I got turned on to the idea of make something similar to class or spell effects, but this time making changes to a character sheet that reflects a Druid's Wild Shape feature. Currently I have 2 examples that's I've fleshed out as much as I can, but need the community's help to see if anything needs to be changed or if something can be added.

I decided to use Feats for this instead of items like my class/subclass/spell effects. Feats give us the ability to add Actions, which a Druid's Wild Shape can use those Actions when in their beast form. The drawback is Manage Feats on the character sheet does not have a search term function like Manage Equipment does.

Test character details:

• Race: Human
• Point Buy: STR 12, DEX 13, CON 13, INT 12, WIS, 13, CHA 12
• Druid level: 2
• Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Survival
• Druid Circle: Circle of the Land
• Background: Hermit

Example 1 - Cat:

• Name: Add Wild Shape Effect - Cat
• Description:
  

  This feat replicates the effects of a Druid Wild Shape into a Cat. Simply add this feat when you Wild Shape and remove it when you revert to your normal form. This feat sets speed, advantage, disadvantage, and ability scores, as well as adding the beast's Actions. You have to unequip any armor or shields that do not carryover into your Wild Shape to correct your AC. Remember to re-equip any armor or shields you had to absorb or drop. Use the EXTRAS tab to keep track of your Wild Shape's new HP

  Cat

  Tiny beast, unaligned

  

  Armor Class 12

  Hit Points 2 (1d4)

  Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

  

  STR

  3 (-4)

  DEX

  15 (+2)

  CON

  10 (+0)

  INT

  3 (-4)

  WIS

  12 (+1)

  CHA

  7 (-2)

  

  Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4

  Senses Passive Perception 13

  Languages --

  Challenge 0 (10 XP)

  

  Keen Smell. The cat has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

  Actions

  Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 slashing damage.

• Snippet:
  

  Armor Class 12 | Hit Points 2 (1d4) | Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.
  STR 3 (-4) | DEX 15 (+2) | CON 10 (+0)
  Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
  Senses Passive Perception 13

  Keen Smell. The cat has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

• Modifiers:
  

  MODIFIER TYPE: Bonus 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Strength Score
  FIXED VALUE: -20
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Bonus  
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Dexterity Score
  FIXED VALUE: -20
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Bonus 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Constitution Score
  FIXED VALUE: -20
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Set 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Strength Score
  FIXED VALUE: 3
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Set 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Dexterity Score
  FIXED VALUE: 15
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Set 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Constitution Score
  FIXED VALUE: 10
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Set 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Speed (Walking)
  FIXED VALUE: 40
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Set 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Speed (Climbing)
  FIXED VALUE: 30
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Advantage 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Perception
  DETAILS: on checks that rely on smell.
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Bonus 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Melee Weapon Attacks
  FIXED VALUE: 4
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Bonus 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Stealth
  FIXED VALUE: 2

• Actions:
  

  ACTION TYPE: Weapon
  NAME: Claws
  ABILITY SCORE TYPE: STR
  ATTACK RANGE: Melee
  FIXED VALUE: 5
  DAMAGE TYPE: Slashing
  DISPLAY AS ATTACK: Yes
  ACTIVATION TYPE: Action
  SNIPPET: Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 slashing damage.

So we replace the character's STR, DEX, and CON by doing a Bonus of each for -20 to zero everything out. Then we Set STR, DEX, CON to the appropriate Cat values. We Set walking and climbing speed. We give Advantage to Perception with a note that appears nicely on the Perception Skill side panel. All of these are pretty strait forward.

Then we add a Bonus of 4 to our Melee Weapon Attacks. This is because our STR modifier is now -4, but we need to get the Claws action we're about to add equal +0 to hit. This affects all melee weapons, so it might need to be looked at more if your Ape can use a staff or something.

We add a Bonus of 2 to our Stealth because a Cat has proficiency in Stealth and a Cat's proficiency bonus is only 2. Since Wild Shape replaces DEX with 15, so a +2 DEX modifier. Add that Bonus of 2 we set for the Cat's proficiency and we get the +4 to match out Cat stats.

