Edit: I want to make a paladin/druid that my only wild shape is a bear and my deity would be Artio the celtic bear goddess and my reason for adventuring would be to retrieve a cloak that allows me to wild shape into a bear. I picked the folk hero background bc I thought it would be cool to be a local legend or hero. My weapons would be a shield and whatever martial weapon my dm would allow me to have. I would like help to see what the optimal build would be so I can feel useful and I'm not really worried about being powerful I just think it would be a cool idea. I was thinking of picking up my druid lvls after 15 so it would make sense for my characters journey. Any dms or experienced players have any helpful tips feel free to reply I'm pretty new to dnd but I know enough to get me by.
A greatsword is a two-handed weapon, so you can't use it together with a shield. I assume you meant in your bear form you'll have bear attacks, not beak attacks, which would be standard. I can't be sure, but it looks to me like you want your wildshape ability to be reflavored so it's something your cloak (which is a gift from Artio) allows you to do rather than an innate ability; if so, that seems absolutely fine. Just let your DM know and you should be good to go. Other than the greatsword plus shield thing, this is all perfectly feasible.
For the multiclass you need to have Str, Cha, and Wis all at 13 or higher. Keeping your Con up wouldn't be a bad idea either. Depending on how your stats are generated, you will probably have to make a few choices - Str, Cha and Wis don't all have to be as high as possible, but they all give bigger benefits the higher they are. Lower Str will mean less damage and lower attack rolls in human form. Lower Wis will reduce the number of spells you can cast as a druid and make them easier to resist and harder to hit with. Lower Cha will do the same to your paladin spellcasting, and some of your other paladin abilities won't be a strong either. None of that is the end of the world, but you do have to decide which of those things you want to be really good at and which you're ok with being mediocre.
That decision will also factor in whether you want to take more druid levels, more paladin levels, or keep them somewhat equal. There's a few other things to keep in mind too here. For one, the bear with the lowest CR (the brown bear) still has a CR of 1/2; that's a wildshape you won't be able to use until druid level 4 unless you take a Circle of the Moon (which seems like it'd be the most suitable one anyway) and even then you don't get wildshape until lvl 2 anyway. Similarly your Oath as a paladin can't be taken (in the mechanical sense) until paladin lvl 3. For another, constantly going back and forth between classes is a pretty bad way of going about it: you'll delay your ASIs and your better abilities. Better to stick with one or the other for a few levels and switch to the other only once you got your more important abilities from the first class unlocked, or to take just one level in your first class for whatever quality you really want first and then focus on the class you want the most levels in.
That said, you don't necessarily need the class abilities to play the concept. You can work towards them. Your character can worship Artio and strive to earn the power to transform into a bear well before that becomes possible mechanically. Your character can act like a wandering paladin before hitting lvl 3 and making it official with an Oath. You could even decide not to take any paladin levels at all, and just act like one: any character can be a wandering hero, a protector of the common people, and a champion for a deity (if you do want that greatsword though, you're going to want to take at least one level in a class that provides you proficiency - druid doesn't). Wildshape however pretty much locks you into druid levels (Polymorph spells and the like could accomplish the same thing, but that doesn't become available until fairly high level), so there's really no getting around at least lvl 2 druid. Greatsword proficiency can come from several classes if you're ok with the paladin thing being more conceptual than mechanical.
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Personally, I'd go Firbolg. They have a really Druidic feel and give you +2 Wisdom and +1 Strength (important for multi-class). They're also big, strong, and built to be up front like a Paladin.
Point Buy your ability scores. 14, 10, 14, 8, 12, 14.
I'd go Paladin for one level getting Religion and Medicine as my skills (still very Druidy while focusing on your faith to your goddess). Then Druid for four levels. Paladin this way because it gives you Heavy Armour. If you don't care about that, then go Druid for your first four, then dip into Paladin, but as a DM, I ignore the "no metal armor" part of Druids, and as a lover of history, I can tell you all about leather armour being heavy armour instead of light armour.
