I hope you all are doing well. So, I and my friends are about to start a new campaign, and this time I'm thinking about playing as a dark elf.Also, I'm thinking about choosing the class Druid and a great discussion came from this:
Would the dark elf's sunlight sensitivity still happening when a drow shape to an animal? From my understanding, I would say NO. Why?
1) For example, humans receive penalties to perform actions when they are in the darkness. However, if they turn into a panther, for example, they would be able to perform activities without any penalties, since panthers can see in the darkness normally. So, I would say that the same rule would work for dark elves and their sunlight sensitivity.
2) Regarding the Wild Shape, the book says: "You retain the benefits of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can’t use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense". So, as it says "benefits", do not make sense the drow carry over sunlight sensitivity on a beast form.
3) Some players args that, the sunlight sensitivity for the dark elf is like a magical condition instead a biological one, like a course or something similar. However, when the condition is described in the book, it's is not say anything like that: "Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target o f your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight."
I would like to see the opinion of others players, GMs as well as any one official representative that could help us with this discussion.
Whether or not you like Jeremy Crawford’s sage advice and other comments they are often the closest you will get to having WOtC weigh in on questions that are not clear in the books. Then it’s upto your DM to decide if they are going with that statement or not. The racial “benefit” is meant to help balance the Drew’s other racial benefits so you typically don’t want it disappearing for significant portions of the game.. of course as a player we want to minimize negative ffects ( even if they keep the game balanced) so I understand your desire to have the sunlight sensitivity gone in wildshape. As a DM, I’m responsible for keeping that balance so I would probably say yes to Jeremy’s statements and rule that you keep the sensitivity.
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Hi everyone,
I hope you all are doing well. So, I and my friends are about to start a new campaign, and this time I'm thinking about playing as a dark elf.Also, I'm thinking about choosing the class Druid and a great discussion came from this:
Would the dark elf's sunlight sensitivity still happening when a drow shape to an animal? From my understanding, I would say NO. Why?
1) For example, humans receive penalties to perform actions when they are in the darkness. However, if they turn into a panther, for example, they would be able to perform activities without any penalties, since panthers can see in the darkness normally. So, I would say that the same rule would work for dark elves and their sunlight sensitivity.
2) Regarding the Wild Shape, the book says: "You retain the benefits of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can’t use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense". So, as it says "benefits", do not make sense the drow carry over sunlight sensitivity on a beast form.
3) Some players args that, the sunlight sensitivity for the dark elf is like a magical condition instead a biological one, like a course or something similar. However, when the condition is described in the book, it's is not say anything like that: "Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target o f your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight."
I would like to see the opinion of others players, GMs as well as any one official representative that could help us with this discussion.
Thank you very much :-)
While in Wild Shape, you retain the benefits of any features from your race including Sunlight Sensitivity.
FYI Here's what the Dev's answer to the question on Twitter:
Sunlight Sensitivity is not a benefit.
We know what's intended based on a Developper's Q&A. What the DM think is what will matter in the end though so you should discuss it togheter.
Yes, that's right! But I was trying to find anything in the books that proves one idea or another :-)
Whether or not you like Jeremy Crawford’s sage advice and other comments they are often the closest you will get to having WOtC weigh in on questions that are not clear in the books. Then it’s upto your DM to decide if they are going with that statement or not. The racial “benefit” is meant to help balance the Drew’s other racial benefits so you typically don’t want it disappearing for significant portions of the game.. of course as a player we want to minimize negative ffects ( even if they keep the game balanced) so I understand your desire to have the sunlight sensitivity gone in wildshape. As a DM, I’m responsible for keeping that balance so I would probably say yes to Jeremy’s statements and rule that you keep the sensitivity.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.