Hey
FlyingSucculent I just went through the Wild Shape to refresh my memory on how its being done in 5e and I have really only one minor issue I want to discuss with you and I hope you will like my alteration as it is meant to keep this thing from being a contested issue of sorts as we progress. My alteration (in red) along with a slight rewrite to help with clarity. Do note those clarity items were per the designers own words as I found a recorded pod-cast on the subject.
[ +- ] Wild Shape
Starting at 2nd level, the Druid can use their action to magically assume the shape of a beast that they have spent time spiritually integrating with. They can use this feature twice. They regain expended uses when they finish a short or long rest. However, during a long rest they may also change the beasts that they have spiritually integrated with. A Druid can spiritually integrate with up to 1 beast per 2 full Wisdom points they possess plus 1 additional beast per level if a Land Druid or 2 additional beast per level if a Moon Druid.
The Druid level determines the beasts they can transform into, as shown in the Beast Shapes table below.
Level .... Max CR .... Limitations
. 2nd ....... 1/4 ....... No Flying nor Swimming speed
. 4th ........ 1/2 ....... No Flying Speed
. 8th ......... 1
The Druid can stay in a beast form for a number of hours equal to half their Druid level (rounded down). They then revert to their normal form unless they expend another use of this feature. They can revert to their normal form earlier by using a bonus action on their turn. They automatically revert if they fall unconscious, drop to 0 hit points, or die.
While the Druid is transformed, the following rules apply:
Their game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but they retain their alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. They also retain all of their skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the beast. If the beast has the same proficiency as they do and the bonus in its stat block is higher than the Druid's, use the beast's bonus instead of the Druid's. If the beast has any legendary or lair actions, the Druid cannot use those.
When the Druid transforms, they assume 50% (round-down) (or 60% if a Moon Druid) of the beast's Maximum Hit Points with an additional 2% being gained per level of Druid. Further they also assume the Beast's number of Hit Die where applicable. When they revert to their normal form, they return to the number of hit points they had before they transformed. However, if they revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to their normal form. For example, if the beast form had only 1 hit point and it took 10 damage then the beast form would take the 1 hit point it had left whereupon the Druid would then revert to their normal form and take remaining 9 points of damage and as long as this damage does not reduce their normal form to 0 hit points, they are not knocked unconscious.
The Druid cannot cast spells while using Wild Shape until they reach 18th level and then only specific types of spells as outlined under Beast Spells can be used. Further any ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of the beast form assumed. Still it should be noted that transforming does not break the Druid's concentration on any spell they may have already cast nor prevent them from taking actions that are part of a spell that they may have already cast (e.g. such as Call Lightning).
The Druid retains the benefit of any features from their class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, they cannot use any of their special senses, on the flip-side they do gain all the senses of their new beast form.
The Druid chooses whether their equipment falls to the ground in their current space or it merges into their new form, and/or is worn by the new form. Worn equipment functions as normal, but the GM decides whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment, based on the creature's shape and size. The equipment does not change size or shape to match the new form, and any equipment that the new form cannot wear must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the form.
The 2 big changes are you must pre-select a number of Beast Forms that you can assume during a Long Rest the benefit to this is the character is more in tune with the creature and becomes a better version (more Hit Points) of that creature as they increase in level. The Moon Druid of course gets a slight kick start to that due to their natural affinity to spiritually meld with beasts. This also eliminates the need of
"that they have seen before" as the character no longer needs to have seen the beast as all beasts exist within the bestial spirit world and the Druid can tap into any and all such Beasts. Note 50% is just basically what is shown in most stat blocks (if not all) so being 5th Land Druid means all your Beast Forms would have 60% of the Beasts maximum hit points per the suggested Hit Die that is shown for each Beast.
So please, assuming you have no objections to this alteration, pick Wisdom (14) = 7 + 5th Level Land Druid = 12 Beast Forms that you have spiritually integrated with at this time and add that to your character sheet and let me know when that has been done.
Conversely if you have any objections please let me know. Again this is mainly to remove the
"that they have seen before" clause as I found that extremely ambiguous as well as nonsensical.
Initially I thought about doing a sort of sympathy magic, which I may still do if you wish to have extra forms beyond the basic ones you can have. Keep in mind that your list of Beasts is not static and is completely open to any and all Beasts that exist, however, say you want to be able to change into a specific Beast sort of on a more permanent basis and you do not want to have it count against the number of Beasts you can integrate with. I am willing to work out how that can be done in game. Basically you would be creating a special focus to a specific beast and perhaps this specific focus might enhance that specific beast form as well but this would be all part of the effort and detail you put into making this said focus should you choose to do so.
