|
7 months ago ::
Nov 27, 2012 - 5:45AM
#1
|
Date Joined:
Jul 18, 2012
|
Ability Adjustment : +1 to your Wisdom, Strength, or Constitution score.
Starting Hit Points : 8 + your Constitution modifier.
Armor and Shield Proficiencies : ...
Weapon Proficiencies : Basic weapons, dagger, and simple missile weapons
Weapon Magic Save DC
Level Attack Attack Bonus Class Feature
1 +2 +2 +0 Nature Knowledge, Nature Magic, Shapeshifting : 1st Shape
2 +2 +2 +0
3 +2 +2 +0
4 +2 +2 +0
5 +2 +2 +0 Shapeshifting : 2nd Shape
6 +3 +3 +1
7 +3 +3 +1
8 +3 +3 +1
9 +3 +3 +1
10 +3 +3 +1
Spell per day :
Level 0 1 2 3 4 5
1 3 1
2 4 2
3 4 2 1
4 4 2 2
5 4 2 2 1
6 4 2 2 2
7 4 2 2 2 1
8 4 2 2 2 2
9 4 2 2 2 2 1
10 4 2 2 2 2 2 Nature Knowledge : You gain training in the Knowledge(nature) skill. Nature Magic :
You can cast a number of druid spells per day based on your level, as noted in the Druid Spells per Day table. Wisdom is your magic ability score.
...
Casting a Spell: When you cast a spell, choose one of your prepared spells and use a spell slot of that spell’s level or higher. Shapeshifting
Animal Shape :
All animal shape have the following Expertise Dice :
1 : 1d4
2 : 1d4
3 : 1d6
4 : 1d6
5 : 1d6
6 : 2d6
7 : 2d6
8 : 2d6
9 : 2d8
10 : 2d8
If you choose an animal shape as your first shape (level 1), you gain new maneuvers while in this shape at the the following druid level : 1, 3, 7.
If you choose an animal shape as your second shape (level 5), you gain new maneuvers in this shape at the following druid level : 5, 9 Animal shape list :
Bear :
maneuvers : Whirlwind Attack, Iron Root Defense, Great Fortitude, ???
Wolf :
maneuvers : Flurry of Blows, Opportunist, Sneak Attack, Spring Attack, Lighting reflexes, Tumbling Dodge, Vault
Elemental Shape :
If you choose an elemental shape as your first shape (level 1) :
- you gain at-will spell in this shape at the following druid level : 1, 7
- you gain new domain spell in this shape at the following druid level : 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
If you choose an elemental shape as your second shape (level 5),
- you gain at-will spell in this shape at the following druid level : 5
- you gain new domain spell in this shape at the following druid level : 6, 8, 10
Elemental shape list :
Fire :
At-will Spell : burning hand, ???
Domain Spell :
1 : ???
2 : ???
3 : fireball
4 : wall of fire
5 : flame strike
Air :
At-will Spell : shocking grasp, ???
Domain Spell :
1 : feather fall
2 : levitate
3 : lighting bolt
4 : ???
5 : ???
just an idea 
edit : For a pure spellcaster, you can choose fire elemental as first shape and air elemental as second shape for example.
For more matial druid, you can choose wolf as forst shape and bear as second shape.
And for a hybrid druid, you can mix one elemental shape with one animal shape.
|
|
|
|
7 months ago ::
Nov 27, 2012 - 5:49AM
#2
|
Date Joined:
Jun 21, 2012
|
Hmm funky. The shift in system resources based on form is kinda cool. You could add on some kits and schemes that weaken some aspects of the class and strengthen others - like you could make your druid a primary spellcaster which would boost your spells/day and supply a few tricks at the expense of shapeshifting. Maybe make them pick an aspect at the start and have that determine what maneuvers and spells they get?
|
|
|
|
7 months ago ::
Nov 27, 2012 - 5:58AM
#3
|
Date Joined:
Jul 18, 2012
|
Clarification :
For a pure spellcaster, you can choose fire elemental as first shape and air elemental as second shape for example.
For more matial druid, you can choose wolf as forst shape and bear as second shape.
And for a hybrid druid, you can mix one elemental shape with one animal shape.
|
|
|
|
7 months ago ::
Nov 27, 2012 - 6:05AM
#4
|
- Forum Guide
- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
- Master Dungeon Master
Date Joined:
Jun 23, 2005
|
I don't think the shapeshifting will be or should be based on expertise dice. Just allow polymorph with lots of restrictions at level 1 and less as you progress. Some of the limits:
Per day usage: Traditionally, you can only wild shape a certain number of times per day.
Movement types: climbing at 3rd level, swimming at 5th level, flying at 7th level and burrowing at 9th level.
Size: Small/Medium at 2nd level, Large at 4th, Tiny at 6th, Huge at 8th. (Leave Fine and Gargantuan for high-level play.)
