With regards to skills, pick 4 + your Int modifier (and another +1 if you're human). You get 1 rank in each of those skills at 1st level. You can't put 2 ranks in any one skill yet because you have only 1 HD at 1st level -- notice it says "hit dice," not "hit points" (so it's 1 rank max in each, not 8).
For class skills, your check is # ranks (1) + your ability modifier for that skill + 3 if and only if it's on your "class skills" list.
At 2nd level, you'll get another 4 + Int mod skill ranks (+1 if you're human) to distribute as you see fit. You can put them into skills you don't have, or into skills you already have, but no skill can have more than 2 ranks in it at that time, because at 2nd level you have only 2 HD.
I don't really know what you mean by a "build option," so I can't help you there.
Starting stats? See your DM.
Skills? You get 4 points base, plus potential bonuses for Intelligence and favored class. At 1st level, no skill can get more points than 1, which is also your number of HD. If you put a point into a class skill (see druid description), you also automatically get a +3 bonus to that skill. This is not a rank; you get ranks from adding skill points.
When you are figuring out your skills, you should have a total based on the number of ranks you put in, the ability score bonus/penalty, and a +3 for taking a rank in a class skill. Also add bonuses if any feats you take modify the skill, like Skill Focus or Alertness.
You only get 1 RANK at best at 1st level, and this maximum will always equal your character level. How you spend points is of course up to you.
Welcome to Pathfinder!
Edit: Forgot to mention the human bonus! Ninja'd too!
As for builds:
You'll find a few threads that talk about builds around here. Really though, how you build your character is largely up to you (based on what your DM approves, of course). You might be a great summoner, or love to melee with your wildshape going. You might be a crazy hermit who knows lots of plant and animal spells. Perhaps you choose to be a benevolent pacifistic herbal healer. "Builds" are fine, well, and good but not essential; in some campaigns, yes, but not all. You've got options. Use them!
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as the above poster caught the skill question, i'll tackle the starting stats and build options. Now, I am assuming by build option you are talking about the things like Primal Guardian/Primal Predator choices for 4e Druids. Yes?
Now, your starting stats are simple, first assign the ability score points, choose your race, apply racial ability modifiers, nothing different from 4e so far.
Now as a Druid, you must be a neutral alignment, (Pathfinder uses the 9 point alignment system) so you have a Neutral Good, Lawful Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, Neutral Evil, or True Neutral (Neutral Neutral) alignment
1) skills are very different in how they advance, rather than choosing x number of skills to be trained in, adding ability modifiers, and then half your level, you have "ranks" in skills. First, all the skills listed as Class Skills get a +3 bonus to skill checks with that skill. Then you get 4+INT mod skill ranks, which you spend by allocating to any of the skills you want. You can only have 1 rank in a skill though, because you only have 1 HD (HD=total character level=levels in all your classes combined, as WotC changed the multiclass system, dramatically, for 4e)
2) You are proficient with all of the listed weapons and armor
3)Spells. You can cast any of the spells listed in the Druid Spell List, that are level 0 or level 1(that do not oppose your alignment), assuming you have a Wisdom that is equal to at least 10 + spell level (this means a Wisdom of 11 will let you cast level 0 and level 1 spells, 12 adds level 2, 13 adds level 3, etc...). However, you must memorize a certain number of spells at the beginning of the day, these spells are the ones you get to cast for that day. This number depends on your Druid level, and your Wisdom score (look at Table 3-7 on pg 50 and Table 1-3 on pg 17)
4) HD and HP. As I said above, your HD is effectively the level of your character, your Hit Points (at level one) is equal to the max number on your Hit Die (8 for druids) + CON mod. At each new level, you will roll a d8, add CON mod, and that is the # of Hit Points you get at that new level (some DMs do this differently)
5) Nature Sense and Wild Empathy - you get these plain and simple
6) Nature Bond - This is closest thing to the 4e "builds", you must choose whether or not you want an animal companion, the rules and choices are in the book, or if you want an extra spell per spell level (every other odd level) and the other benefits from one of the appropiate cleric domains (Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Water, or Weather)
7) Feat - choose one
8) Starting Equipment - choose either 2d6 x 10 gp worth of equipment (average of 70 gp) or however much your DM says to start with
9) Play!
