We know the druid gets Nature Bond, which can use Animal Companion or Domain (and, alternatively, Shape-shifting). Let's add another possibility: Favored Terrain, like the Ranger's. I don't know why such a nature-oriented class wasn't made with this.
At first level, select a first favored terrain in the Ranger's list. The druid gets a +1 circumstancial bonus to attack/damage, AC/saves, and Knowledge(Nature)/Survival checks when in his favored terrain. At later levels (every 5 levels, for instance), he gets another terrain and his previous bonuses increase. His nature-related abilities (Woodland Stride and Trackless Step) apply when he's in any one of his favored terrains.
Not interesting? Better played as a Ranger? No idea?
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Not interesting? Better played as a Ranger? No idea?
Certainly an interesting idea and I can see why it might fit thematically, but the Druid already gets a LOT so this probably is not needed (and is probably not a good idea) from a balance standpoint.
I could see this as a substitution kind of thing though ... you know, get Favored Terrain instead of one or more other core druid abilities.
That's exactly what he's proposing: (though Wildshaping isn't an alternative, every Core Druid gets it)
We know the druid gets Nature Bond, which can use Animal Companion or Domain (and, alternatively, Shape-shifting). Let's add another possibility: Favored Terrain
But I think the attack/AC/Save stuff should be removed, that isn't applicable to Ranger's Favored Terrain, and doesn't really make much sense. So cut it back to Initiative, and the Skill Bonuses to Knowledge (geography), Perception, Stealth, and Survival. (I don't know why even the Ranger doesn't get a bonus to Know(Nature) for creatures native to that terrain, it seems reasonable for them and this Druid Variant)
The only thing I would add might be a Caster Level bump while in the terrain, that makes alot more sense to me (the Druid's connection to their favored land, etc) than the attack/ac/save stuff... At 16th level that would be +4 CL in one terrain (and lesser bonus in 3 others) that would stack with other CL buffs, but that still doesn't seem super overpowered in comparison to the Domain/Companion.
The only thing going against this is that the Domain options themself (Plant, Animal, Elemental, Weather) really provide a pretty good connectionto many environments/terrains in and of themself, do we really need Favored Terrain: Ocean when there is the Water Domain, or Favored Terrain: Forests when there is the Plant/Animal Domains, or Earth Domain for Mountains or Underground?
Thanks for your input. I see how the Domain option could be thematically linked to an environment, but they don't give any mechanical advantage to said environment. I like the idea that the druid using this option would be the spellcasting equivalent of the ranger. However, the druid has two main options: wildshape+melee, or spellcasting. Putting all my eggs in the same basket would be detrimental, I think.
In short, here is an improved version of this proposal.
FAVORED TERRAIN: a druid can use his Nature Bond to bond with one or more environments, instead of the other possibilities the Nature Bond proposes (domain, companion, even wildshaping).
Using this option, at first level, the druid selects a terrain from the following list (I'm just repeating the list under Ranger/Favored Terrain):
. Cold (ice, glaciers, snow, and tundra)
. Desert (sand and wastelands)
. Forest (coniferous and deciduous)
. Jungle
. Mountain (including hills)
. Plains
. Swamp
. Underground (caves and dungeons)
. Water (above and below the surface)
The "Planes" terrain isn't available at first level, unless the character's background justifies it (the character was a slave to interdimensional travellers, or its race belongs to another plane) and the DM approves.
The "Urban" terrain isn't available to druids, unless the campaign world already has "civilized" druids.
While in his favored terrain, the nature around the druid helps him in subtle ways, either hindering his enemies, bending the natural energies around him, of pushing him forward. The druid can use Woodland Stride and Trackless Step in any one of his Favored Terrains. He also gains an additional +1 on Knowledge(Nature), Perception, and Survival checks related to the favored terrain.
While he's in normal shape, the druid also gains the following circumstancial bonuses when in his favored terrain:
. +1 to Initiative;
. +1 to his Caster Level;
. +1 to Saves.
If he's in Wild Shape instead, he gains the following circumstancial bonuses instead:
. +1 to Attacks and Damage;
. +1 to AC.
At sixth level, and every six levels afterwards, the druid can select another Favored Terrain OR improve by +1 the bonuses he got from one of the Favored Terrains he selected before. Once selected, a Favored Terrain can't be changed. When selecting an additional Favored Terrain, the character is limited to those he has already travelled through.
If the character is in some place where several bonuses could apply (like a forested hill, a jungle swamp, etc.), he only uses the highest - since this bonuses are typed "circumstancial", this is already covered by the rules.
I did put more advantages, but removed some, most notably the fact that bonuses tied to previously selected terrains don't get increased automatically. There is the additional limitation of having to know the terrain before, too.
I did some work on a concept like this before, what I did was have the Woodland Stride and Trackless Step abilities removed and replaced with a version for that particular terrain chosen.
Thus a Snow Favoured terrain Druid could leave no tracks in an arctic setting, and also was not hindered by snow or ice to the degree normally given.
I ended up abandoning the project.
I did some work on a concept like this before, what I did was have the Woodland Stride and Trackless Step abilities removed and replaced with a version for that particular terrain chosen.
(...)
I ended up abandoning the project.
I wanted to list some interesting abilities to get the ball rolling. I feel sorry that you had to abandon such an interesting idea. What I write as suggestion in these forums will be included in my booklet of house-rules, which I might publish some day.
Oh, didn't see you posted the same thing in the O.P.
Sorry about that, I have a booklet of homebrew and house-rules too.
Well, more like a Word Document, lol.
I'm not going to publish it though.
Just a side note, when I came up with the idea for myself, I was going to incorporate it with the wildshape ability.
Forget how I was gonna do it, but the concept seemed cool at the time.