Back to the topic - Sorry about all that, but some users have been really rude, some just to me and others all across the site. Just a friendly discussion, what do you think? Should some new subclasses have special wild shapes, like an evolution/mutation themed druid that can become a monstrosity? Maybe that's a stretch, but what about plants? Plants are a normal part of nature. I expect that most people will say no to monstrosities and maybe split 50/50 on plants, but we'll have to see! I've made one where you can wild shape into monstrosities if you want to ask to see it, but of course it's pretty different from the typical nature theme. I've never done plant wild shape before but it could maybe work.

Wild Shape opens up a lot of subclass options especially now that Circle of the Moon Druids are focused on the lunar/animal theme.  I imagine we could see a Circle of the Seed that includes Plant Wild Shapes, a Circle of the Elements that brings back Elemental Wild shape, and maybe a class focused entirely on shapeshifting, though we have never seen D&D introduce that as a base class. 

I think plants/elemental could also work very easily with templates, allowing a different feel from the Wild Shape using statblocks that we have now. 

Quote from Taenx >>

Wild Shape opens up a lot of subclass options especially now that Circle of the Moon Druids are focused on the lunar/animal theme.  I imagine we could see a Circle of the Seed that includes Plant Wild Shapes, a Circle of the Elements that brings back Elemental Wild shape, and maybe a class focused entirely on shapeshifting, though we have never seen D&D introduce that as a base class. 

I think plants/elemental could also work very easily with templates, allowing a different feel from the Wild Shape using statblocks that we have now. 

Well thought through argument. I like the angle and the good points, good idea about bringing back elemental wild shape. Elemental wild shape felt like a way to boost the Moon Druids power because of the the lack of beast options around that CR, but it was a really cool feature.

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I like to "theorycraft" new subclasses (and other things). I think a plant-based Druid would be a good idea.

I would probably borrow the basic idea from the Stars or new Sea druid where you can expend a Wildshape use in order to transform into a new form, in this case a "plant-form". In this plant-form you would gain a +2 AC from tough bark-like skin and you would get some kind of Bonus Action attack such as grappling vine. All of which would improve at higher levels, with some kind of improvement to "plant-based" spells such as Entangle etc (maybe a small selection of spells that deal additional poison damage to anyone affected).

I do think that the 2024 wildshape RAW are an improvement over 2014. Still, as a DM, I tweak the wildshape RAW slightly and allow the following exceptions:

• The ability to wildshape into a swimming beast at level 3 (because swimming/water is pretty circumstantial)
• The ability to wildshape into a flying beast at level 5 (because arcane casters get access to Fly at level 5)
• Consistent with the 2014 CR RAW, the ability to wildshape into DM approved plants (e.g., Vine Blight, or monstrosities (e.g., Ankheg, Owlbear)
• The ability to wildshape into an air, water, fire, or earth elemental at level 12; and if possible, I tie the elemental type to the druid's subclass, deity or background

I would love fey to be an option. Love plants and elemental and even oozes

Quote from DraxsissTrilock >>

I would love fey to be an option. Love plants and elemental and even oozes

Great ideas. I hadn't thought of fey.