Help with Druid build

[Sapient]

I'm relatively new to Pathfinder. I'm building a 4th level druid, and find myself unable to decide which direction to take him. We roll for our stats. Because they turned out pretty darn well, this character could excel as a spell caster or a wild shaper.

Str: 17
Dex: 16
Con: 13
Int: 14
Wis: 17
Cha: 11

In addition, I can switch two of those values. My thinking is to switch Con and Dex and make this fellow a Dwarf, giving him 17, 13, 18, 14, 19, 9. If I take a domain (CRB only) and focus on casting, will I be wasting too much wild shaping potential?

I'm willing to sacrifice some optimization for some role playing potential. Perhaps this Dwarf could take the Earth Domain and summon mostly animals that could live underground.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Would you go domain or animal companion if you were focusing on being a caster and were limited to the CRB domains?

[Saving Cap'n Crunch]

Domain. As Treantmonk most famously said, "Throw yourselves upon the gears of the machinery." Wait, that's not right. He did say that having a domain gives you bonus spells per day, even if they are a bit restricted, though. Unless you want a bodyguard, I suppose.

[Sapient]

Thank you. Would you choose casting or combat feats?

[Saving Cap'n Crunch]

Are you talking about metamagic feats? If you are, I wouldn't. The only time metamagic was useful to a Druid in my experience was when my friend didn't know about increasing the spell level. Also, you say you focus on casting, but don"t want to hurt wild shape potential too much, so I'm unsure of where your priorities lie. There aren't many requisite feats for being a multipurpose Druid. Natural Spell, maybe some summoning aids, assorted other feats.

[Saving Cap'n Crunch]

Off the top of my head, that is, there are probably more.

[Master of the Dark Triad]

Saving Cap'n Crunch wrote:

Domain. As Treantmonk most famously said, "Throw yourselves upon the gears of the machinery." Wait, that's not right. He did say that having a domain gives you bonus spells per day, even if they are a bit restricted, though. Unless you want a bodyguard, I suppose.

"You've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop!"

[Scott Wilhelm]

I have run into far too many Dungeon Masters who just love to kill familiars, mounts, henchmen, and animal companions. One time, I wrung my hands and exclaimed, "You always keep killing my pets!" and he answered, "Why do you think I keep giving them to you?" I was at another table where the DM killed off more than 20 animal companions in 10 sessions belonging to more than 1 character). The druid was about to roll up YET ANOTHER, and I just said, "Dude, a Druid shouldn't be that cruel to animals: just take a Domain!" He didn't listen, his bear or wolf or whatever got possessed by yet another demon, and he had to kill it again. Another player was going to roll up a Summoner this time: no prizes for guessing how that worked out.

I find PCs are afraid to commit their ACs to combat, and they don't really benefit from them. Personally, I tend to multiclass a lot, so when I do have an AC, it doesn't grow with me. Familiars have less that problem, and there is a trick I've been wanting to try with a Tumor Familiar.

But I generally advise taking a Domain over an Animal Companion. I think Wildshaping Melee Druids have potential. You could be a Saurian Shaman, Wildshape into a Triceratops, then take the Leadership Feat and get a Cavalier Cohort and he'd take you for his mount.

[Rhedyn]

Oh man. Do not listen to these people. Animal companion all the way. That thing will carry you through low levels FAR better than an extra casting of produce flame.

I would actually recommend going generalist druid with your stats. Flip con and int, go dwarf. Grab power attack. Level strength at 4, then pump wisdom with the remaining stat increases.
Feats in order: Power Attack, Spell focus conjuration, Natural Spell, augment summoning, superior summoning, vital strike, quicken spell, improved vital strike, Craft wondrous item,

Important feats to grab: Power Attack, Natural Spell, Augment Summoning, Quicken spell.

I played a druid like this before. Low level my animal companion just tore through things and I helped it. Mid levels I was a wildshaping monster, my animal companion help me kill things. When required I would summon or contort the battle field. High levels 13+, I was just fullcasting everywhere. This kind of druid lets you change your play style each day just by preparing different spells. It is a very satisfying experience. You will feel awesome at every level.

[Sapient]

Thank you for all the insights. I especially like the idea of relying on transitioning from a wild shaping melee based character to a full caster at higher levels.