The half-dragon template can be applied to any beast, humanoid, giant or monstrosity, so assuming an druid has managed to by luck meet one of these rare hybrids in person and the particular half dragon is within the limits for challenge rating and movement modes for this particular druids Wild shape, would they be able to turn into one? If for instance an Moon druid of 6th level or higher found an half White dragon polar bear, would they be able to turn into a half White dragon polar bear as if it was any other mundane beast? Or what if that same druid found an half bronze dragon hunter shark? Like both of these should have an challenge rating unaffected by these templates according to the guidelines in the monster manual, so it should be possible right?
Also if i Wild shape into an beast like the giant owl, giant elk or giant Eagle that understands certain languages and speaks others, that would grant me the abillity to speak those languages, thus letting me spy on a creature talking elvish even if i've never been exposed to the language myself before?
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i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
The half-dragon template can be applied to any beast, humanoid, giant or monstrosity, so assuming an druid has managed to by luck meet one of these rare hybrids in person and the particular half dragon is within the limits for challenge rating and movement modes for this particular druids Wild shape, would they be able to turn into one? If for instance an Moon druid of 6th level or higher found an half White dragon polar bear, would they be able to turn into a half White dragon polar bear as if it was any other mundane beast? Or what if that same druid found an half bronze dragon hunter shark? Like both of these should have an challenge rating unaffected by these templates according to the guidelines in the monster manual, so it should be possible right?
Really up to the DM, but mechanically, I don't see why not. Fun idea.
Also if i Wild shape into an beast like the giant owl, giant elk or giant Eagle that understands certain languages and speaks others, that would grant me the abillity to speak those languages, thus letting me spy on a creature talking elvish even if i've never been exposed to the language myself before?
.... Huh. Well, it doesn't give you the ability to speak those languages, as you can't speak while Wild Shaped... But yes, it certainly seems that you'll be able to understand those langauges, so long as you maintain the form. You don't learn them permanently.
To expand a little bit, Wild Shape is explained as such:
Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature’s bonus instead of yours. If the creature has any legendary or lair actions, you can’t use them.
I emboldened two portions of this, because as I look at it there appears two options, depending on whether you DM views Language proficiency as a skill proficiency. If they do, then you follow the second emboldened portion and retain the languages you knew and (temporarily, while wild shaped) learn the languages of the beast you transformed into. If they don't, then Languages is instead part of the first emboldened statement - your statistics - and the languages you know are now replaced by the ones the beast knows. This means that if your character knows Dwarvish, for example, and Wild Shapes into a Giant Owl, then they will not be able to understand Dwarvish while Wild Shaped.
Personally, I don't view languages as a skill proficiency (because they aren't,) but I've also never made a druid player forget the languages they know while wild shaped, nor allowed them to understand that of the beast they transformed into. Maybe I should.
The half-dragon template can be applied to any beast, humanoid, giant or monstrosity, so assuming an druid has managed to by luck meet one of these rare hybrids in person and the particular half dragon is within the limits for challenge rating and movement modes for this particular druids Wild shape, would they be able to turn into one? If for instance an Moon druid of 6th level or higher found an half White dragon polar bear, would they be able to turn into a half White dragon polar bear as if it was any other mundane beast? Or what if that same druid found an half bronze dragon hunter shark? Like both of these should have an challenge rating unaffected by these templates according to the guidelines in the monster manual, so it should be possible right?
Also if i Wild shape into an beast like the giant owl, giant elk or giant Eagle that understands certain languages and speaks others, that would grant me the abillity to speak those languages, thus letting me spy on a creature talking elvish even if i've never been exposed to the language myself before?
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Really up to the DM, but mechanically, I don't see why not. Fun idea.
.... Huh. Well, it doesn't give you the ability to speak those languages, as you can't speak while Wild Shaped... But yes, it certainly seems that you'll be able to understand those langauges, so long as you maintain the form. You don't learn them permanently.
To expand a little bit, Wild Shape is explained as such:
Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature’s bonus instead of yours. If the creature has any legendary or lair actions, you can’t use them.
I emboldened two portions of this, because as I look at it there appears two options, depending on whether you DM views Language proficiency as a skill proficiency. If they do, then you follow the second emboldened portion and retain the languages you knew and (temporarily, while wild shaped) learn the languages of the beast you transformed into. If they don't, then Languages is instead part of the first emboldened statement - your statistics - and the languages you know are now replaced by the ones the beast knows. This means that if your character knows Dwarvish, for example, and Wild Shapes into a Giant Owl, then they will not be able to understand Dwarvish while Wild Shaped.
Personally, I don't view languages as a skill proficiency (because they aren't,) but I've also never made a druid player forget the languages they know while wild shaped, nor allowed them to understand that of the beast they transformed into. Maybe I should.
The creature's type becomes draconic so it would technically no longer be a beast
No it doesn't.
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D&D Beyond FoundersFor reference, rules here:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/mm/monsters-h#HalfDragon
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