Druids are people too… and animals… and sometimes other things
The druid is one of the best and most interesting starting classes in dungeon world. Its probably very useful in other systems but DW’s focus on narration really empowers you to use your Imagination.
Your not limited to Bear form for combat and bird form for scouting. I’ve seen Giant flying centipedes, mice, wolves, badgers, possums, tiny lizards, scorpions, orca whales, sharks, crawfish, toads, trout, and once we relaxed the definition of “spirits” and had a whisky druid. I’ve also really enjoyed some of the “tells” that went beyond cat eyes.
A lot of people get worried when making a druid because they don’t want to pick an “inappropriate” domain. I have never found this to be a problem. Even if you pick a water domain and the adventure happens in a desert it can still be awesome. Imagine the shock on those desert slaver’s faces when a man leaps of a camel and a shark crashes down on them. yes, you don’t want to stay in that form for very long but in the world of fantasy a giant squid is still a threat on land. One of our druids decided to put out a fire in an underground dungeon by transforming into a giant fish and smothering it, awesome. I made a druid who focused on underground dwellers, mostly crawly insects, knowing the adventure would take place entirely in a city.
The druids greatest strength is probably the ability to bypass movement obstacles. when you can be a spider,bird, tiny mouse, burrowing mole or a dolphin then you can go wherever you want. of course you may have to go by yourself but that is part of adventuring (please see earlier rant).
another interesting talent is simply the ability to change shape and mass. The bandit leader demands you send someone to negotiate alone? turn into a tiny mouse and hop into his pocket. when they try to betray your friend they will get a great surprise. My first druid was part of a small party that was getting owned by a massive chuul (giant lobster) and could not pierce its armor. I changed into a tiny lizard and climbed into one of its few wounds. once inside its exoskeleton I changed back into a man in an effort to rip off the plate. my character died but the plan worked and an impossible fight was won.
apparently your clothes, gear and loot are incorporated into your form as well which could be useful in smuggling. You might try overloading yourself and then turning into a small bird. you might still be technically overloaded but does that mean you can’t fly? or a friend carry you? I would love to see someone fly over a group of enemies, transform to drop an acid flash/shoot an arrow, then transform again before reaching the ground
You still use your character’s stats in animal form but they give you new capabilities. if your strength is 10then you suck at STR rolls but in the form of a Kodiak bear the GM might let you make the roll to dislodge a giant bolder that the STR 18 barbarian couldn’t budge.
All in all the druid class gives you an awesome toolset for doing amazing things. actions like “I turn into (insert large predator here) and strike the goblin” or “I turn into (insert bird here) and scout the area” are just the most obvious and actually the least interesting. Play the Druid when you want to do impressive things in interesting ways.
Custom Move: Belly of the Beast
When you shape shift into a larger or more lethal form inside the anatomy of a monster roll + CON.
10+: the monster comes apart as you rip your way out.
7-9: same as 10 and you roll last breath
6-: roll last breath: if you survive your still in a bad spot.
