14th level druid help [Archive] - Wizards Community

14th level druid help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Natures_Avatar
11-19-03, 12:41 PM I am about to start the city of the spider queen campaign with a 14th lvl druid (i was gonna do cleric, but i have decided to go with druid). I will be human, and try to focus on fighting effectively. My group lacks a really tough melee character and i was wondering how to make a druid who is great at fighting but doesnt loose any caster levels.

What feats should I take other than natural spell and blindsight?

Probably most importantly what should i spend my starting 140,000 gold worth of items on?

What are the best fighting forms for a druid, including plants...

Finally, what are some good spell combinations that i could use to my char a terror in melee combat. I was thinking of taking extend and persistent spell, is that a good idea?

Thanks for the help guys...
Sisyfos
11-19-03, 01:32 PM If you intend to take persistent spell you should probably first make a list of all the possible persistable spells like I did for wizards:

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=108949&highlight=persistent

Then you will find out if there are possible strategies available through persistent spell which you would enjoy. I made an abjurer wizard who has a few standard strategies for which he uses persistent spell. You can design your druid accordingly.

It is probably possible to save some feats by taking the proper persistent spells (blindsight perhaps?). That means you will have one less free high level spell slot, but one free feat to use.

I suggest that you take a look at Yekoj's excellent druid thread and make a build. Then we could check if people find something to optimize there. There are so many different types of druids...

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81385&highlight=yekoj

Sisyfos
SerpentMage
11-19-03, 03:23 PM You asked for best fighting forms for wildshape: what books do you have access to (obviously, I am talking about ones with monsters in them, ;) )?
Inkubus
11-19-03, 05:49 PM for a melee druid:
definitely: multi attack, extend spell, natural spell, exalted wildshape, dragon wildshape, fast wildshape
maybe: stuff like blindsight 120 ft., improved initiative, power attack, power lunge, flying kick etc.

examples of good combat forms (level 14): dire bear, juvenile shadow or copper dragon, shambling mound
level 15: iron maw, octopus tree, grizzly mastodon

You could take a level of divine disciple for a domain (time is great) or even contemplative (with education) for a prestige domain (I'd suggest celerity).

Items: Get a wildshape amulet and make good use of the earth elemental form's earth glide ability. That should work great in the underdark.

Cheers,
Inkubus
Natures_Avatar
11-20-03, 11:03 AM Hmm good ideas. Where can i find rules for dragon and/or exalted wildshape, those sound great, and could someone tell me exactly what they do??

Does anyone have any more suggestions for items that i should buy?
Inkubus
11-20-03, 12:12 PM dragon wildshape: draconomicon (lets you wildshape into any dragon of medium size or smaller)
exalted wildshape: book of exalted deeds (lets you wildshape into celestial versions of animals, giant owl, giant eagle, blink dog and unicorn plus you get all su and ex abilities of these forms)
GenerallyUnique
11-20-03, 02:03 PM If you're starting the campaign at level 14, you're going to blow through everything. The monsters in the book are horrendously underpowered. Unless you're joining an ongoing campaign, I would seriously say that you have a damn good chance of completing this adventure from start to finish by yourself if you started at 14th (it's supposed to start at 10th or so).

Off of that, thee's two good PrCs hat could be Underdark based just in the new Dragon. The Darkwater Knight is a spell-casting water specialist, and some of their spells are really cool. There's also an earth based class called the Earthshaker in there, which is a druid of the Underdark, really. Not a bad class at all from the looks of it.

Besides that, have you checked out the Underdark sourcebook that came out recently? The Vermin Keeper ( a druid with high specialization towards bugs) might not be the most powerful character in a party, but it's quite likely to be the most versitile. Also, a good deal of that cash you get to start off with could be spent towards either metamagic rods or Wild armor. (imagine, as a Vermin Keeper, a diminutive spider with a 35 or so AC) Starting at that high a level and with that much gold, there's not much you can't do.
Natures_Avatar
11-23-03, 01:59 PM What exactly are the pre-requisites for exalted and dragon wildhshape? They both sound awesome, although i am leaning towards exalted.

