A really good race for druid [Archive] - Wizards Community

A really good race for druid [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
PalyLeto
05-12-07, 03:27 PM I want to find a good race for Druid, its not limited to the player's handbook
so it can be a monster race but I want to keep it to maximum LA +9.
Why such a high LA? cause this is just for fun.
Thanks.
PainTrain
05-14-07, 05:54 PM Don't take LA if your a druid, you just end up being weaker since the druid class levels themselves are quite strong. A human generally makes the best druid.
RedStreak
05-14-07, 07:23 PM PainTrain is correct. Plus, a human gives that druid an extra edge on feats, since most druids only get a handful.
Einvaldurinn_mikli
05-14-07, 07:25 PM Go with human.
Chimaera2000
05-14-07, 07:36 PM How about a venerable, dragonborn Dragonwrought kobold* (Races of the Dragon)? -4 Str for +3 Int, Wis, and Cha for LA +0 sounds pretty good to me..... especially when Wild Shape gets rid of the -4 Str. :P

* Chimaera2000 does not bear responsibility for injuries incurred by DM-thrown dice as a result of the use of this combination.
Naderion
05-14-07, 07:37 PM I would say really everything works good for a druid as long as it has no racial HD or LA.
And rule #1 on race choice: If you don't specifically to have something else, take human.
mcstu3
05-14-07, 10:37 PM Gnome druid. Seriously, gnome druid. dire badger mount/companion. You can ride into and out of battle faster than you could on foot, cast without having to worry where to stand, and being small makes things much more interesting.
Keladelros
05-14-07, 10:45 PM Gnome druid, elf druid, and of course, the human druid make great druids.

LA for druids are... IMO... a death sentance.

Thats my piece.
zook1shoe666
05-15-07, 12:00 AM i second the dragonwrought kobold. no +0 LA race can beat +3 to all mental stats and penalties to physical scores are negated while in wild shape.

theres a nice list in the Races of the Dragon of some interesting dragons for your heritage, shadow has been one of my favs.

second to the dragonwrought kobold is the.... lesser aasimar. think +2wis +2 cha, spell-like abilities and +0 LA.
JulesCARV
05-15-07, 12:18 AM Dwarves also seem like fine druids.
Part-Human2
05-15-07, 12:18 AM Jermlaine again (MMII).
Barloch
05-15-07, 12:28 AM Nymph, just go look.
ElberethSilverleaf
05-16-07, 02:04 AM Nymph or perhaps a Swanmay?
MCage
05-16-07, 05:06 PM for the life of me i cant remeber the book but its this druidic centaur sytle monster, its either in MM4 or the FF but its has some sort of druid goodness, but seriously if your looking for power human is best (though my best druid was a half-orc)
ElberethSilverleaf
05-17-07, 12:57 AM Gnoll
When you really think about it though, just ignore the min/max racial pluses and minuses.
Just create a valid, believable backstory as to why your CN or NE Gnoll decided to devote him/herself to nature.

Maybe the local human or orc settlements were wantonly destroying perfectly good hunting grounds in their lust for empire building.

You're only limited by your imagination and your willingness to not metagame.
PalyLeto
05-17-07, 01:22 AM I had this idea for a half-celestial druid once, but yeah, the LA will probably kill it and I couldn't think of a good reason why a half-celestial would devote itself to nature.
(The wings seemed too cool to pass :P)

Humans are kinda boring sometimes, although their bonuses are good.
I'm going to look up Nymph and Swanmay ( what the heck is a swanmay?)

I guess I could limit it down a bit: A nature type race (frolics in the trees falalalala), from you guys' suggestions, a low to no LA.
oh, and it can't be evil (although if it works really well, I might try it out)
Something that looks cool :D
Thanks for the replies everyone.
ElberethSilverleaf
05-17-07, 01:29 AM Paly, wiki the words swanmay, Fionnuala and Children of Lir.

Truly an interesting take on the "wicked stepmother" myth.

In D&D swamays are invariably females who have an odd form of lycanthropy.

Very interesting plot lines available for a campaign too.
PalyLeto
05-17-07, 01:32 AM cool!
Anyways, I can't seem to find like a template or something for nymph, which book would it be in? Is there a half-nymph template out there?
PalyLeto
05-17-07, 01:38 AM Gah!
everytime I think of different races, I think "which one would be more powerful? I want crazy bonuses!"
crap, I need therapy for my metagamerisms!
(Don't worry, I'm not like this in my campaign :D)

Anyways, I checked the swanmays, those are pretty cool, But isn't a swanmay in DnD a prestige class?
ElberethSilverleaf
05-17-07, 01:40 AM While I obviously can't give out the templates etc for obvious reaspons. I will dig through my books here in a few minutes and see if I can find somewhere they might be listed and point u in the right direction.
PalyLeto
05-17-07, 01:49 AM Alright, thanks
Didn't expect you give me template, I know about the copyright and all that.

