I am starting my first PF campaign friday after next. So far our party has Rogue x2, Bard and Paladin. The rogues are playing twins and going for a flanking setup. The pally is going mounted combat. And the bard is doing a buff support role.
First question, do you guys think a druid would be a good addition or should I go Wiz/Sorc.
My stats are:
Female Tengu Druid 1
Str 13
Dex 18 (16 +2 racial)
Con 11 (13 -2 racial)
Int 13
Wis 18 (16 +2 racial)
Cha 13Feats: Weapon Finesse
AC: Roc
Weapons: Elven Curveblade, Net
Second question, do you guys have any ideas to improve this build?
I plan on advancing the Roc to INT 3 later on. Third question, do you guys think communiating with the Roc in Druidic would violate the class?
Thanks again guys
If you'll have more fun as a Druid, go druid. I could see this character as a powerful Eagle Shaman.
As for your build, are you looking to be a wildshape druid or a caster druid?
If I recall, creatures with only 3 intelligence can only understand 1 language (common), unless they take ranks in Linguistics. Your Roc could easily spare a skill point for linguistics when it hits Int 3, so I don't see the problem. The class only forbids teaching druidic to others, not simply speaking it.
I am looking for a caster druid to make up for the lack of caster types in the party. I was not aware that the rules specified the common language.
You are correct on the language front.
Apparently it'll know any one language, and while I don't see a problem with it only knowing Druidic, I'd still go with common and then have it learn Druidic with linguistics. Otherwise you will be the only person who can communicate with your animal companion, which could be an issue in the future.
If you're going the caster route, all looks good. I might even lower your STR a bit to bring up your CON, but past that it all looks good. How do you feel about the Eagle Shaman? It looks like it has some good options that are right up your alley.
I too am curious to know if teaching your animal companion to understand druidic breaks the druid oath.
I too am curious to know if teaching your animal companion to understand druidic breaks the druid oath.
Would you have to even teach it druidic, though? It's always been my opinion that druid spells are cast with verbal components from the Druidic language. If your animal companion, a creature bound to you by the magics of nature, were to gain language it's got a good shot at learning the language of the magic that enchants it.
Your animal companion is an extension of your abilities as a spellcaster and servant of nature. If your magic is imparting the ability to speak, it makes a lot of sense that it would speak the language of the druids.
Or, you could approach this from a strictly rules perspective: Is using one class feature on another class feature territory for the DM to take away all of your class abilities?
I too am curious to know if teaching your animal companion to understand druidic breaks the druid oath.Would you have to even teach it druidic, though? It's always been my opinion that druid spells are cast with verbal components from the Druidic language. If your animal companion, a creature bound to you by the magics of nature, were to gain language it's got a good shot at learning the language of the magic that enchants it.
Your animal companion is an extension of your abilities as a spellcaster and servant of nature. If your magic is imparting the ability to speak, it makes a lot of sense that it would speak the language of the druids.
Or, you could approach this from a strictly rules perspective: Is using one class feature on another class feature territory for the DM to take away all of your class abilities?
While I am pro-DM-ruling on just about everything, it helps to have RAW as a baseline/guideline.
Were I ruling my games "by the book" then the druid would break the oath, simply because that's what the book says. You teach it to anyone, you lose features. It doesn't specify creature type or any such thing, so TECHNICALLY (this is a bad word to use when you explain things to players)... technically you broke the oath. Since I rule my games for maximum cool factor, I am likely to say "Sure, your companion can learn druidic. They can't teach it to anyone else, and it makes sense from a flavor standpoint." This would seem to make my question moot, but as I originally stated, I am merely curious.
I don't see druidic being available to a companion because it "is an extension of your abilities." To the best of my knowledge (and correct me if I am wrong, because I was looking for this info as well) animal companions do not share your wild empathy, woodland stride, trackless step, resist nature's lure, wildshape, etc. It explicitly states in the companion section that they can share spells, but only under very specific circumstances.
I could have sworn that animal companions become "normal" after the Druid dies, buy I can't find that text anywhere. Sorta leaves my argument without a mechanical backup.
However, druids aren't forbidden from teaching others Druidic- just nondruids. Can you consider the animal companion, a class feature of the Druid, to be a nondruid?
Why wouldnt a human wizard teach its familiar Draconic, an Elven wizard its familiar Elvish so too a Druid his companion Ogham :)
Why wouldnt a human wizard teach its familiar Draconic, an Elven wizard its familiar Elvish so too a Druid his companion Ogham :)
Difference being, the Druid is Forbidden to teach it to nondruids. However, if the druid wishes to teach his companion elven or draconic...Go for it.
As a Tengu you don't have net proficiency.
Not that it matters, being a ranged touch attack. even at a -4 you're still likely to hit your opponent.
Just felt I should point that out.