Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 JS20 Jan 22, 2015 5:49:10	Hi all. I tried to search the forums for these answers, but it seems the search isn't real great here. Anyway, I have 2 questions about Druid wildshape.   I was reading the Player's Handbook and it I couldn't tell if turning into a beast gets rid of your buffs.   For instance, if I cast Barkskin in human form on myself to buff my AC and then change to a bear, does the bear also get the barkskin buff to AC?   Or if I get a +damage or +hit buff for melee weapon attacks and then wild shape into a bear, does the bear's natural weapon melee attacks also benefit from this buff?   Basically, I want to know if a Druid can buff themselves up BEFORE wild shaping and if another party member buffs me in bear form, whether they work. Do I also keep these buffs if I turn back into a human?   Second, at level 2, Circle of the Moon can use wild shape twice per short/long rest. Does this include non-combat uses of wildshape? If I use Wild shape for RP or skill thing, does that mean I am down a use if we stumble into combat or do GM's or the rules allow more liberal use of shapeshift in non-combat siutations?   Also, this may seem a bit of  a dumb question, but are you allowed to wild shape into a beast that is not in the Monster Manual? Like if I wanted to shift into a hummingbird or something, is this legal or am I restricted to beasts with stats in the monster manual?   Thanks for your help on this.
#2 mellored Jan 22, 2015 6:47:28	Barkskin: Yes.  You can be a bear with 16 AC.  Probably the only use for the spell.   Weapon: Yes.  Claws and Bites are melee weapon attacks.   Assuming your talking about something like bless or crusader's mantle.   If you use shilelligh, magic weapon, or elemental weapon on a club before you transform, that doesn't help, since it's not your claws. Elemental weapon on your claws could be fun.   Wild Shape: Yes, 2 uses either way.   Much like spell slots, you can use them for utility, or for combat.   Beast: Yes, but you must of seen a humming bird.  So it's upto your DM.
#3 JS20 Jan 22, 2015 22:40:37	Thanks for the reply. Quick followup not about wildshape. With Conjure animals, fey, elementals, etc. druids get to choose the creature they want to summon, correct?
#4 Kalani Jan 22, 2015 22:50:18	JS20 wrote:
#5 phoenixnemo Jan 23, 2015 7:11:24	since the thread is already open I hope you don't mind if I ask some questions here too.   How do you calculate the attack bonus of a druid in wild shape? do you just get whatever the beast sais in the stat block or you use the druids proficiency bonus? If the first case is the one, doesn't it become useless to wild shape in combat at higher lvls?   Thanks in advance
#6 mellored Jan 23, 2015 7:22:54	phoenixnemo wrote:
(Reply to #6) Nevvur	If you're not doing Adventurer's League, a notable house rule I've seen regarding wild shape was to use the druid's humanoid HP for all wild shape forms.   I don't have a druid in my group anymore, so no need to fiddle with the rules at my table, but I like the suggestion. It makes any form viable even as the druid rises in level. One caveat, I would probably restrict it to medium or larger creatures. A common rat with 50 HPs would be... odd.   BTW, you can cast any concentration spell before wild shaping, and maintain it in animal form. For instance, you could cast flaming sphere on your first action, then wild shape and charge into the fray. Of course, you'll have to change back if you get hit, lose concentration, and want to cast another spell.
#8 phoenixnemo Jan 26, 2015 5:43:52	mellored wrote:
(Reply to #8) QwertyAzerty	phoenixnemo wrote:
#10 mellored Jan 26, 2015 7:16:55	phoenixnemo wrote:
#11 phoenixnemo Jan 28, 2015 9:12:25	one other question then: once a druid has hit the infinite wild shapes a day at lvl 20, does that mean that the druid can't be killed unless he gets hit by a insta-kill effect or gets damaged in one round for all his wildshape hp + his regular hp?   thanks in advance
#12 mellored Jan 28, 2015 9:47:41	phoenixnemo wrote:
#13 Noctaem Jan 28, 2015 9:49:31	mellored wrote:
#14 paulstrait Jan 28, 2015 16:53:06	phoenixnemo wrote:
#15 RCanine Jan 28, 2015 19:42:56	Nevvur wrote:
#16 Noctaem Jan 29, 2015 6:28:26	RCanine wrote:
(Reply to #15) Nevvur	RCanine wrote:
#18 Engelus Jan 29, 2015 20:47:29	one "house" rule we have  is that we don't use the attack bonus shown.   for example, Dire wolf has str+3 and dex +2   its bite attack is +5, but where is this other bonus coming from,  if you look across the board at all monsters, they seem to get a +2  and a stat bonus.   our rule is that is proficiency.  proficiency is a class bonus. since you dont stop being a druid when you become a dire wolf and by being a dire wolf you are proficient with your natural weapons. so we recompute it. currently my druid when turned into a dire wolf gets a whopping +5 (lol) because his proficiency is still +2, but as he gets better in levels so should his attack get better.   this makes sense.  if you put 2 moon druids  against each other in a fight to rule the circle lvl2 vs lvl20: the rules  ( they must choose the same form, no spells, first to be knocked out of thier form loses.)  even if they both choose to turn into a dire wolf, the level 20 should whup the ass of the lvl2 he should be better at being a wolf then the guy that just learned how 10 minutes ago.   if proficiency is not taken into account then its a 50/50 shot.