First Druid / First Spellcaster---HELP <3

[KitsuneKid]

Ok, so I'm creating characters of classes I've never played as I am very new to this. I'm creating my own world/campaign slowly and I need some characters to test run things and to broaden my knowledge to prepare to eventually one day become a GM. Right now I'm wanting to build a druid, but I'm not sure what exactly to do with this one.

I initially started with a concept of that guy from mortal kombat that shape shifts to a wolf; aka transforming into a badass wolf. But in all honesty I'm open to anything. If I could get a few different concepts/ideas from more experienced players on what the routes are I can take with a druid as well as strats on how to play them etc I would love you guys.

Each of these characters will become a special npc during the actual campaign :D

[DM-DR]

When playing druid, you have two basic groups (there are many ways to play druid, but they derive from these two IMO).

1) Martial Style- This druid often will focus on being melee available. Spells like shillelagh that improve your combat effectiveness along with melee style stats (str, con, and dex) are what you are looking for until you can wildshape.

2) Caster Style- This is where you focus more on the casting side of being a druid. The summon nature ally spells come to you as spontaneous casting, so there is no need to prepare them (unless you wish to make one metamagic'd). Often, you will be looking at the battlefield control spells. There are plenty of awesome druid only spells out there.

The following 3 guides are amazingly well put together. They are older, but still very much as important.

Treantmonk: The Wild Mystic

Treantmonk: The Spirit of the Beast

Treantmonk: Druid Spells Explained

Hope that helps. Sorry that it is a lot of reading.