EDIT: I type too slowly...
Also, for a third party, Character Builder-esque program, Hero Lab now supports (though I think they are still updating it with some stuff) Pathfinder
link: http://www.wolflair.com/index.php?context=hero_lab
It is useful, and they do have a demo you can try it out with for low-level, not very complex characters
build options?
If I had to sum a Druid's 'build options' into a few categories, they would be...
CASTER (HEALER/BUFFER/CONTROLLER)
BRUTE
MASTER
- Companion as a mount
- Companion as a flanker(yourself or party)
As for Roleplay themes, there are tons of them from 'Crazy Cat Lady' to 'Wilderness Avenger' to 'Scimitar wielding Serial-killer', that's a matter of personal preference as someone mentioned above.
Hi,
Thanks for your awesome quick and informative replies, what I meant for “build” is; where would you put your highest ability scores,18 str ,16 wis? what is the dump stat ect,what is key for making a effective druid. I have no frame of reference as to what is best (and perhaps I’m not being clear, wouldn’t be the first time)
Perhaps this is too vague a question, if so, put it down to newbie drivel :)
Your highest score should be in Wisdom, without question. That governs your save DCs (how hard they are to resist), and gives you bonus spells, and helps you cast them successfully when people are threatening you. After that, Con and Dex are important for all characters.
Your highest score should be in Wisdom, without question. That governs your save DCs (how hard they are to resist), and gives you bonus spells, and helps you cast them successfully when people are threatening you. After that, Con and Dex are important for all characters.Hi,
Thanks for your awesome quick and informative replies, what I meant for “build” is; where would you put your highest ability scores,18 str ,16 wis? what is the dump stat ect,what is key for making a effective druid. I have no frame of reference as to what is best (and perhaps I’m not being clear, wouldn’t be the first time)
Perhaps this is too vague a question, if so, put it down to newbie drivel :)
I will have to disagree...your highest stat should be Wisdom if you are going to be a caster first. If you are going to be a wildshaping fighting type you should consider putting Strength as your main attribute as all your wild shapes are based off your own strength.
Hi all, I’m a new player to Pathfinder, I’ve mainly played 4E in the past and I have a couple of questions.
I received the core rule book in the post yesterday and I decided I want to play a druid. I guess I’ve been spoilt over at the wizard forums with character builder software, guides and builds aplenty. I have no idea what starting stats to use and how to play my Druid, so my first question is; is there a resource here or elsewhere that that can guide me in the creation of my Pathfinder character with regard to starting stats and build options?The second question is about skills, I just cant work it out, my class skills are 3 and all the rest are zero?-I’m confused. “You can never have more ranks in a skill than
your total number of Hit Dice” so at first level my druid can have a maximum of 8?Sorry to be such a newb,thanks in advance
I unerstand your confusion well. There are some major diferences between 4E and 3E or PF.
I will start at the end.
You realy need to read the PRPG from the start to the and as there are many differences compared to 4E.
PF uses Hit Die to determine Hit Points. The two things are not the same. Most characters basically get 1 Hit Die pr. level (so to start with you should think, "you can never have more ranks in a skill than your total character level"). This means that your 1st lvl druid can have no more than 1 rank in any one skill.
Your skills are divided into class skills (listed under the druid description) and cross-class skills (all the skills not listed under the druid description).
You can basically place a skill point in any 4 skills you wish (not including extra skill points from intelligence, race or the favored class benefit). If you place a rank in a class-skill that skill gets a +3 modifier.
Cross-class skills do notget a +3 modifier.
Class skills in which you do not place a rank, do not get a +3 modifier.
About druid builds.
I have never really needed help building my characters and can not give any good links for that.
My own experience is that there are 2 basic types of druid.
The spell-caster and the melee-druid.
Casters focus on casting spells and supporting the groups warriors.
