Druid Wild Shape and "Race Traits" - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Viscar Apr 20, 2015 11:02:27	So I'm having a discussion with a friend in relation to the Druid Wild Shape ability and what it does and doesn't allow. The relevant parts of the Wild Shape rules are defined on page 67 of the PHP. Here is what the PHP says for my question. You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can’t use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense.
#2 QwertyAzerty Apr 20, 2015 11:18:28	wildshape DO get racial feature (or trait) unless they are special senses. So yes all your shape will benefit from your fire resistance, fire breath (based with the new shape consitution, so your hummingbird, if your DM say a hummingbird got 6 Constitution (-2) then your DC will be very low) IF you are a wood elf all your wildshape got a walking speed increase by 5 and they can all hide being lightly obscured natural phenomena and you keep your trance. none of those thing are "special senses" Special senses are feature that allow you to senses your world, tremore sense, blindsight, darkvision, improved darkvision, keen hearing, keen smell, etc... So yes your Wildshape do gain your racial feature, unless that feature is a special sense.
#3 mellored Apr 20, 2015 21:12:21	wood elfs speed is replaced same as everyone elses. it is not a +5 speed bonus, unlike mobility or monks feature which does work. dragonbreath would work too, with your new Con.
#4 lawrencehoy Apr 20, 2015 23:21:46	I'm inclined to define a dragon's breath weapon as a magical effect, created by physical organs. Therefore, I would define a dragonborn's breath weapon the same; not allowing it in a Druid's Wildshape, if the shape chosen doesn't include similar physical organs (a similar ability/feature in its stat block). That's just me, though; I can see where the previous posters' opinions are just as valid.
#5 Dyndrilliac Apr 21, 2015 15:00:04	First of all, traits = features. There is no distinction between the two words when used to describe racial bonuses. Jeremy Crawford, the final say on official rulings, has stated that Dragonborn Druids should retain their resistance and breath weapon while in wild shape: http://www.sageadvice.eu/2014/09/29/dragonborn-druid/ Using that ruling as a base, I would say that all racial traits except for physical ability score bonuses (STR/DEX/CON) are retained by the Druid while in wild shape. This includes the Wood Elf's speed bonus, the Elve's Trance ability, etc. The only exception made by the text in the PHB is concerning senses. So if you have Darkvision as a racial trait, you lose it temporarily if the beast form your are transforming into does not possess it. Of course, the Druid has the Darkvision spell he or she can use to rectify this problem.
(Reply to #5) Lucas_Blackstone	Dyndrilliac wrote:
#7 jaelis Apr 21, 2015 18:44:21	I have to say, I just don't like this rule. For one it doesn't make much sense to me, why should a wolf have a breath weapon or be good at hiding behind other creatures. For another it seems like a pain to keep track of... easier to just use the stats of the beast you turn into. Are there any racial abilities that would be problematic to say you don't get them in wild shape?
#8 Orethalion Apr 21, 2015 19:16:54	Lucas_Blackstone wrote:
#9 Orethalion Apr 21, 2015 19:18:40	jaelis wrote:
(Reply to #8) Lucas_Blackstone	Orethalion wrote:
#11 Orethalion Apr 21, 2015 21:41:08	Lucas_Blackstone wrote:
#12 SpedGuy Apr 22, 2015 18:24:31	So what racial features end up with strange or questionable results? Water Genasi Druids can breath underwater still but do they get a swim speed? Aarakokra flight? Just how much can a Goliath Bear-totem barbarian/mammoth lift? Can a Halfling/mouse hide behind pretty much anything?
#13 Horwath Apr 23, 2015 0:09:40	Wood elves do not have a speed bonus, they just have base speed higher that other races, same as dwarves. so this would not translate to wild shape. all other except darkvision would go with the wild shape. You would still know how to use a longbow but you may not be able to use it due to your new maybe limited hands/legs. As a great ape you could use a longbow...maybe. halfling hiding is probably learned ability as a cultural trait, and as you keep your brain in wild shape you keep your learned abilities.
(Reply to #12) Lucas_Blackstone	SpedGuy wrote:

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

Viscar

Apr 20, 2015 11:02:27

So I'm having a discussion with a friend in relation to the Druid Wild Shape ability and what it does and doesn't allow.

