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Hi! I'd like advice on building a utility druid. My general purpose will be healing and buffing. I don't want to be useless in a fight, but don't want to place myself in a situation where I'll get myself killed.
My basic requirements for this - it needs to be PFS Core legal. I'd prefer human race, but am open to suggestions. My only other Sticking point is that my companion has to be a velociraptor. He will be more or less a tracking animal, and I will likely take him down the Spring Attack tree unless a VERY strong argument is made against it.
And yes - before it is asked - I am adamant about remaining a druid. I am aware that a druid is probably not the optimal class for what I want to do, but it is the class I have chosen. Please keep suggestions within this context.
This will be a first level character. I have played 2 modules with him and have about 1500 gold to spend, so equipment suggestions would be appreciated also. Thanks in advance!
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Honestly there's not much you can do within those constraints to improve your support abilities.
My suggestion would be to emphasize Str over Wis, grab Power Attack and Improved Initiative at first level, Natural Spell at 5, and then metamagic feats (Extend, Empower, Maximize, Quicken - though Extend in particular is probably better as a rod). If you don't use offensive spells your Wis doesn't need to be that high, and since many of your buffs are long duration you'll be able to pre-buff effectively, meaning you won't always have useful spells to cast during combat. It is therefore important, if you want to contribute, to invest in martial ability.
Earth and water elementals are nice and tanky so don't worry too much about getting yourself killed. My 12th level druid took three rounds of full attacks from an Ecorche without healing or dying. Admittedly a high-wealth, high-stats campaign, but I was still at least as tough as the party barbarian.
For gear, I'd probably go for a Wand of CLW, a masterwork weapon, maybe masterwork armour, barding for your raptor (you did give it light armour proficiency?) and a few scrolls, potions and oils - Magic Weapon and Bless Weapon are pretty handy at low levels.
I don't know if this counts as a VERY strong argument, but Spring Attack is a really bad fit with a velociraptor. The raptor's two advantages in combat are (1) lots of attacks (2) superior mobility via pounce. When making only one attack (such as during spring attack) the raptor will do little damage, and the mobility is not a big benefit compared to pounce. Spring Attack would make more sense if you wanted a T-Rex or Triceratops companion. What was your reason for wanting Spring Attack?
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Hi pepper,
I believe that you can make a very decent buffer, healer, utility druid.
The nice thing is that you don't need a high wisdom for those spells you wish to use, just keep the minimum Wisdom and invest the rest on strength.
With human you can try these stats
Str:16, Dex:14, Con:13, Int:8, Cha:7, Wis:13 (+1 at 4 and 8)
Feats for buffs, summoning, utility
1 - Spell Focus (Conjuration)
1 Human bonus - Augmented Summoning
3 - Power Attack
5 - Natural Spell
7 - Toughness
9 - Improved Initiative
etc.
If you don't want to summon
1 - Toughness
1 Human bonus - Improved Initiative
3 - Power Attack
5 - Natural Spell
7 - Combat Casting
etc.
Just my two cents, I'm not an expert on druids
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@Weirdo - My main line of reasoning on Spring attack is that a Raptor doesn't get Pounce till I hit level 7. Spring attack lets me utilize his high mobility until Pounce becomes open to me (as well as give me a nifty +4 vs AoO along the way), and keeps him from being a one trick pony once it does become an option.
I haven't given him Armor proficiency yet, and haven't solidly decided to yet. Again, I'm building a decidedly support character whose place in battle isn't really going to be dealing damage. To put things into perspective, I'm usually at a table with 5 other players, at least 3 of whom are maxed out heavy hitters (fighters, barbs, pallys) and at least 1 damage dedicated caster. There's rarely a healer and a bard is all but unheard of. If I wasn't sold on the animal companion, I'd be making a bard.
Have either of you seen a net used effectively for battlefield control? What are your thoughts to that end?
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You are playing PFSP Core.
You want a support/combat Druid.
Human Druid (Melee)
Str18 Dex12 Con14 Int10 Wis14 Cha8
Human: Improved Initiative
1: Toughness
3: Power Attack
5: Improved Over Run
7: Natural Spell
9: Greater Over Run
11: Improved Critical
Human Druid (Range)
Str14 Dex18 Con12 Int10 Wis14 Cha8
Human: Weapon Proficiency Long Bow
1: Point Blank Shot
3: Precise Shot
5: Deadly Aim
7: Rapid Shot
9: Many Shot
11: Improved Critical Long Bow
Dinosaur (Velociraptor) reaper mini raptor
Just incase you did not know where to get one. You can get mithral chain shirt with out a armor check penalty and not need the proficiency. This is what I recommend you do with a higher Dex animal companion. I will not recommend spring attack for two reasons. First you will not get it until level 8 due to needing a BAB +4 and you don't get that until level 7. Your next feet is at level 8. Second it is not nearly as useful as many other things you could do with three feat's. Also with PFSP the only legal item slots for animal companion. Neck, and Armor. With core you do not have access to extra item slot feet. Thus you can not get other item slots in PFSP.
1: Toughness
2: Combat Reflexes
5: Improved Natural Attack Talons
8: Power Attack
10: Weapon Focus Talons
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Utility can mean many things consider some of the following spells:
Entangle
Faerie Fire
Magic Fang
Obscuring Mist
Produce Flame
Summon Nature's Ally
Barkskin
Heat Metal
Resist Energy
Spiderclimb
Cat's Grace P
Bull's Strength
Flaming Sphere
Reduce Animal
Restoration Lesser
Daylight
Sleet Storm
Stone Shape
Magic Fang, Gr
Freedom of Movement
Air Walk
Ice Storm
Flame Strike
Scrying
All are core and make great buffs/control and dealing with situations. Scrolls can make them great for flexibility.
Also remember that grabbing a good Dex, getting Stealth as a class skill and by level 6 you can scout as an Earth Elemental with Earth glide.
Consider this as core at level 6 (assumes Str 16, Dex 14, Power attack and Natural Spell, Earth Elemental Shape)
AC 29 (10 Base + 2 Dex + 1 Size + 4 Natural + 6 Armor (dragonhide BP made for Small Earth Elemental) + 2 Wooden Shield + 3 Barkskin + 1 Deflection from Ring)
Att Slam +8 1d6 + 13 (+4 Str, +1 Size + 4 BAB + 1 GMF -2 Power Attack)
With a Starting Str of 17 and 1 point at 4th plus a +2 str belt it becomes +10 1d6 + 16
@Weirdo - My main line of reasoning on Spring attack is that a Raptor doesn't get Pounce till I hit level 7. Spring attack lets me utilize his high mobility until Pounce becomes open to me (as well as give me a nifty +4 vs AoO along the way), and keeps him from being a one trick pony once it does become an option.
...
Spring Attack has a prereq of BAB +4. An AC gets that at...level 6. The first feat after that is level 8. Without retraining(can you even use this in core?), A velociraptor will always get Pounce before Spring Attack.
Not to mention the 2 weak prereq feats on an AC, which doesn't have an abundance of feats to begin with. Want power attack as well? That's all of your feats till tenth (the last feat for the AC since PFS doesn't go to 20). Ouch.
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Thanks all the advice - particularly for pointing out the fallacy in going Spring attack with my Raptor. Like I said, I missed the math on that one, and didn't realize it would take me that long to get there. I think I'm going to lean towards the ranged build suggested by calagnar, and make sure I stock up on scrolls pointed out by Taenia.
I am going to get some Masterwork Studded Leather for my Raptor ASAP (it's much cheaper, still has 0 ACP, and only has 1 less AC) and get to work!
Thanks again everyone!
I read this as advice for utility droid, and thought "R2D2".