Come people, I need more ideas.
I wanted to try centaur but i'm staying away from the LA. I think Centaurs are stronger than LA+2. I'll check out Races of the Wild for some stuff.

thanks for the replies.
ElberethSilverleaf
05-17-07, 03:14 AM check your private messages.......
AZNsupermarket
05-17-07, 07:57 AM Human or Shifter or LA+0 races with a bonus to Wisdom.

Here are all your choices from WOTC published material for +0 LA races that get a bonus to wisdom:

Anthropomorphic Bat: -4 Str +6 Wis -2 Cha, small, 5 ft. (fly 20 ft. average), blindsense (ex), druid, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215

Anthropomorphic Lizard: -4 Str +2 Dex +4 Wis -4 Cha, small, 20 ft., druid, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215

Anthropomorphic Monkey: -4 Str +2 Dex +4Wis -2 Cha, small, 30 ft., druid, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215

Anthropomorphic Rat: -4 Str +2 Dex +4 Wis -4 Cha, small, 15 ft., rogue, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215

Anthropomorphic Raven: -6 Str +2 Dex +4 Wis -4 Cha, small, 10 ft. (fly 30ft. poor), rogue, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215

Anthropomorphic Toad: -4 Str -2 Dex +6 Wis -2 Cha, small, 5 ft., cleric, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215

Anthropomorphic Weasel: -4 Str +2 Dex +4 Wis -4 Cha, small, 20 ft., attach (ex), druid, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215

Jermlaine: -6 Str +6 Dex -2 Con -2 Int +6 Wis -6 Cha, tiny, 40 ft., rogue, fey, monster manual 2 pg.131

Buomman: +2 Wis -2 Cha, medium, 30 ft., monk, humanoid (buomman, extraplanar), planar handbook pg.08

"Lesser" Aasimar: +2 Wis +2 Cha, medium, 30 ft., light (sp), paladin, humanoid (planetouched), player’s guide to faerun pg.191

Venerable Dragonwrought Kobold: -4 Str +2 Dex -2 Con +3 Int +3 Wis +3 Cha, small, 30 ft., sorcerer, dragon (kobold, reptilian, dragonblood), monter manual pg.161 and races of the dragon pg. 39

Vanara: -2 Str +2 Int +2 Wis, medium, 30 ft. climb 20 ft., spirit shaman, humanoid (vanara), oriental adventures pg.15 – Note: in a 3.5 oriental adventures update found in Dragon magazine, vanara were updated to no longer have any ability score adjustments.

You can also add the Dragonborn of Bahamut pseudo-template without level adjustment to any of the races with a bonus to wis (beside the venerable dragonwrought kobold) and gain +2 con -2 dex, which stacks with your original ablity adjustments. That may be helpful for a lot of these, especially for the Buomman, who would RAW lose their vow of silence when they become a Dragonborn of Bahamut.

Dragonborn: +2 Con -2 Dex, same as base creature, same as base creature, fighter and the base creatures, humanoid (dragonblood, same as base creature), races of the dragon pg.5

Other than that, you can just increase your age level and suffer the physical ability score penalties.
zook1shoe666
05-17-07, 12:29 PM Venerable Dragonwrought Kobold: -4 Str +2 Dex -2 Con +3 Int +3 Wis +3 Cha, small, 30 ft., sorcerer, humanoid (kobold, reptilian, dragonblood), monter manual pg.161 and races of the dragon pg. 39

doesn't Dragonwrought change it to a Dragon-type?
RobbyPants
05-17-07, 12:35 PM Don't play any race with a Con penalty, as it won't go away during Wild Shape... unless you get sufficient bonuses to make up for it.
AZNsupermarket
05-17-07, 10:32 PM doesn't Dragonwrought change it to a Dragon-type?

You're right, it was a typo.
taradusis
05-17-07, 10:39 PM The anthropomorphic Bat from savage species was a favorite with the powergamers a while ago,everybody had a go at stretching the rules out of shape.Post a question on the char-ops board for detailed suggestions?
zook1shoe666
05-17-07, 10:40 PM for the life of me i cant remeber the book but its this druidic centaur sytle monster, its either in MM4 or the FF but its has some sort of druid goodness, but seriously if your looking for power human is best (though my best druid was a half-orc)

