All about Shapeshifter Druid

[KrzyH777]

Hello everyone!

I have started to play on BGTSCC about month ago and I must say that the server is great and the people who play here are even greater For the beginning I decided to develop the druid character who some of you know under the name Emaxvir

I've been briefly looking through the topics on the forum and I did not find the subject dedicated to shapeshifting druids so I decided to create one. Of course most of the information you can find e.g. in NWN2 WIKIPEDIA:
1. http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Druid
2. http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Wild_Shape

However I know that on the BGTSCC some changes have been made to this class. Also some aspects of the druid’s builds are still unclear for me. I hope that together we can figure them out So, here are the doubts I have:

1. Which items merge with wild shape?
For sure armor, shield, helmet, amulet, cloak, gloves.
What about rings and belts?

2. What properties of the items merge with wild shape forms of the druids?
For sure that AC (different types – deflection, armor, shield, natural, dodge).
What about bonus hit points, statistics (STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA), spell resistance, damage resistance, elemental resistance?
Do the elemental damage from the gloves (e.g. 1k6 electrical) transfer to wild shape?

3. Do the wild and elemental forms of druid have some special abilities? If so, where exactly I can check them.
I mean, in the character’s menu we have information about HP, AC, statistics, damages, attacks, spell resistances but we do not know nothing (or I can not find ) about the elementals resistance (it is logical that fire elemental is immune to fire but where is that information?), special abilities, special attacks and so on. For example, in NWN1 being greater air elemental you can fall over your enemies, being greater water elemental you can drown them and so on… Are such attacks in NWN2 available? If so, where I can turn them on?

4. Using spell storm avatar I gain extra electrical damage but no 200% speed – is it server’s change?
I understand that the spell nature’s avatar does not work on druid wild shape?

I know that some of these aspect could be tested by a player but I am relatively new and my inventory is too poor to do the proper testing 
I would be grateful for your expertise.
If you have your own questions, please put them here, together we try to figure them out 

[calvinus]

Hello! I look forward to seeing you in character.

This is really only going to be RP advice from the perspective of a player that has RPed as a non-druid with a lot of shapeshifter druid characters:

Have a good RP backstory/explanation behind the shapeshifts you use (it does not have to be developed at character inception, it could organically make sense in game as you get such powers). It is pretty blah if it is just like "btw, I am also a dragon whenever I want!" with no real RP beyond having a strong combat build. I recommend paying attention to (and seeking RP advice from) some of the very well role-played shapeshifter druid players on here (Truthiness/Ivan is one of a few neutral examples that come to mind and Zarlathur is an evil example and ohboy's Druid a good example) for how to do this in an immersion heavy and character driven way. I also have noticed that some shapeshifter druids choose IC to only bust out their most powerful forms in the most dangerous situations, which I think adds some nice RP drama -- "It is only rarely that I channel the spirit of the dragon, as it comes at a great cost you could never understand...but today, I AM THE DRAGON *shifts into dragon*!".

[Croyd]

This thread under DRUID explains most of your questions.


http://www.bgtscc.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6

[dzidek1983]

Krzychu nie grj druidem. Najlatwejsza klasa po której wszyscy jadą.

[KrzyH777]

Thank you for all your responses (even for yours Dzidek ).

I have a few more questions, not necessary connected with druid subject, but I am sure you can help me

1. I guess that druid can not cast epic spells while he is shapesfifted?
2. Is there a place where i can storage the items? I do not have much strenght so carring a lot of stuff is out of the question.
3. What is so specific in mithryl armors? I saw that they are extremelly expensive on the server.
4. How the drop system does work here? I mean is it the same possibility to find powerfull items on random chests as in bosses corpses? Sometimes you kill e.g. Serpent Queen and at her chest you find only 35 gold and sometimes in some "normal" location you can find gloves +4 AC. So I it complatelly random?

Thx

P.S. (to Dzidek)
Puki co gra mi się nim bardzo dobrze, uważam że jest to całkiem niezła postać i ciekawa do odgrywania. Oczywiście w PvP pewnie bym dostał po dupie ale raczej się na to nie nastawiam, a do bicia mobów nadaje się doskonale

[Darksider_war]

Thank you for all your responses (even for yours Dzidek ).

I have a few more questions, not necessary connected with druid subject, but I am sure you can help me

1. I guess that druid can not cast epic spells while he is shapesfifted?
2. Is there a place where i can storage the items? I do not have much strenght so carring a lot of stuff is out of the question.
3. What is so specific in mithryl armors? I saw that they are extremelly expensive on the server.
4. How the drop system does work here? I mean is it the same possibility to find powerfull items on random chests as in bosses corpses? Sometimes you kill e.g. Serpent Queen and at her chest you find only 35 gold and sometimes in come "normal" location you can find gloves +4 AC. So I it complatelly random?

