I find that shape-shifting form looks weird. Most of the shape-shifted form looks like were-wolf to me. If shape-shifting to a bear, why it didn't look like a bear? It looks like a man in fake bear costume to me.

Because they don’t change into animals but, like you nicely described, its were-animal versions. They call it “spirit-form”. I don’t know if it’s because of lore or if they want to distinguish druids from summons, but I like it, nonetheless.

Edited October 4, 20178 yr by Wormerine

It's because they couldn't afford to animate real shape-shifited animals, so they animated men in animal customes. Give them some slack, it's an indie developer.

Somewhat agreed, they do look strange. And for example NWN approach is closer to me.

 

The thing is, druids in PoE do not shapeshift. Obsidian calls it spiritshift. And here's the definition from wiki:

The druid can assume a variety of anthropomorphized forms, with new abilities inspired by the emulated creature. Druids cannot hold weapons while spiritshifted, but they can always cast spells.

Edited October 4, 20178 yr by MaxQuest

It's because they couldn't afford to animate real shape-shifited animals, so they animated men in animal customes. Give them some slack, it's an indie developer.

 

If it is due to budget constraint, i had like it that they retain the animal form. make the form slightly different such as bigger/smaller/slimmer and maybe different colors to distinguish it? My point is it looks better as the animal version.

I like that druids can't transform directly into animal forms. It gives a different flavor to the ability, and to the cultural setting. The PoE forms are more like Warhammer's beastmen. (Actually, the D&D rules also allow the lycanthrope to adopt a hybrid form.)

 

It's because they couldn't afford to animate real shape-shifited animals, so they animated men in animal customes. Give them some slack, it's an indie developer.

 

If it is due to budget constraint, i had like it that they retain the animal form. make the form slightly different such as bigger/smaller/slimmer and maybe different colors to distinguish it? My point is it looks better as the animal version.

 

Sarcasm dude......

To me, it looked alright given the limited fidelity of those models.

But then we won't get the sassy deer hybrid

 

https://youtu.be/uRCrYgtCLPA?t=5m34s

I wanna be an owlbear. They are the most ridiculous monster.

Shapeshift ≠ Polymorph

Shapeshift ≠ Polymorph ≠ Spiritshift  ≠ Request Show

Must be shape / spiritshifting into dragon.

That's the only time I'll try druid

Shapeshift ≠ Polymorph ≠ Spiritshift  ≠ Request Show

 

≠ isn't a transitive relation so it's not clear from that whether, for example, shapeshift ≠ spiritshift

The important part was the last pair. I couldn't care less if Polymorph = Request Show.

Edited October 6, 20178 yr by Boeroer

Stop the presses! Shapeshifting not only looks weird; It truly is weird, per se, in itself, essentially.

Eh, i'd prefer Shapeshifting to be even weirder. Never been a fan of "Shapeshift into an Animal" spells in RPGs.

 

Probably my favorite "shapeshifting" in any videogame were the Chaos Marauders from that old Warhammer MMO that was killed off a few years back.