Help a Druid out [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help a Druid out [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
PsycoMantis
12-02-05, 03:36 PM Can anyone give me any suggestions to help my character out so that my party, (more specificly the dwarf-wizard and the paladin), will stop calling me useless? What kind of druid is the most effective? Which feats should i choose and which skills should I be investing points into? Which animal companions are the best?

I appreciate your help!
hlnovice
12-02-05, 04:07 PM what level are you?
what ability score do you have?
what feat do you have?
where did you dump ur skill points?

at 1st level Druid, I found the wolf to be a great animal companion, since he as the trip ability:

Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+1 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the wolf.

If you want to me more offensive as a character dont forget to cast Shillelagh, to increase ur staff damage by two size increments and giving it +1, and utlize ur animal companion by flanking opponents.

A well played Druid at 1st level, can/should be as offensive as a paladin.
Radijs
12-02-05, 04:22 PM Until a druid gains the ability to wildshape its not very spectactular. But don't discount him because of that.
A druid has a load of spells that will have a lot of effect on a battle.
Entangle makes a nice battlefield control spell.
Or cast faerie fire on that group of enemies (no save!!!) and then cast darkness. Now your tank has complete concealment (50% miss chance against him) while he can wail away at the monsters without any kind of problems.
Level 2 lets you cast Brambles, its entangle + damage. How cool is that?

And dont discount your summon nature's ally spells which you can cast without preparing them! Summoned monsters are always good in any combat situations.
Look at the fighter who can suddenly flank along with your summoned wolves that trip the enemy orc as a bonus!
Moon-Lancer
12-02-05, 04:27 PM LOL the druid is the best class to be. When you reach level 6, they are going to have a heartattack.

Take natural spell at level six. Mostly go to the co boards. their is a druid handbook. Most everything you need is there
Bbutcher8819
12-02-05, 04:44 PM Druid definently rock,
When you can cast summun naturs ally either 3 or 4 i dont remember which. you can summon a giant owl and then a couple of hippogriffs. Thats pretty nasty. You can use the creatures to destract the opponent while you use some spells to do some serious damage or heal some of the party members. Wolf is definently a good animal companion. I would suggest using the 3.5 druid. That is really the best thing they changed. It is really better balanced and your animal companion gets stronger as you gain levels. Don't forget the wildshape ability. Especially if you have to transport something. Everything you are carrying melds into you so you can pick up like 300 pounds of stuff and then wildshape into a hawk and then fly off.
PsycoMantis
12-02-05, 06:18 PM Thanks for the help

BTW, I'm level 3
I have 14 str, 15 dex, 11 con, 10 int, 17 wis, and 14 cha
I have skill points in concentration, craft, handle animal, heal, knowledge (nature), listen, profession, ride, spellcraft, spot, survival, and swim (these are the ones suggested by the players handbook)
My feats include animal affinity, and toughness (I really needed the hp)

I was thinking about using the Two Weapon feat, is this a good idea?

I also have a hawk, I want to know what kind of animal i should use next level (i'm leaning towards ape or cheetah)

any further help would be greatly appreciated!
Radijs
12-02-05, 06:51 PM Dont take two weapon fighting. Its going to be useless once you reach level 5 and you're already desperately short on feats as a druid.
Take a look at these threads:

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=165279
http://boards.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=465005

Both are handbooks that you can use to make a very effective druid.

And for an animal companion on lvl 4 I favour the dire weasel. Its blood drain ability allows it to do 1d3 constitution damage. Nobody likes taking CON damage.
^Graff_EpsilonIX
12-02-05, 06:56 PM Drop to summon. Other than that, you are probably acting as your party healer or at least an alternate. Lack of healing spells makes people get very nice, fast.
PsycoMantis
12-02-05, 08:10 PM I've been considering intentionally contracting lycanthropy (werebear to be specific). Apparently, if you know you have it, you can control when you transform. It seems that it would be a lot easier than casting wildshape. plus, werebears are lawfully good, so the paladin in my party wont try to smite me.

Also, should i invest into mounted combat?
danielinthewolvesden
12-02-05, 09:15 PM No, you need the feat that allows you to spellcast while Wildshaped. With that feat, and wildshape- the Druid is the most powerful class in the game- hand's down.