Thx

P.S. (to Dzidek)
Puki co gra mi się nim bardzo dobrze, uważam że jest to całkiem niezła postać i ciekawa do odgrywania. Oczywiście w PvP pewnie bym dostał po dupie ale raczej się na to nie nastawiam, a do bicia mobów nadaje się doskonale

1) No he can't.
2) No, there is no such place. That is why everyone creates "mule" characters to act as banks.
3) Mithril armors are considered of one class lighter (that is, a mithral full plate [heavy armor] is considered medium armor). They also have reduced ASF and weight, and a greater maximum dexterity bonus. Some builds revolve around a mithral full plate, and can be quite deadly.
4) Yes

[dzidek1983]

1. no they cant do it
2. you need a 2nd character a "mule" to which you transfer your items in the nexus with help of other players
3. they allow a higher dex bonus to ac, f.ex. normal full plate is 8/1 mitheal type is 8/3
4. chests have soemthing called a "level signature" so some chests cant be looted by high level characters, so the best gear you can find in the epic chests for epic characters, otoh you can also find epic gear in normal chests but its less likely to hammen imho

Ps. (to Krzyh)
w PvP nikt nie ma z tobą praktycznie szans bo nie są w stanie cie zabić jak dostaniesz formę smoka, za dużo punktów życia, klasy pancerza, redukcji obrażeń i do tego czary leczące, ale za to ty też masz trudności z zabiciem bo w PvP masz tylko swoje czary, jak ktoś jest odporny to dupa zbita

[Aelcar]

Ps. (to Krzyh)
w PvP nikt nie ma z tobą praktycznie szans bo nie są w stanie cie zabić jak dostaniesz formę smoka, za dużo punktów życia, klasy pancerza, redukcji obrażeń i do tego czary leczące, ale za to ty też masz trudności z zabiciem bo w PvP masz tylko swoje czary, jak ktoś jest odporny to dupa zbita

I think "nobody" is a pretty strong word. Druids completely counter sneaks and feinters. Hard counter them, even. They counter any enemy relying on critical hits to damage them. They are stronger than Clerics in PvP. They're very hard to kill for anyone that cannot produce a reliable Mordenkainen's Disjunction.

I don't think they're crap in PvP. They're just not on top of the food chain, like they absolutely are in PvE and DM events (where no opponent can properly Mord, otherwise you're boned).

[dzidek1983]

dude.. i think google translator did a couple mistakes there

[Aelcar]

dude.. i think google translator did a couple mistakes there

It wasnt google translator, and it did WAY more than a couple of mistakes...

The concept remains .

[dzidek1983]

i said most builds have no chance vs the druid not the opposite, for the same reasons you mentioned, thats a bit off target for me... i also didnt say they are crap, but i did say they have trouble vs opponents that can resist their spells in PvP cos thats their main weapon in such situation

[AC81]

I've enjoyed RP'ing with you on my monk Quinath. One thing I would add .... you're talking as a water elemental in common. It was discussed a while back on the forums and pops up every now and then. I think the only forms that can speak common are the Treant form and the Dragon form. If you have Aquan (is this the one for elemental plane of water?) then you can speak that and hope someone understands you. Also, remember to mark your OOC speech with something like this // or this * before your comment (or just use tells so as not to clutter the screen).

Also, things with high saves + high AC's should just be able to beat a Druid down in pvp. This includes Fav Souls, Bards and Warlocks. There's no way a Druid will be able to hit them, and the Druids buffs must run out. Basically, unless it's against a rogue or an archer, a Druid is going to die in pvp if it can't run. Why? A shifted Druid can't use consumables so once it's Premonitions, Regens, Cacoons and Heals are gone, it's a sitting duck. (Albeit a dragon-sized duck with 15/- DR and crit immunity)

[Aelcar]

i said most builds have no chance vs the druid not the opposite, for the same reasons you mentioned, thats a bit off target for me... i also didnt say they are crap, but i did say they have trouble vs opponents that can resist their spells in PvP cos thats their main weapon in such situation

It's too strong. STR Bards, EDM FSs, proper WM/FBs (yep. been tested...), arcanists that are warded and have Mordenkainen's DIsjunction and, in general, each and every UMD toon which can Mord will probably kill the Druid with simple tricks.

Druids have a fair chance against the non arcanists, non heavy UMDers (aside from SA reliant: those get hard countered, unless you do religiously what I told you via PM. But the Druid can react, cause you're frail). They also hard counter a few builds.

As your friend stated, though, they're more than suitable to clean everything PvM.

Basically, unless it's against a rogue or an archer, a Druid is going to die in pvp if it can't run. Why? A shifted Druid can't use consumables so once it's Premonitions, Regens, Cacoons and Heals are gone, it's a sitting duck. (Albeit a dragon-sized duck with 15/- DR and crit immunity)

Pretty much. Unless you play against normal builds (like Rangers, or Paladins, or some sort of dual-wield, crit-reliant WM types, or Valefort's build...something nice, original and working, but easy to shut down), you'll be ground to dust eventually. All this because you cant dispel. Most of all, you cant dispel Death Ward, and repeated use of Moon Bolt would be your saving grace (aside from vs Arcanes: they dont need to move to kill you).

[Darksider_war]

Classes the druids excel against in pvp:

- Paladins
- Sneaks of all kinds
- Ranged characters (storm avatar is a real killer)
- Frenzied Berserkers unless specifically built with a crit-immune target in mind
- Clerics

Classes capable of handing a druid's ass back to him:

- Wizards/Sorcerers (the undisputed kings of PvP)
- Favored Souls/Blackguards (you just. can't. beat. them. No ifs or buts)
- Melee bards
- Warlocks

Keep in mind that, while a druid's AC in dragon shape is quite nice, its melee AB isn't, and while it is capable of holding its own against epic mobs and bosses, you won't do too well against characters whose AC is greater than 45-46

[c2k]

Classes the druids excel against in pvp:

- Sneaks of all kinds

Really depends on the build. In a vacuum, I think you are right. But sneak builds are so versatile and they would, at worst, stalemate against a Druid.

I actually think its a stalemate for both sides most of the time for druids. If you play them right, you are can't be killed but you probably won't be able to kill the other guy.