When in dragon wildshape, do you gain the supernatural and exceptional abilities? And if so, what are the best dragon shapes to take and why?

thanks all
Inkubus
11-23-03, 06:39 PM Originally posted by Natures_Avatar

When in dragon wildshape, do you gain the supernatural and exceptional abilities? And if so, what are the best dragon shapes to take and why?

Yes you do. You don't get spell-like abilities though.

Good dragon shapes (especially considering the su and ex abilities):
- 12 hitdice: young deep dragon (AC 21, breath weapon 6d8 (DC 18) flesh-corrosive gas, true seeing (su), snake form 3/ day (su), humanoid form 3/ day (su))
- 13 hitdice: young silver dragon (AC 22, breath weapon 6d8 cold (DC 18) or paralysis gas (DC 18), alternate form (su), cloudwalking (su))
- 14 hitdice: juvenile song dragon (AC 23, breath weapon 8d6 electricity (DC 19), alternate form (su), true seeing (su), tongues (su))
- 16 hitdice: young adult shadow dragon (AC 29, breath weapon: 2 levels energy drain (DC 22), shadow blend (su)) (best combat form IMO)

If allowed you could possibly add the half dragon or dragon spawn (DLCS) template to any of your wildshapes. The feat description doesn't mention anything about whether that's possible but it could be.

Cheers,
Inkubus
Natures_Avatar
11-24-03, 10:48 AM Thanks for the response inkubus, the dragon shape seems really good. But i still need to know the pre-reqs for dragon wildshape, as well as the pre-requisites for celestial wildshape. SO if anyone knows, plse respond, thx
Inkubus
11-24-03, 11:59 AM Alright, Exalted wildshape requires the wildshape class abiliy plus wildshaping class level 8. And of course you have to be (and stay) good aligned. There is no celestial wildshape feat but exalted wildshape lets you turn into celestial animals.
Cheers,
Inkubus
Zeffan the Fighting Man
12-02-03, 02:59 AM :bump:

Very useful, my thanks.

