Wildshape

Wildshape Rules

Wildshape feats allow you to change your shape to that of a natural or elemental creature. These feats replace the RSRD druid ‘wildshape’ class feature.

When using wildshape, you can take the form of a creature of the appropriate type as long as it has no more HD than you do. This behaves as the spell.polymorph spell.

I plan to use Rich Burlew’s polymorph rules in my game. They supersede the behavior of the polymorph spell, and thus how wildshape works.

One very important note: I require my players to prepare these things ahead of time. If you want to wildshape an advanced or augmented, have the necessary information prepared before the session. If you don’t, you can only wildshape a bog standard example of the creature. You don’t get the benefits of better stats, you can’t advance the creature, you can’t augment the creature, you don’t get to benefits of any gear that would have merged. You get ‘exactly’ the stats from the book, barring mental ability scores.

In practice this isn’t generally too arduous. Most wildshapers (druids) I’ve seen in play usually use only a small number of creature types. The additional power available through improving the wildshaped creature should quite adequately make up for the hassle of the paperwork.

Uses per Day

Each wildshape feat adds one use of wildshape per day, unless otherwise indicated. All wildshape feat uses draw from the same pool of uses per day. Regardless of how many wildshape feats you have, you are also constrained by your base Fortitude save. You may use wildshape abilities a number of times per day no greater than your base Fortitude save.

Creature Limitations

You can only wildshapes creatures of the type you have learned (through the feats below, such as Animal Shape). You must be at least somewhat familiar with the creature (studied or encountered a similar creature). You may wildshape a creature no smaller than one size smaller than your normal form, and no larger than your normal form. You may only shape creatures with a number of HD no larger than your own.

Improving Wildshape

Unlike core rules, I allow wildshaping advanced forms of animals. You can advance the creature within the normal rules for advancement. For example, if you want to wildshape a wolf (2HD) you can do so at second level. As you become more powerful, you can advance the wolf (up to 6HD), including size changes, additional feats gained, etc.

Certain feats will also allow you to augment your wildshaping by applying certain templates to your wildshaped forms. When doing so, the HD limit on your wildshape is reduced by the level adjustment of the template. For instance, at sixth level you can wildshape an advanced (6HD) wolf. If you have the Augmented Wildshape (Celestial) template you could wildshape a celestial advanced wolf (4HD) — the feat.celestial-creature template has a +2 level adjustment, which reduces your maximum HD allowed by 2.

This document shows Augmented Wildshape feats for Celestial Creature, Half-Celestial, Fiendish Creature and Half-Fiend templates. There were no other suitable templates in the RSRD, but other template can be added using the patterns shown here. For instance, a half-elemental template could be added using Augmented Wildshape; rather than having an alignment prerequisite it would probably require the character to have either the Elemental Shape feat, or an affinity for the element to be added. When templates are added using Augment Wildshape they are to be considered acquired templates, regardless of whether they would normally be acquired or inherited.

As noted above, improved wildshaped creatures must be prepared ahead of time. In my campaign, at least.

Feat Descriptions

Animal Shape [Wildshape]

You can take the form of an animal.

Prereqs Fort +2, Will +2

Benefit Once per day you can take the form of an animal, per the RSRD druid ‘wildshape’ ability.

Augmented Wildshape (Celestial) [Wildshape]

You can take a celestial form.

Prereqs The ability to wildshape, Good alignment

Benefit When using your wildshape ability, you may take on the form of a creature with the Celestial Creature template, per the normal rules for augmented wildshaping. The Celestial Creature template has a +2 level adjustment.

Augmented Wildshape (Fiendish) [Wildshape]

You can take a fiendish form.

Prereqs The ability to wildshape, Evil alignment

Benefit When using your wildshape ability, you may take on the form of a creature with the Fiendish Creature template, per the normal rules for augmented wildshaping. The Fiendish Creature template has a +2 level adjustment.

Augmented Wildshape (Half-Celestial) [Wildshape]

You can take on a more powerful celestial form.

Prereqs Augmented Wildshape (Celestial), The ability to wildshape, Good alignment

Benefit When using your wildshape ability, you may take on the form of a creature with the Half-Celestial template, per the normal rules for augmented wildshaping. The Half-Celestial template has a +4 level adjustment.

