Water Genasi/Aarakocra Druid? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Water Genasi/Aarakocra Druid?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
UlgarrRedsplee
Jul 21, 2015 1:46:52
If you are a water Genasi Druid at 2nd level, can you bypass the beast shape restriction for swimming and flying as you have a swim speed? What about a 2nd level aarakocra druid since you have fly speed? On page 67 of the PHB it states "You retain the benefit of any features of your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so." but I was wondering how everyone feels about this?

#2
AndrewJO
Jul 21, 2015 1:50:10 No, it's very clear when you earn the ability to wild shape into a creature with a fly or swim speed, your race doesn't change this.
#3
UlgarrRedsplee
Jul 21, 2015 2:26:33
So the rules don't conflict because you can only keeep the benefit from any features of your class, race, or other source if the new form is capable of doing so, and you must pick a form at second level that is incapable of swimming or flying?

#4
Yunru
Jul 21, 2015 2:39:22 Yup
#5
UlgarrRedsplee
Jul 21, 2015 2:41:10
Thanks!

(Reply to #3)
AndrewJO

UlgarrRedsplee wrote:
#7
UlgarrRedsplee
Jul 21, 2015 14:19:03
But even if you keep the swim or fly speed in either of those cases, aren't the creatures wildshaped into at level 2 still unable to use it? The rules are saying you can't turn into something that has either, meaning they are not physically capable to benefit from a swim or fly speed?

#8
jaelis
Jul 21, 2015 20:27:24 No, it just means the form you turn into can't have a native fly speed. It could still fly with the fly spell, for instance.
#9
Jamroar
Sep 29, 2015 20:14:22
http://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/08/07/water-genasi/

So Mike Mearls seems to be saying the same as AndrewJO: You can still have swim speed as a racial trait, but you can't wildshape into a creature that has a natural swim speed. So, if you wildshape into a brown bear, they can probably swim OK and you can still swim as a brown bear. Or a wolf, etc. Anything that might be able to swim with it's anatomy. But if you wildshaped into a badger you wouldn't also be able to swim. Does that sound right?

Johnathan Lin @Johnathan_Lin

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 UlgarrRedsplee Jul 21, 2015 1:46:52	If you are a water Genasi Druid at 2nd level, can you bypass the beast shape restriction for swimming and flying as you have a swim speed? What about a 2nd level aarakocra druid since you have fly speed? On page 67 of the PHB it states "You retain the benefit of any features of your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so." but I was wondering how everyone feels about this?
#2 AndrewJO Jul 21, 2015 1:50:10	No, it's very clear when you earn the ability to wild shape into a creature with a fly or swim speed, your race doesn't change this.
#3 UlgarrRedsplee Jul 21, 2015 2:26:33	So the rules don't conflict because you can only keeep the benefit from any features of your class, race, or other source if the new form is capable of doing so, and you must pick a form at second level that is incapable of swimming or flying?
#4 Yunru Jul 21, 2015 2:39:22	Yup
#5 UlgarrRedsplee Jul 21, 2015 2:41:10	Thanks!
(Reply to #3) AndrewJO	UlgarrRedsplee wrote:
#7 UlgarrRedsplee Jul 21, 2015 14:19:03	But even if you keep the swim or fly speed in either of those cases, aren't the creatures wildshaped into at level 2 still unable to use it? The rules are saying you can't turn into something that has either, meaning they are not physically capable to benefit from a swim or fly speed?
#8 jaelis Jul 21, 2015 20:27:24	No, it just means the form you turn into can't have a native fly speed. It could still fly with the fly spell, for instance.
#9 Jamroar Sep 29, 2015 20:14:22	http://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/08/07/water-genasi/ So Mike Mearls seems to be saying the same as AndrewJO: You can still have swim speed as a racial trait, but you can't wildshape into a creature that has a natural swim speed. So, if you wildshape into a brown bear, they can probably swim OK and you can still swim as a brown bear. Or a wolf, etc. Anything that might be able to swim with it's anatomy. But if you wildshaped into a badger you wouldn't also be able to swim. Does that sound right? Johnathan Lin @Johnathan_Lin