Sell me on Hierophant

[Diamore]

I have been struggling to decide on if this class is useful or not. Druid is my class of choice and am considering an RCR to help fix my main character who was built with a very old version of the server and its rules in mind.

I am looking for advice on how to best use this class within the context of a druid but I have come up empty several times so far.

I dislike dragon shape, so no issue with losing that.

I prefer a support role but will still need to solo as the server is usually sparse at my normal times.

I am keen to implement the "Toll of Nature" power, but am worried the spells it improves are just rubbish for the most part on this server.

I am worried the classes steep entry requirements limit multi-classing too much to make anything interesting.

Anyone have any suggestions or opinions on the class with these things in mind?

[Steve]

Hierophant is the shizz nizzle for Clerics. Druids are pretty great on their own. I'd only consider taking Hierophant with Druid if I was also take another non-spellcasting Class/PrC in the build, in order to utilize Spell powers.

[Nemni]

Spellpower is great for any spellcaster. You can use it to improve your DC or get more non-spellcaster levels while maintaining a good CL. Blast Infidel for double harm damage is pretty good too.
Sadly Druids/Shamans loose skill points for taking this class though, so it's probably better for clerics.

[Invoker]

Anyone have any suggestions or opinions on the class with these things in mind?

It's very easy to sell this class, as it's the pinnacle of divine casting power on the server.

A Druid 20/Hierophant 10 kind of character is your archetypical "Arch-Druid", leader of the Circle, whose spell power is superior to the others as a result of a deeper connection with nature.

-) Blast Infidel: it's rather good, because 150 to 300 negative energy dmg Harms (and with your DCs, it will be 300 often) are on par with several Epic Spells, and better than a few of them.

-) Spell Power & Advanced Divine Spellpower: excellent, for obvious reasons (spell power, length, resistance to Mords which are a major weakness for Druids)

-) Oak Friend: this is absolutely overpowered for party play. It's just ridiculous, and will allow you and your team to walk over everything this server has to offer, including many DM events.

Picking the three above will make your character very strong, even if you give up Dragon Shape (especially because it will enable you to utilize consumables and epic spells, among other things...). The rest is added value.

[nightingale]

I read somewhere on the forum that heirophant spell powers didn't work for druid spells? Like they don't improve the CL for druid spells but do for cleric spells... Can't find where I read that.

Anyway, if you want something a bit different here is my first build on this server: SS26/P4. Originally I had planned to get blood magic but when I played this toon almost 5 years ago blood magic was too buggy so its not in this build, although I think blood magic works better now, and raises CL and DC. I did not get far in epic levels before RCRing into other builds.

I would replace tower shield prof with blood magic, but you get to blast a lot better than a cleric and being tanky (66ac) helps solo play.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?128337

[Diamore]

Thanks for the quick replies, a short run down of my thoughts. I should mention, the character will definitely be a druid, its a remake not a new character.

Blast Infidel: This seems a very limited (if powerful) improvement. It would be an easy pick on a cleric who has the full line of damaging spells. You don't think it eats into your limited level 7 spell slots?

Oak Friend: Does look good I admit.

Spellpower: Is this really that good? I guess its useful for multi-classing when short on feats, but this PRC is difficult to multi-class as it is. The practical benefit of investing in this on a pure caster is +3 to duration effects, Mordenkainen's resistance and (I think) +1DC?

Advanced Divine Spellpower: Is not available to Druids.

Toll of Nature: Sounds like no-one cares about it?

[mrm3ntalist]

- Spell power is a must. I and II should be enough. Better chance to overcome SR/ longer dureation, more difficult to dispel and +1DC. Extra CL is that important.
- There is a new feat for Hierophants that enables the progression of animal companions. If the animal companion is an essentioal part of your build/RP that is another must have feat.
- Oak friend is as good as invoker described
- That leaves you with one extra feat to take if you go the whole 10levels

A good class to multiclass with is Hospitaler, however you will lose the animal companion progression. You can use the bonus feats to pick Epic Wisdom for even higher DC.

In summary, a druid/Hierophant or even better a druid/Hospitaler/Hierophant makes a very strong caster druid.

[Steve]

Hierophant is great, no doubt. I have a cleric/heirophant build and I'm kinda shocked about how powerful it is.

Obviously, Druid + Owl's Insight has the capability to get some serious high DCs.

Though not Druid, the Spirit Shaman has the same spell list, so I was toying with this idea of a build, because I wanted to think on how best to use Blast Infidel:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?237917

If anyone wants to give me some feedback on that build, I'd be happy (though not trying to derail this thread too much!).

[mrm3ntalist]

Bloodmagic does not fit your concept?

I would go for more Gr CHA instead of so many epic spells.

[Steve]

Bloodmagic does not fit your concept?

I would go for more Gr CHA instead of so many epic spells.

I like Blood Magic...who doesn't like blood magic?!? yeah, that is a good idea, M3nt. So, does one activate Blood Magic, take the 3 + d8 per spell level dmg, then it's constantly active on all spells until...rest? Or is it activate then cast, which means its use is somewhat limited to the number of HP one is willing to sacrifice?

Also, does Blood Magic effect the spell used to Inscribe Rune, the Hierphant feat?

Yeah, 2+ CHAs would up another DC. Though I am partial to summoning an Epic Gate, Vamp Feasting then Hell Balling any that are left standing!! lol. It just sounds so bad ass on paper!

[nightingale]

I think its possible, very much depending on the character, to move from a non-shifter caster druid to a shaman without changing the RP much. Your main power, the spells, remain the same.

For this build, I guess the focus is on PvP? You have about 6 or 7 uber harms, which will be devastating in PvP, and be a sizeable chunk of hps on an endboss, but not put much of a dent in the amount of damage needed to get through the 22 mins between rests. An empowered body of sun can do a lot for the grind

-extend spell is not really needed. Most of the druid spell list is not short term buffs, and being spontaneous you can cast the buff again after the 36 mins or so

-I'm surprised you didn't get divine shield with all the cha. Its hard to pass up, and would put your ac past 60.

-Wearing armor doesn't hinder the shaman and eases the strain on stat points for ac, allowing other stats to be pumped and would not lower overall ac, but the robed monkly shaman is a cool concept.

-Blood magic yeah someone beat me to it

[dedude]

http://nwn2db.com/build/?237917

If anyone wants to give me some feedback on that build, I'd be happy (though not trying to derail this thread too much!).

From lvl 8 you are looking at 20% xp penalty + the ECL+1 from Assimar.

[Steve]

From lvl 8 you are looking at 20% xp penalty + the ECL+1 from Assimar.

No pain, no gain!!

[Diamore]

So a 32 caster levels grants +1 DC and I presume the Practised Spellcaster issue that let you multi-class for higher DC got fixed.

Still no-one thinks the Toll of Nature is any good?

What is the feat that grants animal companion progression? Is it listed somewhere to look at? Is there any others available that aren't listed?

[chad878262]

Practiced Spell Caster was fixed so that it will not go above CL30. However, with Hierophant Spell Power you can go over 30. So theoretically with Steve's build you could take up to one more non CL progression level (for instance taking SF up to 10) so long as you could take one more spell power feat and you would still end at 32.