I have been trying to organize known information about shape shifters, particularly Druidic Wild Shapers.
The wild form is not entirely separate in every way from the native form, as is evidenced by a wound applied to the wild shape remaining unhealed on the native shape when the wild shape ends.
In legend, a Druid could "wade into combat" turning into a fierce grizzly bear; however, in "reality" a wild-shaped Druid has similar health, defenses, constitution, and speed of attack in any wild shaped form as their natural form, which can wear light armor.
Options:
Note that in all of the below options, it would be interesting to know whether a wild-shaped Druid returns to his/her native form upon reaching unconsciousness or death, or remains in wild form (perhaps permanently in the case of death) or until the expiration of the wild-shape effect, which appears to be a magical effect with a maximum duration of hours.
Biological Only
In this case, The Druid's biological body alone shifts into the form of a natural animal, including the brain. If this were/is the case, all the Druid's possessions would have to be guarded or stored in a backpack (etc.) for the new form to pick up. Any garb added to the wild form (saddle, etc) would be unaffected when the druid changes back. Any magical potions in the digestive tract and magical balm rubbed onto the Druid would continue to affect the reshaped body as it did the Druid's native form. The wild-shaped form may be able to use some of the Druid's possessions as applicable, such as donning a Magical Ring of Protection but only if it were able to resize itself to fit its wearer.
Somewhere Else
In this case, the Druid's possessions "go away" while the new wild form is assumed. Presumably, the new form is magically created by Nature with no possessions of its own, and the native form and possessions are hidden by Nature. This allows a fully-provisioned human Druid to assume the form of a bird, fly long distances, and return to human form with all possessions and some spending cash intact. It has been noticed that Druids who do not remove their clothing before wild-shaping complain about the distraction of feeling apparently non-existant phantom clothing on their animal form. It is unknown how much material could be taken along, but only clothing and a heavily loaded backpack have been witnessed so far. See subcategories:
Somewhere Else with Benefits
In this case, The wild form gets benefits from any possessions held by the Druid's native form at the time of wild-shaping. For example, a +2 Magical Sword might turn into magical claws, teeth, talons, beak, horns, etc. Even mundane Armor could provide benefit to the apparently unarmored wild form, giving it tougher skin.
Somewhere Else with No Benefits
In this case, The wild form gets no benefits from the magical and mundane clothing and other possessions carried by the native form. They are lost and inaccessible until the Druid returns to his/her native form. However, externally applied affects seem to carry to the new form (much like a wound does), which means an invisibility spell and any curses and diseases continue to have their impact. This type also has subcategories:
Somewhere Else for Native Form Only with No Benefits
In this case, wild shaping to a horse and then donning a saddle and horse shoes would result in a humorous and probably painful situation when the Druid's native form is restored, with all of his/her possessions. In this case, the clothing/barding and possessions of Wild-Shaped forms do not "go away" like they do for the native form.
Somewhere Else for All Forms with No Benefits
In this case, wild shaping to a horse and then donning a saddle and horse shoes would result in the horse form's carried and worn possessions "going away" when the Druid's native form is restored, just like they do for the native form. In this case, the clothing/barding and other possessions of Wild-Shaped forms remain inaccessible until that wild shape is activated again. The amount of items potentially hidden in this way might only be limited by the Druid's encumbrance capability, as the weight (and distracting discomfort) of all possessions still weigh upon the Druid's body in any form.
Smart Morphing
In this case, the magic is "smart" enough to reshape all of the Druid's possessions along with the biological body, keeping all mundane and magical items and weapons functioning for the new form wherever applicable. A wild-shaped cat might be seen wearing magical boots and swinging a tiny magical sword.
Comments