Should Druids be allowed to Shapeshift into forms out of their spec?

[Deleted]

Example: I mean, should Restoration/Feral/Balance be able to shift into a bear to gain survivabilty?

From what I am seeing in Arena, druids ATM are neigh-on impossible to tackle, due to their huge diversity of gameplay, they can activate a form for literally everything depending on the situation.

This makes them nigh-on unkillable, especially Restoration Putting HoTs on himself and running away in Bear form.

Feral should be able to turn into cats, Guardians-Bear, Balance-Moonkin, and Resto-Tree. That is what Specialty means, different druids specialize in utilizing different forms (Druids of the Claw, Talon, etc). Wanna go out of cat for and heal yourself fine, Cyclone someone else? Fine, but the rest is BS. Travel and Swimming forms should be available to all, naturally.

I get it, this may be viewed as dumbing down of the class, such as it is, and I am waiting for some Druid mains and such to tell me why that should not be the case, but this shape-shift system seems to be a relic of times old, which has escaped the class pruning.

Removing this ability will lead to simpler specs to balance for sure.

[Appelgren]

Yes! 10chars!

[Deleted]

step 1: stun & switch to druid heal when he is out of bear form and has no hots on himself
step 2: global druid
step 3: profit

[Achilles55]

I have a 945 Bear alt and I'd have to say it removing Boomkin and Cat form wouldn't change much for me other than convenience. Cat form I only use for movement speed boost when roar is on CD and Boomkin form is literally only used for Flap to jump off cliffs in no fly zones. Tree form is purely cosmetic now if I'm not mistaken so I don't think that would impact anything. Running old raids and getting around would be more annoying and not being able to flap around would be sad but nothing major would change if they were removed.

I can see how a non bear spec going into bear form could be a bigger difference maker. I've seen many times where a tank dies and someone jumps in bear form for a few seconds or a Resto goes into bear in rated pvp. Since I only play Guardian on my alt I can't speak from personal experience about how much it would affect the other specs.

TLDR I think multiple forms are fine and gameplay wouldn't be changed other than loss of convenience.

[Deleted]

Just make your own heals 10% effective when you're in bear, ez pz fixed.

[ReD-EyeD]

Should every hunter except beastmaster stop using pets?

Should every mage except arcane stop using portals and blink?

Should every rogue except subtlety stop using stealth?

Should every shaman except restoration stop using healing spells?

Yes, your questions sounds as stupid as these ones.

[cparle87]

I'm still upset about the all-in-one travel form button. It's actually gotten me killed a few times. The game should never force me into a form automatically.

[Arrashi]

Yeah, you should totally remove the most iconic thing about class. Great idea buddy.

[Deleted]

Should every hunter except beastmaster stop using pets?

Should every mage except arcane stop using portals and blink?

Should every rogue except subtlety stop using stealth?

Should every shaman except restoration stop using healing spells?

Yes, your questions sounds as stupid as these ones.

I do not think so.

Yes your analogues are good, but no, Druids have way more off-spec versatility. It's like having a mage that can blink, use healing spells, and tank.

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah, you should totally remove the most iconic thing about class. Great idea buddy.

I do not believe this is removing anything. You still have shape-shifting ability.

[Locruid]

And even with bear in 3v3 (where Blizz says the balance is at) you'll find Mistweavers and Resto Shaman in the top

[Arrashi]

I do not believe this is removing anything. You still have shape-shifting ability.

No, its "Lets limit something to the point of non-existence". And since its just generic thread about "Waah i can't kill healer", i will give you generic answer - fix yourself before you try fixing others. Aka git gud.

[Shakari]

Should every hunter except beastmaster stop using pets?

Should every mage except arcane stop using portals and blink?

Should every rogue except subtlety stop using stealth?

Should every shaman except restoration stop using healing spells?

Yes, your questions sounds as stupid as these ones.

Should a warrior be ale to dance between there trademark stances .... ohh wait nvm, they removed and rebalance those.

Hunters - MM's highest dps is without a pet and Surv is designed to work without a pet ... so yeah BM only using pets.. that's practically how it is atm

besides that your examples are rather broken.

Should every mage except arcane stop using portals and blink?: Mages are not a Hydrid and portal cannot be realistically used in combat and blink has a medium CD, none of these limitations apply do druids

Should every rogue except subtlety stop using stealth? - Rogues are not a hybrid and they cannot swap into another specialisation's "form" mid fight.

Should every shaman except restoration stop using healing spells? - That would be fine if they gave defensive abilities a buff, but again poor analogy, if either ele or enh heal there doing zero DPS and they also gain no defenses unlike bearform. Also bearform has zero limitations ele and enh healing does, its very very limited and very quickly drains mana and no mana = corpse.

Yes, your questions sounds as stupid as these ones. - your anwers are nearly as silly as the questions there answering.

If not removed they should have limitations and drawbacks, ie you gain defense but loose healing effectiveness or a medium cooldown etc.

- - - Updated - - -

No, its "Lets limit something to the point of non-existence". And since its just generic thread about "Waah i can't kill healer", i will give you generic answer - fix yourself before you try fixing others. Aka git gud.

Ahhh the old you I can't see a problem so must not be one and therefore you must be be a crap player ... about as much use as an arguement to prove any point as a chocolate fire-guard i.e. useless lol

[Sarevoc]

Take it away from them, a "no CD" defensive ability... that's unheard of!

[Henako]

That's been the basis for the class since inception... No. You do not remove this.

The trade off here is that you force a druid (feral / resto) into bear, he's doing fuck-all while he's in that form. You've stopped his damage and stopped his healing. He has to shift back eventually. Play around it.

[cparle87]

I'm still upset about the all-in-one travel form button. It's actually gotten me killed a few times. The game should never force me into a form automatically.

[Appelgren]

Should every hunter except beastmaster stop using pets?

Should every mage except arcane stop using portals and blink?

Should every rogue except subtlety stop using stealth?

Should every shaman except restoration stop using healing spells?

Yes, your questions sounds as stupid as these ones.

Wish there were upvotes on this forum. Have my like!

[Kpmk]

It shouldn't be removed. If it's overpowered then it needs to be tuned differently.

[Hashtronaut]

It’s kind of what makes druids competitive it’s their niche, shouldn’t take away what makes the class special.

[Super Kami Dende]

Yes. Of course. It'd be idiotic if they couldn't.

[slime]

Should every hunter except beastmaster stop using pets?

Should every mage except arcane stop using portals and blink?

Should every rogue except subtlety stop using stealth?

Should every shaman except restoration stop using healing spells?

Yes, your questions sounds as stupid as these ones.

Nothing sounds as stupid as your awful attempts at analogies.
Not even one of these is the same thing.