Thoughts on Classes: Druid Edition

[New Willinium]

Thoughts on Classes: Druid Edition


So this has been something on my mind for a while now as something that might be fun for this forum and create some good discussion about a subject SO vital to the game itself. . .The classes. We have a LOOOOT of classes in this game, not including the Prestige Classes which will likely just get rolled into one thread, with four variations to each of these classes to build our characters in different ways.


So today's subject? Today's subject is the Pathfinder version of the Druid class and it's varying archetypes . The Druid has four basic archetypes: The Base Druid, The Blight Druid, the Feyspeaker, and the Defender of the True World.


Now let's start with the base Druid shall we? The Druid has always been a rather interesting idea for a class. Where on one hand you have Wizards wielding Arcane magic, and Clerics using Holy magic gifted by their gods, the Druids have existed in a strange middle ground where they have their own unique spells (that they share somewhat with Rangers) and some holy and arcane spells as well.

The Druid is a Neutral restricted class, any neutral will do, that can choose between having an animal companion or an additional domain for their spells (Fire, Air, Water, Earth) which depending on what you want them to do can serve whatever role you need. They eventually become immune to all poisons and can use summon monsters via spontaneous summoning. The most unique ability of their's is the ability to "Wildshape" into a animal or elemental if they decide to run into combat themselves.

Quite frankly I am still shocked that we did not get a Druid base companion in the game as their typically is one in most DND based CRPGs.

Next up is the Blight Druid: The Blight Druids are kind of interesting in that they give up their Animal companions and 'extra' elemental domain in exchange for access to the Death and Destruction domains as well as being able to passively poison and sicken enemies that stand near them ,as well as immunity to all diseases and being unable to be nauseated or sickened. Anything that attacks them via a touch attack will contract the contagian spell. They are an interesting IDEA but I am unsure if they are worth deviating from the base Druid class.

Next is the Defender of the True World class: The DoTW is a class that seems built for this campaign . . .mostly because they are built from the ground up to fight fey enemies. As they level up they gain damage and to hit bonuses against Fey enemies and immunity to Fey based Mind affecting abilities. Finally their spontaneous summoning ability makes it so that they cannot summon any Fey creatures but they can eventually summon an Elder Earth Elemental or Elder Worm at higher levels. As I said interesting and seemingly built for the endgame.

Finally we have the exact opposite of the DoTW, the Feyspeaker: The Feyspeaker trades their Wisdom based spellcasting in exchange for the Charisma stat due to their connection to the Fey and as they level up they can add in Illusionary or Enchantment spells from the Wizard/Sorcery spell list to their spell books. This costs them in terms of their wild shape abilities though as each iteration of it requires two more levels then any other version of the class. I never really used Wild Shape myself so this isn't much of a drawback in my eyes, I HATE losing access to my spells for whatever reason whether it be armor or becoming a bear.


I personally would likely stick to the base Druid, or Blight Druid, myself but ALL of these are viable and seem fun, allowing for different playstyles.


So those were the Druid classes and archetypes and I thought that they were all pretty damned awesome, what about the rest of y'all? What do you think of this class and it's archetypes? Are a fan of one over the other? Do you think this is a good class to multi-class into? What are the positives and downsides of the class, and archetypes, in your opinion? What animal companion or Domains would be most useful to the Druid and their spell lists and why?

[InEffect]

Defender is THE druid, imo. Considering spoiler reasons. Gets everything of value other druids do as well.
The class itself is ok. Gets some neat buffs and spell selection is generally good. Better at soloing the game exploiting ground spells and pet baiting than party play though. Doesn't have much over proper ecclesi in party play and waiting those ground spells out is pita.

[Eonwe]

I kinda like playing druids in P:K, they're better than a lot of players give them credit for.

I particulary like their huge aoe spells like entangle, it makes for a wonderfull "pull" spell to draw enemies where u want to fight them.

It's a shame this game has so many enemies with DR, because their spike spells are really fun to use too.

All in all it's a very decent class, tho it's clearly behind the top contenders.

[Finrod]

Originally posted by New Willinium:

I HATE losing access to my spells for whatever reason whether it be armor or becoming a bear.

Nature's spell feat?

On topic side
I like druids, they are more useful than most people think. They have some good spells, while also having damage and healing.
My first merch was a druid.
I think Owlcat didn't make a druid companion as if druid was a recommended MC class.