See here:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=369436

But until then you're just a cheap cleric and OK scout in the wilderness. Live with it.
drow_thief
12-02-05, 10:11 PM i would try and get requirements for a loremaster so you can backstab them and get the last laugh
TheChilliGod
12-02-05, 10:43 PM i would try and get requirements for a loremaster so you can backstab them and get the last laugh What the heck does a loremaster have to do with backstabbing? Also, since druids only have knowledge as one class skill (when you need two at 10 ranks each), it will be tough getting to that PrC without a: multiclassing, and b: using feats up on metamagic and skill focus (ie the character ain't getting the PrC till 12th level at least, since you need 4 feats)
No, bad idea.

Until you get Wild Shape and Natural Spell at 6th lvl, I'd say the best thing to do is hang back and act as a field manipulator or a summoner. Summon hordes of Nature's Allies, and use spells like Entangle to disrupt enemies that also hang back. (casting spells, likely) Gust of Wind is also good for controlling where baddies go.

If you feel like fighting up close, consider the spell Flame Blade. A touch attack, which means that you will nearly always hit those clumsy fighters, and nearly the same amount of damage as a spear, and it's one-handed too, so you can keep that shield bonus.

Of course, the CO boards could do a lot better than what I've just suggested, but there's my opinion on the matter.
Fluffy Bunny of Doom
12-02-05, 10:47 PM Just thought I would mention another reason the whole werebear thing would not be a great idea. As a druid you would need to be neutral, if you lose your neutral status I do not believe you could advance as druid anymore and would lose abilities until you are neutral once again. Also you could not cast while it that form without feats as was mentioned.

I also think intentionally contracting something like Lycanthropy was always rather metta gameish(is that a word? lol), but it is definitly cheesy. I mean what character would honestly go around thinking I should find a lycanthrope and have him bit me so I can be stronger and fight better. As a druid I would imagine your character would be aware that after focus and determination on following the druidic path they would animalistic abilities and forms, use nature to defend the natural type of thinking I would guess. Why would they think they need or want lycanthropy?

Just my $0.02.
PsycoMantis
12-03-05, 10:32 PM Thanks a lot for the advice

I recently wowed the party by tripping up a Minotaur and using Entangle to keep him down while the others beat on him. Unfortunatly (sarcasm), this was after he had gored the dwarf wizard, knocking him out, LOL. Also, summon natures ally is becoming increasingly useful, as well as my healing spells.

About the lycanthropy, I only wanted that because wild shape has a lot of limitations, aka, being familiar with the type of animal you want to transform into. Also, you lose the ability to use weapons and armor. And the wild shape animals dont seem very powerful to me.
Aldarionn
12-04-05, 02:32 AM And the wild shape animals dont seem very powerful to me.

Have you looked at the Dire Bear? STR in the 30's!!! That's rediculous at lvl 6. You don't just stay with your normal stats when you Wildshape, you gain all the animal's physical stats (STR, DEX, CON) and keep your own mental stats (INT, WIS, CHA). Also, you keep your modifiers to your stats (the ones that come from leveling up, or enhancements from tomes at later levels. Not from gear) When you are rampaging through a group of monsters with STR 30+, massive damage, decent AC, great HP and casting spells to heal yourself, buff yourself, summon animals to your aid, and hinder your opponents, you will quickly see why Druid is considered the best class in the game.

Aldarionn
Druidsrule
12-04-05, 08:52 AM Have you looked at the Dire Bear? STR in the 30's!!! That's rediculous at lvl 6. You don't just stay with your normal stats when you Wildshape, you gain all the animal's physical stats (STR, DEX, CON) and keep your own mental stats (INT, WIS, CHA). Also, you keep your modifiers to your stats (the ones that come from leveling up, or enhancements from tomes at later levels. Not from gear) When you are rampaging through a group of monsters with STR 30+, massive damage, decent AC, great HP and casting spells to heal yourself, buff yourself, summon animals to your aid, and hinder your opponents, you will quickly see why Druid is considered the best class in the game.

Aldarionn

The Dire Bear has 12 HD, so he needs to be level 12 to Wild Shape into one. Also, it's large, so he's going to need 8 to WS into any useful bear.
TinManFan
12-04-05, 12:43 PM Well, here's an idea. Kill off yer druid and come back as an Illumian Druid. <Ducks to avoid the 5 minute barrage of rotten fruit> And here's why.

Pick up their spiffy lil floating runes that add to caster lvl and one other. There's one combo that lets you use Str as your casting stat. Wildshape into a Dire Bear. "Save's a 40." is always fun to say.

