The problem with moon druids casting abjuration spells while shifted is that, well, abjuration spells that are available to druids are pretty limited (mostly healing), and if you want to run around being a healbot, you probably don't play a moon druid to start with. How would it be if the permitted school were instead transmutation? Because that's stuff that really does fit thematically with someone who focuses on shapeshifting, and the list of druid transmutation spells is pretty nice.
Thinking a bit more about this, consider this version of the moon druid:
3rd level: Combat Wild Shape
Change 'abjuration' to 'transmutation'.
3rd level: Circle Spells
Your circle insures you always have certain spells available (insert standard verbiage). You may only target yourself with these spells, even if they would normally target another creature.
When you use wild shape, you may cast a transmutation spell you have prepared, targeting yourself and no other creature, as part of the same action. This spell does not require concentration (even if it normally would); it lasts its full duration, or until your wild shape ends, whichever comes first.
10th level: Elemental Wild Shape
This incorporates the effects of Elemental Wild Shape and Elemental Strike in the current UA.
Honestly, if druid is using their own hitpoints while in WS they should be able to keep full spellcasting and all their feats / class features as well. Because they are gaining so little in terms of benefit. Really the only thing you gain in WS is Extra attack, and a tiny boost to movement speed. Valor Bards, Sword Bards, Bladesinger Wizards, and Warlocks all get Extra Attack without any penalty to their spellcasting or other class features. And right now in 5e, we have a druid (Spores) that gains a pile of TempHP from WS without any loss of spellcasting and there are 0 complaints about them being OP or broken - TBH I see more complaints that they are underpowered.
If I can talk in WS, and if I can have hands in WS then there is no lore reason for why I couldn't cast spells in WS, and if I'm using my own HP then there is no balance reason why I can't cast spells in WS. So give druids full spellcasting while in WS!
Thinking a bit more about this, consider this version of the moon druid:
3rd level: Combat Wild Shape
Change 'abjuration' to 'transmutation'.
3rd level: Circle Spells
Your circle insures you always have certain spells available (insert standard verbiage). You may only target yourself with these spells, even if they would normally target another creature.
When you use wild shape, you may cast a transmutation spell you have prepared, targeting yourself and no other creature, as part of the same action. This spell does not require concentration (even if it normally would); it lasts its full duration, or until your wild shape ends, whichever comes first.
10th level: Elemental Wild Shape
This incorporates the effects of Elemental Wild Shape and Elemental Strike in the current UA.
14th level: Mask of a Thousand Faces
Add that it doesn't require concentration.
I like this a lot. I fixes so many problems with the Wild Shape templates. Want to be tiny? No problem. Just transform into a small creature and reduce self. Want to be a giant spider? No problem. Transform into a spider and cast spider climb. Elegant.
One of the things that really bugged me about the new Moon Druid specifically was the focus on healing spells. It felt like somebody was trying to force the Moon Druid to act like a Cleric. This feels more like a re-interpretation of a classic form.
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The problem with moon druids casting abjuration spells while shifted is that, well, abjuration spells that are available to druids are pretty limited (mostly healing), and if you want to run around being a healbot, you probably don't play a moon druid to start with. How would it be if the permitted school were instead transmutation? Because that's stuff that really does fit thematically with someone who focuses on shapeshifting, and the list of druid transmutation spells is pretty nice.
Thinking a bit more about this, consider this version of the moon druid:
3rd level: Combat Wild Shape
Change 'abjuration' to 'transmutation'.
3rd level: Circle Spells
Your circle insures you always have certain spells available (insert standard verbiage). You may only target yourself with these spells, even if they would normally target another creature.
6th level: Augment Transformation
When you use wild shape, you may cast a transmutation spell you have prepared, targeting yourself and no other creature, as part of the same action. This spell does not require concentration (even if it normally would); it lasts its full duration, or until your wild shape ends, whichever comes first.
10th level: Elemental Wild Shape
This incorporates the effects of Elemental Wild Shape and Elemental Strike in the current UA.
14th level: Mask of a Thousand Faces
Add that it doesn't require concentration.
Honestly, if druid is using their own hitpoints while in WS they should be able to keep full spellcasting and all their feats / class features as well. Because they are gaining so little in terms of benefit. Really the only thing you gain in WS is Extra attack, and a tiny boost to movement speed. Valor Bards, Sword Bards, Bladesinger Wizards, and Warlocks all get Extra Attack without any penalty to their spellcasting or other class features. And right now in 5e, we have a druid (Spores) that gains a pile of TempHP from WS without any loss of spellcasting and there are 0 complaints about them being OP or broken - TBH I see more complaints that they are underpowered.
If I can talk in WS, and if I can have hands in WS then there is no lore reason for why I couldn't cast spells in WS, and if I'm using my own HP then there is no balance reason why I can't cast spells in WS. So give druids full spellcasting while in WS!
I like this a lot. I fixes so many problems with the Wild Shape templates. Want to be tiny? No problem. Just transform into a small creature and reduce self. Want to be a giant spider? No problem. Transform into a spider and cast spider climb. Elegant.
One of the things that really bugged me about the new Moon Druid specifically was the focus on healing spells. It felt like somebody was trying to force the Moon Druid to act like a Cleric. This feels more like a re-interpretation of a classic form.