Hey everyone, first post. I've been building a 9th level druid, and was just about done and putting together some flashcards for my wild shape forms when I noticed something, and I wasn't sure if I was adding stats together incorrectly or what. (The druid does not have armor with the wild enhancement either, but looking at these numbers I'm considering dropping a feat in craft arms/armor so I can afford it) Here's what I saw.
Normal Druid AC=25 (8 armor, 4 shield, 2 dex, 1 deflection) Touch AC 13
Base stats, rolled+racial&levels (str 13, dex 15, con 17, int 15, wis 22, cha 11)
Allosaurus (huge) AC=15 (6 natural, 1 deflection, -2 size) Touch AC 9
Ok, I thought. Maybe I'll try sticking to elemental forms. Slightly better, but still vulnerable.
Fire Elemental (medium) AC= 18 (3 natural, 4 dex, 1 deflection) Touch AC 15
Earth Elemental (medium) AC= 18 (5 natural, 2 dex, 1 deflection) Touch AC 13
So what gives? The only wild shape form I see as viable for my build and concept as a casting druid is to turn into something that can fly, like an air elemental or some kind of flying animal that can stay out of reach. Am I wrong here? Is there some way to use wild shape without becoming a massive target that will die in two rounds?
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Get the wild enchant for your armor. It is expensive(+3), but a druid can use buffs to cover most of their other magic item needs(barkskin/greater magic fang).
Also, barkskin stacks with the natural armor granted by wild shape forms, so at level 9, that is another +4 AC.
Allosaurus (huge) AC=15 (6 natural, 1 deflection, -2 size) Touch AC 9
with +1 wild dragonhide fullplate(costs 19500 gold) and barkskin becomes
Allosaurus (huge) AC=29 (10 armor, 10 natural, 1 deflection, -2 size) Touch AC 9
i think the traditional school of thought for a casting druid is to turn into something small and highly mobile. the size bonus, dex bonus, and maneuverability bonuses are very synergistic to a person looking to cast spells round after round. Not to mention the humor of being a blue-jay in control of a roaring ball of flame and round after round of lightning strikes from the stormy sky!
The bigger forms are usually used to become melee machines.
And yes, every druid investing in Wildshaping needs to be able to get their hands on Wild Armor at some point. Without it, you'll be really scraping for AC.
Did I actually answer your question?
Alright, I'll most likely end up dropping some of my extra magic items so I can afford wild armor then, and I'll make sure to throw barkskin on when I need to. Thanks guys!
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And yes, every druid investing in Wildshaping needs to be able to get their hands on Wild Armor at some point. Without it, you'll be really scraping for AC.
I don't feel the need... The need for Wild Armor...
Wild dragonhide fullplate really looks cool, but it might not be as essential as all that for a caster trying to stay out of melee...
A +1 wild dragonhide fullplate gives armor 10, max dex +1, for a total AC boost of +11.
Consider using 20k on the following items instead:
Belt of Dex +2 (4k)
Bracers of Armor +4 (16k)
This will get you, when wildshaped into a medium air elemental a Dex of 21, or armor 4 dex 5 for a total Ac boost of +9. Still beaten by the wild armor by 2, but with a higher touch AC, higher ref saves, no armor check penalty (important for e.g. flying skill) and improved dex checks for skills and so on. At lvl 12 you get access to larger elemental forms your dex will improve to +6, which leaves an AC gap of 1 measly point. As you earn your goldses you will be able to eek out the same AC bonuses from the armor and the bracers/belt combo with the same expenditure. (Downside is using one more slot though...)
So, basically you miss out on one point of AC, but get a MUCH higher touch AC and Ref save. To me it seems well worth it to not have the wild shape armor...
Stuff
FYI
From Transmutation Poly morph subsection
When you cast a polymorph spell that changes you into a creature of the animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type, all of your gear melds into your body. Items that provide constant bonuses and do not need to be activated continue to function while melded in this way (with the exception of armor and shield bonuses, which cease to function). Items that require activation cannot be used while you maintain that form.
Wild Armor Enchantment
The wearer of a suit of armor or a shield with this ability preserves his armor bonus (and any enhancement bonus) while in a wild shape. Armor and shields with this ability usually appear to be covered in leaf patterns. While the wearer is in a wild shape, the armor cannot be seen.
When you wildshape with armor on, all of the bonuses and penalties go away. Wild armor gives you the armor bonus, but it does not bring back the penalties, thus you get all of the bonuses without the armor check or max dex penalties.
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Stuff
FYI
** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **
When you wildshape with armor on, all of the bonuses and penalties go away. Wild armor gives you the armor bonus, but it does not bring back the penalties, thus you get all of the bonuses without the armor check or max dex penalties.
Oooh, totally missed that point! Thanks for pointing that out to me, now I'll be one happy and hard to hit full-plate wearing druid :)
Oooh, totally missed that point! Thanks for pointing that out to me, now I'll be one happy and hard to hit full-plate wearing druid :)Stuff
FYI
** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **
When you wildshape with armor on, all of the bonuses and penalties go away. Wild armor gives you the armor bonus, but it does not bring back the penalties, thus you get all of the bonuses without the armor check or max dex penalties.
You may want to double check with your DM. That is how is worked by the RAW(Rules as Written), but there was some question about whether that was the RAI(Rules as Intended).
Yah that whole Max Dex thing goes away while Wildshaping, so bring on the Belt of Dex AND Wild Dragonhide Plate Armor, baby!
There's always mage armor from your friendly party mage. . .