Here's where I'm open to suggestions on how to replicate this for the Cat's proficiency in Perception. I could set a Bonus to Perception of 1 and I'll match the Cat's stats. But when my stats change, I'll have to remember to change this to reflect. This really only applies if your Perception is lower than the +3 of the Cat. I did not make this change for the screenshots below, it still shows my base druid as a +2 on Perception.

In the Action we have to add the Fixed Value of 5 because our STR modifier is -4 and we need to get to 1 damage. 

If you want to keep track of your HP, go to EXTRAS tab and select Cat in the sidebar and click on Hit Points

Meow. Example 2: Lion

• Name: Add Wild Shape Effect - Lion
• Description:
  

  This feat replicates the effects of a Druid Wild Shape into a Lion. Simply add this feat when you Wild Shape and remove it when you revert to your normal form. This feat sets speed, advantage, disadvantage, and ability scores, as well as adding the beast's Actions. You have to unequip any armor or shields that do not carryover into your Wild Shape to correct your AC. Remember to re-equip any armor or shields you had to absorb or drop. Use the EXTRAS tab to keep track of your Wild Shape's new HP

  Lion

  Large beast, unaligned

  

  Armor Class 12

  Hit Points 26 (4d10 + 4)

  Speed 50 ft.

  

  STR

  17 (+3)

  DEX

  15 (+2)

  CON

  13 (+1)

  INT

  3 (-4)

  WIS

  12 (+1)

  CHA

  8 (-1)

  

  Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6

  Senses Passive Perception 13

  Languages --

  Challenge 1 (200 XP)

  

  Keen Smell. The lion has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

  Pack Tactics. The lion has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the lion’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

  Pounce. If the lion moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the lion can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.

  Running Leap. With a 10-foot running start, the lion can long jump up to 25 feet.

  Actions

  Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.

  Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

• Snippet:
  

  Armor Class 12 | Hit Points 26 (4d10 + 4) | Speed 50 ft.
  STR 17 (+3) | DEX 15 (+2) | CON 13 (+1)
  Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6
  Senses Passive Perception 13

  Keen Smell. The lion has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

  Pack Tactics. The lion has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the lion’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

  Pounce. If the lion moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the lion can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.

  Running Leap. With a 10-foot running start, the lion can long jump up to 25 feet.

• Modifiers:
  

  MODIFIER TYPE: Bonus 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Strength Score
  FIXED VALUE: -20
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Bonus 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Dexterity Score
  FIXED VALUE: -20
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Bonus 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Constitution Score
  FIXED VALUE: -20
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Set 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Strength Score
  FIXED VALUE: 17
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Set 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Dexterity Score
  FIXED VALUE: 15
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Set 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Constitution Score
  FIXED VALUE: 13
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Set 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Speed (Walking)
  FIXED VALUE: 50
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Advantage 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Perception
  DETAILS: on checks that rely on smell.
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Bonus 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Melee Weapon Attacks
  FIXED VALUE: 2
  
  MODIFIER TYPE: Bonus 
  MODIFIER SUBTYPE: Stealth
  FIXED VALUE: 4 

• Actions:
  

  ACTION TYPE: Weapon
  NAME: Bite
  ABILITY SCORE TYPE: STR
  ATTACK RANGE: Melee
  DICE COUNT: 1
  DIE TYPE: d8
  DAMAGE TYPE: Piercing
  DISPLAY AS ATTACK: Yes
  ACTIVATION TYPE: Action
  SNIPPET: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
  
  ACTION TYPE: Weapon
  NAME: Bite
  ABILITY SCORE TYPE: STR
  ATTACK RANGE: Melee
  DICE COUNT: 1
  DIE TYPE: d6
  DAMAGE TYPE: Slashing
  DISPLAY AS ATTACK: Yes
  ACTIVATION TYPE: Action
  SNIPPET: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage. 

