Best Druid Race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best Druid Race [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
djinni
05-21-05, 02:24 AM only using the Core books and the Forgotten Realms books.
Which race is the best for a druid that spends all his time wildshaped?
MikeN
05-21-05, 02:32 AM Human. Most powerful race in the game.
_____________

If you want to abuse cheesy rules, Dwarf with two levels of Deepwarden who gets an item of shock self and runs around in the form of a Shambling Mound for infinite AC and HP.
Kintara
05-21-05, 03:03 AM Jermlaines give humans a run for their money, and then kill them and take the money.
catharz
05-21-05, 03:42 AM Jermlaines give humans a run for their money, and then kill them and take the money.

Ya, if you want to be a scroungy, stinky little ratling. Plus, I'm not sure that MM II is "core."

I'd go with Human or Strongheart hobbit.
Kintara
05-21-05, 03:56 AM Ya, if you want to be a scroungy, stinky little ratling. Plus, I'm not sure that MM II is "core."It's updated in the 3.5 Update Booklet.
catharz
05-21-05, 04:08 AM It's updated in the 3.5 Update Booklet.

3.5 ≠ Core.
Kintara
05-21-05, 04:24 AM 3.5 ≠ Core.You know what, I find the word "core" irritating. Sometimes it means non-campaign specific Wizards books. Sometimes it means PHB/DMG/MM. Sometimes it has a more convoluted definition.

I suppose I should assume it means the three "core books," unless otherwise indicated, but it's often not the case.
Caelic
05-21-05, 11:20 AM Point: a straight druid can't pull off the Dwarf/Shambling Mound cheese. That requires a MoMF, for Extraordinary Wildshape.

I suggest human, and here's why:

1. It's plenty powerful. Bonus feat, bonus skillpoints, no real weaknesses.
2. It's low-profile. Take something funky, like a Jermaline, and people are going to notice and ask themselves why you took it. Nobody's going to take notice if you're just playing a human, though.

I find that people sell the "low profile" aspect of some races very short. I know I'll get anguished protests of "But it's purely for the roleplaying!" for this, but the fact of the matter is, if you take a Feral Mineralized Anthropomorphic Baleen Whale, nobody in the world is going to believe that you took it for any other reason than to get the highest stats possible.

The beauty of Human Druid 20 is that you can go toe-to-toe with the most improbable, cheesed-out characters in terms of power...while looking perfectly innocuous. (Me? Powergame? I'm just playing a straight Human Druid, no prestige classes, nothing weird. How could I be powergaming?)
Rod Howard
05-21-05, 11:26 AM The beauty of Human Druid 20 is that you can go toe-to-toe with the most improbable, cheesed-out characters in terms of power...while looking perfectly innocuous. (Me? Powergame? I'm just playing a straight Human Druid, no prestige classes, nothing weird. How could I be powergaming?)

Anyone of "The Big 3" (Druid, Cleric, Wizard) can, using only core material.
Who cares if you are an uber, optimized frenzied berserk and you deal almost 2000 damage on a charge?
I'll just cast Force Cage and throw you bananas.
Iaimeki
05-21-05, 01:39 PM The beauty of Human Druid 20 is that you can go toe-to-toe with the most improbable, cheesed-out characters in terms of power...while looking perfectly innocuous. (Me? Powergame? I'm just playing a straight Human Druid, no prestige classes, nothing weird. How could I be powergaming?)

Actually, among the people I play with, playing a human cleric, druid, or wizard is considered powergaming of the worst kind (more so if you use broken PrCs like incantatrix or dweomerkeeper, or broken feats like Divine Metamagic). Playing any kind of full caster is frowned upon. Not that we wouldn't look askance at the feral mineralized anthropomorthic baleen whale too, of course =).
Zemyla
05-21-05, 01:40 PM Elan, because you can take the Rapidstrike and Improved Rapidstrike feats that served the King of Smack so well. Plus, you look pretty much human anyway.
Caelic
05-21-05, 01:47 PM Err...wow. I don't think I've ever seen a campaign where the simple act of playing a magic-based character immediately branded one as a powergamer. Sure, it's generally acknowledged that in the long run, they'll be the movers and shakers of the campaign, but...*shrug*.

I'd hesitate to brand someone a powergamer solely based on the fact that they've chosen to play a spellcaster.
Moon-Lancer
05-21-05, 01:50 PM Energy substitution is good for a druid with flame strike. Flame strike nets you a 1d6+5 with any build you go with, and any wild shape. It’s really good at low levels to attack with a form that has 3 attacks. You do your normal damage, and 3d6+15 of fire, or another element you go with (energy substitution). With a dragon wild shape that’s 3d6+25 not counting the melee attack it’s tagged with.

I find elven druids make for the finest druids. Also confer your dm that when you wild shape, the Racal bonus for your current shape is a circumstance bonus. This way it stakes with spells and such and you still get your eleven bonuses. The argument is that it balances an elven druid with a human druid. In my opinion it’s not fair that a human looses nothing in wild shape but a elf or any other races looses just about everything.
ksbsnowowl
05-21-05, 06:26 PM Flame strike nets you a 1d6+5 with any build you go with, and any wild shape.I think you meant Flame Blade.

