A template for a Druid - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A template for a Druid

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
deathmond
Nov 23, 2008 22:28:00 As a reward, each of the characters in the campaign I'm DMing is getting a +1 template. The only problem is that I can't really think of one that works well for a druid. I've looked through the master template list, and none strike me as good for a druid. I was hoping someone could point out one I missed, or failing that, help me come up with a homebrew list of changes that would make a good +1 template.
#2
shubniggurath
Nov 23, 2008 23:12:38 You want something with a WIS and CON bonus. You lose most of the abilities when you wildshape.

The only 2 templates that I can think about are Draconic (RotD) for a +2 CON and darkvision and Feral (SS) for +2 WIS and CON, fast healing 2 and improved grab. There isn't really anthing else at LA+1

Feral is HORRIBLY overpowered at LA+1 but you may persuade your DM to let you use it by gimping it... drop the NA (it is like +6 but it doesn't apply to you in wildshape anyway), drop the +4 STR to +2 (you don't care anyway) and drop the claw attack (again, who cares?) and you are good to go. It is still WAY more powerful than it should be, but...

Another option would be to persuade your DM to change race and play a Goliath (RoD). The race is LA+1 and it isn't really worth it for a druid, if it wasn't that allows you to take some nice sub levels and powerful wildshape (feat).
#3
khift
Nov 24, 2008 8:09:51
You want something with a WIS and CON bonus. You lose most of the abilities when you wildshape.

The only 2 templates that I can think about are Draconic (RotD) for a +2 CON and darkvision and Feral (SS) for +2 WIS and CON, fast healing 2 and improved grab. There isn't really anthing else at LA+1

Feral is HORRIBLY overpowered at LA+1 but you may persuade your DM to let you use it by gimping it... drop the NA (it is like +6 but it doesn't apply to you in wildshape anyway), drop the +4 STR to +2 (you don't care anyway) and drop the claw attack (again, who cares?) and you are good to go. It is still WAY more powerful than it should be, but...

Another option would be to persuade your DM to change race and play a Goliath (RoD). The race is LA+1 and it isn't really worth it for a druid, if it wasn't that allows you to take some nice sub levels and powerful wildshape (feat).

Convincing the DM should be fairly easy, given he is the DM. Simplifies things a bit.

I second Feral. Reducing/removing the natural attacks and some of the non-stat abilities (consider removing the Fast Healing) would bring the template in line with the other +1 LA templates and would still work excellently with the druid.
#4
cru
Nov 24, 2008 8:33:38 Alternatives:
- allow the druid to wildshape into templated creatures
- allow him to Awaken his companion
#5
deckinhand
Nov 24, 2008 11:03:33 Have you seen Shriekingdrake's Arboreal Halflings? They are quite cool and are a solid race for ourdoorsy-types It's not a template, but worth considering as a race change. It's final incarnation is here: http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=17281954&postcount=119

I know it's homebrew, but I think it's very well balanced and looks fun as hell.

Deckinhand
#6
deathmond
Nov 24, 2008 11:26:16 Interesting. I'm thinking feral will work when it's toned down.

Feral-

+2 Str/Con/Wis
-2 Int
60ft Darkvision
3 Fast Healing.

Keep the two claw attacks, but remove all those (EX) attack forms.

How does that look?
#7
ithamar
Nov 24, 2008 12:28:01 Lolth-Touched is pretty nice for +6 STR & CON at only +1 LA. Just reflavor it to the diety of your choice and see if the DM will let you swap the +6 STR for something else, like +2 natural armor while wildshaping or whatnot.
#8
widow
Nov 24, 2008 13:29:45 Your DM may hate me, but look at the Divine minion template.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20050209a

If it is allowed, just pick a deity that is a +1 adjustment. Then it is up to you and the DM if he will let the templates wildshape ability stack with the druids. Even if it does not, it still gives you unlimited wildshape uses, but with the designated form. You can still take feats that Frozen wild shape and exalted wildshape to add more forms that you can turn into, effecting both your druid's wildshaping and this templates. Depends on the campaign, but this could be useful.
#9
ChristopherGroves
Nov 24, 2008 14:03:18
Interesting. I'm thinking feral will work when it's toned down.