They need high Wisdom for spellcasting, and benefit from high Dexterity as well. You will focus your feats on maneuverability and on spellcasting and your primary spells will be buffs foryour allies and terrain modifying spells. You will also have a few decent damage spells. You will summon many animals and use them as well as your animal companion to provide obstacles for enemies and flanking for allies.
Melee-druids focus on the wild-shape ability. You will need high Strength, Constitution, Wisdom and Dexterity, in that order. You will use most feats to improve wild-shape and combat abilities and your spells will focus on boffing yourself and your allies.
With a bit of luck and by making the right character build choices you will become a serious frontline warrior. You will a lot side by side with your animal companion, which will provide flanking for you. However, you need to be observant of your animal companions abilities as it will not be as powerful or resilient as yourself.
I hope it helped.
My best advise is for you to read the whole PRPG book as there are many radical differences between PF and 4E.
Hi,
Thanks for your awesome quick and informative replies, what I meant for “build” is; where would you put your highest ability scores,18 str ,16 wis? what is the dump stat ect,...
PF does not have dump stats in the same way as 4E does. Sure, there are stats that might not be all that important for you, but you do not get to choose 3 stats to go with and dump the rest as is the case in 4E.
Here,
I'll walk you through a build. It's very very simple and off the cuff, but it should help.
It sounds like you are making it for yourself, not for a game, so I'll just pick some stats and run with them.
Caster Build
Stats : 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8
Ok, so, I want a Caster build, right? That means I need a Good Wisdom score, so, I'll put the 18 into Wis. I want a decent Con for bonus Hit Points, so, I'll put the 14 in it. I'm going with a caster, not a fighter, so, I'll put the 8 in my Str. I want a good dex, because I'm a caster and I don't want to wear a lot of heavy armor (not that I can anyway), so, 16 in Dex. Now, I have Cha and Int left. I can use either as a dump stat, depending on what I want to do with my 12. If I want a small boost dealing with animals and people, I'll put it in Cha. If I want an extra skill point, I'll put it into Int. I think I'll play a curmudgeonly druid, so I'll put the 10 in Cha and the 12 in Int.
STR: 08
DEX: 16
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 18
CHA: 10
Now, I need to pick my race. Since I don't have any real leanings one way or another, I'll pick Human, because I can put a +2 in any stat. Since I don't want to be too weak, I'll pick my Str, so that all my stats are 0 or better with modifiers.
STR: 10
DEX: 16
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 18
CHA: 10
So, now we move on to skills. I get 4 skill points, plus my Int Modifier (+1 from the 12), plus 1 for being human. That's 6 total. Now, I'm going to select Druid as my Favored Class. That means at every level, including first, I get either a +1 Skill Point, or a +1 Hit Point, as long as I take a level of Druid. I am going to pick Skill Point for 1st level. So that gives me 7 skill points.
That means I can select 7 skills at first level, since I can't have more points in a skill than I have total levels (I'm currently level 1).
I pick : Craft (Woodworking) (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (Nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Spellcraft (Int) and Survival (Wis). That gives me the following for each skill.
Craft (Woodworking) : 5 (1 Skill point (aka rank) + 1 (From Int Mod) + 3 because it's a craft skill I have at least one rank in)
Handle Animal : 4 (1 Skill Point + 0 Cha Mod + 3 from Class Skill)
Heal : 8 (1 skill point + 4 Wis Mod + 3 from class skill)
Knowledge (Nature) : 5 (1 Skill point + 1 Int Mod + 3 Class Skill)
Perception : 8 (1 skill point + 4 Wis Mod + 3 from class skill)
Spellcraft : 5 (1 Skill point + 1 Int Mod + 3 Class Skill)
Survival : 8 (1 skill point + 4 Wis Mod + 3 from class skill)
Ok, skills all done. Next, equipment. I'm proficient with clubs, daggers, darts, quarterstaffs, scimitars, scythes, sickles, shortspears, slings, and spears. Since I have woodworking, I'll take a Quarterstaff (Hey, those are free! Cool!). I'm also proficient with all light and medium armor, but I can't wear metal armor. So, I'll take a set of leather armor (10 gp, I should have about 70 gold (equipment chapter, first page or two)). A backpack would be good too (2gp). And probably a flint and steel (1gp) and a bedroll(1sp). I think that's enough equipment, I'll keep my gold in case I need it.
