Un-Wilding Shape
While using wild shape, a druid retains their own proficiencies in the new form but does NOT gain the proficiencies of the form they have taken. They DO retain any innate physical traits of the new form, including the Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores, and any abilities derived from physical or physiological features of the new form.
However, beginning at 3rd-level and on every odd level thereafter, a druid may select one of the shapes they have used previously and designate it as a Preferred Form. By inhabiting the form consistently enough to gain familiarity with its capabilities and even learning to go among beasts of that kind while in that shape, the druid is then able to gain the proficiencies and non-physiological traits of a Preferred Form.
For example, a 3rd-level druid who wild shapes to the form of a wolf for the first time would not be proficient in Stealth or Perception simply by taking the wolf’s form, so her skill check for Stealth might be as low as the +2 granted from the form’s Dexterity bonus. Even if she is not proficient in Perception, as a natural wolf would be, she does have the Keen Hearing and Smell trait granted by the form’s physiologically superior nose and ears. The druid would not have the wolf form’s Pack Tactics trait, however, as that is not the result of a physical or physiological feature. However, if at 5th level she has designated wolf as a Preferred Form, she has studied and been around natural wolves enough to gain the Pack Tactics trait when she wild shapes to the form of a wolf, and she would also be proficient in Perception and Stealth in that form.
A druid who wild shapes to the form of a raven, parrot, or other animal capable of speech mimicry can speak any language they know (though not sign languages like Common Sign, Drow Sign, or the non-verbal portions of secret cants), and they can cast spells which have a vocal component, as well as spells which have a material component if the druid grasps an appropriate spell focus and/or the material component(s) in one or both of their claws, but they cannot cast any spells which have somatic components. A druid who wild shapes to the form of a gorilla, monkey, or other animal possessing humanoid-style limbs and fingers can communicate via any humanoid sign language they know, and they can cast spells which have a somatic component, though they cannot cast any spells which have verbal components nor speak any verbal languages.
Added to House Rules in 2023.