Feral-

+2 Str/Con/Wis
-2 Int
60ft Darkvision
3 Fast Healing.

Keep the two claw attacks, but remove all those (EX) attack forms.

How does that look?

Drop the claws, keep the attacks.

You don't want the claws, but you DO want the attacks
#10
phaedrusxy
Nov 24, 2008 15:31:43 There is a plant race in the Unapproachable East book which might be interesting that is +2 LA, but is probably worth more like +1. Technically it is a race, but you could easily strip it down to a template. I forget what they're called...
#11
aje8
Nov 24, 2008 16:35:13 See if you can get your DM to let to change your race to an LA +1 instead.

That opens up all of the anamorphic creatures from Savage Species.
#12
shubniggurath
Nov 26, 2008 1:09:50
Interesting. I'm thinking feral will work when it's toned down.

Feral-

+2 Str/Con/Wis
-2 Int
60ft Darkvision
3 Fast Healing.

Keep the two claw attacks, but remove all those (EX) attack forms.

How does that look?

A (smart) druid never fights in his natural form, so the claw attacks are useless for him. As another poster said, dump the claws, keep the special attacks.

Note also that the table of special attacks/qualities is based on HD and not on class levels. Since the druid's race has only 1 HD (assuming that he is not some kind of weird monster with >1 HD, in that case he is an idiot for playing a spellcaster) he gets only the first line of benefits, namely improved grab.
Also I believe that he gets fast healing 2, not 3.

