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I need some help with my PFS level 5 druid wild form build so I have some idea on the right track in terms of build+companion+gear.
I want HIGH survivability with GOOD damage output as I am the only full time party healer (+1 Paladin)
I will have 11,400gp and 22-24 fame to buy with.
I was thinking:
Dual Talent Human
Str: 15 +2 human + 1 buy at lvl 4 = 18
Dex: 14
Con: 12
Int: 10
Wis: 16 +2 human=18
Cha: 7 dump stat
Feats: Dodge, Power Attack, Natural Spell
Weapons: Scimitar+Shield or Scythe?
Armor or Barding: buy armor humanoid form or velicorapter barding? Lamellar horn? Lamellar horn+1?
Magic Item buys: CLW wand, Magic Fang Wand, ?? Druid Vestment for 1 extra shape/day? Natural armor amulet+1?
Animal companion at 5: Ape or Raptor? or ?
Animal companion feat: Dodge, Power Attack?
Spells:
lvl 1: CLWx4
lvl2: Barkskinx3
lvl3: CMWx2
Thanks!!

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I want HIGH survivability with GOOD damage output as I am the only full time party healer (+1 Paladin)
Clarification query, are you:
a) Going frontline druid wildshaper, focusing on damage and staying alive.b) Hanging out in the back as your druid, casting support spells
c) Being in the front, wildshaping, but also healing when needed.
That aside, my druid loves:
Natural spell
Druid Vestment

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Quote:I want HIGH survivability with GOOD damage output as I am the only full time party healer (+1 Paladin)Clarification query, are you:
a) Going frontline druid wildshaper, focusing on damage and staying alive.
b) Hanging out in the back as your druid, casting support spells
c) Being in the front, wildshaping, but also healing when needed.That aside, my druid loves:
Natural spell
Druid Vestment
To further clarify, Im aggressively leading from the front (read max raptor wild form if possible with a good ac item build out for that, I would assume the vestment+barding?), healing post encounter and trying my best to stay alive. I have never played a healing class in all my years of RPGing so "hanging in the back, casting support spells" simply isnt in my nature and would be quite unfun for me.

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...
Magic Item buys: CLW wand, Magic Fang Wand, ?? Druid Vestment for 1 extra shape/day? Natural armor amulet+1?
...
Spells:
lvl 1: CLWx4
lvl2: Barkskinx3
lvl3: CMWx2
...
With PFS, the opportunity to spend 2 prestige on a single 750g item usually means everyone should spend 2 prestige on a CLW wand early on. This really frees up the 'healer' to memorize useful spells. So, my best recomendation is have everyone get their own wand and hand them to you during the scenerio. I would probably leave one CMW and CLW for just in case instances where your wild shaped (your wand is morphed into your shape and cant use it) and in-combat emergencies. The rest of the healing can be handled between fights and with wands usually.

