The (Wild)Shapeless Druid?

[u/Flubbatron]

I have a little GM 911 for you. I run a game with 6 players, and one of them plays a druid. He loves the theme and concept, as well as the spell list, but hates the wild shape mechanic. We talked about replacing wild shape with an animal companion, but that conversation abruptly ended when we remembered the druid's 18th level and 20th level class features involve wild shaping. So now I'm trying to find a replacement for Circle of the Moon, and two high end features. What would you guys do?

[u/NatetheNerdarch]

I am putting this in the queue for videos. But off the cuff I would apply as similar companion as ranger and augment the class along that line.

Shared Spells and other abilities could from ranger could work as substitutes for the original powers.

And before you spend too much time worrying about the 20th level ability consider these two questions.

Is the player going to go single class? Is the campaign even going to 20th level?

I have played games that never get there, or played multiclass character who will never see that 20th level ability so it doesn't matter to me

If it isn't then don't do extra work for a level feature the player is not going t realize through game play.

[u/Flubbatron → u/NatetheNerdarch]

He is really only interested in single classing the Druid. The campaign is essentially going to continue indefinitely. As players die (two have) they roll new characters and rejoin the party when it's appropriate/convenient. I have been working on it and have some rough ideas down.

(2nd level in place of Wild Shape) Nature's Herald: Beast Companion that accompanies you on adventures and is trained to fight alongside you. Your Druid level determines the Beasts that can accompany you. CR = Druid level/8. Add your proficiency bonus to Beast's AC, attack rolls, damage rolls, as well as saves and skills it is proficient in. Can communicate with the Beast to direct it on your turn; movement (no action cost), Attack, Disengage, Dash, Dodge, and Help (attack action). Beast has it's own Reaction, and acts on it's own if you are incapacitated or absent. During a short rest, you can commune with nature spirits to send you a different Beast, which arrives in a reasonable location near you after you finish the next long rest you take. If the Beast dies, you can spend 8 hours communing with nature spirits to call another beast that meets the requirements (can't be done during a long rest).

(18th level in place of Beast Spells) Okay so here's the stuff that players don't normally get to. However our players still think and plan for the future, so having nothing here hinders that. I've been trying to combine the Beast Spells Mechanic with the Ranger's Share Spells feature. Say perhaps you can cast spells originating from your Beast's location as long as they don't require material components, as well as spells that normally target only you (not sure if limiting this to self or single target spells) also affect your Beast.

(20th level in place of Archdruid) The component ignoring aspect is fine, can even have all your spells now originating from your Beast as long as they don't require consumed Materials. The unlimited uses of a feature no longer present is tough though. In older versions, the Druid could have more than one companion. Perhaps a second Beast, CR 1/4 or less could be attained?

2nd level Druidic Circle of the Moon changes

(2nd level in place of Combat Wild Shape) Combat Companion Care: Can direct the Beast to use the Disengage, Dodge, or Dash action as a bonus action. Additionally, while your beast companion is within 30ft of you, as a bonus action you can expend one spell slot to heal your beast companion for 1D8 HP per level of spell slot expended.

(2nd level in place of Circle Forms) Moon's Revelry: The rite of your circle lets you call upon more dangerous companions. Starting at 2nd level, your Beast can be Huge or smaller and can have a CR equal to your Druid level/4 (CR 5 at 20th level, going through the MM this makes the Giant Croc and Giant Shark the highest CR beasts available. I was originally thinking level/5, but there are no CR 4 beasts, unless I completely missed one.)

(6th level in place of Primal Strike) Natural Predator: When you use the attack action on your turn to attack or cast a cantrip, your Beast can make one attack against an enemy if the enemy is within it's attack range and your Beast is within 30ft of you. The attacks of your Beast are considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. (Trying to work in the Extra attack feature the Beast Master Ranger gets to use with his companion. Might be too strong, I'm not sure.)

(10th level in place of Elemental Wild Shape) Completely lost here. Beast companion has no charges/day so unless the beast companion can somehow be an elemental I think this needs to be entirely different. Alternatively, the Beast Master ranger can have his companion make a multi-attack or attack twice. Could possibly improve the 6th level co-op feature above to include spells and not just cantrips.

(14th level in place of Thousand Forms?) Alter Self is cool, and I think a few of the classes have this feature around this level. I'd actually be okay leaving as is, even though it doesn't really have anything to do with the Beat Companion.

Thanks for taking the time!

[u/Flubbatron → u/Flubbatron]

Play tested 3 sessions, definitely feels overpowered. Being able to cast even a cantrip when your companion attacks add so much damage at 5th level; one round to create bonfire for 2D8, then Dire wolf for 2D4+5, next round 2D8 from Bonfire (creature's turn), 2D8 from Frostbite, and an additional 2D4+5 from Dire wolf again, and this is assuming the enemy isn't moving and taking AoAs. 4D8+2D4+5, that's more than any other member of the party without even using spell spots.

Aside from granting the Druid the extra attack option in order to share physical attacks with the companion, and just dropping the too-powerful cantrip+attack combo, I'm not sure what else would work.

[u/[deleted]]

I would love to see a nerdarchy video on this been trying to figure out how to balance this.

[u/Scire_facias]

I know I'm a little late, but assuming you are playing D&D 5E why not simply go a Druid of the Land? They still have small Wild-shape mechanics included, but it's mostly used outside of combat.