Summing up:
+2 Str/Con/Wis
-2 Int
60ft Darkvision
Fast Healing 2
Improved grab

Note that improved grab does not work any more in his normal form (since he doesn't have a claw attack any more) but who cares?
BTW, it is still stronger than an average LA+1 (celestial, draconic...) but it is closer to 'ok'.
#13
Endarire
Nov 26, 2008 2:53:49 Unapproachable East has Shadow-Walker for +1 LA.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 deathmond Nov 23, 2008 22:28:00	As a reward, each of the characters in the campaign I'm DMing is getting a +1 template. The only problem is that I can't really think of one that works well for a druid. I've looked through the master template list, and none strike me as good for a druid. I was hoping someone could point out one I missed, or failing that, help me come up with a homebrew list of changes that would make a good +1 template.
#2 shubniggurath Nov 23, 2008 23:12:38	You want something with a WIS and CON bonus. You lose most of the abilities when you wildshape. The only 2 templates that I can think about are Draconic (RotD) for a +2 CON and darkvision and Feral (SS) for +2 WIS and CON, fast healing 2 and improved grab. There isn't really anthing else at LA+1 Feral is HORRIBLY overpowered at LA+1 but you may persuade your DM to let you use it by gimping it... drop the NA (it is like +6 but it doesn't apply to you in wildshape anyway), drop the +4 STR to +2 (you don't care anyway) and drop the claw attack (again, who cares?) and you are good to go. It is still WAY more powerful than it should be, but... Another option would be to persuade your DM to change race and play a Goliath (RoD). The race is LA+1 and it isn't really worth it for a druid, if it wasn't that allows you to take some nice sub levels and powerful wildshape (feat).
#3 khift Nov 24, 2008 8:09:51	You want something with a WIS and CON bonus. You lose most of the abilities when you wildshape. The only 2 templates that I can think about are Draconic (RotD) for a +2 CON and darkvision and Feral (SS) for +2 WIS and CON, fast healing 2 and improved grab. There isn't really anthing else at LA+1 Feral is HORRIBLY overpowered at LA+1 but you may persuade your DM to let you use it by gimping it... drop the NA (it is like +6 but it doesn't apply to you in wildshape anyway), drop the +4 STR to +2 (you don't care anyway) and drop the claw attack (again, who cares?) and you are good to go. It is still WAY more powerful than it should be, but... Another option would be to persuade your DM to change race and play a Goliath (RoD). The race is LA+1 and it isn't really worth it for a druid, if it wasn't that allows you to take some nice sub levels and powerful wildshape (feat). Convincing the DM should be fairly easy, given he is the DM. Simplifies things a bit. I second Feral. Reducing/removing the natural attacks and some of the non-stat abilities (consider removing the Fast Healing) would bring the template in line with the other +1 LA templates and would still work excellently with the druid.
#4 cru Nov 24, 2008 8:33:38	Alternatives: - allow the druid to wildshape into templated creatures - allow him to Awaken his companion
#5 deckinhand Nov 24, 2008 11:03:33	Have you seen Shriekingdrake's Arboreal Halflings? They are quite cool and are a solid race for ourdoorsy-types It's not a template, but worth considering as a race change. It's final incarnation is here: http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=17281954&postcount=119 I know it's homebrew, but I think it's very well balanced and looks fun as hell. Deckinhand
#6 deathmond Nov 24, 2008 11:26:16	Interesting. I'm thinking feral will work when it's toned down. Feral- +2 Str/Con/Wis -2 Int 60ft Darkvision 3 Fast Healing. Keep the two claw attacks, but remove all those (EX) attack forms. How does that look?
#7 ithamar Nov 24, 2008 12:28:01	Lolth-Touched is pretty nice for +6 STR & CON at only +1 LA. Just reflavor it to the diety of your choice and see if the DM will let you swap the +6 STR for something else, like +2 natural armor while wildshaping or whatnot.
#8 widow Nov 24, 2008 13:29:45	Your DM may hate me, but look at the Divine minion template. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20050209a If it is allowed, just pick a deity that is a +1 adjustment. Then it is up to you and the DM if he will let the templates wildshape ability stack with the druids. Even if it does not, it still gives you unlimited wildshape uses, but with the designated form. You can still take feats that Frozen wild shape and exalted wildshape to add more forms that you can turn into, effecting both your druid's wildshaping and this templates. Depends on the campaign, but this could be useful.
#9 ChristopherGroves Nov 24, 2008 14:03:18	Interesting. I'm thinking feral will work when it's toned down. Feral- +2 Str/Con/Wis -2 Int 60ft Darkvision 3 Fast Healing. Keep the two claw attacks, but remove all those (EX) attack forms. How does that look? Drop the claws, keep the attacks. You don't want the claws, but you DO want the attacks
#10 phaedrusxy Nov 24, 2008 15:31:43	There is a plant race in the Unapproachable East book which might be interesting that is +2 LA, but is probably worth more like +1. Technically it is a race, but you could easily strip it down to a template. I forget what they're called...
#11 aje8 Nov 24, 2008 16:35:13	See if you can get your DM to let to change your race to an LA +1 instead. That opens up all of the anamorphic creatures from Savage Species.
#12 shubniggurath Nov 26, 2008 1:09:50	Interesting. I'm thinking feral will work when it's toned down. Feral- +2 Str/Con/Wis -2 Int 60ft Darkvision 3 Fast Healing. Keep the two claw attacks, but remove all those (EX) attack forms. How does that look? A (smart) druid never fights in his natural form, so the claw attacks are useless for him. As another poster said, dump the claws, keep the special attacks. Note also that the table of special attacks/qualities is based on HD and not on class levels. Since the druid's race has only 1 HD (assuming that he is not some kind of weird monster with >1 HD, in that case he is an idiot for playing a spellcaster) he gets only the first line of benefits, namely improved grab. Also I believe that he gets fast healing 2, not 3. Summing up: +2 Str/Con/Wis -2 Int 60ft Darkvision Fast Healing 2 Improved grab Note that improved grab does not work any more in his normal form (since he doesn't have a claw attack any more) but who cares? BTW, it is still stronger than an average LA+1 (celestial, draconic...) but it is closer to 'ok'.
#13 Endarire Nov 26, 2008 2:53:49	Unapproachable East has Shadow-Walker for +1 LA.