Interesting that the data release a while back about the popularity of D&D classes seemed to indicate that they were the least popular class in 5E anyway.

Perhaps regardless of how powerful they may be - they're just too fiddly?

Quote from: TJS;1057001Interesting that the data release a while back about the popularity of D&D classes seemed to indicate that they were the least popular class in 5E anyway.

Perhaps regardless of how powerful they may be - they're just too fiddly?

Even the land druid is tough to play for a beginner, unless they are a natural.  Put in meaningful combat shifting, and it is probably the most complicated single class character you can play.  I've got a smart, interested new player with a land druid, because it best fit her character concept.  I mentioned to her casually that I steered her to land instead of moon to make it a little easier, and she was horrified at the thought of more to deal with.  The character is almost 5th level, and she is just now really getting the hang of the options.

Quote from: RPGPundit;1056995I just never allow druids.

That is a pretty narrow view. I'd rather have druids in the campaign than clerics if given a choice. Usually less healing oomph. (Depending on edition)

Of course there were no druids in BX. But if I recall correctly BECMI did add them back in? Been a while since glanced at any of that.

Quote from: Omega;1057132That is a pretty narrow view. I'd rather have druids in the campaign than clerics if given a choice. Usually less healing oomph. (Depending on edition)

Of course there were no druids in BX. But if I recall correctly BECMI did add them back in? Been a while since glanced at any of that.

Yes, BECMI druids were a high-level option for neutral clerics. And to be fair I did allow those, though I can't recall any player having actually run one.

In most settings, I just don't think druids are necessary.  In terms of Medieval-Authentic settings, they'd be a total anachronism.

The biggest problem I experienced in play with a Moon Druid was the player refusing to do anything but shape-shift and fight in melee, when it frequently would have benefited the party far more to use his spells for something other than the nightly max-out of Goodberry and to use the Wild Shape for utility purposes. Any time the party positively begged him to turn back into an elf and cast Fog Cloud or something, he'd whine, "But I'm the taaaaaaaaannnnk and I'm saving all my slots for Gooooooodbeeeerrry." Yes, it's pretty overpowered up front, and this is well-documented, but IMO by level 6 or so, I'd rather have any other Druid but a Moon Druid in the party. Beast AC sucks, so the hit rate of monsters on them is pretty damn near close to 100%, so a druid wild shape gets single-round BTFO a lot. So you get a lot of whining from the Moon Druid that the party should be doing more to help them not get destroyed by enemies while they fart out mediocre damage.

Biggest problem with Wild Shape that applies to all druids is it's a short-rest power. It is way too powerful as a utility for that. It should be twice per day, not twice per short rest.

I am playing a Moon Druid (ghostwise halfling) and having a blast. I don't wildshape every combat. I use a lot of spells in combat. We have a cleric so most of my spells are not spent on spells like goodberry.  And I do use wildshape for non-combat purposes like scouting and sneaking and exploring.

Kefra's Wood Elf Moon Druid tends to not go wild unless necessary and leans heavily to using the transformations for scouting when possible. But was totally awesome watching her go all Orca on some pirates. We just hit level 14 recently and screw wildshape. At Will Alter Self. A practically unlimited non-illusion disguise, breath water, and more.

This is also the level my Human Warlock PC picked up Create Thrall and Jan's Half-Orc Fighter is outpacing both of us in damage output. And Diana, the player from one of the other tandem groups we picked up, patterned her Human Monk character on Wonder Woman and has been pulverizing stuff left and right.

Quote from: Omega;1058844Kefra's Wood Elf Moon Druid tends to not go wild unless necessary and leans heavily to using the transformations for scouting when possible. But was totally awesome watching her go all Orca on some pirates. We just hit level 14 recently and screw wildshape. At Will Alter Self. A practically unlimited non-illusion disguise, breath water, and more.

Yeah the time I turned into a large octopus and swam to the rescue of a girl thrown overboard from a boat while bound and gagged and rescuing her at a speed not anticipated by the DM? Priceless.

Quote from: Mistwell;1058815I am playing a Moon Druid (ghostwise halfling) and having a blast. I don't wildshape every combat. I use a lot of spells in combat. We have a cleric so most of my spells are not spent on spells like goodberry.  And I do use wildshape for non-combat purposes like scouting and sneaking and exploring.

See, my friend, this is how it's supposed to be done. And IMO it's largely fine like this (though should still be long rest rather than short rest).

Quote from: Mistwell;1058852Yeah the time I turned into a large octopus and swam to the rescue of a girl thrown overboard from a boat while bound and gagged and rescuing her at a speed not anticipated by the DM? Priceless.

My players set the guy's boat on fire, leaving him unconscious.  I hate Strahd.

It really doesn't surprise me that they're the least popular class.