were you thinking of the Bariaur?
PalyLeto
05-19-07, 01:10 PM elbereth, check your private messages....
ElberethSilverleaf
05-19-07, 03:02 PM PalyLeto are you a fan of Dune?
Was wondering from your handle.
PalyLeto
05-19-07, 08:36 PM actually never read the books.
I watched some parts of the movie, not all of them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
PalyLeto 05-12-07, 03:27 PM	I want to find a good race for Druid, its not limited to the player's handbook so it can be a monster race but I want to keep it to maximum LA +9. Why such a high LA? cause this is just for fun. Thanks.
PainTrain 05-14-07, 05:54 PM	Don't take LA if your a druid, you just end up being weaker since the druid class levels themselves are quite strong. A human generally makes the best druid.
RedStreak 05-14-07, 07:23 PM	PainTrain is correct. Plus, a human gives that druid an extra edge on feats, since most druids only get a handful.
Einvaldurinn_mikli 05-14-07, 07:25 PM	Go with human.
Chimaera2000 05-14-07, 07:36 PM	How about a venerable, dragonborn Dragonwrought kobold* (Races of the Dragon)? -4 Str for +3 Int, Wis, and Cha for LA +0 sounds pretty good to me..... especially when Wild Shape gets rid of the -4 Str. :P * Chimaera2000 does not bear responsibility for injuries incurred by DM-thrown dice as a result of the use of this combination.
Naderion 05-14-07, 07:37 PM	I would say really everything works good for a druid as long as it has no racial HD or LA. And rule #1 on race choice: If you don't specifically to have something else, take human.
mcstu3 05-14-07, 10:37 PM	Gnome druid. Seriously, gnome druid. dire badger mount/companion. You can ride into and out of battle faster than you could on foot, cast without having to worry where to stand, and being small makes things much more interesting.
Keladelros 05-14-07, 10:45 PM	Gnome druid, elf druid, and of course, the human druid make great druids. LA for druids are... IMO... a death sentance. Thats my piece.
zook1shoe666 05-15-07, 12:00 AM	i second the dragonwrought kobold. no +0 LA race can beat +3 to all mental stats and penalties to physical scores are negated while in wild shape. theres a nice list in the Races of the Dragon of some interesting dragons for your heritage, shadow has been one of my favs. second to the dragonwrought kobold is the.... lesser aasimar. think +2wis +2 cha, spell-like abilities and +0 LA.
JulesCARV 05-15-07, 12:18 AM	Dwarves also seem like fine druids.
Part-Human2 05-15-07, 12:18 AM	Jermlaine again (MMII).
Barloch 05-15-07, 12:28 AM	Nymph, just go look.
ElberethSilverleaf 05-16-07, 02:04 AM	Nymph or perhaps a Swanmay?
MCage 05-16-07, 05:06 PM	for the life of me i cant remeber the book but its this druidic centaur sytle monster, its either in MM4 or the FF but its has some sort of druid goodness, but seriously if your looking for power human is best (though my best druid was a half-orc)
ElberethSilverleaf 05-17-07, 12:57 AM	Gnoll When you really think about it though, just ignore the min/max racial pluses and minuses. Just create a valid, believable backstory as to why your CN or NE Gnoll decided to devote him/herself to nature. Maybe the local human or orc settlements were wantonly destroying perfectly good hunting grounds in their lust for empire building. You're only limited by your imagination and your willingness to not metagame.
PalyLeto 05-17-07, 01:22 AM	I had this idea for a half-celestial druid once, but yeah, the LA will probably kill it and I couldn't think of a good reason why a half-celestial would devote itself to nature. (The wings seemed too cool to pass :P) Humans are kinda boring sometimes, although their bonuses are good. I'm going to look up Nymph and Swanmay ( what the heck is a swanmay?) I guess I could limit it down a bit: A nature type race (frolics in the trees falalalala), from you guys' suggestions, a low to no LA. oh, and it can't be evil (although if it works really well, I might try it out) Something that looks cool :D Thanks for the replies everyone.
ElberethSilverleaf 05-17-07, 01:29 AM	Paly, wiki the words swanmay, Fionnuala and Children of Lir. Truly an interesting take on the "wicked stepmother" myth. In D&D swamays are invariably females who have an odd form of lycanthropy. Very interesting plot lines available for a campaign too.
PalyLeto 05-17-07, 01:32 AM	cool! Anyways, I can't seem to find like a template or something for nymph, which book would it be in? Is there a half-nymph template out there?
PalyLeto 05-17-07, 01:38 AM	Gah! everytime I think of different races, I think "which one would be more powerful? I want crazy bonuses!" crap, I need therapy for my metagamerisms! (Don't worry, I'm not like this in my campaign :D) Anyways, I checked the swanmays, those are pretty cool, But isn't a swanmay in DnD a prestige class?
