of druidship?
Something to do with muddled mythology and religious misconceptions with a modern fantasy twist.
I checked and wild shape has been a druid feature in every single D&D edition back to the original. They've always been spellcasters with a connection to nature and an ability to shapchange into animals.
Wild shape has always been there but it didn't have it's current prominence. First edition druids didn't get wildshape until 7th level. Wildshape was A feature of the druid but it wasn't THE CORE MECHANIC it has become.
The Druid was first introduced as a monster, rather than a playable character, with only two noteworthy mechanics: the ability to cast both cleric and magic-user spells, and shapechange three times a day. It has absolutely been a core mechanic since its inception. Just because later editions allow you to get the ability sooner doesn't make it any less of a core feature to the class. Like every other class, certain features may occur sooner or later than in previous editions to be able to balance with the new rules.
I follow what you mean. I'm pretty frustrated with 5e druid incarnation, coming from 3.5e where I barely used wild shape and was much more about the flavour of druids in RP, personally. I am completely baffled as to why the animal companion was removed completely and wildshape pushed as your main ability.
Specifically because with the different circles, why isn't there one that retains more of the old feel and doesn't hinge on wildshape or summons(that kind of just come across as meat shields, particularly bc they are a temporary summons and no matter how you utilize an individual summons you can continue to summon more "nature spirits" vs the animal companion who had agency separate from you and could choose to end the relationship, etc. )
I dunno, I am going to work up a homebrew circle that doesn't hinge on wild shape at all for an upcoming game.
There are two existing circles - circle of spores and circle of wild fire (the latter of which is UA) - that can use their Wild Shape charges for other things.
I think that going forward, this will be what most of the new druid circles will be like. They add new features to your druid that let you be viable without making wild shape your main jam, but still allow access to it. I enjoy Circle of The Land, but I often feel like I'm missing out when I play a druid that doesn't focus on wild shape as a core feature of the character. I know that druids are very competent spellcasters, but it doesn't make the feeling go away. I'm glad that WotC have decided to design druids with a more elementalist/force of nature flavor in these recent additions, I associate being a druid more with that than shapeshifting.
It's ok Ranger, you'll always be cool to me.. Unless druid gets another use for its wild shape charges.