Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Circle of the Moon, wildshape bear: My feedback and suggestions.

I choose wildshape bear as my focus of argument because it is exclusive to the CotM subclass.This is how I view it.

✅ = Positive
❌= Negative
🟦 = Neutral

In bear form:
✅ 30 free HP, separate from real HP.

❌12 AC, 16 with Barkskin.

🟦 2d4+4 damage roll, 6-12 damage.

❌ Cannot use any spells in this form.

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In Caster form:
❌ Using real HP.

✅ >16 AC without barkskin.

🟦 1d8+3+1d4 damage roll, 5-15 damage. (Shillelagh + dip, 16 WIS - this is extremely common and easy to do.)

✅ Concentration can be used on damage spell without sacrificing AC.

✅ Can freely use all spells in this form.

To summarize, there are not enough positive reasons to use wildshape bear. You give up far too much for relatively little gain.

We are simply lacking the ability to fight competently in melee. This lacking in melee competency forces us to fight like circle of the land-lite, using wildshapes solely for their utility. In my opinion it should not be this way. Meleeing in wildshape bear should always be preferable to meleeing in caster form.

My suggestions:

● As baseline, change (revert?) the claw attack damage to 2d6+4.

• My reason for this change is to give the bear a bit more oomph from 2-3.

● At level 4, give multi attack back to bear with the 1d8+4 bite.

• My reason for having this at 4 and not baseline is because I agree that multiattack at level 2 would be too strong. However I feel it necessary to remain relevant at 4-5.

● In addition to goading roars current taunt effect, give the druid advantage on constitution saving throws for 1 turn.

• The reason for this is to add synergy between goad and using your concentration on Barkskin. I like the goading roars utility of taunting, giving us something to do other than attack. However using a taunt with 30 hp and 12 AC will just ensure you break your wildshape in record time.

In conclusion I think these changes will bring circle of the moon up to snuff without being OP. I would absolutely love to hear y'all opinions on this and pray to one day even hear Larians stance on wildshapes balance from 2-5.

P.S. I did this on my phone as the big storm knocked out my power. Hope the format isn't terrible for y'all.

Multiattack on level 2 would indeed be strong ...
And feel free to corect me anyone, but as far as i know that is often exactly reason Druids use Wildshape!

I mean, maybe i got it wrong ... but as i understand it, there are certain level milestones lets say, aproximately every 4(?) level is each ... Druids are stronger at start of this ... others reach their power (and often gets upper hand) by the end.

So if you put level 3 Fighter and Druid against each other ... Druid should be stronger ...
If you do the same on level 5 ... Fighter is stronger ...
On level 6 tho, Druid gets new shapes ... so he is stronger again ...
And so on and so on.

I get what you're saying. But my guess as to the reason why wildshapes were so heavily nerfed in BG3 is because in a video game, steam rolling through the early game just isn't good for the health of the game. While it's okay for a subclass to be strong, it's not okay to be brokenly OP. Multi attack at level 2 would just mean the druid can kill 1 goblin every turn, essentially. I'm just trying to find a good middle ground as I feel it's extremely apparent that wildshape bear is extremely over-nerfed in BG3.

I dont say i tryed ...
But i cant really help the feeling (not saying im sure, its just feeling) that every class can, with proper approach.

No arguments hear, our fury friends would certainly use some buff.

More 5e crap? Get a mod!!!


Seriously though, to mirror Hintermist's concern about Steam-rolling, I sure hope they do difficulty settings right:

Adding a balance of more monsters with higher level's and not messing with damage dealing / DR.


PS: Cave Bears have multi-attack...hopes moders stay motivated and engaged.

My biggest concern is when they do add difficulty levels. Wildshapes as they are now would be completely useless in a higher difficulty. Bear form has a level 2 damage output thru level 5 in its current state. We're already struggling at 4-5 to be relevant without resorting to land-lite casting.

Right. The Bear isn't even competitive on Normal difficulty, let alone if enemies were buffed in other difficulties.

Any argument about being too strong for other class for Level 2 is negated by the fact you can easily get to Level 3 or Level 4 within 2 hours of playing the game. You're only Level 2 for literally a blip in time.