Druid Tank

[Xenologer]

does anybody have an idea on how to build a 1st line druid tank?
i thought about something like that:

M:16
C:14
D:08
P:10
I:14
R:16

supposedly for PotD difficulty with 3 other party members. I played before on PotD and had better results with not min-maxing attributes, but with the druid i am a bit clueless how to build/play.

i try to build a party with some well known characters from other games/movies.
Strider of Bree - 3th line - Cipher
Geralt of Rivia - 2nd line - Wizard
Atticus O'Sullivan - 1st line - Druid
Joan of Arc - 1st line - Priest

any ideas on how to improve are much appreciated.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

You present base attributes, but no rationale.

PoE is not a game where any class can fill any role. Druids are mostly offensive casters, with few support spells. A battle priest at least could cast a long series of support spells, but without body guards will be busy trying to survive the onslaught.

Druid class traits are:
* Very low Endurance
* Low Health
* Very Low Accuracy
* Average Deflection

Therefore, base Deflection is -10 compared with fighters. Your RES 16 adds +6, so you would still be -4 compared with a RES 10 fighter. Not enough. Your druid will suffer, particularly because of the Miss/Graze/Hit/Crit system, devastating afflictions, four Defenses (you reduce Reflex defense!), enemies with enhanced stats due to PotD mode and the engagement rules. Even the basic Flanked status effect means another -10 Deflection. Various types of enemies will pick you off easily, not limited to the expansions.

Heavy armor doesn't increase Deflection. Druids can learn Veteran's Recovery for regeneration of Endurance, but it doesn't last long and doesn't turn them into fighters either.

Your MIG 16 is wasted, since you need to invest into defensive stuff as much as possible. PER 10 is an odd choice for PotD mode, where enemies have increased defenses, and an offensive caster class with very low base Accuracy. Probably you've planned to use a shield, and then you can forget about melee attacking due to poor Accuracy and reduced action speed.

[Xenologer]

thanks for the input, i went through the wiki again and i gave up on a 1st line druid tank.

i did not consider the huge disadvantage in base deflection. i really need a proper 1st line tank since i am planning to play with a party of 4. i will go with a fighter instead and use my wizard with sword slightly behind, supported by a priest. that seems the better solution. with a cipher far back with stealth for flanking.

one more thing, based on the wiki the main attribute for a cipher is int, i intend to use the cipher as my main character and i would like to focus on might and perception for the dialog options, do you think that is still a viable option? focus gain is based on damage so i thought high might and accuracy might be the better option than high int....

I played PoE on PotD until end of act2 before, but mainly with the prefab companions and intend to start over with a full custom party, therefore input to character creation is much appreciated...

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Why would you ignore Eder then? It's a party-based game where you benefit from using six members. No need to keep the story NPCs all the time. Feel free to replace them frequently, such as to work on their personal quests.

On PotD mode, you take a penalty for using less members. The XP bonus per missing member is negligible, especially if dropping only two members. And the less members, the more you need to apply strategies and tactics that are not fun. Like split-pulling as if it were a solo run. Why would you want to weaken your frontline? Rather, PotD mode gives reason to add some reliable warriors.

Also, custom companions in the beginning are at least one level behind your watcher. You can reduce the XP gap to something like 2000 XP, and later on it won't be a full level anymore, but at the start of the game, custom companions are weaker than story companions.

If I were you, and since it's PotD, I would not ignore monks and chanters.

[ajohnemus]

“Tactics that are not fun” is an opinion. Split pulling can be fun and has been gaming skill since at least 1999 in Everquest.