Augmented Wildshape (Half-Fiend) [Wildshape]

You can take on a more powerful fiendish form.

Prereqs Augmented Wildshape (Fiendish), The ability to wildshape, Evil alignment

Benefit When using your wildshape ability, you may take on the form of a creature with the Half-Fiend template, per the normal rules for augmented wildshaping. The Half-Fiend template has a +4 level adjustment.

Elemental Shape [Wildshape]

You can take the form of an elemental.

Prereqs Fort +2, Will +2

Benefit Once per day you can take the form of an elemental, per the RSRD druid ‘wildshape’ ability.

Extra Wildshape [Wildshape]

You can wildshape more often.

Prereqs The ability to wildshape

Benefit You can wildshape one more time per day than your base Fortitude save (and other wildshape feats) would otherwise allow.

Special This feat may be taken more than once. Its effects stack.

Magical Beast Shape [Wildshape]

You can take the form of a magical beast.

Prereqs Animal Shape, Fort +4, Will +4

Benefit You can use your Animal Shape ability to take the form of a magical beast with Intelligence 1-2.

Plant Shape [Wildshape]

You can take the form of a plant creature.

Prereqs Fort +2, Will +2

Benefit Once per day you can take the form of a plant creature, per the RSRD druid ‘wildshape’ ability.

Vermin Shape [Wildshape]

You can take the form of a vermin.

Prereqs Fort +2, Will +2

Benefit Once per day you can take the form of a vermin, per the RSRD druid ‘wildshape’ ability.

Wildshape Larger Creature [Wildshape]

You can wildshape a creature of larger size than normal.

Prereqs Ability to wildshape

Benefit You can wildshape the form of a creature (of the appropriate type) one size larger than normal. You are still limited to creatures of no more than your HD.

Special This feat may be taken up to twice, for a maximum wildshape size two steps larger than your normal size.

Wildshape Smaller Creature [Wildshape]

You can wildshape a creature of smaller size than normal.

Prereqs Ability to wildshape

Benefit You can wildshape the form of a creature (of the appropriate type) one size smaller than normal. You are still limited to creatures of no more than your HD.

Special This feat may only be taken once, unlike Wildshape Larger Creature.

4 Comments

  1. John

    I use a similar system, granting one new wild shape “feat” each level, starting at fifth. Your druid wild shape feat must be a form you can assume, and each one has prereq, but most of the basic ones are only drd5. I used the HD rule for balance, as most creatures are less powerful than a character of the same HD, then just let nature take its course.

    If you want to be an elemental, it has to be your HD or less (although you retain your HP and just adjust for new con), you need elemental and magic forms.

    Each wild shape feat you (that is a form you can assume, wild spellcasting isn’t a form) take grants you an extra time per day you can change shapes, although resuming normal shape is free. This makes the math of what you can be so easy and fast. You just cross reference the sub types you have with what you want to be.

    By 15th level, you should have most of the shapes, and can assume almost anything you’ve touched (yes, the big kicker, you need to make contact with the creature whose form you wish to assume). As a druid, I assume anything normal you’ve had a chance to befriend at some point in your life, like a bear or wolf.

    Wild Shape (mammal)
    Wild Shape (avian)
    Wild Shape (reptile)
    Wild Shape (amphibian/fish)
    Wild Shape (invertebrate)
    Wild Shape (plant)
    Wild Shape (humanoid)
    Wild Shape (magical)
    Wild Shape (elemental)
    Wild Shape (large)
    Wild Shape (tiny)
    Wild Shape (diminutive)
    Wild Shape (fine)
    Wild Shape (dire)
    Wild Shape (legendary)
    Wild Shape (huge)
    Wild Shape (gargantuan)
    Wild Shape (colossal)
    Wild Shape (speaking)
    Wild Shape (fast)
    Wild Shape (swift)
    Wild Shape (spell casting)

    • Wow, I haven’t looked at this page in years. I’d migrated it from a previous blog so it wouldn’t get lost and then forgot about it.

      In Echelon I’d probably do something quite a bit different. Many talents are built of common components, and wild shape looks like a good building block. I do know that in most cases I expect transformation to work by replacing your normal talents with others for the duration… and that I’d mostly wrap this up in the talent granting the ability.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Back to Top