Also, SUMMON SUMMON SUMMON. Augment Summoning is a great 3rd lvl feat for a non-item maker to be having. Nothing says luvin like a flanker. At lvl 4 that -2 is a godsend. ESP if you have a wizard flinging touch spells around (Given that the wiz has scorching ray access and Ray of Enfeeblement access HE FRIKKIN SHOULD) and like someone's sig says, you NEVER know when a Celestial Porpoise will come in handy.

Also, wildshaping is great. Pick a snake. No one likes snakes except that freakin Set PrC from Serpent Kingdoms/ Wrap around someone and BAM! Instant cover.

Lastly, quote the Hackmasters of Everknight "Just remember who throws down the healing spells around here!"
Varia
12-05-05, 06:47 AM I quite liked apes/giant apes/dire apes as pets and wildshapes myself. Mobile, pretty easy to armor, hit hard. :)

*Hugs*
Varia
MindWandererB
12-05-05, 07:07 AM Bears. I love bears. Summons may last only 3 rounds at your level, but three full attacks from a bear could do more damage than the pally in the whole fight. And they may be big and hard to manage, but they make sweet animal companions, as well as cool wild shapes. Snakes are good, too- constrictors are death to enemy casters, and vipers' poison makes the whole party feel good.

Augment Summoning should be a lower priority (you need 2 feats to get it, and Natural Spell definitely needs to come first), but it is pretty nice.

The DM may cut you some slack on what animals you're "familiar with." Probably anything on the Nature's Ally list that you're high enough level to summon ought to count.
Koji
12-05-05, 04:27 PM Augment summoning augment summoning augment summoning.