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Walter Sheppard wrote:Quote:I want HIGH survivability with GOOD damage output as I am the only full time party healer (+1 Paladin)Clarification query, are you:
a) Going frontline druid wildshaper, focusing on damage and staying alive.
b) Hanging out in the back as your druid, casting support spells
c) Being in the front, wildshaping, but also healing when needed.That aside, my druid loves:
Natural spell
Druid VestmentTo further clarify, Im aggressively leading from the front (read max raptor wild form if possible with a good ac item build out for that, I would assume the vestment+barding?), healing post encounter and trying my best to stay alive. I have never played a healing class in all my years of RPGing so "hanging in the back, casting support spells" simply isnt in my nature and would be quite unfun for me.
Gotcha, just confirming.
So you've got the right idea with what you have up there so far.
I don't think it's worth going DT Human for that +2 wis. I think a feat would be more advantageous. You're never going to be casting "save or suck" spells, so you'll only need enough wisdom for casting your spells. And 16 will be plenty. Even 14 is probably good enough. You can always get an item.
For level 5, you'll have 3 (or 4 if you don't go DT) feats to play with.
1. Toughness
3. Power Attack
5. Natural Spell
Something like that would be a great start, and if you get a 4th then I'd recommend Quick Wild Shape. There's great utility at being able to swift action into a bird at higher levels. Or an earth elemental and dipping underground mid-fight.
Animal companion wise: any of them will help you out. You can go something more tanky like an ankylosaurus if you just want a flanking buddy, or be more aggressive with a wolf or a cat (or raptor if you're trying to stay themed). If you don't think you'll be getting much use out of your AC (since you're money will be mostly going to improve your own combat capability), consider dropping it and picking up a domain instead. There are a few that are pretty powerful. Take a look at the growth subdomain power if you get a chance.
Spells to prepare? Like I said, anything that's not a save/suck.
Level 1: Obscuring Mist, Faerie Fire (like glitterdust, this is invaluable at higher levels), Speak with Animals, Ant Haul
Level 2: Barkskin, Resist Energy, Wood Shape (weirdly situational)
Level 3: Daylight, Plant Growth, Quench (no save for it), Wind Wall
Level 4: Air Walk, Dispel Magic, Life Bubble, Strong Jaw (good if you get a T-rex AC)
Level 5: Animal Growth, Stoneskin
With a druid, a lot of your power comes from versatility. So even if you get super vested into front-line combat, don't shy away from shifting into a bird and scouting out for the party, or taking a turn off attacking to try and dispel the enemy's fly or stoneskin. Also never forget that any prepared spell you have can be spontaneously converted into a Summon Nature's Ally of the same level. A flock of stirges are sure to ruin any caster's day, just like having a cyclops or two pop up can really put a dent in the bad guys. Flash of Insight is pretty dang powerful. Remember that anything you can do to help the party will, in the end, help you.

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If you want something a little difference here is a build for you:
Aasimar - Plumekith
Druid 5, Menhir Savant
Str 10
Dex 20 17 Base + 2 Race + 1 4th Lvl
Con 14
Int 11
Wis 16 14 Base + 2 Race
Cha 7
Feats Wpn Finesse, Piranha Strike Natural Spell
Spells
0 Guidance, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation
1 Obscuring Mist, Faerie Fire, Produce Flame x2, Frost Bite
2 Barkskin x2, Flaming Sphere
3 Gr. Magic Fang, Resist Energy Communal
Gear Amulet of Mighty Fists Agile, Druid Vestments, Cloak of Prot +1, Ring of Protection +1, PP for a Wand of Mage Armor and Cure Light Wounds, have some potions of Mage Armor
Turn into an Eagle
Fly 30, AC 19 (23 w/Mage Armor, 26 w/Barkskin +1 lvl via Menhir)
3 attacks at +9 (w/Gr. Magic Fang) 1d4 + 9, (w/pihrana strike) plus the ability to bombard with flaming sphere and produce flame
Get Two World Magic as a trait, pick up Prestidigitation, use to make letters in the air for communication and basic utility
Fun little build

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thanks all for the help.
I sort of wanted to keep my race Human. As far as opti build, Dual Trait human seems to be outright superior to toughness as 2 more points into con>toughness as it buffs your fort save as well, right?
I completely agree on the PP level 1 wands and spell redistribution, that is great.
What about: druid vestment + barding for the raptor? Or ? and should I actually investing magical barding at this level?
What, if any companion optimization should I do?
If Im a raptor and my pet is a raptor can we auto communicate I assume?

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Don't get expensive armor until your companion gets the increase in size. Also, Dual Talent is nice, but druids can get by with a 16 wisdom, as you aren't going for Save-or-Suck druid from what I can tell. You can spend the extra feat on something like Mobility so you can charge things with reach, or Improved Initiative which, while some say is a feat trap, I think it is great to always go first, or Improved Unarmed Strike which is useful if you ever get disarmed.

BigNorseWolf |

Buy the raptor masterwork studded leather armor barding now.
When he hits 7th and gets big then invest in either mithral chain shirt barding or mithral kikko barding.
Dual talent will also cost you your extra skill point per level, which is kind of nice in pfs.
You don't auto communicate. You need to use handle animal on the raptor, but the check is incredibly easy. To speed things up, you should aim for a +12 so you can automatically give him a trick to perform even when he's hurt.
5 ranks -2 charisma +3 class skill +2 training harness +4 from the link feature on the handle animal chart=+12 You're there. Keep upping handle animal for a bit anyway after this in case you get sickened or something to give you a penalty.