Variant Druid [Archive] - Wizards Community

Variant Druid [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Meepo Sose
02-15-06, 07:50 PM I saw that in the UA it makes some suggestions for making your own variants. I started with a Drow Druid and hope to eventually add the Drow Judicator. My DM also allowed me to have a pet monstrous spider instead of a wolf or surface type critter. My questions is whether or not it seems balanced to trade in some of the druid's abilities for some of the following:

trade wildshape for Rogue sneak attack ability
trade wildshape for Fighter bonus feats
trade Resist Nature's Lure for the Ninja's Poison Use

I am both a DM and a player, but often times we lose sight of the DM's perpective when we are focusing on our personal character. I haven't asked this of my DM yet and wanted to get some opinions on it before making the decision on whether or not to ask.

If that doesn't work, what are people's thoughts on the following character plans:
1. Drd/Nja/Nja/Drd/Nja/Drd/Drd and then Drow Judicator (Jud?) 1 thru 10
or Drd4/Nja3/Jud10 if that is easier to read.

Drd provides the pet spider that can web opponents, the ninja class gives the drow safe application of drow sleeping poison and +2d6 Sudden Strike against webbed opponents. Also WIS bonus to AC when unarmored well help keep him light and capable at hiding and moving silently. Handle Animal and Ride are both fairly high, but I'm not sure how useful that will be for combat. Might be better to take weapon finesse since he starts with a 15 dex and only a 12 str. Another possibility might be to throw a beast master on here to get a slightly stronger pet spider until the drow judicator's spider servant arrives.

2. Drd/Ftr/Nja/Ftr/Drd/Nja/Nja and then Jud
Drd2/Nja3/Ftr2/Jud10

This is the same basic idea but with extra HP and feats thrown in over a stronger pet and spells. I could use those feats to add mounted combat, ride-by-attack etc but it may not be wise if the mount is weaker in this combo.
beat_takeshi
02-16-06, 05:15 AM I don't think wild shape for sneak attack is fair, but wild shape for fighters feats is ok. Sneak attack has more synergy with spells than fighter feats, especially because your losing your wild shape. Even then actually it's too generous. Half a fighters feats is ok. Or play a gestalt character
Verelor
02-16-06, 07:06 PM Actually, use THIS (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=168687) .
sirmeatball
02-16-06, 10:44 PM "the ninja class gives the drow safe application of drow sleeping poison"

Drow are (like all elves) immune to sleep. No need to take safe poison use for just this.
Meepo Sose
02-17-06, 02:08 AM "the ninja class gives the drow safe application of drow sleeping poison"

Drow are (like all elves) immune to sleep. No need to take safe poison use for just this.

Holy crap. I can't believe I missed that little tid bit.

I don't think wild shape for sneak attack is fair, but wild shape for fighters feats is ok.

Yeah, I think I'm in agreement with you on that. The bonus fighter feats seem questionable to me.

Ultimately, I want to come up with an effective but unique druid-type character. Since nature in the Underdark is typically vicious and cruel, my drow druid will reflect that same personality. I'm leaning back towards staying as a pure druid (maybe with the fighter-feat replacement if my DM will allow it) and then riding into combat on the back of my spider mount. My druid may not dish out as much damage himself, but hopefully it will still seem effective when I combine it with the attacks or my pet spider mount -- who should be stronger than if I multi-class him. If I go that route, I guess I should pick up mounted combat at level 3 and then combat reflexes at L6 to get into the drow judicator PrC.
Rathje
02-17-06, 02:12 AM I don't think wild shape for sneak attack is fair, but wild shape for fighters feats is ok. Sneak attack has more synergy with spells than fighter feats, especially because your losing your wild shape. Even then actually it's too generous. Half a fighters feats is ok. Or play a gestalt character

