Hotbar for shapeshifters

[EasternCheesE]

I would like to propose unlocking hotbar (and hotbar only) for any kind of shapeshifters. So far, there is a weird situation when my PC who knows how to knock enemies down, can't do it while shapeshifted into humanoid shape.
Also, that would allow people to use their healing potions so shapes that don't have big regen, will make sense at last.

As there is a druid who can have both his hotbar and spells while shapeshifted, i guess it would be fair to let others have their hotbar and, at least, fighting feats. In best case scenario, their potions too.

As of potions: being unable to use them makes no sense. If we imagine there are no game limitations except for "items go away while shapeshifted". There is nothing denying me to put my six'o'heals pack on the ground and then pick them up while i get into cornugon shape or even dragon shape.
But being unable to use something that is "uncork and chug" is damaging. As, while being poly/shaped, we can't use our spells already, thus, except for druids, we have 0 ways to heal ourselves. And in many situations, unshaping unhealed means we go to 1 hp for a free kill to any mob being around.

[Valefort]

I don't think it's possible to unlock the hotbar.

[Steve]

A Druid's Hotbar is not "unlocked" when in Wild Shape.

Yes, with the Feat Natural Spell, a Druid can cast when in Wild Shape. But NOT when in Shapechange (the spell).

Adding casting—an arcane form of Natural Spell—would make being a Druid LESS unique.

Additionally, it would make an arcane caster in Shapechange form ridiculously more powerful than they are already. I can just imagine creating a high-DC caster mage, and going into one of many uber shapes available, and just rofflestomp PvE as well as PvP encounters. You may want to counter to say that Druids can already do this, but actually, that isn't how it mechanically goes, and RP-wise, not a Druid's "mission," imho.

[Oarthias]

((Druid char comments))

I will say I do miss NWN1's using items while shifted despite it being total cheese. lol That said, the only thing that annoys me is not being able to see what is in my inventory to check for space as the reset comes and worrying about item droppage. Not a huge thing, being that the nexus is now easier to pick my items back up if the inventory is full.

It would be nice to be able to turn on abilities (like Northlander) while shifted... and my gate spell on the druid is not able to be used when shift despite having the ability to cast everything else. Also if there is a way to do it, having the summons / companions come back to us would be nice to have as well while shifted. The commands for controlling the summons also goes sadly red in the quick slots when shifted.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Edited by Moderator to remove exploit

[EasternCheesE]

JustAnotherGuy, please remove your comment as what you describe is considered an exploit and administration doesn't want it to be on forums(i got my comment deleted by administration when just mentioning it few days ago).

Steve, i didn't say a word about letting arcane casters to cast while shapeshifted, only about unlocking hotbar. Letting them cast would make them even stronger than they are now and would be totally op.

Oarthias, thanks for commenting and describing how things work for druid. As i never played one, but only heard of thst spellcasting feat, i thought it unlocks both casting and hotbar.

Valefort, thanks for stepping in. If you don't know if that can be done considering your experience, most likely, it's blackboxed or needs a big chunk of time devoted to it, but there are more important things to do and resources are limited.

As soon as i got my answer, can this thread be closed please?
Thank you for your time and answers!

[Planehopper]

Please do not post exploits - if you've any questions on your 'workarounds' and whether they're considered exploits, please PM the devs to ask.

[Steve]

@Eastern-
I mistakingly assumed it implied, when you pointed out Druids could access the Hotbar (which they can’t, actually) and cast spells when in wild shape, that mages should equally have this ability.

But as I pointed out, even a Druid using Shapechange can’t cast like it can when in Wild Shape.