You can make plate armour out of raw hyde (boiled leather effectively) and it isn't as good, but still REALLY good.
Oath of the Ancients/Moon Druid and work it out with your DM to create a custom feat to give your character improved bearness... That's my two cents...
You may not necessarily need druid levels for this, honestly. If your DM is game, you may be able to work towards taking a custom feat at level 4 that gives you access to your desired limited Wild Shape without having to take levels in the druid class specifically to get Bear Mode. With my DM Hat on, if someone came to me with this concept and was eager for the bear transformation but largely uninterested in anything else the druid class had to offer, I would offer to grant them a different way to access the ability within the class they actually want to play.
A good option could be using the paladin's Channel Divinity to fuel a transformation, especially since this transformation is specifically being granted by the paladin's goddess. Perhaps something like this, either as your fourth-level feat or in lieu of magical loot or the like at some point.
"Favored of Artio
Your goddess has recognized your devotion and granted you her boon, which you can use as long as you continue to champion her ways and beliefs. As a bonus action, you can use your Channel Divinity to transform into a bear. You can remain in this form for a number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus, or until you use a bonus action to end your transformation. While you are transformed, the following rules apply.
Your in-game statistics are replaced by those of a cave bear, except for 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 bear. If the bear 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.
When you transform, you gain temporary hit points equal to the hit points of your cave bear form. When these temporary hit points are lost, your transformation ends.
You can’t cast spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form. Transforming doesn’t break your concentration on a spell you’ve already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as call lightning, that you’ve already cast.
You retain your paladin class features and can use them while transformed.
When you transform, your equipment either falls to the ground or merges into your form. Equipment merged into your form has no effect while you remain transformed. If your armor is consecrated to Artio and bears her symbol, you may choose to have your armor transform along with you, changing to fit your bear form and still provide its full protection."
So a cut-down Wild Shape with better* HP rules, and which explicitly allows for Armored Smite Bear because if somebody's going to try and do the Bearbarian thing except with actual justification, I'm going to try and make Bearbarian work.
Again, I'm not your DM and can't decide a gol-durned thing for you, but I'd consider asking if something similar to a custom boon/feat you can work towards would be an option rather than taking two levels in a class you're not super interested in just to use one small function of one specific class feature.
You could go fighter/Druid. Druids are already nature priests, so there’s no need to double up on the religious bit (anyone can be on a mission from their god; that’s a role play choice and doesn’t have to be mechanical.). The advantage would be you could dump cha and be less MAD.
To be honest, I was thinking along the same kind of lines as Yurei until I read their post.
Giving up several levels in Paladin is a steep price to pay for a single wildshape. If you wanted multiple wildshapes like a proper Druid, I'd say that you'd have to multiclass for that, but a single shape? RAW it might be necessary, but not at my table. I usually have magic items that I'm readying to give each member of the party, I'd consider homebrewing one that gives you the ability to wildshape in a bear once a day. Alternatively, Yurei's Channel Divinity option feat is a possibility. I don't think it would be fair to insist one two levels in Druid for a single wildshape. Your spells would come sooner (since Druids are full casters), but all your Paladin abilities, Oath features and ASIs would all be delayed by two levels...that's a lot.
Speak to your DM. They might think similarly and be willing to offer a different and fairer trade than two levels for one wildshape (assuming the bear you are thinking of is CR1 or lower).
Edit: Changed wording since the filter thought I was swearing, apparently.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
After reading your post I thought you and your GM may use your cloak and or bear hide cloak as a focus for your shape changing ability. It could also be a magic item that followers gain at specific levels if they meet specific requirements in class, level and skills. If you go the magic item and requirement route you open up a lot more potential for class/stat options then a more limiting approach.
But IMHO it all depends on your GM, game world and other player power balance.
I would suggest making a Zealot Barbarian and saying that your Rage is you turning into a bear. Black bears are medium, for example, so it doesn't necessarily need to change much.
