Hey,
I got to wondering if there is a druid archetype that is less about plants & animals, and more about elementals. You know, maybe gets an elemental instead of an AC, can summon elementals better, wild shape works better for elementals than flora & fauna, that sort of thing. Is this a thing in Pathfinder? I couldn't find anything, but I don't trust my search-fu.
Later on,
Ghorrin Redblade
I was also wondering this. I mean it already pretty much does elementals fine but i'd like to get it a bit earlier...
If there were such an archetype, I haven't seen it.
I'd love to see one but nothing yet.
Best we've gotten is domains.
edit: I checked the Archives of Nethys, but all the archetypes that focus on elements delay wild shape and aim more toward wind, water, or weather.
I would also like to see an Elemental Wildshape flavored Druid.
there is the StormKindler PrC...that is pretty cool
I also like taking that archetype that grants you spontaneous domain casting with 2 domains and staying wildshaped as an air elemental.
There isn't one that I know of, but that is an interesting area for a custom (or future) archetype design. I'd certainly allow it at my table.
I do believe the druid arquetypes lack criativity, they are pretty much copy paste from each other changing element, animal or terrain.
They dont have fun talents or interesting new mechanics.
IMO, druids (and rangers) got the short of the stick regarding arquetypes.
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I'd like to see an earth elemental druid that gains elemental forms earlier and larger...and gains interesting stoneshape/earthshaping abilities, sandform (gaseous form) etc...
less acid more rocks
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I do believe the druid arquetypes lack criativity, they are pretty much copy paste from each other changing element, animal or terrain.
They dont have fun talents or interesting new mechanics.IMO, druids (and rangers) got the short of the stick regarding arquetypes.
We must be reading different archetypes. Shamans are one of the best summoners in the game. Standard action Summoning is huge.
Urban druids have alter self AT WILL at LEVEL 6. This is incredibly useful and fun.
Cave Druids get to become an ooze.
Storm Druids get Two Domains, can Spontaneously cast domain spells and can see through fog. They are fantastic caster druids.
Druid Archetypes are awesome.
There isn't an archetype for fire or earth yet, but you can build around it by taking a domain, playing an outsider race and focusing on your element.
There aren't any particularly strong archetypes for Cleric, Druid, Witch or Wizard because they are the 4 strongest classes in terms of spell level. Making strong archetypes of tier 1 classes will just widen the caster-martial disparity.
There isn't an archetype for fire or earth yet, but you can build around it by taking a domain, playing an outsider race and focusing on your element.
There aren't any particularly strong archetypes for Cleric, Druid, Witch or Wizard because they are the 4 strongest classes in terms of spell level. Making strong archetypes of tier 1 classes will just widen the caster-martial disparity.
As long as they arent more powerful then the basic class, there isnt any increase to martial-caster disparity. Just an increase in workable concepts. Having a cool elemental focused druid archetype doesnt have an impact on the fighter if its not better then a normal druid.
For instance, if there was an Earth druid, who gave you a small earth elemental as an animal companion (which wont be outdamaging a pouncing big cat), and reduced your non-elemental wild shaping but gave you elemental form earlier, it wont make the fighter any weaker. It would just give a cool new option for druids.
I think they really should have some balanced archetypes for casters. I would like to see more "theme" archetypes that make you good at one thing and bad at others, but balance is tricky. Look at the "Animal" Shaman archetypes of Druid. One of them is really good, and all the rest are awful bad. So we don't get many. There are really no good ones for Wizard, only better schools. Clerics and Witches get some alright ones, but then there are wastes of ink aplenty as well. I appreciate the slower pace of power creep compared to other editions, but it does limit options for the already powerful.
I think they really should have some balanced archetypes for casters. I would like to see more "theme" archetypes that make you good at one thing and bad at others, but balance is tricky. Look at the "Animal" Shaman archetypes of Druid. One of them is really good, and all the rest are awful bad. So we don't get many. There are really no good ones for Wizard, only better schools. Clerics and Witches get some alright ones, but then there are wastes of ink aplenty as well. I appreciate the slower pace of power creep compared to other editions, but it does limit options for the already powerful.
Would druid archetypes that are no better then the standard druid but still good represent power creep? I dont think so. And I agree with you in terms of what we have. I just think it would be nice to expand the potential concepts of certain types of characters.
Elemental focused druids could be such a case.
There was a 3rd Party disned Druid called a Shaman, and that had an archetype that was Elemental based. You even got an elemental as an animal companion.