well in a few weeks time i need to get a 4th level character made. i got it in my head to play a dwarf druid. i know wildshape is a big deal and i intend to make use of it as needed but what i want to know is a level of figher worth it for the weapon/armor profeciencies(i want to wear stoneplate) or is the loss of the 1 level not worth it and should i just take a feat for armor proficiency?
it's not even close to worth it in terms of cost/benefit, but if you'd want to do it flavorwise or don't care much for min/maxing and losing a caster level, i see no real reason not too
In my opinion, it's not worth delaying access to Wild Shape, and once you get Wild Shape, you'll spend the majority of your time shaped. And until you get to high enough levels where you can afford Wild armor, it's not worth a dip or a feat for armor you won't get any use out of. You're better off sticking with your medium armor (perhaps dragonhide breastplate) and a wooden shield + scimitar if you're worried about AC for now. Then once you get Wild Shape, invest in a Wand of Mage Armor for the party arcane to cast on you while you're shaped.
|
For a full caster sticking to the core class is the conventional wisdom. You don't slow down your wild shape and spell progression if you stay druid and take the Heavy Armor feat.
If you go for it I suggest Cavalier as a dip. They get an animal companion and that will stack with the druid's animal companion to keep your AC at full power.
But I suggest you stick with the feat.
If all you're dipping for is the heavy armor prof, then you're better off staying true druid and just spending a feat on heavy armor prof.
dip 1 level of monk and disregard armor
wildshape tops out at 12th level , i.e. once your 12th you've hit the best forms and can look at multiclassing after that.
If you have Ultimate Magic, check out some of the wildshape feats in there. You can still make that the focus of your character (I love dwarf druids, btw) but I don't recommend armor until you can get wild armor.
One of the new feats treats you as one size larger for several purposes while wildshaped (Powerful Shape, iirc). There's another that allows you to shift as move or swift actions, at the cost of uses per day. If you don't have Ultimate Magic, I think a lot of it is up here or it may even be up on the official PRD.