You'd be putting a lot more stress on the character concept by not "really" becoming a bear, but bears aren't actually very powerful in combat, and their power doesn't scale up at all, so...
I changed my mind and I think I'm gonna have the cloak as my quest to retrieve and I wouldn't get my wild shape until I was lvl 15 or higher. I picked variant human for that reason I can add a plus 2 to my charisma and strength then hopefully raise my wisdom by the time I picked up my druid lvls.
It's not for being powerful I just thought it would be a cool character
Features that aren't powerful don't see as much use, especially when the chips are down and somebody might die. So if you want to be using your special feature fairly often, it needs to be pretty good, at least compared with your other options. That's all I'm getting at.
That's not a bad idea I could homebrew a feat or ability instead of wasting lvls on druid but I would like a stronger bear form as I worship artio longer you know what I mean like say I go full on paladin and I have a magic item or feat that allows me to transform into a bear using my channel divinity like Yurei suggested but as I worship her longer she blesses me with more strength or something like that
You may not necessarily need druid levels for this, honestly. If your DM is game, you may be able to work towards taking a custom feat at level 4 that gives you access to your desired limited Wild Shape without having to take levels in the druid class specifically to get Bear Mode. With my DM Hat on, if someone came to me with this concept and was eager for the bear transformation but largely uninterested in anything else the druid class had to offer, I would offer to grant them a different way to access the ability within the class they actually want to play.
A good option could be using the paladin's Channel Divinity to fuel a transformation, especially since this transformation is specifically being granted by the paladin's goddess. Perhaps something like this, either as your fourth-level feat or in lieu of magical loot or the like at some point.
"Favored of Artio
Your goddess has recognized your devotion and granted you her boon, which you can use as long as you continue to champion her ways and beliefs. As a bonus action, you can use your Channel Divinity to transform into a bear. You can remain in this form for a number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus, or until you use a bonus action to end your transformation. While you are transformed, the following rules apply.
Your in-game statistics are replaced by those of a cave bear, except for 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 bear. If the bear 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.
When you transform, you gain temporary hit points equal to the hit points of your cave bear form. When these temporary hit points are lost, your transformation ends.
You can’t cast spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form. Transforming doesn’t break your concentration on a spell you’ve already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as call lightning, that you’ve already cast.
You retain your paladin class features and can use them while transformed.
When you transform, your equipment either falls to the ground or merges into your form. Equipment merged into your form has no effect while you remain transformed. If your armor is consecrated to Artio and bears her symbol, you may choose to have your armor transform along with you, changing to fit your bear form and still provide its full protection."
So a cut-down Wild Shape with better* HP rules, and which explicitly allows for Armored Smite Bear because if somebody's going to try and do the Bearbarian thing except with actual justification, I'm going to try and make Bearbarian work.
Again, I'm not your DM and can't decide a gol-durned thing for you, but I'd consider asking if something similar to a custom boon/feat you can work towards would be an option rather than taking two levels in a class you're not super interested in just to use one small function of one specific class feature.
Honestly you have a really good idea for a homebrew I think I would like to create I could work with you and we could create something awesome
It's not for being powerful I just thought it would be a cool character
Features that aren't powerful don't see as much use, especially when the chips are down and somebody might die. So if you want to be using your special feature fairly often, it needs to be pretty good, at least compared with your other options. That's all I'm getting at.
Someone else gave me an idea that I won't have to put lvls in druid I could homebrew a magic item or feat that allows me to transform
Edit: I want to make a paladin/druid that my only wild shape is a bear and my deity would be Artio the celtic bear goddess and my reason for adventuring would be to retrieve a cloak that allows me to wild shape into a bear. I picked the folk hero background bc I thought it would be cool to be a local legend or hero. My weapons would be a shield and whatever martial weapon my dm would allow me to have. I would like help to see what the optimal build would be so I can feel useful and I'm not really worried about being powerful I just think it would be a cool idea. I was thinking of picking up my druid lvls after 15 so it would make sense for my characters journey. Any dms or experienced players have any helpful tips feel free to reply I'm pretty new to dnd but I know enough to get me by.