Maximum Bonus: Restrict the maximum ability, AC, attack bonus, and damage so a shapeshifted druid cannot be a better fighter than a fighter.
Creature Type: No creature with spell-like abilities or spells.
Concentration: Require concentration to maintain the wild shape, give the druid advantage on the concentration check at 5th level, and allow the druid to auto-succeed on concentration checks 1/level/day. You could also offer a druid an option to choose a signature shape, that he can assume without concentration for 1 hour/level/day.
|
|
|
|
7 months ago ::
Nov 27, 2012 - 6:24AM
#5
|
Date Joined:
Jun 21, 2012
|
I don't mind expertise dice being used myself but I don't see why it shouldn't be something else either. The concept of shifting changing your primary resource for funky character abilities is an interesting one in the context of D&D. My immediate worry is that a druid with daily spells and dice-based maneuvers will have no compunctions whatever about blowing all their magic in a rage, shift, and carry on at pretty much full strength for the day. 'Cause that's totally what I'd do. I think it'd be better if the druid relied primarily on their spells unless they bought into an option that significantly weakened their spellcasting ability but gave them a wider range of physical combat options.
|
|
|
|
7 months ago ::
Nov 27, 2012 - 6:37AM
#6
|
Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2010
|
Hmm funky. The shift in system resources based on form is kinda cool.
Yeah...I like it. I get that people have this aversion to expanding XD across the board (not entirely sure why, seems highly irrational to me), but this is something I like.
I really, really want a 'fulltime shapeshift' druid to be viable. I don't give a damn about per day tradition.
D&D Next = D&D: Quantum Edition
|
|
|
|
7 months ago ::
Nov 27, 2012 - 7:00AM
#7
|
- Forum Guide
- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
- Master Dungeon Master
Date Joined:
Jun 23, 2005
|
I really, really want a 'fulltime shapeshift' druid to be viable. I don't give a damn about per day tradition.
That could be an option. At the end of a long rest, the druid expends all of his spell slots and dumps that magic energy into his signature form. When he does this, his maximum bonuses increase a bit so he is almost as good a fighter as a fighter (plus he has the special abilities of his chosen form, within the other level-based limits mentioned above). As an action, he can shift between his humanoid and bestial forms as much as he likes. In humanoid form he can still invoke rituals and use magic items. In bestial form, he is a beast and uses only his beast's abilities.
|
|
|
|
7 months ago ::
Nov 27, 2012 - 7:15AM
#8
|
Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2010
|
Yeah, it's the perfect thing for a "build choice" level option in the same situation as things like wizard traditions.
I'd also like to break from using the fighter as a yardstick. It's traditional, I admit, but it really will become problematic if they actually succeed at making the fighter as good as it deserves to be. Benchmarking basic melee capability around some other class, or even around a non-class baseline of performance that class-specific enhancements layer on top of, seems like a much more viable plan to getting us what we want.
As to the specifics of your idea, I'm a bit hesitant to give up all spellcasting ability, though. Sure, shapeshifting is the focus, and you could do it completely fulltime, but some level of spell usage should still be encouraged. Really, I have in mind the 4e model of a druid, or the 3.5 PHB2 Shapeshifter variant. In both cases the shapeshift form was capable, but not the overpowered juggernaut that was the 3.5 Wild Shape. But they still retained some spellcasting capability. The sort of capability that make work is something like the Cleric, where the go-to round action is usually a melee attack, but spells are the icing.
Finding the correct balance between shapeshift melee and spellcasting is the major point of tension in the druid class.
D&D Next = D&D: Quantum Edition
|
|
|
|
7 months ago ::
Nov 27, 2012 - 7:37AM
#9
|
- Forum Guide
- Hero Craftsman Gold Medalist
- Master Dungeon Master
Date Joined:
Jun 23, 2005
|
I have in mind the 4e model of a druid, or the 3.5 PHB2 Shapeshifter variant. In both cases the shapeshift form was capable, but not the overpowered juggernaut that was the 3.5 Wild Shape. But they still retained some spellcasting capability.
That's wy I let the humanoid form invoke rituals. Otherwise he's just a lycanthroe class. But I think if you are opting for a daylong animal form, you're giving up most of your human powers.
Also, I agree with you about using the fighter as a benchmark. Rather, there should be a table for "combat prowess" against which all classes are measured. There has to be some sort of metric to figure out how to design a class.
|
|
|
|
7 months ago ::
Nov 27, 2012 - 7:41AM
#10
|
Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2010
|
Yeah, I'm just skeptical about ritual usage in general. Maybe this is just poor experience with 4e coloring my perspective on it, but getting the spellcaster schtick through rituals only leaves me more than a little wary.
D&D Next = D&D: Quantum Edition
|
|
|
