Archetype Suggests for a Melee Based Druid?

I love archetypes in PF, I think they mixed many of the flavor/overuse of PrCs problems in 3.5. I loved the shaper/shapeshifter stuff though. Druids aren't broken anymore so I'm drawn back. ‎Treantmonk's cool Part II Druid guide was just want I needed as I was working on the concept myself. Thanks a ton, ‎Treantmonk! :)

Does anyone have suggestions for Druid Archetypes they liked or ones that'll work well with the melee/shifting stuff? (Or anything else along these lines)

Unless you're starting at a high level, none of the archetypes are optimal for a melee druid.

Pretty much what ShadowcatX said. If you're starting at at least level 6, you might take a look at Lion or maybe Saurian shaman. Nothing else is worth it at all unless you're doing something really weird or are in an underwater campaign or something. (Nearly all of the archetypes delay and/or hamper your shifting, cut your animal companion, or just generally don't do anything beneficial for you, combat-wise.) In PF, there's no shame in playing unarchetyped; the classes as they are written as core are supposed to be strong and general choices good for most characters.

Does anyone have suggestions for Druid Archetypes they liked or ones that'll work well with the melee/shifting stuff? (Or anything else along these lines)

Bear Totem has some nice physical perks you can get.

If you're playing PFS it's hard to get a melee druid with the point buy though. There's not enough points to spread around to get them physically strong and have a competent Wis and Cha. It works a little better in a homebrew campaign where you may have little more leniency.

Menhir savant, but that's my answer to ALL Druid questions.

If you're playing PFS it's hard to get a melee druid with the point buy though. There's not enough points to spread around to get them physically strong and have a competent Wis and Cha. It works a little better in a homebrew campaign where you may have little more leniency.

I disagree. 20 point buy is very generous and works good for a melee druid.

2nd Anvil's suggestion.

Bear totem with no animal companion and strength domain (ferocity)
3 attacks per round enlarged at 1d6+3/1d6+3/1d8+3 damage with claw/claw/bite isn't too shabby, you can out-damage anyone else in the party at early levels, although it even outs quickly at higher levels and then you fall behind.

Menhir savant, but that's my answer to ALL Druid questions.

Why?

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/druid/archetypes/paizo---druid -archetypes/menhir-savant

Place Magic?

am playing bear shaman and had dino shaman. for summoned help, im liking the bears. But bears only get to large size so except for getting an extra wildshape it aint as great. DINO shaman on the other hand I loved. STARTING 6TH LEVEL YOU CAN WILDSHAPE INTO TINY-HUGE SHAPES. THERE ARE ALOT OF DINO'S TO CHOOSE FROM SO YOU GET THE BIG FIGHTER, TINY STALKER, SWIMMER AND FLYER.

Just started playing a Menhir Savant with a spell caster focus. It's been fun so far.

Menhir savant, but that's my answer to ALL Druid questions.

I agree! The trades are ALL great (though from a non-powergaming standpoint I'd have preferred to keep Thousand Faces rather than steal the monk's "go ethereal" schtick and do it 6 levels earlier, I just really like Thousand Faces) and very interesting and flavorful as well as powerful. You can at will detect like 1/10 of the Bestiary, you get +1 CL a bunch of times per day (RAW you might be able to stack it on the same round, but no DM would allow that), so many transport via plants that the party has nearly unlimited teleport to anywhere with vegetation (carrying tree feather tokens for an escape route is handy), and more!

I love Menhir Savant.

You animal companion makes great a melee combatant.

I love archetypes in PF, I think they mixed many of the flavor/overuse of PrCs problems in 3.5. I loved the shaper/shapeshifter stuff though. Druids aren't broken anymore so I'm drawn back. ‎Treantmonk's cool Part II Druid guide was just want I needed as I was working on the concept myself. Thanks a ton, ‎Treantmonk! :)

Does anyone have suggestions for Druid Archetypes they liked or ones that'll work well with the melee/shifting stuff? (Or anything else along these lines)

Even though I may disagree with the above bold statement... I love druids. They have it all. Full spell casting, Huge shapes at 6th level with archetype or at 8th without. Take the Dragon style/Ferocity with Feral Combat Training feats and your out damage any character at your level with the exception of Beastmorph / Vivisectionist Alchemist (which is another thread running at this time) You also will be more attack with the right animal.

Dinosaur, Megaraptor

It may not be Druids of the Coast (as us old 3.5ers you to call it) but they still rocking.
I say if your focusing on melee use an archetype that allows the bigger shapes earlier. It moves your wild shape up to level 6 and reduces it by -2 level for all but the type of animal (archetype) you picked but you gain that type of animal at a +2.

Way to go... then of course get
Feats: Wild Speech / Planar Wild shape (for DR and resistances) / Powerful Wild shape (consider 1 size bigger for effect like grapple).

Rasmus Wagner wrote:

Menhir savant, but that's my answer to ALL Druid questions.

Why?

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/druid/archetypes/paizo---druid -archetypes/menhir-savant

Place Magic?

Mostly, and Detect spirits. But also, most of the abilities I give up will hardly ever be missed.