I also need to pick an animal companion. Looking on page 53, I go through the list of animal companions. Just because I like cats (See the sig?), I will pick a Big Cat and call him Tigger. Tigger is a Tiger. :) So I have an animal companion that is a Tiger. I picked the big cat because when I hit 7th level he will grow up and become a Large tiger (and since he'll be large, I can ride him!).
So,
Here's my 1st level druid.
Alignment : Chaotic Neutral (Cause I am a curmudgeon, remember?)
BAB : 0
Size : Medium (because I am human)
Move : 30 feet (because I am human)
Fort Save : 4 (+2 Base, +2 Con Mod)
Reflex Save : 3 (+0 Base, +3 Dex Mod)
Will Save : 6 (+2 Base, +4 Wis Mod)
Hit Points : 10 (This assumes you are allowing maximum hit points for first level, which is the norm, so that's 8 (d8) + 2 for Con Mod)
AC : 17 (10 + 4 Dex Mod + 3 from Leather Armor)
Touch: 14 (10 + 4 Dex Mod)
Flat Footed: 13 (10 + 3 from Leather Armor)
Combat Manuever Bonus is my attack bonus to do special manuevers, like trip or grapple. It's BAB + Str Mod + Size Mod (none for me, I'm a human). Combat Maneuver Defense is how good I am at avoiding special manuevers, like trip or grapple. It is 10 + BAB + STR Mod + Dex Mod + Size Mod (Again, human, 0). All this is on page 198 and 199.
CMB : 0 (Wow, I suck at manuevers)
CMD : 14 (Wow, I really suck at manuevers)
Skills
Craft (Woodworking) : 5
Handle Animal : 4
Heal : 8
Knowledge (Nature) : 5
Perception : 8
Spellcraft : 5
Survival : 8
Powers :
Nature Bond
Nature Sense
Orisons
Wild Empathy
I get 2 first level spells (1 from being a 1st level druid, and a second because I have a High Wis (page 17)). I also get to pick 3 orisons (0 level spells) every day and use them as often as I want.
I have a Medium sized Tiger as my animal companion.
I have Leather armor (AC +3)
I have a Quarter staff (+0 to wield, does 1d6 Bludgeoning damage)
There, all done, hope that helped. You'll need to pick your spells and orisons of course, and do that every morning game time.
I will have to disagree...your highest stat should be Wisdom if you are going to be a caster first. If you are going to be a wildshaping fighting type you should consider putting Strength as your main attribute as all your wild shapes are based off your own strength.
Depends on the campaign.
Unfortunately, if you're going to be playing level-appropriate Paizo-type adventures, the options have to be weighed in terms of effectiveness, and a "wildshaping fighting type" is synonymous with a "suicide" in Pathfinder. Druids are full casters; they could ditch wild shape and the pet both and still be viable -- summoned nature's allies will just about always be better as fighters than you are anyway.
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Regarding spells, as it's come up before:
You only get spells if there is a number for that level in your class table. If there is a dash, then regardless of your ability score, you cannot cast the spells of that level.
Later on, metamagic feats can be used to make your spells more powerful or otherwise boost them, but this causes the spells to be treated as if they were a higher level.
As another change from 4E, the spells you have prepared are only castable once per day. You can prepare them multiple times (if you have enough spells available) but each preparation is only one use.
On to dump stats, for a druid, the least important stats are Intelligence and Charisma. Both are nice to have if you can, but neither really affects your core powers or role all that much. If you plan on staying well out of melee and using primarily spells, you can afford to downgrade Strength as well. As Kirth said, Wisdom will always be in your top two regardless of what role you envisage taking.
As a note, in Pathfinder, Strength, Intelligence and Charisma do not influence your saving throws (Read up on these, by the way, they function differently but have the same job.)