In PnP ( the Kingmaker AP), sometimes the party needed a druid ability or a druid spell to do some side quests the best way.

In this campaign, in my opinion, a druid:
Choose between defender of the true world or defender of the true world. Choose wisely.

[Balkoth]

The fact they don't give you a druid companion I think is the main reason some people find the game hard. If Harrim was a druid over a cleric, people would soon realize how much of the game is way easier with one around. You can clear entire maps just by the entangle and thorn spells without lifting a finger. In this game, they are the ultimate control, if only because Wizards don't have access to black tentacles.

[New Willinium]

I'm shocked how in agreement everyone seems to be on this class. I expected it to be the most lukewarm of them all.

[InEffect]

it shouldn't come as a surprise. Druid is not a hard case to make.

[haplok]

OP, you seem to have missed the fact that Feyspeaker Druids also sacrifice Attack Bonus progression, regressing from a 3/4 BAB class to a 1/2 BAB class (like a wizard). This is potentially a much greater loss then hampered Wildshape.

[Stink Bug]

Death Domain Blight Druid was my first ever character in this game; imagine the disappointment when I got to level 5 and bestow curse was the domain spell instead of animate dead as it should have been.

It also would have been nice to have some more unique Druid spells like Flame Blade and produce flame. They might not be useful for power gamer purposes but they’d work nicely for distinguishing the low level Druid list from the cleric.

Edit: Actually flame blade’s touch attack nature might keep it useful even for the power gamers.

[Mortis]

Yes, the 1/2 BAB is killing the feyspeaker's usefulness. Otherwise it would have been a great class with te extra spells.

[Jekko]

I always play druids in D&D and I found the druid of this game to be incredibly lackluster. With wildshape you are gimping yourself and can't compete in melee, while wizards have better damage and crowd control. Summoning is ok but other classes can do it too (except for elemental swarm). There's also little roleplay for the nature skill and building a kingdom is not very druidish either.

[Stink Bug]

Originally posted by Mortis:

Yes, the 1/2 BAB is killing the feyspeaker's usefulness. Otherwise it would have been a great class with te extra spells.

I wouldn’t say the bab hurts a Druid player as a pure caster; their best spells use saving throws instead, and you can get some really nice wizard spells from their special ability. Plus they get extra skill points as well.

[Mortis]

True, but when a druid runs out of spells I want to find another use for him. With only 1/2 BAB this is very difficult for the feyspeaker. I do really like the idea of a gnome feyspeaker druid with mirror image and phantasmal web.

[Stink Bug]

Originally posted by Valdr:

I always play druids in D&D and I found the druid of this game to be incredibly lackluster. With wildshape you are gimping yourself and can't compete in melee, while wizards have better damage and crowd control. Summoning is ok but other classes can do it too (except for elemental swarm).

Summons and Wildshape would both be much more useful in a lower-magic campaign. As stands now you’re practically tripping over enchanted weapons/armor and stat-boosting items by the time you even get access to the most basic wildshape.

Originally posted by Mortis:

True, but when a druid runs out of spells I want to find another use for him. With only 1/2 BAB this is very difficult for the feyspeaker. I do really like the idea of a gnome feyspeaker druid with mirror image and phantasmal web.

This is where the lack of slings and darts really hurts, since druids have no other native proficient ranged weapons. Why Owlcat never saw fit add even non-magical versions at the least into shops is a mystery to me.

[New Willinium]

Originally posted by InEffect:

it shouldn't come as a surprise. Druid is not a hard case to make.

Perhaps so. I've just never considered it to be a popular class like Clerics, Wizards, Sorcerers, or Paladins tend to be, Never really hear people talking about it you know?

[InEffect]

Originally posted by New Willinium:

Originally posted by InEffect:

it shouldn't come as a surprise. Druid is not a hard case to make.

Perhaps so. I've just never considered it to be a popular class like Clerics, Wizards, Sorcerers, or Paladins tend to be, Never really hear people talking about it you know?

there is nothing much to talk about really. Decent spell-list and a pet. Creeping doom and ground spells are good. As far as I'm concerned they are ♥♥♥♥♥♥ sylvan sorcs, but they do have a few redeeming factors and won't leave you gimped for playing them.