I don't think I'm gonna pick up druid lvls seeing that more experienced ppl are giving good advice. I would like to work with a dm or someone to homebrew a feat, magic item, or even a subclass so I don't have to waste my precious paladin lvls to pick up a wild shape. I would like bear themed spells or something equal to it like my divine smite could be a spectral bear claw or something
If you play a fighter and create a custom subclass that has some of your pc wants then you can also create some homebrew feats to expand on your idea. Why? fighters get a few more feats then others so it is not such a huge deal to designate some of them to your concept.
Your idea reminds me of bear-shirts (berserkers) or a bear were-shifter with a RP religion tie in. Your religious aspect may or may not need to be class based it can be RP based, feat based of subclass based.
In general in other games I have also seen this idea expanded to other types of shifters with each being unique, so large cats, wolves/dogs, snakes and animals that are in vogue at that moment (ie honey badger, wolverine, praying mantis, Tasmanian Devils, etc)
One thing I just thought of is that you could do a Blood Hunter path of the Lycan and have your shape be a bear, then create some items and feats to adjust some of the abilities.
In fiction the story often goes, you have offended powerful being Y and thus you are cursed with lycanthrope until Z happens or you were blessed by powerful being A to defend group B and thus gain the abilities to shift into creature C.
I changed my mind and I think I'm gonna have the cloak as my quest to retrieve and I wouldn't get my wild shape until I was lvl 15 or higher. I picked variant human for that reason I can add a plus 2 to my charisma and strength then hopefully raise my wisdom by the time I picked up my druid lvls.
Keep in mind that it is extremely rare for a game to last long enough for characters to reach 15th level. Saying you want to get the ability to wildshape into a bear at 15th level is basically synonymous with never actually doing it.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
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Edit: I want to make a paladin/druid that my only wild shape is a bear and my deity would be Artio the celtic bear goddess and my reason for adventuring would be to retrieve a cloak that allows me to wild shape into a bear. I picked the folk hero background bc I thought it would be cool to be a local legend or hero. My weapons would be a shield and whatever martial weapon my dm would allow me to have. I would like help to see what the optimal build would be so I can feel useful and I'm not really worried about being powerful I just think it would be a cool idea. I was thinking of picking up my druid lvls after 15 so it would make sense for my characters journey. Any dms or experienced players have any helpful tips feel free to reply I'm pretty new to dnd but I know enough to get me by.
A greatsword is a two-handed weapon, so you can't use it together with a shield. I assume you meant in your bear form you'll have bear attacks, not beak attacks, which would be standard. I can't be sure, but it looks to me like you want your wildshape ability to be reflavored so it's something your cloak (which is a gift from Artio) allows you to do rather than an innate ability; if so, that seems absolutely fine. Just let your DM know and you should be good to go. Other than the greatsword plus shield thing, this is all perfectly feasible.
For the multiclass you need to have Str, Cha, and Wis all at 13 or higher. Keeping your Con up wouldn't be a bad idea either. Depending on how your stats are generated, you will probably have to make a few choices - Str, Cha and Wis don't all have to be as high as possible, but they all give bigger benefits the higher they are. Lower Str will mean less damage and lower attack rolls in human form. Lower Wis will reduce the number of spells you can cast as a druid and make them easier to resist and harder to hit with. Lower Cha will do the same to your paladin spellcasting, and some of your other paladin abilities won't be a strong either. None of that is the end of the world, but you do have to decide which of those things you want to be really good at and which you're ok with being mediocre.
That decision will also factor in whether you want to take more druid levels, more paladin levels, or keep them somewhat equal. There's a few other things to keep in mind too here. For one, the bear with the lowest CR (the brown bear) still has a CR of 1/2; that's a wildshape you won't be able to use until druid level 4 unless you take a Circle of the Moon (which seems like it'd be the most suitable one anyway) and even then you don't get wildshape until lvl 2 anyway. Similarly your Oath as a paladin can't be taken (in the mechanical sense) until paladin lvl 3. For another, constantly going back and forth between classes is a pretty bad way of going about it: you'll delay your ASIs and your better abilities. Better to stick with one or the other for a few levels and switch to the other only once you got your more important abilities from the first class unlocked, or to take just one level in your first class for whatever quality you really want first and then focus on the class you want the most levels in.
