A guide to druid combat from lvl 1 - 30

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[Simian]

The white dragon?

[AC81]

What about SoV Bre? Surely it's okay for Druids to be raining acid on the ground, forever destroying any growth? Isn't it .... ?

[ragnarok1983]

Acid... does not forever destroy the ground. Because a druid can undo it...
With Ph Balance.

*puts on sunglasses*

[Simian]

Splinter Bolt is an interesting curiosity too. When Maximized: 24*3 points of piercing damage.

Maximized Moonbolt is lovely too. (Though it can be blocked and easily negated.)

[Alezka Silverstone]

so, we all agree, we're all going to make druids now right ?

[Nomster]

A great post, I wish it did include a bit more about the druid RP as personally, I found that the most difficult aspect. Not everyone who plays here will have come from PnP and played Dungeons & Dragons before. I do wish something like this would have been around when I started (I think I made all possible mistakes, RP and build wise ). There is a AD&D Complete Druid's Handbook which may be useful.



Many of the spells here, I didn't use at all. I always had trouble to target AoE's without killing the animal companion, the summon or myself so I didn't really use them (yes, all which happened more than once, best way to Fugue, killing yourself). "Let's cast a fancy AoE on that un-enaged mob... wait wait, elemental, don't change your foe all of a sudden! argh!.. *sniff* good knowing you..."

Didn't think sneaking was possible but of course it is, as its on the mode bar. Could have made questing soooo much quicker! (cause really, if you are shifted all the time, many other skills won't be as useful).

Regarding Animal Companion, whenever it "died" I took it as it saw the fight was too overwhelming and escaped the battle. I mean, how else could I summon it again... Pst, summon the companion, rest and then buff up. If your companion now uhm... "flees" you can call it back instantly.

Druid buffs last for very long time. There's only a few exceptions such as Thorn Skin, Storm Avatar & Nature's Avatar which is kinda why I didn't use them as much as I probably? should have. I guess I played my druid as quite mediocre power-wise because I just couldn't bother to squeeze out every drop of power.

[ragnarok1983]

I feel ya Nomster.

I have attempted two druids. Got bored with the first (A mini-malarite, druid/splash ranger) and now my current throwing-axe-based, non summon, non-shifter.

Not exactly hard hitters. Uhm. They have good AC. Woo.

I liked my Malarite, but that sort of hunter-evil wasn't my style. My present druid is a bit challenging to RP as he is standoffish, but crazy sage-like. His take on what "balance" is, is not the "normal" druid philosophy. I like that. I think he'll stick around a while because of it.

[LISA100595]

Thanks for writing this up!

[Diamore]

Nomster: Lore wise and character wise I have always found that starting from a geographical feature, or occasionally animal group, when building your druid helps focus their mentality and build style. The druid is a chosen champion of nature, one way or another they embody much of the nature they champion. Not all of them are forest dwelling, many travel with the animals they safeguard across the lands and their gods actually have diverse approaches.

A Jungle druid might be a light fighter, preferring light ranged attacks over direct confrontation. They might invest in the Poison spell and any class that allows the use of Poisons, or just have faith in their poison immunity. One following a wardens path would invest in healing, perhaps ranger and traps as well to defend the region.

A City druid might be partly mad, possess rogue like skills and focuses on the animals in the city. Birds, cats, rats, the occasional ooze. They would be nondescript, what spells they had would have to be controlled to avoid damage to their charges. Frost spells, death spells and a strong focus on their animal companion to get things done. Unless they didn't want people living there any more and then they'd be big on Mass Contagion.

From there focusing on their opinion on three differing roles of druids helps out. A strong focus on being a warden of nature might mean a healer, but could equally mean a trapper. A focus on the cycle and balance might seek out undead users actively to kill, or assist local mages with aberration incursions. Chosen that reclaims or avenges the land might have a focus on diplomacy and bluff or blades and strength.

Remembering that an evil druid is not always a villain, a good druid is not always the hero and that the two are likely to agree as much as they disagree, is important when building and playing a druid.

[dzidek1983]

i wante to ask from mechanical point of view but with a RP meaning

if i take natural spell... can i cast other spells books in wildsape?

f.ex. a druid/cleric of silvanus casting cleric spells in tree form
or a druid/assasin of talona casting assasin spells in magical spider shape

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[Nomster]

I've always warded the companion well, except with Nature's Avatar. It still had the capability of dying like a fly at times. It needs to be babysit to keep alive, if I'm engaged with multiple foes and can't break away... And druids can't be killed? My trips to Fugue says otherwise.

Just offering a view that they are not as invincible as they're made out to be, they have some weaknesses.

[Simian]

Step one: Detect an opponent.
Step two: Flee a short distance to let your companion 'aggro' the opponent.
Step three: Drink tea and send tells to someone, heal companion if necessary.