I'm going to have to agree with Human. That extra feat is just too precious.
Moon-Lancer
05-21-05, 06:31 PM Sorry. I meant produce flame. Works really good for melee.

ontopic, humans are probably the best, but i think elves are funner to play as druids.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
djinni 05-21-05, 02:24 AM	only using the Core books and the Forgotten Realms books. Which race is the best for a druid that spends all his time wildshaped?
MikeN 05-21-05, 02:32 AM	Human. Most powerful race in the game. _____________ If you want to abuse cheesy rules, Dwarf with two levels of Deepwarden who gets an item of shock self and runs around in the form of a Shambling Mound for infinite AC and HP.
Kintara 05-21-05, 03:03 AM	Jermlaines give humans a run for their money, and then kill them and take the money.
catharz 05-21-05, 03:42 AM	Jermlaines give humans a run for their money, and then kill them and take the money. Ya, if you want to be a scroungy, stinky little ratling. Plus, I'm not sure that MM II is "core." I'd go with Human or Strongheart hobbit.
Kintara 05-21-05, 03:56 AM	Ya, if you want to be a scroungy, stinky little ratling. Plus, I'm not sure that MM II is "core."It's updated in the 3.5 Update Booklet.
catharz 05-21-05, 04:08 AM	It's updated in the 3.5 Update Booklet. 3.5 ≠ Core.
Kintara 05-21-05, 04:24 AM	3.5 ≠ Core.You know what, I find the word "core" irritating. Sometimes it means non-campaign specific Wizards books. Sometimes it means PHB/DMG/MM. Sometimes it has a more convoluted definition. I suppose I should assume it means the three "core books," unless otherwise indicated, but it's often not the case.
Caelic 05-21-05, 11:20 AM	Point: a straight druid can't pull off the Dwarf/Shambling Mound cheese. That requires a MoMF, for Extraordinary Wildshape. I suggest human, and here's why: 1. It's plenty powerful. Bonus feat, bonus skillpoints, no real weaknesses. 2. It's low-profile. Take something funky, like a Jermaline, and people are going to notice and ask themselves why you took it. Nobody's going to take notice if you're just playing a human, though. I find that people sell the "low profile" aspect of some races very short. I know I'll get anguished protests of "But it's purely for the roleplaying!" for this, but the fact of the matter is, if you take a Feral Mineralized Anthropomorphic Baleen Whale, nobody in the world is going to believe that you took it for any other reason than to get the highest stats possible. The beauty of Human Druid 20 is that you can go toe-to-toe with the most improbable, cheesed-out characters in terms of power...while looking perfectly innocuous. (Me? Powergame? I'm just playing a straight Human Druid, no prestige classes, nothing weird. How could I be powergaming?)
Rod Howard 05-21-05, 11:26 AM	The beauty of Human Druid 20 is that you can go toe-to-toe with the most improbable, cheesed-out characters in terms of power...while looking perfectly innocuous. (Me? Powergame? I'm just playing a straight Human Druid, no prestige classes, nothing weird. How could I be powergaming?) Anyone of "The Big 3" (Druid, Cleric, Wizard) can, using only core material. Who cares if you are an uber, optimized frenzied berserk and you deal almost 2000 damage on a charge? I'll just cast Force Cage and throw you bananas.
Iaimeki 05-21-05, 01:39 PM	The beauty of Human Druid 20 is that you can go toe-to-toe with the most improbable, cheesed-out characters in terms of power...while looking perfectly innocuous. (Me? Powergame? I'm just playing a straight Human Druid, no prestige classes, nothing weird. How could I be powergaming?) Actually, among the people I play with, playing a human cleric, druid, or wizard is considered powergaming of the worst kind (more so if you use broken PrCs like incantatrix or dweomerkeeper, or broken feats like Divine Metamagic). Playing any kind of full caster is frowned upon. Not that we wouldn't look askance at the feral mineralized anthropomorthic baleen whale too, of course =).
Zemyla 05-21-05, 01:40 PM	Elan, because you can take the Rapidstrike and Improved Rapidstrike feats that served the King of Smack so well. Plus, you look pretty much human anyway.
Caelic 05-21-05, 01:47 PM	Err...wow. I don't think I've ever seen a campaign where the simple act of playing a magic-based character immediately branded one as a powergamer. Sure, it's generally acknowledged that in the long run, they'll be the movers and shakers of the campaign, but...shrug. I'd hesitate to brand someone a powergamer solely based on the fact that they've chosen to play a spellcaster.
Moon-Lancer 05-21-05, 01:50 PM	Energy substitution is good for a druid with flame strike. Flame strike nets you a 1d6+5 with any build you go with, and any wild shape. It’s really good at low levels to attack with a form that has 3 attacks. You do your normal damage, and 3d6+15 of fire, or another element you go with (energy substitution). With a dragon wild shape that’s 3d6+25 not counting the melee attack it’s tagged with. I find elven druids make for the finest druids. Also confer your dm that when you wild shape, the Racal bonus for your current shape is a circumstance bonus. This way it stakes with spells and such and you still get your eleven bonuses. The argument is that it balances an elven druid with a human druid. In my opinion it’s not fair that a human looses nothing in wild shape but a elf or any other races looses just about everything.
ksbsnowowl 05-21-05, 06:26 PM	Flame strike nets you a 1d6+5 with any build you go with, and any wild shape.I think you meant Flame Blade. I'm going to have to agree with Human. That extra feat is just too precious.
Moon-Lancer 05-21-05, 06:31 PM	Sorry. I meant produce flame. Works really good for melee. ontopic, humans are probably the best, but i think elves are funner to play as druids.