That said, you don't necessarily need the class abilities to play the concept. You can work towards them. Your character can worship Artio and strive to earn the power to transform into a bear well before that becomes possible mechanically. Your character can act like a wandering paladin before hitting lvl 3 and making it official with an Oath. You could even decide not to take any paladin levels at all, and just act like one: any character can be a wandering hero, a protector of the common people, and a champion for a deity (if you do want that greatsword though, you're going to want to take at least one level in a class that provides you proficiency - druid doesn't). Wildshape however pretty much locks you into druid levels (Polymorph spells and the like could accomplish the same thing, but that doesn't become available until fairly high level), so there's really no getting around at least lvl 2 druid. Greatsword proficiency can come from several classes if you're ok with the paladin thing being more conceptual than mechanical.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Pangurjan has given some really good advice.
Personally, I'd go Firbolg. They have a really Druidic feel and give you +2 Wisdom and +1 Strength (important for multi-class). They're also big, strong, and built to be up front like a Paladin.
Point Buy your ability scores. 14, 10, 14, 8, 12, 14.
I'd go Paladin for one level getting Religion and Medicine as my skills (still very Druidy while focusing on your faith to your goddess). Then Druid for four levels. Paladin this way because it gives you Heavy Armour. If you don't care about that, then go Druid for your first four, then dip into Paladin, but as a DM, I ignore the "no metal armor" part of Druids, and as a lover of history, I can tell you all about leather armour being heavy armour instead of light armour.
You can make plate armour out of raw hyde (boiled leather effectively) and it isn't as good, but still REALLY good.
Oath of the Ancients/Moon Druid and work it out with your DM to create a custom feat to give your character improved bearness... That's my two cents...
You may not necessarily need druid levels for this, honestly. If your DM is game, you may be able to work towards taking a custom feat at level 4 that gives you access to your desired limited Wild Shape without having to take levels in the druid class specifically to get Bear Mode. With my DM Hat on, if someone came to me with this concept and was eager for the bear transformation but largely uninterested in anything else the druid class had to offer, I would offer to grant them a different way to access the ability within the class they actually want to play.
A good option could be using the paladin's Channel Divinity to fuel a transformation, especially since this transformation is specifically being granted by the paladin's goddess. Perhaps something like this, either as your fourth-level feat or in lieu of magical loot or the like at some point.
"Favored of Artio
Your goddess has recognized your devotion and granted you her boon, which you can use as long as you continue to champion her ways and beliefs. As a bonus action, you can use your Channel Divinity to transform into a bear. You can remain in this form for a number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus, or until you use a bonus action to end your transformation. While you are transformed, the following rules apply.
So a cut-down Wild Shape with better* HP rules, and which explicitly allows for Armored Smite Bear because if somebody's going to try and do the Bearbarian thing except with actual justification, I'm going to try and make Bearbarian work.
Again, I'm not your DM and can't decide a gol-durned thing for you, but I'd consider asking if something similar to a custom boon/feat you can work towards would be an option rather than taking two levels in a class you're not super interested in just to use one small function of one specific class feature.
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You could go fighter/Druid. Druids are already nature priests, so there’s no need to double up on the religious bit (anyone can be on a mission from their god; that’s a role play choice and doesn’t have to be mechanical.). The advantage would be you could dump cha and be less MAD.
To be honest, I was thinking along the same kind of lines as Yurei until I read their post.
