UD based Earth Genasi Druid

[Side]

So, I used to run around the UD with a water genasi druid, and the RP was pretty fun. Unfortunately his friends are long gone, his favorite area has been taken over by a drow base, and his RP is honestly a bit stale if I were to pick it back up. I've learned a lot since I first made him.

I'm now feeling the desire to pick up playing a druid again. There's been some wonderful changes I need to update my build for, but it's leading to more questions than I can answer right now, so I'm starting over from scratch.

For starters my original plan was to go for Dragon Shape. I still would love to go for it, but I also love the look of Cave Stalker. Dragon Shape powers up based on your druid levels, so I'm not sure if it's worth while to go for both, or to just stick with one of the two.

That said just how big of a power jump is it from the upgraded Elemental Shape to Dragon Shape? If it's not as big as it seems I could easily justify Cave Stalker with Elemental Shape and just cut out Dragon Shape all together.

Elemental Shape says you get Elder Elemental forms at level 20, but is this just level 20 or 20 levels of druid specifically? If it's not 20 levels of druid are there any other classes I might consider mixing with?

Any and all advice is welcome, and I'd even love to take a look at suggested builds if they are available.

[Eclypticon]

Cool RP pick. I think you can only dip 3 non druid and still pull off dragon shape. Extra wild shape does not work for qualifying. If you want more HD, just take an epic toughness feat. There is a very large power difference between dragon druid and non dragon druid. Surviving is best done in this shape.

You could aim to pull off a shadow dancer dip too if it still fits your RP, but you would have to really mini max and remember that you cannot hotbar the hide button in polymorph shape. Another idea is to go druid assassin hierophant for a 29 CL and magic beast shape.

[Side]

Luckily they changed removed the wildshape requirement on Dragon Shape.

Now only requires 27 wisdom to qualify for this feat. Dragon Shape varies in strength according to your druid level. A level 30 druid becomes a 30 HD Dragon, a level 28-29 druid becomes a 28 HD Dragon and a level 27 or lower druid becomes a 25 HD Dragon.

Even with the earth genasi -2 to wisdom I can still manage to hit 27 pretty easily, so acquiring it shouldn't be a problem. The problem would be losing the druid levels that make the dragon stronger. If I went fully into Cave Stalker I would never get above the 25 HD dragon.

I'm definitely disappointed that it's such a huge difference between dragon and non-dragon though. I was kind of getting into the idea of running around forever as an elder earth elemental, even in the late epics. That's not to say I couldn't still make it work, it's just that this particular path isn't standing out when compared to dragon shape anymore.

[Kauaiian]

You could go Cavestalker 3, Hierophant 10, Druid 17 for a spellcasting type. Still get earth elemental shape and cavestalker RP niches (and benefits) and get CL 34.

[Side]

Can't say I've done much casting as a druid before. I've only ever done the buff/wildshape route.

How effective is it compared to a melee focused route? I know next to nothing about that play style, so any extra information would be greatly appreciated.

[Kauaiian]

Can't say I've done much casting as a druid before. I've only ever done the buff/wildshape route.

How effective is it compared to a melee focused route? I know next to nothing about that play style, so any extra information would be greatly appreciated.

Ive never played it myself, though Ive looked into. From what ive read they can get some pretty high DC on quite a few spells, with Toll of Nature grantingn additional DC to a select few spells. Lots of potential with high AC. For some reason I can see a Druid of Grumbar rockin a MFP and tower shield.

[Wyatt]

Druids in metal armor...

*twitches uncontrollably while curling into the fetal position and rocking int eh corner*

Hehehe. I suppose it makes more sense for an underdark druid. Probably more likely to have an affinity for metal.

[Kauaiian]

Earth genasi to boot!

[Planehopper]

Druids in metal armor...

*twitches uncontrollably while curling into the fetal position and rocking int eh corner*

Hehehe. I suppose it makes more sense for an underdark druid. Probably more likely to have an affinity for metal.

There is certainly some precedent in FR lore. Druids of Mielikki can use metal arms and armor, for instance.

As an old schooler, I feel your twitchiness, but I think a druid of Grumbar could make the case for using the bounty of the earth to protect him/herself.

[Side]

I'm actually reading up on Grumbar now. I'm not completely opposed to the idea of metal armor, but if it happens it would mostly be for show as I'll be wildshaped most of the time.

Just need to decide whether cavestalker or dragon shape is the path to go and I'll be set to head into game I think.