Signup
Welcome to... Canonfire! World of GreyhawK
Features
Postcards from the Flanaess
Adventures
in Greyhawk
Cities of
Oerth
Deadly
Denizens
Jason Zavoda Presents
The Gord Novels
Greyhawk Wiki
Canonfire :: View topic - Druid Shapeshifting Frequency
Canonfire Forum Index -> Greyhawk- AD&D 2nd Edition
Druid Shapeshifting Frequency
Author Message
GreySage

Joined: Sep 09, 2009
Posts: 2470
From: SW WA state (Highvale)

Send private message
Tue May 05, 2020 9:13 am  
Druid Shapeshifting Frequency

Upon reaching 7th lvl, druids can shift into animal form once per day (but three different animal categories).

Splitting hairs (or fins, fur, and feathers, I guess), but does that mean-

1) One form per 24 hours?
Meaning that if a druid shifts into a hawk, that druid must wait 24 hrs to assume bird form again?

OR

2) One form per day, as in day/night cycle counting as a 'day?'
Meaning that a hawk-shifted druid can rest overnight after assuming bird-form and become a bird again the following morning when the sun rises?

What's the consensus on this?

-Lanthorn
Black Hand of Oblivion

Joined: Feb 16, 2003
Posts: 3836
From: So. Cal

Send private message
Tue May 05, 2020 9:50 am  

It really is up to you what you want to do. As it really isn't an overly powerful ability, I'd give it a bit of leeway and say one form per day as timed not by a chronograph, but by the rising of the sun. Yes, that means a druid could shapeshift at night and return to regular form prior to sunrise, and then do it again immediately after sunrise, which is less than 24 hours, but happens during two different courses of "natural time." I am perfectly okay with nature governing druid abilities rather than Chronomancers. Wink

Also, you [Lanthorn] can see your PMs by clicking on your name at the top left where it says "Welcome Lanthorn." That will take you to your account page. From there, click on the square "Messages" icon.
_________________
- Moderator/Admin (in some areas)/Member -


Last edited by Cebrion on Mon Jun 01, 2020 3:28 pm; edited 1 time in total
GreySage

Joined: Jul 26, 2010
Posts: 2753
From: LG Dyvers

Send private message
Tue May 05, 2020 9:02 pm  

I agree with Cebrion.

There are other reasons, as well. Namely, it will be more of an accounting headache to keep track of chronological time if the PC is in the middle of a days long adventure. Additionally, if you base it on 24 hours on the clock, your druid will necessarily lose time every 24 hours. It will be nearly impossible for him to switch at exactly the same time every day, mostly because he isn't likely to need to do so at exactly the same time every day. It just doesn't make a lot of practical sense to base the use of the power on an exact 24 hours since the last time it was used.

SirXaris
_________________
SirXaris' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SirXaris?ref=hl
Adept Greytalker

Joined: Sep 20, 2004
Posts: 580
From: British Isles

Send private message
Thu May 07, 2020 3:47 am  

My first 2e character was a druid so I have many fond memories of shapechanging....and a goodberry jam cottage industry.

In agreement with Cebrion and SirXaris, I think it's easier to go with sunrise as the start of a new day from a thematic as well as logistical stand point.

You could argue that the shapeshifting takes a toll on the druid's body that requires a full 24 hours to recuperate enough to change again but in that example it's easy enough to say the rising of the sun is enough to rejuvenate the druid's shifted-out body ... because druid magic.
GreySage

Joined: Sep 09, 2009
Posts: 2470
From: SW WA state (Highvale)

Send private message
Fri May 08, 2020 7:54 am  

I appreciate the feedback as well as the logic behind the reasoning of your answers.

thank you all,

Lanthorn
Journeyman Greytalker

Joined: Feb 12, 2014
Posts: 175
From: Maryland, USA

Send private message
Mon Jun 01, 2020 8:13 am  

Any "once per day" ability should be based on a day/night cycle or midnight-to-midnight cycle, mostly for simplicity's sake. That way you don't have to track the time of use. It would also penalize a player who saved the ability for late in the day if they had to wait 24 hours to use it again.

Jeff
Display posts from previous:   
   Canonfire Forum Index -> Greyhawk- AD&D 2nd Edition All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:  

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum




Canonfire! is a production of the Thursday Group in assocation with GREYtalk and Canonfire! Enterprises

Contact the Webmaster.  Long Live Spidasa!


Greyhawk Gothic Font by Darlene Pekul is used under the Creative Commons License.

PHP-Nuke Copyright © 2005 by Francisco Burzi. This is free software, and you may redistribute it under the GPL. PHP-Nuke comes with absolutely no warranty, for details, see the license.
Page Generation: 0.44 Seconds