Druids and shapeshifting. Specialize on one or gain many useless forms ?

[Jǫrmungandr]

Druid shapeshifting. I have not tried the druid in BG 3, despite fundamendtally being fond of this class, but is shapeshifting done the same bad way in this game as is always the case in RPGs ??

By that I mean that you pick up many different animal forms as you level up, and each animal form are useful at best for only 1 or 2 levels, then they become outdated and useless. So the vast majority of the many, many animal shapes you gain are never going to serve you for long, if at all... It ends up being underwhelming. Based on various BG 3 websites, I have the impression this game is more of the same...

It would be significantly better if the game allowed us to specialize on one or two of our chosen/preferred animal form early on, and then this animal form would level up and become stronger in tandem with the druid themselves levelling up, and thus never lose its relevance.
Personally I like my druid to take very "standard" forms, such as Wolf and Feline, because they feel more in tune with what the druid is supposed to be than these more exotic wyverns and fire salamanders etc that you can usually turn into at higher levels.

Usually the wolf is the first animal form you gain as a druid at a fairly low level, but it barely serves you for 1-2 levels, if at all, then it becomes obselete. You end up with lots of animal forms that are barely useful to you.

So, this is both a question and a suggestion - let the player specialize in their chosen one or two form(s).

[Indure]

In 5e version, moon druid is the specialization that focuses on shapeshifting. All other druids get almost inconsequential shape changes in comparison.

Like you mentioned Moon druids do get access to stronger forms the higher they level which leaves older versions in the dust. And at the mid levels they pretty much leave all animal forms behind when they can transform into elementals (in combat).

That being said, BG3 is not 5e and they have already changed druids quite a bit, for example letting all druids get full shapeshifting at level 2, not just moon druids. They also can't ever hope to replicate the hundreds of animals a druid could morph into and will probably have a narrow list of 20-30. I think there are 7 current animals. Out of these 7 seem, most seem to have comproable abilities in combat, but with some unique utility that gives them flavor, like burrowing, advantage, flying, etc.

My guess is that they will depart from 5e a little and have there forms get stronger over time to save on art assets. So either you can be a wolf until the end, or at level X you will unlock a dire wolf which is just a reskinned wolf with higher stats.

[Hobocop]

The forms in BG3 are already a step above what you'd get from TT equivalent, purely because you're not getting the 'blank check' as you would on TT, but predetermined forms.

[Jǫrmungandr]

Originally posted by Indure:

In 5e version, moon druid is the specialization that focuses on shapeshifting. All other druids get almost inconsequential shape changes in comparison.

Like you mentioned Moon druids do get access to stronger forms the higher they level which leaves older versions in the dust. And at the mid levels they pretty much leave all animal forms behind when they can transform into elementals (in combat).

That being said, BG3 is not 5e and they have already changed druids quite a bit, for example letting all druids get full shapeshifting at level 2, not just moon druids. They also can't ever hope to replicate the hundreds of animals a druid could morph into and will probably have a narrow list of 20-30. I think there are 7 current animals. Out of these 7 seem, most seem to have comproable abilities in combat, but with some unique utility that gives them flavor, like burrowing, advantage, flying, etc.

My guess is that they will depart from 5e a little and have there forms get stronger over time to save on art assets. So either you can be a wolf until the end, or at level X you will unlock a dire wolf which is just a reskinned wolf with higher stats.

I don't think 20-30 is a narrow list. That's a big list. If I had a list of 10 animal forms (the usual suspects for the most part) and I could choose to specialize in one, or two at the most, which would serve me throughout the whole game, rather than becoming useless, I think that'd have been great.

[Mr Pibbleton]

I hope we get apes on the wildshape list because being able to throw stuff or use improvised weapons with a high strength is an amazing option.

[Panic Fire]

Originally posted by krikkert:

Originally posted by Indure:

In 5e version, moon druid is the specialization that focuses on shapeshifting. All other druids get almost inconsequential shape changes in comparison.

Like you mentioned Moon druids do get access to stronger forms the higher they level which leaves older versions in the dust. And at the mid levels they pretty much leave all animal forms behind when they can transform into elementals (in combat).

That being said, BG3 is not 5e and they have already changed druids quite a bit, for example letting all druids get full shapeshifting at level 2, not just moon druids. They also can't ever hope to replicate the hundreds of animals a druid could morph into and will probably have a narrow list of 20-30. I think there are 7 current animals. Out of these 7 seem, most seem to have comproable abilities in combat, but with some unique utility that gives them flavor, like burrowing, advantage, flying, etc.

My guess is that they will depart from 5e a little and have there forms get stronger over time to save on art assets. So either you can be a wolf until the end, or at level X you will unlock a dire wolf which is just a reskinned wolf with higher stats.

I don't think 20-30 is a narrow list. That's a big list. If I had a list of 10 animal forms (the usual suspects for the most part) and I could choose to specialize in one, or two at the most, which would serve me throughout the whole game, rather than becoming useless, I think that'd have been great.

Its a narrow list in comparison to Table Top. Which has 110+ animals to shape change into.

[buttawise]

So far bear and badger are the only useful classes in combat. The rest are pretty worthless.

[Edstyles]

Try druid in poe 2 . Its vastly different as a druid

[Indure]

Originally posted by byron_furmando:

So far bear and badger are the only useful classes in combat. The rest are pretty worthless.

??? I found the wolf, bird, and spider to be better than the two you mentioned. The bear is arguable the worse form IMO.

[buttawise]

Originally posted by Indure:

??? I found the wolf, bird, and spider to be better than the two you mentioned. The bear is arguable the worse form IMO.

wolf is ok.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Animal forms do not scale with level as they are not intended solely for combat or to be your chosen "forever" form. Many forms, like the Raven, have plenty uses outside of combat (the ability to fly long distances is actually superior to Misty Step), and have conditional combat effects (like Blind) that complement the Druid's spellcasting abilities.

The combat forms for D&D Druids culminate in their elemental forms, not animals. Fire and Air elemental forms are particularly deadly.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by byron_furmando:

So far bear and badger are the only useful classes in combat. The rest are pretty worthless.

You've never cast Spike Growth and then Wildshaped into a Raven? You get fly around at will, pecking out goblin eyes while they struggle to even reach you, and when they do they have to hit AC 21 at disadvantage...