| OpticSeagull |
This post is the summation of several others that i read since i started wondering what else to do with a druid last year. Since this is recent i thought i'd share what i'd researched a little for druids. I always play one and wanted some melee damage, also was happy to read some of these layered suggestions somewhere else, and must share because druids sometimes feel "jack of all trades master of none". Just a thought on what you might be able to do: If you wild shape Dire Ape, use a Large staff to suit your new large size, cast Shillelagh Brambles and ... forgot name of third spell... Spikes or something, ride into battle on a rhino or something for fun, make sure you buff your strength, take feats Two-Weapon Fighting and Spirited Charge (they don't work together, they're just handy), and what else... charge in there. The idea is Shillelagh on a large staff is 3d6, Spirited charge doubles damage, and Brambles or Spikes (forget which one) doubles the crit range. So you get +1 attack for being higher on your mount, +2 for charge, strength buffs need to be researched elsewhere (Bite of the Were-etc series or just Magic of Faerun i think has a decent one... i think whatever). So the attack bonuses to Dire Ape strength give it a good chance to hit even without worrying about armor. The first hit off a charge would be 6d6 + ... maybe 10. crit 12d6 plus... maybe 20. And if you roll a ride check to use your knees you can use both ends of shillelagh on horseback or rhinoback :-P. Two Weapon feat lowers the penalty to -2/-2, and with all that strength you still have a decent chance to hit i hope. Therefore i dare say i might melee some one twice, constantly threatening 3d6 from both ends of the stick. Remember you only get half strength bonus on damage on the second (light weapon end) attack. Since I'll have Spirited Charge, i'll already have the pre-requisite Ride-by-Attack. Therefore just charge every round if an enemy can't catch you. As yet, i don't think the creature gets an attack with the rider in the same round. I think it's one or the other, but i have not yet lernt it in my soft brain. :-P I hope that 8th level will show that i'm fighting alongside fighters even though i'm a druid. You CANNOT animal growth yourself. And any DM that would allow it is going a little far. Yes there's a spell or feat that changes your type to animal, but it's still insane and maybe a mistake. By all means Growth your Animal Companion Mount who, with Link (which you automatically get) will have all the same STR. buffs as you've cast on yourself. That will make Trample and Gore attacks by the mount good. A DM that says an Ape cannot weild a staff or stick has not considered these three main points. 1 An ape can hold a stick, paintbrush, and fine tools. 2. An ape with a human mind inside (druid) could do much more. 3. This is D&D. oh and 4. With massive grip power, who needs an opposable thumb? I wouldn't. I'm tired of spending rounds summoning, Animal Growth, magic fang, fight over. hopefully die hard druids can join the fight someday.