 This gives us:

I did not level up my test character to level 8 to account for the CR of 1 for the Lion, but you should get the jist of what I'm trying to do here with modifiers and actions.

Where I'm running into issues is setting Senses. I can give a Bonus to Darkvision or any of the Senses, but I can't set it. If a beast has a Darkvision of 30 ft, there's no way I've found to set a Deep Gnome's down from 120 ft. Any help in this would be appreciated.

Then there's the Perception skill. In both examples the beast has proficiency in Perception and adds the beast's proficiency bonus of 2 to their WIS mod. Best interpretation I can gather is you take the higher of your stats or the beast's stats but you don't apply the player's proficiency bonus to the beast's stats. I imagine most Druids would have a WIS modifier of +3 or higher so this shouldn't be an issue. Are there even beasts with a higher WIS than any Druid worth their salt? As I said earlier I did not add this to the feat so my screenshots above only reflect the +2 of my base druid.

I just started this project yesterday and spent a majority of this evening putting this thread together and I really need more smokey smoke. Hope this get's some discussion going and what sorts of Wild Shape beast features are going to be challenging to recreate?

Oh yeah, RAWR

I've been playing around with this. Fine tuning it with some feedback in my campaigns. I might edit this thread to include some more examples, but they might be slight changes or additions to the above examples.

But I'm particularly proud of this and hope it's inspiration for how to do other people's projects. I wanted to create an Action to do the following:

Charge. If the boar moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a tusk attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 3 (1d6) slashing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

I finally settled on the following setup:

ACTION TYPE: Spell
NAME: Charge
ABILITY SCORE: STR
SAVE TYPE: STR
FIXED SAVE DC: 11
DICE COUNT: 1
DIE TYPE: d6
EFFECT ON SAVE FAIL: Knocked prone.
DAMAGE TYPE: Slashing
DISPLAY AS ATTACK: Yes
ACTIVATION TYPE: No Action
SNIPPET: If the boar moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a tusk attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 3 (1d6) slashing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Ends up with this in the OTHER section of the ACTIONS tab:

I'm sad I can't find where EFFECT ON SAVE FAIL shows up on the character sheet, even in the sidebar.

General Advice: When you homebrew something similar to a existing feature (Wild Shape on the character sheet, in this case), the first thing to say is what you think is missing in the current DDB way of doing things, and what is better about your homebrew way.  Especially since this way is a lot of manual work, it better be amazing compared to clicking Extras -> Manage Extras -> Wildshape -> Cat / Lion .

Quote from Jaeken >>

General Advice: When you homebrew something similar to a existing feature (Wild Shape on the character sheet, in this case), the first thing to say is what you think is missing in the current DDB way of doing things, and what is better about your homebrew way.  Especially since this way is a lot of manual work, it better be amazing compared to clicking Extras -> Manage Extras -> Wildshape -> Cat / Lion .

I was in a session a while back where the Druid Wild Shaped and wasn't familiar with all of the different things their Wild Shape did. I had made a bunch of class/subclass/spell effect magic items. With Wild Shape though, the beasts have Actions that can only be done with feats.

I wouldn't say homebrew feats is a lot of manual work. Figuring out all the different modifiers and actions has been. But once you create the feat, you just have to turn it on and off and almost all the changes to your stats are right there.

If you have a big enough monitor, I suggest locking the side bar and after you turn on the Wild Shape feat you made, you switch over to EXTRAS and use the HP counter on the appropriate beast in the locked sidebar. As long as you unequip any armor or shield your Wild Shape absorbs or drops, most all of your stats will be correct (some beasts with Perception proficiency might need to be added if your Druid is low Wisdom. but who plays a low Wisdom Druid???)

All of this is just been my Rona time hobby to explore the finer points of a limited system. How I figured out the first comment I made might be helpful if someone that wants to add additional damage die and types to existing attacks which I've seen brought up in the forums a few times with the response "ddb can't add additional damage die to attacks". Just make another attack and set it's damage die. Works with ddb's dice roller for having a 1 spot place to press all of the buttons you need to roll.

