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Heya. I some advice for a level one build and how I should take him.
NG
STR 15
DEX 14
CON 13
INT 10
WIS 17
CHR 8
Traits: Deft Dodger, Explorer
Skills: Knowledge: Nature, Perception, Profession (Miner), Survival
Gear: War-hammer (made of stone) Wooden Hvy Shield, Studded Leather
Now what I need help with is:
Starting Feat: ???
Animal Companion: Wolverine or Mountain Lion?
Thanks for any advice given!
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If you are going to be doing a lot of summoning of nature's ally you should take Spell Focus Conjuration for two reasons. The first is there are a few conjuration spells where the added DC will be nice and it is a prerequisite for Augmented Summon which is fantastic.
And the mountain lion would be a nice addition.
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Ok well you have a number of interesting options. If you want to play more of the caster/cleric role you could pick up the Earth Domain or even the new Caves Subdomain which would double your darkvision out to 120 feet and let you spider-climb 1 minute/level on stone.
There is also the Cave Druid package which trades out the trackless step, nature's lure, and woodland stride for the ability to better fight oozes and abberations, defeat termorsense, and eventually assume the form of an ooze itself. Pretty neat stuff.
As for feats it REALLY depends on what you want to do with the PC.
A LOT of people prefer playing Druid as a summoner and minion action economy type class where they have 3-4 creatures out attacking for them and using terrain control spells to help debuff the enemies. That isn't for everybody though, I personally wouldn't be able to stand that kind of play. For this they already mentioned Augment Summons.
You could go the way of the cleric as mentioned and get a feat that helps with that bit, like a metamagic feat.
If you plan on using your animal companion as a mount you should get mounted combat which lets you use ride checks to negate a hit your companion might take when you are riding it.
If you want to get more defensive you can even take the typical feats like toughness for extra health. Or you could get a few of the race specific ones from the APG like Ironhide for +1 natural armor bonus to AC. If you are worried about your save Steel Soul gives you +4 on saves against spells and spell like effects (Which is pretty much 90% of will saves, and many MANY reflex and fort saves).
It is really up to you.
Any idea how you want to build him?
Are druids allowed to take the sub-domains or are they cleric only?Cleric only goodies i'm afraid.
you might be able to sweet talk you GM on that ;) never hurts to ask
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Are druids allowed to take the sub-domains or are they cleric only?
Would you mind directing me to somewhere that says that, because worship in those few domains they can take is already cloistering enough I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to.
Regardless about the animal companion if you take a medium companion you should be able to ride it as a Dwarf starting out. It is something of an unlisted benefit of the race being small as they are and the fact that there is no hard and fast rule as to what size category you have to be to mount a creature (I point to the pony description indicating it is an appropriate mount for dwarf. I highly suggest taking some mounted feats and maybe work on some cool combat maneuvers you can perform mounted like overrun or bullrush. One cool thing to think about in this vein is once you get your companions int above 2 it can take any feat it qualifies for and if you get a Teamwork Feat on both your character and it, it gives you the tools to facilitate the positioning and other requirements to use them.
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Are druids allowed to take the sub-domains or are they cleric only?Would you mind directing me to somewhere that says that, because worship in those few domains they can take is already cloistering enough I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to.
The only reason I asked was because they were listed under the clerics in the APG. As to where it was ruled that way, one of the people that answered would have to do that. For the record, I agree with you.
The second part of your post seems a bit off though. Dwarves are medium and would require a large mount at least to my understanding.
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Regardless about the animal companion if you take a medium companion you should be able to ride it as a Dwarf starting out. It is something of an unlisted benefit of the race being small as they are and the fact that there is no hard and fast rule as to what size category you have to be to mount a creature (I point to the pony description indicating it is an appropriate mount for dwarf. I highly suggest taking some mounted feats and maybe work on some cool combat maneuvers you can perform mounted like overrun or bullrush. One cool thing to think about in this vein is once you get your companions int above 2 it can take any feat it qualifies for and if you get a Teamwork Feat on both your character and it, it gives you the tools to facilitate the positioning and other requirements to use them.
actually in the core rulebook dwarves are listed as medium not small
also horses are listed as large animals in the bestiary and are listed as mounts for dwarves in core rulebook whereas ponies are listed as medium animals in the bestiary and are listed as mounts for gnomes and halflings - so based on this you would need a large sized animal companion to use one as a mount if you are a dwarf
Thanks for the info. Now the next question. Should I consider multi classing? Two classes I would consider are, Monk and Ranger.
Multi-classing a primary caster is seldom worth it, and both of the classes you're considering combine poorly with a druid, either not giving enough of a benefit (Ranger) or having abilities that conflict (Monk AC bonus and armor.)
