Something always bothers me about these kinds of infiltrations. Wild Shape is a relatively low level spell. And while most NPC’s are essentially level 0 with no magic, it should at least be common knowledge in their world that the spell exists and MANY people have access to it.
So why would the guards not be suspicious of an animal? For that matter, why do the guards not have someone constantly using detect magic? Wild Shape is far from the only magic that can be used for infiltration, seems like common sense to constantly scan for magic around an area you are trying to keep secure. I just feel like too often, DMs treat their NPCs, especially guards, as if they have zero knowledge of magic or the world they live in.
Depends entirely on the situation, really. Like a large castle is going to be relatively incapable of keeping out various wildlife on a massive scale, so a bird or rat running around isn’t really an issue off hand. Maybe keep an eye on it to note any sus behavior, but otherwise animals exist. But if they’re in sensitive areas, then it becomes considerably more alarming. Sure, it could just be a rat, but it also could be a fuckin’ druid in which case killing the bird/rat/bat/whatever on sight might be a reasonable response. This also has the added benefit of allowing for a guard who might be a fan of animals and not want to hurt them, which gives the player an alternate path/chance to take things with.
I miss DMing
The technology to disguise a robot as an insect currently exists. Do you give thought and inspection to every fly that passes by?
Yes. They’re annoying, so I start seeking it to kill it.
Magic is rare in most settings.
Which is dumb in a high fantasy setting, imo.
Using low magic is a crutch for the DM in order to control the actions of the PCs.
It is much easier to manage mundane actions than it is to manage actions fueled by wild magic. But they lead to less interesting stories.
I have much more fun DMing a setting like old Netheril. The stuff the PCs can do blow my mind. You just need to be able to fly by the seat of your pants.
Looking at you, Skyrim and Oblivion
TBF druids are fairly rare in the Elder Scrolls.
It was more about the guards behaving like they never heard of magic.
What do you think they have Igor for?
… Has anyone ever just mandated an all Druid party, allowing for hybrid classing…
… and then just basically done an Animorphs campaign?
I wanted to do an all gnome campaign but my dm was racist against gnomes
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When they try the “have the druid wild shape into a horse and sell it for some quick cash only to change back under cover of darkness and flee” trick, have the buyer wait until the rest of the party is out of earshot and say “you poor thing! A fine beast like you and they’ve never had you shod! It’s cruelty, is what it is! We’re going right over to the farrier without delay!”
RAW that wouldn’t do anything though.
What do you suppose is gonna happen to the nails when the druid switches back?
Your worn items just kind of morph into your body when you wildshape. You don’t have to strip naked to go from humanoid to animal, for instance.
But does it work the other way around?
IIIIIGOOOOOORRRRRR JENKINS
Ain’t it that RAW you just turn back into a humanoid with the same health as pre-wildshape?
Yeah, but then you become a lone druid in a castle surrounded by guards.
Ah yeah v good point
