Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Ansbach Sep 28, 2014 23:20:38	I had heard the buzz about Moon Druids, but didn't pay attention to it until I had my first level 2 Moon Druid player in a party. Are you kidding me?  Transforming into a Brown Bear or Dire Wolf at 2nd level is ridiculous compared to the powers of the rest of the party.  But then they are still stuck transforming into that same bear at 5th level.  Seems very OP at first, and then scales rather poorly.   It is so lopsided even the Moon Druid player was asking, "Are you sure this is right?"   Anyone run into this problem and felt the need to house rule it?  I have read elsewhere that they will most likely get nerfed officially, but it probably won't be until early next year?   If you used level/3 as it suggests, but started it at 3rd level instead of 6th and allowed level 2 Moon Druids to transform into CR 1/2 creatures, it seems a lot more reasonable.  I think that will be my house rule...
#2 Keendk Sep 29, 2014 0:07:40	A house rule you can consider that deals with the hit point aspect, but not anything else, is to let the wild shape form have the same amount of hit points as the Druid. That creates a more smooth curve of power, and at the same time encourages the use of "lesser" forms at higher level.   Keep in mind that a Druid wildshaped into eg a wolf, only has one attack and has to use that one shctick over and over again so versatility is sacrificed while in the form. Also size might be an issue in narrow corridors or dense wood environments.
#3 austinmonster Sep 29, 2014 9:06:24	They basically have a switch they can flip to go "melee" or "caster"  Their melee form is limited and VERY easy to hit, and their caster form lacks a lot of the fun spells that can make a wizard or warlock truly shine.  I think the inflated HP is more than canceled out by the fact that the bear forms have, at most, a 10 or 11 AC.   Now, once that druid hits Lv3 and they get access to Barkskin, it becomes a little more dangerous (though they still have to cope with concentration).
#4 Ansbach Sep 29, 2014 11:39:10	It really only seems to be a big problem at 2nd level, where they can turn into something like a Dire Wolf with AC 14 (which btw is the same AC the Druid has, Austinmonster), 37 hit points and a 2d6+3 attack that usually has advantage.  I like your idea though Keendk, so that they are encouraged to take a wider variety of forms instead of choosing from the best two or three.
#5 Seraphex Sep 29, 2014 14:55:30	Ansbach wrote:
#6 Ansbach Sep 29, 2014 14:59:22	That is good advice Seraphex, although I do like the idea of making more of the animal options viable - so now I am leaning more towards a houseruling that will do so.  I like the idea of something like an owl or a panther being just as enticing as dire wolves and brown bears.
#7 kalil Sep 30, 2014 1:45:04	If you are having issues with the druid hit points sponging your encounters I guess the solution is simple: Attack the other party members first. If you take out his friends the druid will go down fast in the end no matter how many hit points he can sponge and you force the party to spend healing resources normally by attacking the cleric, wizard and fighter.