Saelethil
2020-12-31, 09:04 PM
I thought that a Druid who studied arcane magic on top of their regular list was intriguing. I've been mulling it over for a while now and wanted to get some more input on it.
Any thoughts on balance and naming would be appreciated.
Circle of Arcana Druid
There are countless tales of reclusive arcane practitioners, hermits in the woods huddled over books and turning people into toads or granting healing to weary travelers. Many would have you believe that those in these stories are wizards, they do after all practice arcane magics, this is only true in the loosest of ways. Yes they practice wizardly magic but that is merely supplemental to their standard magic, woodland magic. Arcana Druids have spent time studying arcane magics in a way that most other druids do not which has resulted in their learning a number of spells traditionally associated with Wizards.
Student of the Arcane
When you choose this circle at 2nd level, you learn one cantrip from the wizard spell list and 2 1st level spells. These spells do not count against the number of spells you can prepare. Additionally, you gain proficiency in the arcana skill.
Natural Recovery
Starting at 2nd level, you can regain some of your magical energy by sitting in meditation. During a short rest, you choose expended spell slots to recover. The spell slots can have a combined level that is equal to or less than half your druid level (rounded up), and none of the slots can be 6th level or higher. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
For example, when you are a 4th-level druid, you can recover up to two levels worth of spell slots. You can recover either a 2nd-level slot or two 1st-level slots.
Circle Spells
Your study of the arcane arts has granted you the ability to cast certain spells. At 5th, 7th, and 9th level you gain access to circle spells connected to your study.
Once you gain access to a circle spell, you always have it prepared, and it doesn’t count against the number of spells you can prepare each day. If you gain access to a spell that doesn’t appear on the druid spell list, the spell is nonetheless a druid spell for you.
Circle of Arcana Spells
5th level: Counterspell, Fly
7th level: Banishment, Arcane Eye
9th level: Telepathic Bond, Animate Objects
Shared Shape
Starting at 6th level, you can expend 1 use of your wildshape ability as an action to transform another beast or humanoid. The beast that you transform them into must be one that you would have the capacity to wildshape into and follows all other wildshaping rules. If the creature that you are attempting to transform is unwilling it automatically fails. A creature can be transformed by this feature for up to an hour, until the new shape is reduced to 0 HP, or until you loose concentration as if concentrating on a spell.
Arcane Secrets
At 6th, 10th, and 14th level you may choose 1 additional spell from the Wizard spell list. The one that you choose at 6th must be of 3rd level or lower, the one you gain at 10th must be of 5th level or lower, and the one chosen at 14th level must be of 7th level or lower. Once chosen they cannot be changed. Spells chosen with this feature are always prepared and do not count against the number of spells that you can prepare.
Offensive Shape
At 10th level you can target an unwilling creature when you use your Shared Shape. The unwilling target must make a Wisdom saving throw against the transformation and if they succeed you still expend that use of wildshape.
Practiced Arcanist
At level 14th level a failed use of Shared Shape does not expend the use of your wildshape. Additionally, you now have advantage on all saving throws against spell effects that would alter your mind or transform your body.
Any thoughts on balance and naming would be appreciated.
Circle of Arcana Druid
There are countless tales of reclusive arcane practitioners, hermits in the woods huddled over books and turning people into toads or granting healing to weary travelers. Many would have you believe that those in these stories are wizards, they do after all practice arcane magics, this is only true in the loosest of ways. Yes they practice wizardly magic but that is merely supplemental to their standard magic, woodland magic. Arcana Druids have spent time studying arcane magics in a way that most other druids do not which has resulted in their learning a number of spells traditionally associated with Wizards.
Student of the Arcane
When you choose this circle at 2nd level, you learn one cantrip from the wizard spell list and 2 1st level spells. These spells do not count against the number of spells you can prepare. Additionally, you gain proficiency in the arcana skill.
Natural Recovery
Starting at 2nd level, you can regain some of your magical energy by sitting in meditation. During a short rest, you choose expended spell slots to recover. The spell slots can have a combined level that is equal to or less than half your druid level (rounded up), and none of the slots can be 6th level or higher. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
For example, when you are a 4th-level druid, you can recover up to two levels worth of spell slots. You can recover either a 2nd-level slot or two 1st-level slots.
Circle Spells
Your study of the arcane arts has granted you the ability to cast certain spells. At 5th, 7th, and 9th level you gain access to circle spells connected to your study.
Once you gain access to a circle spell, you always have it prepared, and it doesn’t count against the number of spells you can prepare each day. If you gain access to a spell that doesn’t appear on the druid spell list, the spell is nonetheless a druid spell for you.
Circle of Arcana Spells
5th level: Counterspell, Fly
7th level: Banishment, Arcane Eye
9th level: Telepathic Bond, Animate Objects
Shared Shape
Starting at 6th level, you can expend 1 use of your wildshape ability as an action to transform another beast or humanoid. The beast that you transform them into must be one that you would have the capacity to wildshape into and follows all other wildshaping rules. If the creature that you are attempting to transform is unwilling it automatically fails. A creature can be transformed by this feature for up to an hour, until the new shape is reduced to 0 HP, or until you loose concentration as if concentrating on a spell.
Arcane Secrets
At 6th, 10th, and 14th level you may choose 1 additional spell from the Wizard spell list. The one that you choose at 6th must be of 3rd level or lower, the one you gain at 10th must be of 5th level or lower, and the one chosen at 14th level must be of 7th level or lower. Once chosen they cannot be changed. Spells chosen with this feature are always prepared and do not count against the number of spells that you can prepare.
Offensive Shape
At 10th level you can target an unwilling creature when you use your Shared Shape. The unwilling target must make a Wisdom saving throw against the transformation and if they succeed you still expend that use of wildshape.
Practiced Arcanist
At level 14th level a failed use of Shared Shape does not expend the use of your wildshape. Additionally, you now have advantage on all saving throws against spell effects that would alter your mind or transform your body.