Giving up several levels in Paladin is a steep price to pay for a single wildshape. If you wanted multiple wildshapes like a proper Druid, I'd say that you'd have to multiclass for that, but a single shape? RAW it might be necessary, but not at my table. I usually have magic items that I'm readying to give each member of the party, I'd consider homebrewing one that gives you the ability to wildshape in a bear once a day. Alternatively, Yurei's Channel Divinity option feat is a possibility. I don't think it would be fair to insist one two levels in Druid for a single wildshape. Your spells would come sooner (since Druids are full casters), but all your Paladin abilities, Oath features and ASIs would all be delayed by two levels...that's a lot.
Speak to your DM. They might think similarly and be willing to offer a different and fairer trade than two levels for one wildshape (assuming the bear you are thinking of is CR1 or lower).
Edit: Changed wording since the filter thought I was swearing, apparently.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
After reading your post I thought you and your GM may use your cloak and or bear hide cloak as a focus for your shape changing ability. It could also be a magic item that followers gain at specific levels if they meet specific requirements in class, level and skills. If you go the magic item and requirement route you open up a lot more potential for class/stat options then a more limiting approach.
But IMHO it all depends on your GM, game world and other player power balance.
I would suggest making a Zealot Barbarian and saying that your Rage is you turning into a bear. Black bears are medium, for example, so it doesn't necessarily need to change much.
You'd be putting a lot more stress on the character concept by not "really" becoming a bear, but bears aren't actually very powerful in combat, and their power doesn't scale up at all, so...
It's not for being powerful I just thought it would be a cool character
I thought of it being a magic item as well it being my quest to retrieve it for my deity but I wouldn't get my wild shape until I was lvl 15 or higher
I changed my mind and I think I'm gonna have the cloak as my quest to retrieve and I wouldn't get my wild shape until I was lvl 15 or higher. I picked variant human for that reason I can add a plus 2 to my charisma and strength then hopefully raise my wisdom by the time I picked up my druid lvls.
Features that aren't powerful don't see as much use, especially when the chips are down and somebody might die. So if you want to be using your special feature fairly often, it needs to be pretty good, at least compared with your other options. That's all I'm getting at.
That's not a bad idea I could homebrew a feat or ability instead of wasting lvls on druid but I would like a stronger bear form as I worship artio longer you know what I mean like say I go full on paladin and I have a magic item or feat that allows me to transform into a bear using my channel divinity like Yurei suggested but as I worship her longer she blesses me with more strength or something like that
Honestly you have a really good idea for a homebrew I think I would like to create I could work with you and we could create something awesome
Someone else gave me an idea that I won't have to put lvls in druid I could homebrew a magic item or feat that allows me to transform
I don't think I'm gonna pick up druid lvls seeing that more experienced ppl are giving good advice. I would like to work with a dm or someone to homebrew a feat, magic item, or even a subclass so I don't have to waste my precious paladin lvls to pick up a wild shape. I would like bear themed spells or something equal to it like my divine smite could be a spectral bear claw or something
If you play a fighter and create a custom subclass that has some of your pc wants then you can also create some homebrew feats to expand on your idea. Why? fighters get a few more feats then others so it is not such a huge deal to designate some of them to your concept.
Your idea reminds me of bear-shirts (berserkers) or a bear were-shifter with a RP religion tie in. Your religious aspect may or may not need to be class based it can be RP based, feat based of subclass based.
In general in other games I have also seen this idea expanded to other types of shifters with each being unique, so large cats, wolves/dogs, snakes and animals that are in vogue at that moment (ie honey badger, wolverine, praying mantis, Tasmanian Devils, etc)
Good luck and have fun
One thing I just thought of is that you could do a Blood Hunter path of the Lycan and have your shape be a bear, then create some items and feats to adjust some of the abilities.
In fiction the story often goes, you have offended powerful being Y and thus you are cursed with lycanthrope until Z happens or you were blessed by powerful being A to defend group B and thus gain the abilities to shift into creature C.
Keep in mind that it is extremely rare for a game to last long enough for characters to reach 15th level. Saying you want to get the ability to wildshape into a bear at 15th level is basically synonymous with never actually doing it.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.