It is absolutely disgustingly good and makes the lower level summon nature's ally spells useful long after they should be, not to mention what it does to the at-level stuff.
TinManFan
12-05-05, 08:45 PM 1d4+1 augmented dire lions is never wrong. Now you just need to cast that 3 times with a Bard singing and a cleric busting out the area buffs and the fun times, dey is a rollin'.
^Graff_EpsilonIX
12-05-05, 09:23 PM Summoning is indeed happy. You can always attack the enemy with the ubersquirrels of doom! Consider bird wildshapes, along with strategic forms that take advantage of the environments you commonly fight in.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
PsycoMantis 12-02-05, 03:36 PM	Can anyone give me any suggestions to help my character out so that my party, (more specificly the dwarf-wizard and the paladin), will stop calling me useless? What kind of druid is the most effective? Which feats should i choose and which skills should I be investing points into? Which animal companions are the best? I appreciate your help!
hlnovice 12-02-05, 04:07 PM	what level are you? what ability score do you have? what feat do you have? where did you dump ur skill points? at 1st level Druid, I found the wolf to be a great animal companion, since he as the trip ability: Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+1 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the wolf. If you want to me more offensive as a character dont forget to cast Shillelagh, to increase ur staff damage by two size increments and giving it +1, and utlize ur animal companion by flanking opponents. A well played Druid at 1st level, can/should be as offensive as a paladin.
Radijs 12-02-05, 04:22 PM	Until a druid gains the ability to wildshape its not very spectactular. But don't discount him because of that. A druid has a load of spells that will have a lot of effect on a battle. Entangle makes a nice battlefield control spell. Or cast faerie fire on that group of enemies (no save!!!) and then cast darkness. Now your tank has complete concealment (50% miss chance against him) while he can wail away at the monsters without any kind of problems. Level 2 lets you cast Brambles, its entangle + damage. How cool is that? And dont discount your summon nature's ally spells which you can cast without preparing them! Summoned monsters are always good in any combat situations. Look at the fighter who can suddenly flank along with your summoned wolves that trip the enemy orc as a bonus!
Moon-Lancer 12-02-05, 04:27 PM	LOL the druid is the best class to be. When you reach level 6, they are going to have a heartattack. Take natural spell at level six. Mostly go to the co boards. their is a druid handbook. Most everything you need is there
Bbutcher8819 12-02-05, 04:44 PM	Druid definently rock, When you can cast summun naturs ally either 3 or 4 i dont remember which. you can summon a giant owl and then a couple of hippogriffs. Thats pretty nasty. You can use the creatures to destract the opponent while you use some spells to do some serious damage or heal some of the party members. Wolf is definently a good animal companion. I would suggest using the 3.5 druid. That is really the best thing they changed. It is really better balanced and your animal companion gets stronger as you gain levels. Don't forget the wildshape ability. Especially if you have to transport something. Everything you are carrying melds into you so you can pick up like 300 pounds of stuff and then wildshape into a hawk and then fly off.
PsycoMantis 12-02-05, 06:18 PM	Thanks for the help BTW, I'm level 3 I have 14 str, 15 dex, 11 con, 10 int, 17 wis, and 14 cha I have skill points in concentration, craft, handle animal, heal, knowledge (nature), listen, profession, ride, spellcraft, spot, survival, and swim (these are the ones suggested by the players handbook) My feats include animal affinity, and toughness (I really needed the hp) I was thinking about using the Two Weapon feat, is this a good idea? I also have a hawk, I want to know what kind of animal i should use next level (i'm leaning towards ape or cheetah) any further help would be greatly appreciated!
Radijs 12-02-05, 06:51 PM	Dont take two weapon fighting. Its going to be useless once you reach level 5 and you're already desperately short on feats as a druid. Take a look at these threads: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=165279 http://boards.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=465005 Both are handbooks that you can use to make a very effective druid. And for an animal companion on lvl 4 I favour the dire weasel. Its blood drain ability allows it to do 1d3 constitution damage. Nobody likes taking CON damage.
^Graff_EpsilonIX 12-02-05, 06:56 PM	Drop to summon. Other than that, you are probably acting as your party healer or at least an alternate. Lack of healing spells makes people get very nice, fast.
PsycoMantis 12-02-05, 08:10 PM	I've been considering intentionally contracting lycanthropy (werebear to be specific). Apparently, if you know you have it, you can control when you transform. It seems that it would be a lot easier than casting wildshape. plus, werebears are lawfully good, so the paladin in my party wont try to smite me. Also, should i invest into mounted combat?
danielinthewolvesden 12-02-05, 09:15 PM	No, you need the feat that allows you to spellcast while Wildshaped. With that feat, and wildshape- the Druid is the most powerful class in the game- hand's down. See here: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=369436 But until then you're just a cheap cleric and OK scout in the wilderness. Live with it.
drow_thief 12-02-05, 10:11 PM	i would try and get requirements for a loremaster so you can backstab them and get the last laugh
TheChilliGod 12-02-05, 10:43 PM	i would try and get requirements for a loremaster so you can backstab them and get the last laugh What the heck does a loremaster have to do with backstabbing? Also, since druids only have knowledge as one class skill (when you need two at 10 ranks each), it will be tough getting to that PrC without a: multiclassing, and b: using feats up on metamagic and skill focus (ie the character ain't getting the PrC till 12th level at least, since you need 4 feats) No, bad idea. Until you get Wild Shape and Natural Spell at 6th lvl, I'd say the best thing to do is hang back and act as a field manipulator or a summoner. Summon hordes of Nature's Allies, and use spells like Entangle to disrupt enemies that also hang back. (casting spells, likely) Gust of Wind is also good for controlling where baddies go. If you feel like fighting up close, consider the spell Flame Blade. A touch attack, which means that you will nearly always hit those clumsy fighters, and nearly the same amount of damage as a spear, and it's one-handed too, so you can keep that shield bonus. Of course, the CO boards could do a lot better than what I've just suggested, but there's my opinion on the matter.