Zeffan

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Natures_Avatar 11-19-03, 12:41 PM	I am about to start the city of the spider queen campaign with a 14th lvl druid (i was gonna do cleric, but i have decided to go with druid). I will be human, and try to focus on fighting effectively. My group lacks a really tough melee character and i was wondering how to make a druid who is great at fighting but doesnt loose any caster levels. What feats should I take other than natural spell and blindsight? Probably most importantly what should i spend my starting 140,000 gold worth of items on? What are the best fighting forms for a druid, including plants... Finally, what are some good spell combinations that i could use to my char a terror in melee combat. I was thinking of taking extend and persistent spell, is that a good idea? Thanks for the help guys...
Sisyfos 11-19-03, 01:32 PM	If you intend to take persistent spell you should probably first make a list of all the possible persistable spells like I did for wizards: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=108949&highlight=persistent Then you will find out if there are possible strategies available through persistent spell which you would enjoy. I made an abjurer wizard who has a few standard strategies for which he uses persistent spell. You can design your druid accordingly. It is probably possible to save some feats by taking the proper persistent spells (blindsight perhaps?). That means you will have one less free high level spell slot, but one free feat to use. I suggest that you take a look at Yekoj's excellent druid thread and make a build. Then we could check if people find something to optimize there. There are so many different types of druids... http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81385&highlight=yekoj Sisyfos
SerpentMage 11-19-03, 03:23 PM	You asked for best fighting forms for wildshape: what books do you have access to (obviously, I am talking about ones with monsters in them, ;) )?
Inkubus 11-19-03, 05:49 PM	for a melee druid: definitely: multi attack, extend spell, natural spell, exalted wildshape, dragon wildshape, fast wildshape maybe: stuff like blindsight 120 ft., improved initiative, power attack, power lunge, flying kick etc. examples of good combat forms (level 14): dire bear, juvenile shadow or copper dragon, shambling mound level 15: iron maw, octopus tree, grizzly mastodon You could take a level of divine disciple for a domain (time is great) or even contemplative (with education) for a prestige domain (I'd suggest celerity). Items: Get a wildshape amulet and make good use of the earth elemental form's earth glide ability. That should work great in the underdark. Cheers, Inkubus
Natures_Avatar 11-20-03, 11:03 AM	Hmm good ideas. Where can i find rules for dragon and/or exalted wildshape, those sound great, and could someone tell me exactly what they do?? Does anyone have any more suggestions for items that i should buy?
Inkubus 11-20-03, 12:12 PM	dragon wildshape: draconomicon (lets you wildshape into any dragon of medium size or smaller) exalted wildshape: book of exalted deeds (lets you wildshape into celestial versions of animals, giant owl, giant eagle, blink dog and unicorn plus you get all su and ex abilities of these forms)
GenerallyUnique 11-20-03, 02:03 PM	If you're starting the campaign at level 14, you're going to blow through everything. The monsters in the book are horrendously underpowered. Unless you're joining an ongoing campaign, I would seriously say that you have a damn good chance of completing this adventure from start to finish by yourself if you started at 14th (it's supposed to start at 10th or so). Off of that, thee's two good PrCs hat could be Underdark based just in the new Dragon. The Darkwater Knight is a spell-casting water specialist, and some of their spells are really cool. There's also an earth based class called the Earthshaker in there, which is a druid of the Underdark, really. Not a bad class at all from the looks of it. Besides that, have you checked out the Underdark sourcebook that came out recently? The Vermin Keeper ( a druid with high specialization towards bugs) might not be the most powerful character in a party, but it's quite likely to be the most versitile. Also, a good deal of that cash you get to start off with could be spent towards either metamagic rods or Wild armor. (imagine, as a Vermin Keeper, a diminutive spider with a 35 or so AC) Starting at that high a level and with that much gold, there's not much you can't do.
Natures_Avatar 11-23-03, 01:59 PM	What exactly are the pre-requisites for exalted and dragon wildhshape? They both sound awesome, although i am leaning towards exalted. When in dragon wildshape, do you gain the supernatural and exceptional abilities? And if so, what are the best dragon shapes to take and why? thanks all
Inkubus 11-23-03, 06:39 PM	Originally posted by Natures_Avatar When in dragon wildshape, do you gain the supernatural and exceptional abilities? And if so, what are the best dragon shapes to take and why? Yes you do. You don't get spell-like abilities though. Good dragon shapes (especially considering the su and ex abilities): - 12 hitdice: young deep dragon (AC 21, breath weapon 6d8 (DC 18) flesh-corrosive gas, true seeing (su), snake form 3/ day (su), humanoid form 3/ day (su)) - 13 hitdice: young silver dragon (AC 22, breath weapon 6d8 cold (DC 18) or paralysis gas (DC 18), alternate form (su), cloudwalking (su)) - 14 hitdice: juvenile song dragon (AC 23, breath weapon 8d6 electricity (DC 19), alternate form (su), true seeing (su), tongues (su)) - 16 hitdice: young adult shadow dragon (AC 29, breath weapon: 2 levels energy drain (DC 22), shadow blend (su)) (best combat form IMO) If allowed you could possibly add the half dragon or dragon spawn (DLCS) template to any of your wildshapes. The feat description doesn't mention anything about whether that's possible but it could be. Cheers, Inkubus
Natures_Avatar 11-24-03, 10:48 AM	Thanks for the response inkubus, the dragon shape seems really good. But i still need to know the pre-reqs for dragon wildshape, as well as the pre-requisites for celestial wildshape. SO if anyone knows, plse respond, thx
Inkubus 11-24-03, 11:59 AM	Alright, Exalted wildshape requires the wildshape class abiliy plus wildshaping class level 8. And of course you have to be (and stay) good aligned. There is no celestial wildshape feat but exalted wildshape lets you turn into celestial animals. Cheers, Inkubus
Zeffan the Fighting Man 12-02-03, 02:59 AM	:bump: Very useful, my thanks. Zeffan