Treants are one of my favourite (non-undead) fantasy creatures, and sadly, I find them rather underrepresented. I'm sure this is is because deep forest areas in the module aren't many, but they're not exactly hard to find, and some are one transition away from a main road.
I was reading
here on Mistipedia that treants in Ravenloft are rare and typically evil creatures, even
those who come from Forgotten Realms, where they're typically good.
I don't rightly know how Druids come across the power to attune to their forms either in Ravenloft or Forgotten Realms--I've never seen further explanation or a full rulebook, I imagine it's left mostly open ended and linked to their meditations, but exposure to the creatures in the first place is somewhat important
(which was one of the questions I had posed in a previous feedback thread about Druid forms).
With the exposure available, and a variety of unique uses for this hallmark fantasy creature available for thinktanking, I naturally thought how they could come under player control. Because this form would be very niche, I think it should be separate from Elemental Shape, be made available at a lower level even to non-pure Druids.
This is what I propose:
"Treant Shape" is a feat that becomes available at Druid 9. A Druid who chooses this feat can spend a Wild Shape charge to become a Treant.
Its applications:
From the
NWN2 wiki:
A treant’s legs fit together when closed to look like the trunk of a tree, and a motionless treant is nearly indistinguishable from a tree.
The stat block from over there...
STR 29
DEX 8
CON 21
2-12 base damage
22 Armor Class
Immunity to disease, critical hits, mind effects, paralysis, poison, fear.
50% vulnerability to Fire.
Animal affecting spells such as Magic Fang can be used
...looks mostly fine to me for a CR 9 shape, the vulnerability to fire is a nice touch. Perhaps the AC needs to be adjusted down, since a Druid of this level can already use Barkskin and Cat's Grace to shore up that weakness, as well as Stoneskin if they really need it.
They could be conferred with a significant bonus to Hide, but Move Silently should be unaffected or lose a few points (if they didn't already due to its low DEX).
Treants are typically portrayed as slow creatures, they could perhaps be locked to walking speed.
Disclaimer: I don't really know where official material on the Treant Shape might appear. I did find
this page, which references an official rulebook showing what looks like a PrC that can turn into a Treant. It also suggests a Treant can even cast spells which would make this form really come into its own despite being slow and lumbering. If anyone else has any comments/criticism to share please post and help build this idea.
