Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 SublimeBW Aug 29, 2014 8:34:17	Hey gang!   First, let me appoligize if this has been asked before, I find the search function absolutely useless on WotC forums.   I understand how wild shape works but have a concern as to what animals/beast can turn into. In the PHB it mentions ones that they have previously seen. As a level 2 character playing HotDQ I can honestly say that the druid at my table has not seen any beasts (within play). Anyone have any idea on how to best handle a starter set of the what the druid has previously seen prior to the campaign?
#2 rampant Aug 29, 2014 9:01:14	Walk into town and ask directions to the livestock actions?
#3 bawylie Aug 29, 2014 9:37:08	SublimeBW wrote:
#4 docdoom77 Aug 29, 2014 9:39:38	bawylie wrote:
#5 Ramzour Aug 29, 2014 9:54:33	You could do it this way:   The level 1 druid starts play with 6 known animal forms. Pick any 6 you like from the beast in the PHB/DMG/MM. The Druid knows how to wildshape into those beasts. The druid learns 1 new form every level. The druid can also learn new beast forms by spending 1 hour observing a beast they are not familiar with.
#6 Kazadvorn Aug 29, 2014 10:20:27	I think what the designers were going for here is...   If your character resides in a setting that's very much like Medieval England, and has never travelled off the home island, it's unlikely that the Druid is going to be familiar with Tigers, Crocodiles or Chimpanzees. Skippy the Bush Kangaroo? Right out.
#7 bawylie Aug 29, 2014 10:24:57	Alright, then give them everything likely to be found within their home ecology.    Raised in a desert? Get vulture, jackal, tortoise, lizards, jackrabbits, coyotes, hawks, etc.    raised unerwater? And so on.    Then let them spend some time learning new animals as appropriate.    (Me, though, I'd give them everything anyway. I've never seen a Komodo dragon, but I know what they look like. Druids & their circles would probably be devoted to this type of thing)
#8 souldoubt Aug 29, 2014 10:28:18	bawylie wrote:
#9 rampant Aug 29, 2014 10:29:33	You'd think so but for the most part unless you're talking eberron level magical development they wouldn't really be able move data like that between circles quickly or easily, most dnd worlds I've been in tend to lack much in the way of magical infrastructure, and their general tech/social development level tends towards medieval. Furthermore since the rule uses the word seen, I'm inclined to think that some level of personal experience is needed, also is a blind druid out of luck?
#10 bawylie Aug 29, 2014 10:29:38	O Gawd! Y U DO DIS?
(Reply to #9) bawylie	rampant wrote:
#12 rampant Aug 29, 2014 10:36:14	So druids invent global communications... huh...   That's kind of terrifying.
(Reply to #12) bawylie	rampant wrote:
#14 souldoubt Aug 29, 2014 10:41:29	bawylie wrote:
#15 Chakravant Aug 29, 2014 10:46:33	bawylie wrote:
#16 Chakravant Aug 29, 2014 10:51:00	souldoubt wrote:
#17 souldoubt Aug 29, 2014 11:44:06	Chakravant wrote:
(Reply to #17) bawylie	souldoubt wrote:
#19 rampant Aug 29, 2014 13:31:42	I guess a lot depends on the definition of 'seen'.
#20 Illithidbix Aug 29, 2014 14:36:32	In 2E, the PHB rules REQUIRED the Druids to have a worldwide network... it was really bizaare. You had to beat other druids up to go up a level after level 11.   I'm not making this up:   2nd wrote:
#21 animeus Aug 29, 2014 15:27:56	Kazadvorn wrote:
#22 animeus Aug 29, 2014 15:55:59	Illithidbix wrote:
(Reply to #21) Kazadvorn	animeus wrote: