What should I do with this Druid?

[Kazumetsa Raijin]

Hey Guys!

I have a couple of questions if any of you can spare the time.

"Shaping Focus
Your powers of shapeshifting outstrip your dabbling in the druidic faith.

Prerequisites: Wild shape class feature, Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks.

Benefit: If you are a multiclassed druid, your wild shape ability is calculated as though your druid level were four higher, to a maximum level equal to your character level.

Special: This feat has no effect if you are not a multiclassed druid."

1.) Does this imply that I can be a Ranger4/Druid16 and still be counted as a level 20 druid for the purpose of his/her WildShape?

2.) What Archetype/Domain combination if any would be good for a druid wanting to stick to huge beast forms, and possibly huge elemental, but at the same time preferably support his/her team? Any further self-buffing Archetype/Domain combinations are still welcome.

[ArmouredMonk13]

1.)Yes you do count as 20th level Druid.
2.)Animal domain+boon companion=druid with domain and companion. Air Domain is alright for some minor buffs like Air Walk. Druids don't really get great Buff Domains though.

[ShadowcatX]

1) Yes. Probably not worth it though. (And by probably I mean definitely.)

2) Druids don't need any archtetypes really, they're a very powerful class vanilla. Menhir Savant is generally considered their best archetype.

If you're really wanting to focus on buffing it might be worth it to consider going samsaran and picking up some of the really good buff spells from other divine lists.

[Atarlost]

Kazumetsa Raijin wrote:

Hey Guys!

I have a couple of questions if any of you can spare the time.

"Shaping Focus
Your powers of shapeshifting outstrip your dabbling in the druidic faith.

Prerequisites: Wild shape class feature, Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks.

Benefit: If you are a multiclassed druid, your wild shape ability is calculated as though your druid level were four higher, to a maximum level equal to your character level.

Special: This feat has no effect if you are not a multiclassed druid."

1.) Does this imply that I can be a Ranger4/Druid16 and still be counted as a level 20 druid for the purpose of his/her WildShape?

2.) What Archetype/Domain combination if any would be good for a druid wanting to stick to huge beast forms, and possibly huge elemental, but at the same time preferably support his/her team? Any further self-buffing Archetype/Domain combinations are still welcome.

1) Yes, but this is not useful. Wildshape duration and uses both scale with level so by level 8 you have 24 hours of wildshape per day and wildshape forms don't progress past level 12. If you ever intend to progress druid to 12 the feat will become redundant. Ranger is also a poor choice. The natural weapon bonus feats are sad and the other styles aren't useful. Fighter or barbarian or even samurai will synergize better if you want to go druid 8 martial 12.

2) If you want to do support you don't want to multiclass. Caster level matters. Your main shareable buff is barkskin, but some classes will also appreciate greater magic fang. Both scale off of caster level. For self-buffs resinous skin is good for a bit of DR and enhanced grappling. You're much better at battlefield control than buffing, though.

[Sir Thugsalot]

I'm intrigued why a druid would multiclass four levels of ranger, given the already broad overlap of themes.

[Kittenological]

Sir Thugsalot wrote:

I'm intrigued why a druid would multiclass four levels of ranger, given the already broad overlap of themes.

I think it was more of a hypthetical example than anything else. Probably a Druid/spellcasting PrC could potentially make a good use of the feat early on tho.

[Kazumetsa Raijin]

The Ranger/Druid was just a random example. I certainly wouldn't do it.

[I Hate Nickelback]

Is there any build that might really benefit from this feat? Four levels of MoMS?

[Kittenological]

I Hate Nickelback wrote:

Is there any build that might really benefit from this feat? Four levels of MoMS?

anything that advances your divine spellcasting (so you can still cast 9th level spellz) and gives enough incentives on the first 4 levels to even bother meeting the prerequisites.

[Atarlost]

I Hate Nickelback wrote:

Is there any build that might really benefit from this feat? Four levels of MoMS?

4 levels of druid on a fighter, barbarian, or samurai gets you maxed animal wildshape and 24 hour shaping with this feat for only 1 BAB drop. It can make a very nasty pounce, grapple, or flyby attack/vital strike build.