Fluffy Bunny of Doom 12-02-05, 10:47 PM	Just thought I would mention another reason the whole werebear thing would not be a great idea. As a druid you would need to be neutral, if you lose your neutral status I do not believe you could advance as druid anymore and would lose abilities until you are neutral once again. Also you could not cast while it that form without feats as was mentioned. I also think intentionally contracting something like Lycanthropy was always rather metta gameish(is that a word? lol), but it is definitly cheesy. I mean what character would honestly go around thinking I should find a lycanthrope and have him bit me so I can be stronger and fight better. As a druid I would imagine your character would be aware that after focus and determination on following the druidic path they would animalistic abilities and forms, use nature to defend the natural type of thinking I would guess. Why would they think they need or want lycanthropy? Just my $0.02.
PsycoMantis 12-03-05, 10:32 PM	Thanks a lot for the advice I recently wowed the party by tripping up a Minotaur and using Entangle to keep him down while the others beat on him. Unfortunatly (sarcasm), this was after he had gored the dwarf wizard, knocking him out, LOL. Also, summon natures ally is becoming increasingly useful, as well as my healing spells. About the lycanthropy, I only wanted that because wild shape has a lot of limitations, aka, being familiar with the type of animal you want to transform into. Also, you lose the ability to use weapons and armor. And the wild shape animals dont seem very powerful to me.
Aldarionn 12-04-05, 02:32 AM	And the wild shape animals dont seem very powerful to me. Have you looked at the Dire Bear? STR in the 30's!!! That's rediculous at lvl 6. You don't just stay with your normal stats when you Wildshape, you gain all the animal's physical stats (STR, DEX, CON) and keep your own mental stats (INT, WIS, CHA). Also, you keep your modifiers to your stats (the ones that come from leveling up, or enhancements from tomes at later levels. Not from gear) When you are rampaging through a group of monsters with STR 30+, massive damage, decent AC, great HP and casting spells to heal yourself, buff yourself, summon animals to your aid, and hinder your opponents, you will quickly see why Druid is considered the best class in the game. Aldarionn
Druidsrule 12-04-05, 08:52 AM	Have you looked at the Dire Bear? STR in the 30's!!! That's rediculous at lvl 6. You don't just stay with your normal stats when you Wildshape, you gain all the animal's physical stats (STR, DEX, CON) and keep your own mental stats (INT, WIS, CHA). Also, you keep your modifiers to your stats (the ones that come from leveling up, or enhancements from tomes at later levels. Not from gear) When you are rampaging through a group of monsters with STR 30+, massive damage, decent AC, great HP and casting spells to heal yourself, buff yourself, summon animals to your aid, and hinder your opponents, you will quickly see why Druid is considered the best class in the game. Aldarionn The Dire Bear has 12 HD, so he needs to be level 12 to Wild Shape into one. Also, it's large, so he's going to need 8 to WS into any useful bear.
TinManFan 12-04-05, 12:43 PM	Well, here's an idea. Kill off yer druid and come back as an Illumian Druid. <Ducks to avoid the 5 minute barrage of rotten fruit> And here's why. Pick up their spiffy lil floating runes that add to caster lvl and one other. There's one combo that lets you use Str as your casting stat. Wildshape into a Dire Bear. "Save's a 40." is always fun to say. Also, SUMMON SUMMON SUMMON. Augment Summoning is a great 3rd lvl feat for a non-item maker to be having. Nothing says luvin like a flanker. At lvl 4 that -2 is a godsend. ESP if you have a wizard flinging touch spells around (Given that the wiz has scorching ray access and Ray of Enfeeblement access HE FRIKKIN SHOULD) and like someone's sig says, you NEVER know when a Celestial Porpoise will come in handy. Also, wildshaping is great. Pick a snake. No one likes snakes except that freakin Set PrC from Serpent Kingdoms/ Wrap around someone and BAM! Instant cover. Lastly, quote the Hackmasters of Everknight "Just remember who throws down the healing spells around here!"
Varia 12-05-05, 06:47 AM	I quite liked apes/giant apes/dire apes as pets and wildshapes myself. Mobile, pretty easy to armor, hit hard. :) Hugs Varia
MindWandererB 12-05-05, 07:07 AM	Bears. I love bears. Summons may last only 3 rounds at your level, but three full attacks from a bear could do more damage than the pally in the whole fight. And they may be big and hard to manage, but they make sweet animal companions, as well as cool wild shapes. Snakes are good, too- constrictors are death to enemy casters, and vipers' poison makes the whole party feel good. Augment Summoning should be a lower priority (you need 2 feats to get it, and Natural Spell definitely needs to come first), but it is pretty nice. The DM may cut you some slack on what animals you're "familiar with." Probably anything on the Nature's Ally list that you're high enough level to summon ought to count.
Koji 12-05-05, 04:27 PM	Augment summoning augment summoning augment summoning. It is absolutely disgustingly good and makes the lower level summon nature's ally spells useful long after they should be, not to mention what it does to the at-level stuff.
TinManFan 12-05-05, 08:45 PM	1d4+1 augmented dire lions is never wrong. Now you just need to cast that 3 times with a Bard singing and a cleric busting out the area buffs and the fun times, dey is a rollin'.
^Graff_EpsilonIX 12-05-05, 09:23 PM	Summoning is indeed happy. You can always attack the enemy with the ubersquirrels of doom! Consider bird wildshapes, along with strategic forms that take advantage of the environments you commonly fight in.