Build a better druid? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Build a better druid? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dragonspirit
07-04-05, 02:56 AM So, I'm running a relatively low magic campaign, and reduced what I allowed in the campaign to only some of the core classes to start with. However, I'm thinking about reintroducing the Druid class.

However, I want it to be more thematically appropriate than I feel the core class as written works.

So, my proposal to the group was to allow the druid back, but with the following changes:

**Offer it a DC bonus to spells when outdoors (and possibly a DC penalty when indoors).

**Limit animal companions and shape changing to that appropriate to the environment they are entering.

The main problem we discussed though, is that it is quite time consuming to level up an appropriate animal companion, and thus it would result in a lot of downtime for the players to do so before they entered the next environment.

I also already have five players, and allowing a druid with an animal companion almost seems like adding ANOTHER character, and thus throws off the challenges (as the animal companion doesn't consume XP IIRC).

Other thoughts/suggestions?
D_Martin
07-04-05, 11:12 AM If it ain't broken, don't fix it! The Druid is fine as it is. Although you have some good ideas about limiting what kind of animals specific to a region. But, you are hacking them in dungeons and city environments with the limitation. He/she probably won't like that. An animal companion is far from another PC character. AC's are very easy to kill off! They are none other than an extention of the Druid. I can see where you are going for the low magic campaign aspect. So ...if you must, go ahead. Let everyone know what you are proposing.
Dragonspirit
07-04-05, 04:32 PM Yeah, I always try to be upfront with them with what I'm thinking about. I think I've become pretty good at filtering their 'whine to get more power' vs 'legitimate suggestions' too :)

As I said, the main problem comes from the animal companions, as it would take a lot of time for them to make a new companion each time they have to travel through a new type of region.
mrurbanitesmiley
07-04-05, 04:52 PM I like the limiting of wild-shape to appropriate animals, i don't see any reason to change animal companions. I mean, if your AC Bear is willing to fight and die for you, i think he'd be willing to walk around in a desert for a while.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dragonspirit 07-04-05, 02:56 AM	So, I'm running a relatively low magic campaign, and reduced what I allowed in the campaign to only some of the core classes to start with. However, I'm thinking about reintroducing the Druid class. However, I want it to be more thematically appropriate than I feel the core class as written works. So, my proposal to the group was to allow the druid back, but with the following changes: Offer it a DC bonus to spells when outdoors (and possibly a DC penalty when indoors). Limit animal companions and shape changing to that appropriate to the environment they are entering. The main problem we discussed though, is that it is quite time consuming to level up an appropriate animal companion, and thus it would result in a lot of downtime for the players to do so before they entered the next environment. I also already have five players, and allowing a druid with an animal companion almost seems like adding ANOTHER character, and thus throws off the challenges (as the animal companion doesn't consume XP IIRC). Other thoughts/suggestions?
D_Martin 07-04-05, 11:12 AM	If it ain't broken, don't fix it! The Druid is fine as it is. Although you have some good ideas about limiting what kind of animals specific to a region. But, you are hacking them in dungeons and city environments with the limitation. He/she probably won't like that. An animal companion is far from another PC character. AC's are very easy to kill off! They are none other than an extention of the Druid. I can see where you are going for the low magic campaign aspect. So ...if you must, go ahead. Let everyone know what you are proposing.
Dragonspirit 07-04-05, 04:32 PM	Yeah, I always try to be upfront with them with what I'm thinking about. I think I've become pretty good at filtering their 'whine to get more power' vs 'legitimate suggestions' too :) As I said, the main problem comes from the animal companions, as it would take a lot of time for them to make a new companion each time they have to travel through a new type of region.
mrurbanitesmiley 07-04-05, 04:52 PM	I like the limiting of wild-shape to appropriate animals, i don't see any reason to change animal companions. I mean, if your AC Bear is willing to fight and die for you, i think he'd be willing to walk around in a desert for a while.