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Owner - D20 Hobbies
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is there a resource here or elsewhere that that can guide me in the creation of my Pathfinder character with regard to starting stats and build options?
my class skills are 3 and all the rest are zero?-I’m confused.
“You can never have more ranks in a skill than your total number of Hit Dice” so at first level my druid can have a maximum of 8?
Everyone is a newbie at some point. It's all good.
For stat builds you could try google for "druid handbook" site:wizards.com
That is a 3.5 centric guide, with the exception of massive changes to Wild Shape it is still relevant.
Your class skills provide you a one time +3 bonus that stacks, but only if you put 1 rank into them.
Your Hit Dice is your level, not the die size. So a 1st level Druid has one Hit Dice and has effectively a Character Level of 1. So a 1st level Druid with Perception (class skill) can have +1 (from Hit Dice) and +3 (class skill) or a total of +4 before adding stat modifiers.
First of all welcome to pathfiner/3.5. I hope that you enjoy the experiance.
The way I personaaly build my druids is to be a jack of everything druid type.
First I most always play humans for the extra feat. Second Wisdom is the primary stat so put your highest in it. Your con should be next,you never have too many HP. The third stat in MY opinion should be int. The fact that your going to be able to shape change and change most if not all of your pysical states means that they can be low and you still can be an effective secondary/third fighter type. If your really looking for a OMG! dump stat charisma still wins out, druids hardley use the cha score in ways that max ranks in the appropriate skill cant overcome.
As tempting as it may look never waste your feat on toughness, save the feat for improved toughness if your really are shy on HP. My personal favorites for feats at low level are Craft Woundrous and craft arrms and armor, simply because as a druid NOTHING EVER comes up in random treasure for you. The cleric/wizard heck even the bard has a better chance of getting something usefull for their class than the druid. Take the bull by the horns and make your own magic armor or keen scimitar.
I hope this helps and good gameing to you.
As tempting as it may look never waste your feat on toughness, save the feat for improved toughness if your really are shy on HP. My personal favorites for feats at low level are Craft Woundrous and craft arrms and armor...
I should point out that Pathfinder has combined Toughness and Improved Toughness into a single feat, so there's no longer a choice to be made there. Also, neither Craft Woundrous Item nor Craft Magic Arms and Armor is available at 1st level (check the feat prerequisites).
Hi,
Thanks for your awesome quick and informative replies, what I meant for “build” is; where would you put your highest ability scores,18 str ,16 wis? what is the dump stat ect,what is key for making a effective druid. I have no frame of reference as to what is best (and perhaps I’m not being clear, wouldn’t be the first time)
Perhaps this is too vague a question, if so, put it down to newbie drivel :)
The real question is, what do you want to do. As has been stated druids are very good at 3 things.
CastingFighting
& buffing.
You cannot help but be good at 2 things as a druid but you're going to be spread thin if you do all 3. Casting/buffing and fighting/buffing are going to be your basic 2 choices as druid. You don't have to buff but it's built into the class with nice spells like barkskin, resist energy, mass bullstrength/bears endurance, etc.
If you want to blast people with fire and lighting, then crank wisdom as high as you can and take spell focus & gsf evocation. You can wildshape into a bird and fly immune to most attackers. Keep a wind wall prepared to deal with archers if they can figure out it's the bird blasting their party.
If you like casting but want more variety you don't need as high of wisdom to be an awesome summoner. Just take augment summoning and you're good to go. Buffs are just as good on your summoned creatures, and every hit they take is one hit the cleric doesn't have to heal on the fighter. It is a very good option.
Your third option is fighting. If you want to do this you'll want good physical stats. You won't be resisting your own spells so you don't need to crank wisdom so much. Druids get some nice abilities both ranged and melee. Early on you have shillelagh. At level 3 you can do extended produce flame and that will last an encounter. Then you get wildshape and your variety gets more and more.
I would focus on one area, caster/buffer(blaster or summoner), or melee/buffer and you will do well with druid.