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actually in the core rulebook dwarves are listed as medium not smallalso horses are listed as large animals in the bestiary and are listed as mounts for dwarves in core rulebook whereas ponies are listed as medium animals in the bestiary and are listed as mounts for gnomes and halflings - so based on this you would need a large sized animal companion to use one as a mount if you are a dwarf
That is actually not a formal rule, it is something of a guideline that players fabricated. It even states on the pony listing (a medium animal) that it serves as an appropriate mount for dwarves.
Thanks for the info. Now the next question. Should I consider multi classing? Two classes I would consider are, Monk and Ranger.
From a CharOp point of view, its kinda a bad idea. You miss out on advancing your spell casting and you don't advance your animal companion until, I believe, you are at least level four as a ranger.
That said, if it holds the kind of flavor you want and the kinds of games you play in are lower on the CharOp end of things, go for it. Just keep in mind my earlier points.
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Well then. Single class Druid he is. I've decided to take Spell Focus: Conjuration (to pick up augment summoning for later). A wolverine will be the companion (Bubgharzkrik or Bub for short).
Now for feat progression
1: Spell focus: conjuration
3: Augment Summoning
5: Natural Spell
7: ???
9: ???
11: ???
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That is actually not a formal rule, it is something of a guideline that players fabricated. It even states on the pony listing (a medium animal) that it serves as an appropriate mount for dwarves.
it may not be a formal rule but considering the following is quoted from the cole rulebook I would take it as a rule not just a guideline page 162 - the bolding is mine
Horse: A horse is suitable as a mount for a human, dwarf, elf, half-elf, or half-orc. A pony is smaller than a horse and is a suitable mount for a gnome or halfling
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Well then. Single class Druid he is. I've decided to take Spell Focus: Conjuration (to pick up augment summoning for later). A wolverine will be the companion (Bubgharzkrik or Bub for short).
Now for feat progression
1: Spell focus: conjuration
3: Augment Summoning
5: Natural Spell
7: ???
9: ???
11: ???
I currently am a multiclassed druid - I went 3 levels of rogue & the rest currently into druid
in part since party did not have a rogue but also for the sneak attack, evasion & rogue talent - the animal companion helps get flanking for sneak attacks - if DM will allow you take the bonded companion feat from seeker of secrets which would allow it to be raised by up to 4 levels so long as it does not take it above your max hit dice eg. my companion is the same level as me as if I was a full casting druid not multiclassed|
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From the SRD...
Ponies are smaller breeds of horses better suited to halflings, gnomes, and dwarves, but they also make fond pets for humans as well. They stand 3 to 4 feet tall and weigh about 600 pounds.
A light load for a pony is up to 100 pounds, a medium load is 101–200 pounds, and a heavy load is 201–300 pounds. A pony can drag 1,500 pounds.
The statistics presented above are for a typical pony. Tougher ponies with the advanced simple template exist, but are relatively uncommon and, unlike horses, these creatures are not generally called “heavy ponies.” Like horses, ponies can be trained for combat with the Handle Animal skill, and such mounts often serve halflings, gnomes, and other small races as steeds in combat.
Emphasis my own. I'm reading that as dwarves can ride them but not use them for combat mounts because they are not small. But I'm by no means an expert. Just my 2cp.
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From the SRD...
Ponies are smaller breeds of horses better suited to halflings, gnomes, and dwarves, but they also make fond pets for humans as well. They stand 3 to 4 feet tall and weigh about 600 pounds.
A light load for a pony is up to 100 pounds, a medium load is 101–200 pounds, and a heavy load is 201–300 pounds. A pony can drag 1,500 pounds.
The statistics presented above are for a typical pony. Tougher ponies with the advanced simple template exist, but are relatively uncommon and, unlike horses, these creatures are not generally called “heavy ponies.” Like horses, ponies can be trained for combat with the Handle Animal skill, and such mounts often serve halflings, gnomes, and other small races as steeds in combat.
Emphasis my own. I'm reading that as dwarves can ride them but not use them for combat mounts because they are not small. But I'm by no means an expert. Just my 2cp.
the way I read it is that they are pets for the first part
-Ponies are smaller breeds of horses better suited to halflings, gnomes, and dwarves, but they also make fond pets for humans as well.& shown to be mounts in the second part
-ponies can be trained for combat with the Handle Animal skill, and such mounts often serve halflings, gnomes, and other small races as steeds in combat. since it says mounts & does not state dwarves but does state small races which dwarves are not
so by the rules as I read dwarves can not use them as mounts