The relevant parts of the Wild Shape rules are defined on page 67 of the PHP.

Here is what the PHP says for my question.

You retain the benefit of any features from your class,
race, or other source and can use them if the new
form is physically capable of doing so. However, you
can’t use any of your special senses, such as darkvision,
unless your new form also has that sense.

QwertyAzerty

Apr 20, 2015 11:18:28

wildshape DO get racial feature (or trait) unless they are special senses.

So yes all your shape will benefit from your fire resistance, fire breath (based with the new shape consitution, so your hummingbird, if your DM say a hummingbird got 6 Constitution (-2) then your DC will be very low)

IF you are a wood elf all your wildshape got a walking speed increase by 5 and they can all hide being lightly obscured natural phenomena and you keep your trance. none of those thing are "special senses"

Special senses are feature that allow you to senses your world, tremore sense, blindsight, darkvision, improved darkvision, keen hearing, keen smell, etc...

So yes your Wildshape do gain your racial feature, unless that feature is a special sense.

mellored

Apr 20, 2015 21:12:21

wood elfs speed is replaced same as everyone elses. it is not a +5 speed bonus, unlike mobility or monks feature which does work. dragonbreath would work too, with your new Con.

lawrencehoy

Apr 20, 2015 23:21:46

I'm inclined to define a dragon's breath weapon as a magical effect, created by physical organs. Therefore, I would define a dragonborn's breath weapon the same; not allowing it in a Druid's Wildshape, if the shape chosen doesn't include similar physical organs (a similar ability/feature in its stat block). That's just me, though; I can see where the previous posters' opinions are just as valid.

Dyndrilliac

Apr 21, 2015 15:00:04

First of all, traits = features. There is no distinction between the two words when used to describe racial bonuses.

Jeremy Crawford, the final say on official rulings, has stated that Dragonborn Druids should retain their resistance and breath weapon while in wild shape: http://www.sageadvice.eu/2014/09/29/dragonborn-druid/

Using that ruling as a base, I would say that all racial traits except for physical ability score bonuses (STR/DEX/CON) are retained by the Druid while in wild shape. This includes the Wood Elf's speed bonus, the Elve's Trance ability, etc. The only exception made by the text in the PHB is concerning senses. So if you have Darkvision as a racial trait, you lose it temporarily if the beast form your are transforming into does not possess it. Of course, the Druid has the Darkvision spell he or she can use to rectify this problem.

(Reply to #5)

Lucas_Blackstone

Dyndrilliac wrote:

jaelis

Apr 21, 2015 18:44:21

I have to say, I just don't like this rule. For one it doesn't make much sense to me, why should a wolf have a breath weapon or be good at hiding behind other creatures. For another it seems like a pain to keep track of... easier to just use the stats of the beast you turn into.

Are there any racial abilities that would be problematic to say you don't get them in wild shape?

Orethalion

Apr 21, 2015 19:16:54

Lucas_Blackstone wrote:

Orethalion

Apr 21, 2015 19:18:40

jaelis wrote:

(Reply to #8)

Lucas_Blackstone

Orethalion wrote:

#11

Orethalion

Apr 21, 2015 21:41:08

Lucas_Blackstone wrote:

#12

SpedGuy

Apr 22, 2015 18:24:31

So what racial features end up with strange or questionable results?

Water Genasi Druids can breath underwater still but do they get a swim speed?

Aarakokra flight?

Just how much can a Goliath Bear-totem barbarian/mammoth lift?

Can a Halfling/mouse hide behind pretty much anything?

#13

Horwath

Apr 23, 2015 0:09:40

Wood elves do not have a speed bonus, they just have base speed higher that other races, same as dwarves.

so this would not translate to wild shape.

all other except darkvision would go with the wild shape. You would still know how to use a longbow but you may not be able to use it due to your new maybe limited hands/legs.

As a great ape you could use a longbow...maybe.

halfling hiding is probably learned ability as a cultural trait, and as you keep your brain in wild shape you keep your learned abilities.

(Reply to #12)

Lucas_Blackstone

SpedGuy wrote: