Druid variant from PHB 2 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Druid variant from PHB 2 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Me, Myself, & 101 others
08-02-07, 02:58 AM Has anyone used or experimented with the shapeshifter druid variant from PHB 2? It looks interesting and I'm thinking about making that a madatory swap for druids.

It takes their animal companion away, and they lose conventional wildshape. Instead, they can shift forms at will, but you sacrifice a lot of the power of wildshape. You use all your own attributes (except strength, which generally gets a bonus). Your own hitdice/hitpoints, and the same dex and con as you started with. You get some natural weapons in other forms, but you don't get all the special attacks and such that the animal may have had. You also can't use weapons, items, or cast while shapeshifted (even with natural spell).

In all, I like it. It takes away druids' free tag-a-long fighter/companion, and nerfs some of the more obnoxious aspects of wild shape. In exchange, they get the ability to use it at will, going back and forth as needed.

I much prefer the flavor of this, because you can pick whatever cosmetic change you like but the stats stay the same. It makes druid shapechaning more of a utility feature, or something they do if the situation warrants it, instead of it being standard operating procedure.
Ninetails Demon
08-02-07, 03:19 AM Check out this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=894053).
Me, Myself, & 101 others
08-02-07, 03:26 AM Check out this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=894053).

Hey, thanks! I don't check the class forum very often, didn't even think of it. :)
Steely_Dan
08-02-07, 06:05 AM The druid variant from UA is pretty cool as well – lose animal companion and wildshape, but gain monk's AC bonus (Wis and class), and movement, plus favoured enemy and I think some other goodie or two.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Me, Myself, & 101 others 08-02-07, 02:58 AM	Has anyone used or experimented with the shapeshifter druid variant from PHB 2? It looks interesting and I'm thinking about making that a madatory swap for druids. It takes their animal companion away, and they lose conventional wildshape. Instead, they can shift forms at will, but you sacrifice a lot of the power of wildshape. You use all your own attributes (except strength, which generally gets a bonus). Your own hitdice/hitpoints, and the same dex and con as you started with. You get some natural weapons in other forms, but you don't get all the special attacks and such that the animal may have had. You also can't use weapons, items, or cast while shapeshifted (even with natural spell). In all, I like it. It takes away druids' free tag-a-long fighter/companion, and nerfs some of the more obnoxious aspects of wild shape. In exchange, they get the ability to use it at will, going back and forth as needed. I much prefer the flavor of this, because you can pick whatever cosmetic change you like but the stats stay the same. It makes druid shapechaning more of a utility feature, or something they do if the situation warrants it, instead of it being standard operating procedure.
Ninetails Demon 08-02-07, 03:19 AM	Check out this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=894053).
Me, Myself, & 101 others 08-02-07, 03:26 AM	Check out this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=894053). Hey, thanks! I don't check the class forum very often, didn't even think of it. :)
Steely_Dan 08-02-07, 06:05 AM	The druid variant from UA is pretty cool as well – lose animal companion and wildshape, but gain monk's AC bonus (Wis and class), and movement, plus favoured enemy and I think some other goodie or two.