Extras -> Manage Extras -> Wildshape -> Cat / Lion

Thanks for this! New to dndbeyond and to DnD in general and have been researching a way to add my Wild Shape creatures. Cheers!

Extras -> Manage Extras -> Wildshape is not very good.  Instead of modifying the creature's card, it SHOULD modify YOUR stats on the character sheet so that it has the functionality that's built into the creature sheet.  So, this is definitely "amazing" compared to the current system.  

You should still keep track of Wildshape HP from the Extras tab. I don't think there's a way to change your regular HP to a creature's and even if you did, what if you forget your regular HP when switching back.

But there is now way of rolling the dice directly from extras->wildshape or is there? So you would need to create a bunch of custom actions, the only thing extras->wildshape is helpfull with is keeping track of the beasts hp afaik.

Annoying, but true.

This is also a struggle at my table. 

Why the hell cant players click dice roles from the extras/wildshape forms section?!

Have you uploaded these homebrew Feats for others to use?

Also am I missing something? I thought you could only apply Feata when you get the ASI or is there another way to toggle on and off?

Feats can be added directly to character sheets under Features & Traits->Feats->Manage Feats.

In your modifiers section, why do you set your STR, DEX and CON to -20? Wouldn't you need to set it to 0 or am I misunderstanding something?

Quote from ccamp104 >>

In your modifiers section, why do you set your STR, DEX and CON to -20? Wouldn't you need to set it to 0 or am I misunderstanding something?

I wasn't able to get the correct results when using SET 0, I was only able to get it to work when doing BONUS -20.

Quote from ccamp104 >>

In your modifiers section, why do you set your STR, DEX and CON to -20? Wouldn't you need to set it to 0 or am I misunderstanding something?

 
No, the “Set” modifier will always default to the higher score, so a negative “Bonus” modifier is required.

i created the same feat for dire wolf. It looks ok, but I don't know how to apply it in the sheet, or how to find it. i tried manage feat in FEATURES & TRAITS, but i didn't find it. You can help me?

The way I have it set up is a Feat. You would have to go to the Feats subtab and click Manage Feats and turn it on. Remember to turn it off when you turn back into a regular person.

Quote from Mairondil >>

The way I have it set up is a Feat. You would have to go to the Feats subtab and click Manage Feats and turn it on. Remember to turn it off when you turn back into a regular person.

I can't find my feat in the list. I doubt that it is an option reserved for those who have a subscription

Quote from mistermanco >>

Quote from Mairondil >>

The way I have it set up is a Feat. You would have to go to the Feats subtab and click Manage Feats and turn it on. Remember to turn it off when you turn back into a regular person.

I can't find my feat in the list. I doubt that it is an option reserved for those who have a subscription

That is not something locked behind a subscription. 

Dunno why you can't find it in your feat list. It should be there under whatever name you gave it.

name is: Add Wild Shape Effect - Dire Wolf

 i go on sheet ->  FEATURES & TRAITS  ->  then feats  - > manage feats  ->  open a side windows with several feats like Aberrant Dragonmark, actor, alert, and so on

my feat does not appear

Are you sure it's for subscribers?

Quote from mistermanco >>

name is: Add Wild Shape Effect - Dire Wolf

 i go on sheet ->  FEATURES & TRAITS  ->  then feats  - > manage feats  ->  open a side windows with several feats like Aberrant Dragonmark, actor, alert, and so on

my feat does not appear

Are you sure it's for subscribers?

Making homebrew feats and adding them to your character sheet is not a subscriber thing.

I don't know how long ago you made your feat so it could be the time it takes for something to propagate through dndbeyond's systems. I'm not sure how you set up the feat to know if there's a prerequisite in there that you're overlooking. Screenshot how you set up your feat and maybe that can help me troubleshoot.

EDIT:

• Did you use a lowercase letter to start the name of the feat. Dndbeyond alphabetizes the list of feats but puts lower case letters after all the upper case letters.
• Do you have Homebrew switched ON for this character?