How to make shapeshifting as a druid more effective? Should I restart?

[Ragjan]

So, I've just finished Act I and am around 16 hours into the game. I've been playing as a druid and have been trying to put a pretty strong focus on shapeshifting. However, since my level is not very high atm I've only been able to turn into a wolf - my defense stats and evasion is kind of horrible and my main char tends to die a lot (for example by taking 3 15-18 dmg-hits from a couple of babaus, dying at the very beginning of combat. The damage output isn't too good either and the only relyable source of dps is the random knock-down effect that ther wolf shape gets.I also created a bear-companion for my druid and it isn't really cutting anything either..

I'm playing on the normal difficulty and feel like my main character really isn't contributing to winning battles - it's kinda frustrating since I do enjoy the idea of playing a shapeshifter really much - Are there any ways to make this playstyle more effective?

Or should I prehaps start over and try playing another class? I'm kinda interested in the armored hulk barbarian subclass or in playing a sort of necromancer/elementalist as well.

Thanks for any tips in advance! :)

[Roadie]

This is one of those annoying cases where it gets way, way easier over time. Once you can get Natural Spell you can start casting buff spells on yourself and your animal companion without turning off wild shape, and the later shapes allow for some truly absurd AC stacking, plus one of the mythic ability choices hugely enhances use of wild shape.

[Morgian]

Shapeshifting is (and always was) a weak option and good only for low levels. The reason is obvious: a well-geared character has always better stats and abilities. One of the things that make it better on tabletop is not in: the wilding enchantment that allows the shapeshifter to benefit from the enchanted item (like his armor). One of my players once tried out a shapechanger (not an official class) and enjoyed it a lot, but mostly for the options you have around a table and never in a computer game. Being able to move in any company and society is a roleplayers dream, but way too complex for a computer game.

The only thing the creature form has going for it are better physical stats, which does not automatically translate into "killing machine". You have to find ways to make the stats useful...combat maneuvers come to mind, vital strike builds too, if you can get an attack with many basic dice. But you might have to research the thing on the web for really useful advice and then check what of it is even available in WotR.

[Stink Bug]

Leopard at level 6 and then especially Smilodon at level 10 will significantly buff your damage output (I believe both have the “pounce” ability which makes charges way more effective) at least if you take that mythic feat that allows natural attacks to ignore non-epic DR. AC will continue to be a problem unless you’re very careful with positioning, or dip monk for Wis to AC. The large and huge elemental shapes may be useful as well, but unfortunately many PnP feat and spell options which are beneficial for a shapeshifter have not been implemented in this game.

If you ever played Kingmaker the Call of the Wild mod added tons of such spells and feats ( and more shapeshifting options) from tabletop and it made polymorph significantly more fun and viable. I imagine one day that’ll either get ported to wrath or someone will make something similar.

[dszombiex]

Originally posted by Roadie:

This is one of those annoying cases where it gets way, way easier over time. Once you can get Natural Spell you can start casting buff spells on yourself and your animal companion without turning off wild shape, and the later shapes allow for some truly absurd AC stacking, plus one of the mythic ability choices hugely enhances use of wild shape.

I generally agree with this. It's a build that takes time to become effective. In the meantime use as many ac buffs as you have available (potions or spells) - mage armor, barkskin, deflection ac bonus from protection from evil etc. These are all available from potions or scrolls if you don't have access to the spell versions.

[Syiss]

Not super familiar with playing a shapeshifter, but there look to be some really powerful mythic abilities tailored to shapeshifting, so maybe check those out at least before you re-roll.