myUsernameIsn'tTaken |
At our most recent pathfinder game we've been having a
disagreement about the druid wildshape ability
Basically my question is how well does a druid need to know an animal to turn into it.
For example can they turn into an animal they have never met,
or an animal they have only read about,
or do they have to see a picture of it
or actually see and interact with the animal up close.
Shfish |
Need more info.
Is this PFS?
Is this homegame?
Is this homegame played similarly to PFS (as in as long as you have the books, and its a legal mechanic, you can use it?)
If PFS, then as long as you have the books, you can change into the appropriate creature.
If its a home game, GM call 100%. General guidelines would be native creatures to your environment. Outside of that, make a knowledge nature check, if you can make the check, then you know the creature (this is just an easy mechanic to represent the types of things you asked) and every time a new rank is added to knowledge nature you can reroll failed checks..
So basically, if its PFS yes, if home, then GM should make it easy to rule on each case to not make it too burdensome on paperwork.
myUsernameIsn'tTaken |
Need more info.
Is this PFS?
Is this homegame?
Is this homegame played similarly to PFS (as in as long as you have the books, and its a legal mechanic, you can use it?)If PFS, then as long as you have the books, you can change into the appropriate creature.
If its a home game, GM call 100%. General guidelines would be native creatures to your environment. Outside of that, make a knowledge nature check, if you can make the check, then you know the creature (this is just an easy mechanic to represent the types of things you asked) and every time a new rank is added to knowledge nature you can reroll failed checks..
So basically, if its PFS yes, if home, then GM should make it easy to rule on each case to not make it too burdensome on paperwork.
Alright thanks, it's a homegame and the GM has decided that anything more than a badger can't be used unless met ingame.
Shfish |
Hmm I would show him my suggestion about knowledge nature checks. It is seriously stupid to think that druid, even a 1st level druid, has only seen a badger upclose and personal....(cough horse?!?)
Of course if you really want to be cheesy...if he ever gives you a very long period of in game down time...summon a new animal companion everyday until you have seen all the animal companion options for your zone... Then study them up close and personal ;)
Cardinal Chunder |
Alright thanks, it's a homegame and the GM has decided that anything more than a badger can't be used unless met ingame.
I bet your GM came up with this pointless houserule after character creation to screw you over...wonderful...
Summon Natures Ally and if you need to go higher level for a Deinonychus to really put on the pressure, do it.
Shfish |
Because when most people make a druid for the first time, they build from level 1...the thought about a GM making excessively hard conditions for one of your class features doesn't enter your mind when you are doing it the first time.
So yes, GM screwing the player would probably fit here. Saying they have to have met everything other than a badger? Seriously? It can't be assumed that creatures of the environment he is from have been met previously?
"Oh man, I know we need to get our injured comrade back to town real quick, but man, I have never seen a horse since we started adventuring so I can't wildshape into a horse. Sorry that my childhood of riding horses is insufficient to work here guys, I guess he will die. I call dibs on his scimitar!" ....
...
...
And RuyanVe its as much on the GM to let you know about their stances on vague things at character creation as much as it is on the players to ask.
myUsernameIsn'tTaken |
Because when most people make a druid for the first time, they build from level 1...the thought about a GM making excessively hard conditions for one of your class features doesn't enter your mind when you are doing it the first time.
So yes, GM screwing the player would probably fit here. Saying they have to have met everything other than a badger? Seriously? It can't be assumed that creatures of the environment he is from have been met previously?
"Oh man, I know we need to get our injured comrade back to town real quick, but man, I have never seen a horse since we started adventuring so I can't wildshape into a horse. Sorry that my childhood of riding horses is insufficient to work here guys, I guess he will die. I call dibs on his scimitar!" ....
...
...And RuyanVe its as much on the GM to let you know about their stances on vague things at character creation as much as it is on the players to ask.
Just to verify I didn't mean a badger literally, though with my characters backstory a horse would not be allowed, I can turn into small woodland creatures eg a badger or a squirrel or possibly a rabbit
myUsernameIsn'tTaken |
Ok, so creatures of your normal environment, sort of...
What about dogs?
Wolves?
Birds?
My character grew up in the forest so any sort of domestic animal like a dog or horse wouldn't be allowed, I could maybe make an argument for birds but it would have to be like a robin or sparrow. wolves would be allowed as we have met them already in our campaign.
Shfish |
Fanta, do a quick search of woodland creatures....there are a lot more than just those that if you grew up in that environment you would have seen. If you are human/orc/halfelf/halfling we are talking 10-15 years of cognitive time to see creatures. If your an elf more like 50-75 years. Just saying man...personally I think putting excessive restrictions on your character for this is wrong.
Its like telling a fighter who is proficient in all martial weapons that he can't use a greatsword without a penalty because in his hometown they only had clubs, daggers, shortswords, and rarely a longsword...oh and all polearms are out because there weren't any in the town...sucks to be you..pick a different class man... >.<
myUsernameIsn'tTaken |
Fanta, do a quick search of woodland creatures....there are a lot more than just those that if you grew up in that environment you would have seen. If you are human/orc/halfelf/halfling we are talking 10-15 years of cognitive time to see creatures. If your an elf more like 50-75 years. Just saying man...personally I think putting excessive restrictions on your character for this is wrong.
Its like telling a fighter who is proficient in all martial weapons that he can't use a greatsword without a penalty because in his hometown they only had clubs, daggers, shortswords, and rarely a longsword...oh and all polearms are out because there weren't any in the town...sucks to be you..pick a different class man... >.<
My character is a gnome but sadly I can't find a list of woodland creatures, thanks for the advice I will probably end up changing class.
Shfish |
D20PFSRD has a nice listing to go from...
Go to List of creatures in a forest area.
If you navigate the page you can see other creatures that would fit the bill too. I would normally consider many of your hill creatures to also live in a woodlands environment around the periphery so would consider them viable as well.
Cardinal Chunder |
My character is a gnome but sadly I can't find a list of woodland creatures, thanks for the advice I will probably end up changing class.
Find out what ridiculous houserules might be imposed arbitrarily to screw you over before you change class...
And RuyanVe, dumping this on a player without informing them at character creation IS screwing over the players. The default is that Druids will use the rules as per CRB and as a player it isn't my responsibility to check what houserules will be used in a campaign, it is the GMs.