Keep in mind, though, that the Fighter and Rogue variants listed on page 58 of Unearthed Arcana imply that Fighter bonus feats and Sneak Attack are equal in worth.
FriendlyBiscuit
02-17-06, 05:30 PM Which inversely means that a d10 HD, full weapon and armor proficiencies, and a full BAB are treated as equivalent to the Rogue's tons of skillpoints and slew of cool class abilities. This, to me, makes very little sense. What do other people think about it?
catfan
02-18-06, 05:00 PM Drow, and other elves, are NOT immune to sleep. They are immune to *magical* sleep. Thus they can be affected by poison, no problem.
Meepo Sose
02-18-06, 06:11 PM Hmmm, well what about trading Resist Nature's Lure for the Ninja's Poison Use?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Meepo Sose 02-15-06, 07:50 PM	I saw that in the UA it makes some suggestions for making your own variants. I started with a Drow Druid and hope to eventually add the Drow Judicator. My DM also allowed me to have a pet monstrous spider instead of a wolf or surface type critter. My questions is whether or not it seems balanced to trade in some of the druid's abilities for some of the following: trade wildshape for Rogue sneak attack ability trade wildshape for Fighter bonus feats trade Resist Nature's Lure for the Ninja's Poison Use I am both a DM and a player, but often times we lose sight of the DM's perpective when we are focusing on our personal character. I haven't asked this of my DM yet and wanted to get some opinions on it before making the decision on whether or not to ask. If that doesn't work, what are people's thoughts on the following character plans: 1. Drd/Nja/Nja/Drd/Nja/Drd/Drd and then Drow Judicator (Jud?) 1 thru 10 or Drd4/Nja3/Jud10 if that is easier to read. Drd provides the pet spider that can web opponents, the ninja class gives the drow safe application of drow sleeping poison and +2d6 Sudden Strike against webbed opponents. Also WIS bonus to AC when unarmored well help keep him light and capable at hiding and moving silently. Handle Animal and Ride are both fairly high, but I'm not sure how useful that will be for combat. Might be better to take weapon finesse since he starts with a 15 dex and only a 12 str. Another possibility might be to throw a beast master on here to get a slightly stronger pet spider until the drow judicator's spider servant arrives. 2. Drd/Ftr/Nja/Ftr/Drd/Nja/Nja and then Jud Drd2/Nja3/Ftr2/Jud10 This is the same basic idea but with extra HP and feats thrown in over a stronger pet and spells. I could use those feats to add mounted combat, ride-by-attack etc but it may not be wise if the mount is weaker in this combo.
beat_takeshi 02-16-06, 05:15 AM	I don't think wild shape for sneak attack is fair, but wild shape for fighters feats is ok. Sneak attack has more synergy with spells than fighter feats, especially because your losing your wild shape. Even then actually it's too generous. Half a fighters feats is ok. Or play a gestalt character
Verelor 02-16-06, 07:06 PM	Actually, use THIS (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=168687) .
sirmeatball 02-16-06, 10:44 PM	"the ninja class gives the drow safe application of drow sleeping poison" Drow are (like all elves) immune to sleep. No need to take safe poison use for just this.
Meepo Sose 02-17-06, 02:08 AM	"the ninja class gives the drow safe application of drow sleeping poison" Drow are (like all elves) immune to sleep. No need to take safe poison use for just this. Holy crap. I can't believe I missed that little tid bit. I don't think wild shape for sneak attack is fair, but wild shape for fighters feats is ok. Yeah, I think I'm in agreement with you on that. The bonus fighter feats seem questionable to me. Ultimately, I want to come up with an effective but unique druid-type character. Since nature in the Underdark is typically vicious and cruel, my drow druid will reflect that same personality. I'm leaning back towards staying as a pure druid (maybe with the fighter-feat replacement if my DM will allow it) and then riding into combat on the back of my spider mount. My druid may not dish out as much damage himself, but hopefully it will still seem effective when I combine it with the attacks or my pet spider mount -- who should be stronger than if I multi-class him. If I go that route, I guess I should pick up mounted combat at level 3 and then combat reflexes at L6 to get into the drow judicator PrC.
Rathje 02-17-06, 02:12 AM	I don't think wild shape for sneak attack is fair, but wild shape for fighters feats is ok. Sneak attack has more synergy with spells than fighter feats, especially because your losing your wild shape. Even then actually it's too generous. Half a fighters feats is ok. Or play a gestalt character Keep in mind, though, that the Fighter and Rogue variants listed on page 58 of Unearthed Arcana imply that Fighter bonus feats and Sneak Attack are equal in worth.
FriendlyBiscuit 02-17-06, 05:30 PM	Which inversely means that a d10 HD, full weapon and armor proficiencies, and a full BAB are treated as equivalent to the Rogue's tons of skillpoints and slew of cool class abilities. This, to me, makes very little sense. What do other people think about it?
catfan 02-18-06, 05:00 PM	Drow, and other elves, are NOT immune to sleep. They are immune to magical sleep. Thus they can be affected by poison, no problem.
Meepo Sose 02-18-06, 06:11 PM	Hmmm, well what about trading Resist Nature's Lure for the Ninja's Poison Use?