Post/Author/DateTime	Post
adimeadozen 09-25-05, 04:53 PM	I managed to overlook this variant in the Misc. section for quite some time, not sure why, a few of them seemed a little underpowered, giving up more than they get in return. I'm not sure how the rules exactly pertain to this, and I'll post more info on it if it turns out to be fine to do so (for those of you without the book or access to it), but to point those of you who do have access in the right direction, it is a very simple description explaining that the Druid gives up wild shape (a serious loss) and armor proficiencies and picks up some pretty complementary Ranger and Monk abilities. This seems to be one of the more powerful short-written class variants in this list (Most have some merit as variants, but the ones that stand out as equally-or-more effective seem to be Barbarian, Cleric, and Rogue (if you can stand not having Sneak)). But that isn't what draws me to it, it just seems like it would make for an entertaining character, I can't help but love it. Anyway, has anyone used this before? If so, how did it work, feel and mesh with the character itself? Anyone else never notice it or completely and wildly disagree with me? I don't see many (well, any) threads in this board about this group of simple switch-variants, they aren't terribly useful but can be nice to help fit a character concept, I feel.
Millennium 09-27-05, 04:37 PM	Do you mean the "hunter" variant (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#druid) from UA? (link goes to d20srd.org) It's certainly an interesting idea. By itself it seems a bit underpowered, but you could work around that with some careful feat selection. I could see CN, NE, and possibly some N druids gravitating to the 'predator' aspect of the class.
adimeadozen 09-27-05, 05:01 PM	Ah, see, I had no idea it was in the SRD as well, yeah, thats the one, give up Wild Shape and Armor Prof.'s, pick up full monk AC bonus (including wisdom), monk's unarmored speed bonus, favored enemy, swift tracker and track. Yeah, that group of variants all seem a little underpowered, or at least require slightly more specific strategies to build as effectively as other classes.
Millennium 09-27-05, 05:23 PM	Ah, see, I had no idea it was in the SRD as well, yeah, thats the one, give up Wild Shape and Armor Prof.'s, pick up full monk AC bonus (including wisdom), monk's unarmored speed bonus, favored enemy, swift tracker and track. It's not actually in the SRD per se, but that site seems to be trying to accumulate all the OGL content from the D&D books, and all of Unearthed Arcana is under the OGL (note that it's also the only book so far where all of it is OGL; you can't do this sort of thing with just any of the books).
urukar 09-28-05, 05:54 PM	This varient of the Druid is better for multiclassing than the standard Druid. The WIS bonus to AC is good on 1st level, as is the Track Feat and Favored Enemy. Giving up Wild shape only matters if you were planning on going to 5th+. So if you want to get to Geomancer (with levels of Sorc or Wiz), for example, it is a good choice. Add in the Avenger varient and it becomes even better (Rage and fast move on 1st, while you give up an animal companion who was never going to get any better anyway)
beezly 09-28-05, 11:25 PM	I'm actually playing one of those druids lvl 5 in a PbP game. It's actually pretty fun and I have very good AC: I'm an elf and i've grabbed 2WF, Insightful strike (wis to attack) and Weapon Focus: Quarterstaff. I buff up by casting shillelagh and then spikes, and then go to town. I once killed 5 pirates at once, dishing out about 20 damage per round, though I did have 3 rounds to buff (shillelagh, Owl's Wis, spikes).