I value RP and optimisation equally, but I'd appreciate some input.
The basic idea, is I'm an orc that worships the predator-prey relationship and the law of the jungle, to the point of being animalistic himself.
Because of some backstory, he fights with tooth and claw (1d4 primaries) , but will never use metal or manufactured weapons.
Obviously, it will be strength-based. Yes, I read treantmonk's guide. I want him to definately be a front-lines character.
Are there any ideas for equipment and feats?
We start at level 2, and get 750g for weapons and armor, 500g for misc equipment, and 500g in coins.
I want to pump my AC, but might get some potions too. (Enlarge person is nice).
Ill roll my stats in a few.
First of all bear in mind that Druids are casters in nature. They summon and use their pets in order to deal damage and control the battlefield, entering melee only to clear up the battle after it has been decided or after they have throw the spells they deemed necessary.
In order to make him more martial oriented, you can combine him with monk. He gives interesting bonuses like Wisdom to AC
Here is an excellent build that demonstrates the damage you can achieve by stacking various class features, spells and feats.
For a less specialized build you can use the sensei who gets rid of flurry of blows (useless to you unless you combine it with a specific natural attack via thefeat feral combat training) and also allows you to use Wisdom for To Hit, CMB and CMD. This way you use Wisdom for almost anything important and you can safely dump Dex. See this build as an example. For a half-orc just ignore TWF until lvl 13.
Of course you can have a martial focused Str based Druid that takes lvls only in Druid class. Take Saurian Shaman for the +2 Wildshape lvl bonus.
For the first two builds you want take the domain option, for the straight Druid I suggest that you choose the animal companion. Allosaurus is a great choice.
I take it that the claws are home-brewed right?
A sample straight Druid could be like this:
Half-Orc Saurian Shaman Druid
Alternative racial Traits: Beastmaster
Stats (20 pb): Str 17, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 8
Traits: Reactionary, Gifted Adept (Call Animal)
Feats:
Druid:
1 Spell Focus: Conjuration
3 Augment Summoning
5 Natural Spell
7 Powerful Form
9 Power Attack
11 Superior Summoning
13 Planar Wildshape
15 Divine Interference
17 Critical Focus
19 Staggering Critical
Allosaurus:
1 Light Armor Proficiency
2 Dodge
5 Weapon Focus (Bite)
8 Improved Natural Attack (Bite)
10 Improved Natural Attack (Claw)
13 Toughness
16 Iron Will
18 Power Attack
For the first lvls use a quarterstaff (wooden, can be made frm the trees in the jungle) and buff it with Shillelagh. See the 3rd chapter of this guide for explanation about the Gifted Adept trait.
I rolled stats..
Orc Monk/Druid
Str. 22
Dec 17
Con 18
Int. 10
Wis. 14
Cha. 13
The sensei looked really good, but orcs get -2 Dex. Plus he's very animal like... I can see him being strealthy and agile. I already added all the orc +4 str and -2 mental.
This is definately a strength build... The only spells Ill use with any regularity are probably buffs. There's a small chance his orc tribe invented "Boar Style".
There's a 3.5 archetype that I might try to use... Druidic avenger. I would essentially give up natures bond and SNA replacements for fast movement and rage, but not sure if it'll be allowed.
His philosophy is "Kill them before they kill you", so I was thinking about
MOMS 1. Boar style, boar shred
Druid 1-4...
Thinking about weapon focus, claws eventually, but I'm not sure.
Yes, the natural weapons are dm fiat. Hell start fairly strong, but is against using weapons, so will fall behind without iterative attacks (but by then, Ill be wildshaping).
Then maybe dip monk more after wideshape kicks in reliably.
Is the Druid class a dealbreaker? Because I can make this character pretty kick-ass and exactly the flavor you want by going straight Ranger...
Ranger is all about respect for predator-prey, as they are nature-based hunters, you can go Natural Weapon style to avoid manufactured, and Medium Armor has Hide and Scale available to avoid metal.
Using your rolled scores:
Level 2 Orc Ranger (Shapeshifter)
STR - 22
DEX - 17
CON - 18
INT - 10
WIS - 14
CHA - 13
BAB - +8/+8/+3 (+1 vs. Favored Enemy)
AC - 18
HP - 26
Sav - +7/+6/+2
Spd - 30 (20 w/armor)
Atk - Claws (2d4+12)/Bite (1d4+3)
Traits: Tusked (1d4 Primary Bite); Any other Non-race trait
Racials: Darkvision - 60ft
Dayrunner - (-2) Ranged Atk Rolls
Smeller - Scent 15ft
Feats: Ironhide (+1 Natural Armor)
Aspect of the Beast: Claws (1d4 Primary Claws)
Class Features: Favored Enemy (Animal)
Tracking (+1 Survival Rolls)
Wild Empathy (+3 Handle Animal)
Combat Style (Natural Weapons)
Armor: Hide (+4AC, +4 Max Dex, -3 Chk Penalty, Spd 20ft) - 15gp
This guy meets your flavor for RP and combat purposes. Doesn't need DM Fiat because his natural weapons are legal. He's animalistic, stealthy, and the only spells he'll cast will be buffs. He's got shapeshifting with his Archetype, and still gets a kick-ass companion at level 4.
I didn't go with any gear to speak of because he should be saving for an Amulet of Mighty Fists, which will boost his Natural Weapons greatly along with feats like Improved Natural Weapons, Rending Claws, etc...
Well my 2 cents..
Take the favored class bonus for half orcs that gives +1/3 natural armor in wild shape per level
Be a saurian shaman
Use the mighty allosaurus as your primary shape
Get rhino hide armor (adds 2d6 damage to any attack made on a charge)
And a belt of thunderous charging (increases damge of all charge attacks by 1 step)
That will give you 4 4d6 claw attacks on the charge and a 5d6 bite
Also... since you are going to focus on animal shifting, take planar wild shape to get that hefty Dr/evil plus SR=5+HD and a 1/shift smite. You need the defenses
@Barry
I played a natural attack ranger once. I enjoyed it, but wanted to try Druid.
@lordmalkov
I'm pretty sure I can only use one natural attack on a charge... Full attacks let me use all of them, but doesn't a charge count as a move action?
Allosaurus grants pounce which allows you to full attack on a charge action.
Drogos is correct.
Allosaurus has three abilities that you will have access to at level 8 (level 6 if you are a saurian shaman).
These abilities are: Pounce, Grab, and Rake
Normally it has 1 Bite (2d6 plus Grab) and 2 claws (1d8)
It also has Rake (2 talons(1d8))
Pounce: When a creature with this special attack makes a charge, it can make a full attack (including rake attacks if the creature also has the rake ability).
You can also make your rake attacks if you successfully maintain (not establish but maintain) a grapple against a target.
And Grab means that you get a free Grapple check against anything that you hit with your bite attack.
Redchigh wrote: @Barry
I played a natural attack ranger once. I enjoyed it, but wanted to try Druid.
@lordmalkov
I'm pretty sure I can only use one natural attack on a charge... Full attacks let me use all of them, but doesn't a charge count as a move action?
In that case, I definitely recommend one of the Shaman classes. Saurian is one of the most popular.
Lordmalkov is correct, an Allosaurus has Pounce, so it can full-attack on a Charge.
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