Druid/Thaumaturge/SpiritShaman - summons and other questions

[MedalOfValor]

Hi,

Made this thing here: http://nwn2db.com/build/?236445

And was hoping for some feedback.
I want to underline that the focus is not on the popular dragon uber form. This is more to fit the theme of a She-Wolf shaman/druidic summoner. The last form (and the goal) is winter wolf form.

I can't figure out tho what lvl will the Theltor Companion be? 27 or 30?

And I've been struggling with the settings for the companion and summons. They do not seem to attack the monsters. Sometimes they just stand there like two derps doing nothing. Can anyone tell me which setup of the settings one should have for the summons and companion to attack the nearest enemy as I order them to do so?

[chad878262]

Hey Medal.

not sure I understand Druid / Spirit Shaman in the same build... How would your Telthor companion be level 27 or 30 with a level 4 spirit shaman?

[MedalOfValor]

Isn't Theltor replacing the normal companion once you take this feat?

And shaman is in this build for RP reasons.

[Rhifox]

Go 4 level of Thauma instead of 5. There's no benefit to 5.

This build should get you a max companion level of 21, maybe lower. SS companions are -3 levels, ergo you only actually get 1 level of companion progression from your 4 SS levels. SS companion progression works like a ranger, not a druid. You then lose another 4 levels from Thauma, for -5 levels, then +6 from Natural/Epic. It's -6 levels if you do 5 Thauma levels.

22 druid companion progression (with 4 Thauma levels)
1 Spirit shaman companion progression
Natural Bond +3
Epic Companion +3

= 29 total companion progression

You can get 30 companion progression and another level of pet if you go only 3 levels of Thauma.


As for summon AI, it's terrible. Settings I use: Follow Near, Guard Far, Defend Master Off (if it's on, they will often wait for you to get directly attacked before they attack. Having it off seems to trigger them to actually attack on their own). Get used to shouting at your pets to attack, too.

[Moltrazahn]

I think I heard that thauma lv 5 would get changed to affect all summons. Rather then only planar ally? Anyone know if this is true?

[Rhifox]

I think I heard that thauma lv 5 would get changed to affect all summons. Rather then only planar ally? Anyone know if this is true?

The description added the word 'Summoning' to it, but it's not clear if that means it's going to affect all or if it was changed for some other reason. On beta JEGs at least, it still works the same as it does now.

[MedalOfValor]

Go 4 level of Thauma instead of 5. There's no benefit to 5.

This build should get you a max companion level of 21, maybe lower. SS companions are -3 levels, ergo you only actually get 1 level of companion progression from your 4 SS levels. SS companion progression works like a ranger, not a druid. You then lose another 4 levels from Thauma, for -5 levels, then +6 from Natural/Epic. It's -6 levels if you do 5 Thauma levels.

22 druid companion progression (with 4 Thauma levels)
1 Spirit shaman companion progression
Natural Bond +3
Epic Companion +3

= 29 total companion progression

You can get 30 companion progression and another level of pet if you go only 3 levels of Thauma.


As for summon AI, it's terrible. Settings I use: Follow Near, Guard Far, Defend Master Off (if it's on, they will often wait for you to get directly attacked before they attack. Having it off seems to trigger them to actually attack on their own). Get used to shouting at your pets to attack, too.

I'm not sure I understand.
29 companion progression makes 21st lvl companion only?

Okiey, so the option of 4 lvls of Thauma is better. One can always add the 5th later if the fix comes up.
I'll try your settings Rhifox. I think mine are different so it may be what is causing the issue.

[Rhifox]

Yes. A level 30 pure SS with natural bond and epic companion gets a max level 23 companion. Same as a ranger. Ranger and SS have -3 levels on their progression. So if you're using shaman at all, you're going to get less companion progression than if you were a full druid. And if you use thaumaturge, or any other non-companion class, you'll get even less progression.

[MedalOfValor]

I see.

Well, I was mistaken then. Really hoped that 29companion progression would give me about 27th lvl companion. To live and learn I guess
Thanks Rhifox.

[Rhifox]

27 companion is unfortunately limited only to pure druid, or druid/cleric (Animal domain).

You're welcome for the help though. Hopefully it's early enough that you can adjust easily (if you plan on adjusting anything. Level 21 companion is still very good.).

[Rhifox]

Just tested with the update, I'm confirming that Thaumaturge 5 does NOT give you a Summon X in your companion slot. HOWEVER, it seems to make all of your regular summons last semi-permanently. They don't become cohorts like animal companions, which afaik was originally what people took it for (getting planar stuff into the companion slot), but it does seem to make regular summons last permanently. Thus for companion classes it's the equivalent of having two companions at once.

Phantom Bear seems to be included in this. At my level it should only last 5 minutes. I've had it up for 30 minutes straight right now. Unless it's changed from 1 round/CL to 1 minute/CL when I wasn't looking, it's lasting far longer than it should.

If this is working as intended, then Thaumaturge 5 is actually very valuable.

*Edited to account for further testing.*