ElberethSilverleaf 05-17-07, 01:40 AM	While I obviously can't give out the templates etc for obvious reaspons. I will dig through my books here in a few minutes and see if I can find somewhere they might be listed and point u in the right direction.
PalyLeto 05-17-07, 01:49 AM	Alright, thanks Didn't expect you give me template, I know about the copyright and all that. Come people, I need more ideas. I wanted to try centaur but i'm staying away from the LA. I think Centaurs are stronger than LA+2. I'll check out Races of the Wild for some stuff. thanks for the replies.
ElberethSilverleaf 05-17-07, 03:14 AM	check your private messages.......
AZNsupermarket 05-17-07, 07:57 AM	Human or Shifter or LA+0 races with a bonus to Wisdom. Here are all your choices from WOTC published material for +0 LA races that get a bonus to wisdom: Anthropomorphic Bat: -4 Str +6 Wis -2 Cha, small, 5 ft. (fly 20 ft. average), blindsense (ex), druid, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215 Anthropomorphic Lizard: -4 Str +2 Dex +4 Wis -4 Cha, small, 20 ft., druid, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215 Anthropomorphic Monkey: -4 Str +2 Dex +4Wis -2 Cha, small, 30 ft., druid, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215 Anthropomorphic Rat: -4 Str +2 Dex +4 Wis -4 Cha, small, 15 ft., rogue, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215 Anthropomorphic Raven: -6 Str +2 Dex +4 Wis -4 Cha, small, 10 ft. (fly 30ft. poor), rogue, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215 Anthropomorphic Toad: -4 Str -2 Dex +6 Wis -2 Cha, small, 5 ft., cleric, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215 Anthropomorphic Weasel: -4 Str +2 Dex +4 Wis -4 Cha, small, 20 ft., attach (ex), druid, monstrous humanoid, savage species pg.215 Jermlaine: -6 Str +6 Dex -2 Con -2 Int +6 Wis -6 Cha, tiny, 40 ft., rogue, fey, monster manual 2 pg.131 Buomman: +2 Wis -2 Cha, medium, 30 ft., monk, humanoid (buomman, extraplanar), planar handbook pg.08 "Lesser" Aasimar: +2 Wis +2 Cha, medium, 30 ft., light (sp), paladin, humanoid (planetouched), player’s guide to faerun pg.191 Venerable Dragonwrought Kobold: -4 Str +2 Dex -2 Con +3 Int +3 Wis +3 Cha, small, 30 ft., sorcerer, dragon (kobold, reptilian, dragonblood), monter manual pg.161 and races of the dragon pg. 39 Vanara: -2 Str +2 Int +2 Wis, medium, 30 ft. climb 20 ft., spirit shaman, humanoid (vanara), oriental adventures pg.15 – Note: in a 3.5 oriental adventures update found in Dragon magazine, vanara were updated to no longer have any ability score adjustments. You can also add the Dragonborn of Bahamut pseudo-template without level adjustment to any of the races with a bonus to wis (beside the venerable dragonwrought kobold) and gain +2 con -2 dex, which stacks with your original ablity adjustments. That may be helpful for a lot of these, especially for the Buomman, who would RAW lose their vow of silence when they become a Dragonborn of Bahamut. Dragonborn: +2 Con -2 Dex, same as base creature, same as base creature, fighter and the base creatures, humanoid (dragonblood, same as base creature), races of the dragon pg.5 Other than that, you can just increase your age level and suffer the physical ability score penalties.
zook1shoe666 05-17-07, 12:29 PM	Venerable Dragonwrought Kobold: -4 Str +2 Dex -2 Con +3 Int +3 Wis +3 Cha, small, 30 ft., sorcerer, humanoid (kobold, reptilian, dragonblood), monter manual pg.161 and races of the dragon pg. 39 doesn't Dragonwrought change it to a Dragon-type?
RobbyPants 05-17-07, 12:35 PM	Don't play any race with a Con penalty, as it won't go away during Wild Shape... unless you get sufficient bonuses to make up for it.
AZNsupermarket 05-17-07, 10:32 PM	doesn't Dragonwrought change it to a Dragon-type? You're right, it was a typo.
taradusis 05-17-07, 10:39 PM	The anthropomorphic Bat from savage species was a favorite with the powergamers a while ago,everybody had a go at stretching the rules out of shape.Post a question on the char-ops board for detailed suggestions?
zook1shoe666 05-17-07, 10:40 PM	for the life of me i cant remeber the book but its this druidic centaur sytle monster, its either in MM4 or the FF but its has some sort of druid goodness, but seriously if your looking for power human is best (though my best druid was a half-orc) were you thinking of the Bariaur?
PalyLeto 05-19-07, 01:10 PM	elbereth, check your private messages....
ElberethSilverleaf 05-19-07, 03:02 PM	PalyLeto are you a fan of Dune? Was wondering from your handle.
PalyLeto 05-19-07, 08:36 PM	actually never read the books. I watched some parts of the movie, not all of them.