What happens if a druid falls unconscious while wild-shaped? Do they return to normal or does the effect persist until they return to consciousness and can cancel it/when the number of hours per day the druid can use it for expires?
According to Wild Shape, the effect persists until the duration runs out or the druid cancels the effect. So, if the druid goes unconscious, they stay wild shaped until the time period expires. Then they would shift back into their natural form.
Hmm, I had figured they would revert back when they went negative due to damage. This is actually a better interpretation since the loss of CON from the shift could actually lead to the druid's death in the same way barbarian's can die when the rage ends.
The druid player will be happy to hear about my change of interpretation.
I thought the same MurphysParadox, but I read through the polymorph section and saw nothing of the sort. I believe that my thoughts are a hold-over from 3.5e rules about polymorph and unconciousness. As someone who plans to play a Druid in my next campaign, this makes me happy, lol.
It's not an interpretation, it's the literal text in Wild Shape. RAW, directly as printed.
This ability functions like the beast shape I spell, except as noted here. The effect lasts for 1 hour per druid level, or until she changes back. Changing form is a standard action and doesn't provoke an attack of opportunity.
Emphasis mine.
So, the druid Wild Shapes, gets knocked unconscious. Since they cannot take the standard action to consciously change back to their natural form, they stay in their Wild Shape until the time period expires or until they wake up and are able to reshift.
Yep - they stay shaped when knocked into negatives. Carrying an unconscious wild-shaped druid out of the dungeon is quite a...bear.
Excellent. My 20th-level druid can wild shape into an earth elemental and take a snooze inside the mountain for the night. Much appreciated.