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I’ve got a new one. At 8th lvl Druids (Beastshape 3)gain the ability to change into magical beasts. Now that you are limited to only gaining “burrow 30 feet, climb 90 feet, fly 90 feet (good maneuverability), swim 90 feet, blindsense 30 feet, darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, scent, constrict, ferocity, improved grab, jet, poison, pounce, rake, trample, trip, and web” what is the point of taking the form of a magical beast? Seems kind of lame.
Many of you point out that PF’s version of wildshape requires a druid to spend points into the physical stats (Str, Dex, Con) if they want to be effective melee fighters and therefore its balanced. I argue that the cost is that the druid now loses access to spell levels due to a lower Wis – does that sound balanced? Let me reiterate a point that many of you also make – any class can be min/maxed into an overpowered corruption of itself by a creative player (cleric tank for example). It wasn’t the druid class that was broken, it was the polymorph spell that wildshape was tied to. The druid class lost out in the transition, but didn’t gain anything as the other classes did Also, with the nerf, the druid class is just much less exciting. Ok, it works just like the Beastshape or Elemental Form spells… boring. I say give the druid something to set it apart from just some ‘nature caster’ who gets a spell-like ability a couple times a day.
I’m not too sweet on the new Polymorph spells. I agree that it needs to be modified from the 3.5 version, but the PF version is to restrictive and could be made more customizable with only a slight adjustment. I’ve been playing a druid so my opinion may be biased, but I feel that the stat bonus provided by the Beastshape spells should be allowed to be distributed among the physical stats (Str, Dex, Con) by the player upon casting. For example, Beastshape 2 provides a +4 to Str -2 Dex for Large animal and a +4 to Dex -2 Str for tiny; on top of that is the adjustments for size anyway! I’m concerned with this because its stiff structure as written means the PC being polymorphed will lose access to any feats or abilities that have a min stat requirement (i.e. Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack will be lost if you go medium or larger, and Power Attack, Cleave, Imp Bullrush etc. will be lost if you go less than medium). I feel if I can choose how to distribute the enhancement bonus I can lessen the chance of losing these feats and abilities. Maybe I want to change into a large brown bear who is not as strong as your typical brown bear but more agile (i.e. -2 dex for large animal, +1 Str, +1 Con). If this seems broken at higher levels of the spell, just put a cap and say ‘at level 12 you can’t add more than +4 to any one stat’.
I’m very disappointed how Wildshape got nerfed. It seems that all the other classes got boosted while the Druid got hosed. While in wildshape, the Druid used to be an effective addition to melee combat (boosts to Str, Dex, Con, Extraordinary abilities, and special attacks) or an effective scout (Scent, Track, etc.); and he could heal some damage in the changeover. The new version is much less effective and second-classed to any other caster with access to the Beast Shape spells. In my opinion, the old Druid could choose to follow two paths; as a summoner/caster who boosts his animal companion and summoned allies from the back while tossing spells, or as a feral brawler who assumes an animal form to combat his foes with teeth and claw. I like that Pathfinder allows the option to choose an animal companion or not (Nature Bond: Domain powers), but still the Druid now seems relegated to a sidelines caster. It’s nice that Wildshape’s duration is in hours not just minutes, but give me something more appealing. Pathfinder, give me a reason to want to be a Druid who can change into animal forms – something the other classes can’t do just by casting a few spells. |
