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So trying to stat out a druid now. Haven't done one since 2nd edition, so not too certain what the 'trap' options are in pathfinder, or the good builds/archtypes. I'm also not sure what route I want to go (okay, not giving too much info).
It's 20 point build, paizo material. For Kingmaker. Party so far has a cavalier, sorcerer, monk, and a warrior type (I believe Aldori Swordlord). There's one other player besides myself, not sure what they'll be making. But at present it looks like I'll be the 'healer' as well.
Right now I'm in the brainstorming for ideas phase so any recommendations would be useful.
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What materials do you have to work with, i.e. what books are allowed? Druids do well in Kingmaker, especially if they concentrate on spellcasting.
Wild Shape is a good ability, but to use it in combat, as opposed to for scouting or obstacle avoidance, requires significant expenditure in improving your physical abilities.
Druids can heal, but are not good at it unless they use wands. Being unable to convert spells to healing as Clericas can, you need to either dedicate a lot of slots to healing or use magic items. Magic items are a better use of resources in general, especially as all the people you're healign can contribute to them.
Make sure you take Natural Spell at some point. Being able to cast spells while in elemental (especiall Air) is a godsend for druids.
Basically, unlike in 3.5, you can't be a combat monster with wildshape AND be good at spellcasting. You're probably better focusing on druid's spellcating and saving the wildshape for utility.
Also check out Treantmonk's Guide to Druids which isa great dissection of the class and how its abilities function.
Druids are good versatile casters but you still need to plan out what you are going to do. Like Paul said the best thing you can do for healing is have the party chip in for wands. At early levels you'll have to dedicate more slots to healing spells but later you can do whatever you want in terms of spell slots and use the wands for healing.
And while focusing on spellcasting might be the better option, don't ignore wildshape.
Beast of the Society, a trait found in the Faction Guide allows you to remain wildshaped for two hours per level. Add that to a maxed out stealth skill and you can be one of the best spies in the game.
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Good information so far. I started going through Treantmonk's guide and I like the idea of the caster druid, and my usual style is wizards and sorcerers, so kinda have the base playstyle down.
As far as traits go, the DM is assigning them, so I don't have too much choice in picking them out.
Probably SF(Conjuration) and Augment Summoning at first level because it's just good. Stat-wise thinking:
Str 11
Dex 14
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 16+2
Cha 12
How does that look? As far as dumping Str, I'm not too big a fan of negatives in general, and dont' want to leave myself open too much to strength draining to simply dump stat it. Also don't like Int that low myself, but might work out.
I think Paul Watson pretty much hit the nail on the head.
- Use wildshape more for utility than combat (but it can be a viable combat option).
- Druids are decent healers, but aren't healing batteries.
- Augment Summoning is a must-have feat, imo.
- Natural spell is a must-have feat, as well. Paul's post could be misread that it only applies to elemental wild shape forms, but it lets you cast in any wild shaped form.
- Take a mix of utility, healing, and damage spells. You never know what you'll need most, and in a pinch, you can drop an unneeded spell for a spontaneous SNA.
Your stats look like a decent selection. The tough thing about druids is that you pretty much want all six stats, but I think you're on the right track to favor Wis > Dex = Con > Cha = Str > Int. Int is only going to really affect your skill points, but druids aren't really meant to be skill monkeys.
As you level up, if you have any choice whatsoever in magical gear, look to the stat-boosting belts and headbands, cloak of resistance, amulet of natural armor, and either bracers of armor or armor/shield with the wild descriptor. If your party is looking to you to be the healer, then they really need to chip in to buy various cure wands.
If you chose animal companion, and you are a human, eye for talent is a good trade off imo. +2 to your sense motive and a +2 bonus to one stat of your choice for your animal companion. Just have to give up your human bonus feat.
Str 14
Dex 14
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 18
Cha 8
Would be a decent spread imo. That way you could still wildshape to good effect (but not be totally reliant upon it), while maintaining good casting. Or if you want more hp, swap dex and con.
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wild empathy - never ever used it with my druid - my GMs always had the animals attack before it would work but then I didnt have that many animal encounters anyway
my current druid has dumped charisma as well & I have seen no problem except for the occasional cha based skill use - I let the cha members take over there
for stats I would use
Str 14
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 15 (17) if human. half elf or half orc
Cha 8
you could also choose dwarf with same above base stats plus the dwarf racial mods - increase to wis & con is good & penalty to cha I dont think would hurt
the above stats is what I have used on my druid - gives you good all round stats & at lev 4 increase wis to 18 - the difference at the lower levels I found to be negligable
healing as the druid does suck though - you dont get healing with lev 2 spells so wands are pretty much mandatory in my groups - I dont know kingmaker so dont know how much a healing drain it will be
Didn't like the idea of a Charisma penalty at first, but as I think about it, the only thing it really benefits if I recall is Wild Empathy. How useful do others find it? Considering it's only level+cha, doesn't seem like it'd have a high enough modifier to matter until higher levels anyway.
IMO, the real use for Cha for a druid is pushing his companion in battle. Also IMO, that's more useful at lower levels than higher levels. At higher levels, your companion just gets eaten. Wild shaping into an air elemental and zipping around the battlefield at 120 perfect flying speed, while casting spells, ftw.
I have yet to have an encounter where I needed to pacify a normal animal. At higher levels, when do GMs even put them in adventures, anyway?
Other than that, your only use for Cha comes down to diplomacy. It's really an unnecessary stat for druids. Like Paul linked, if you haven't already read it, check out Treantmonk's druid guide. It's really good:
http://paizo.com/forums/dmtz1ts7?Treantmonks-Guide-to-Druids#0