Need Advice on a Goliath Druid in a Very high powered Game


Advice


Hello,

our GM is a bit generous, so that i have lots and lots of money on my Hand.
I am a Level 7 Goliath Druid with an Allosaurus that just grew to large.
I have the Feats: Power Attack, Heavy Armor Prof and Craft Wondrous Items (which was a mistake in backsight).
I didn't decide on the Level 7 feat by now.
My General Thing is it to switch into a 2 Headed Troll for 4 Attacks, 5 if the sorcerer is using haste. I got some items for Grapple as well, to use with Lockjaw for Grappling.
My Pet is only the sidekick that guards the Backline or Grapples Foes if they happen to pass by.
I have:
Armor Dragon Full Plate +3
Ring Ring of Protection +2
Belt Giant Strength +4
Head Grapplers Mask
Body Druid Vestment
Headband Wisdom +4
Chest Quick Runners Shirt(modified for 4 times a day)
Eye Eyes of the Eagle
Feet Tremor Boots
Hand Gauntlests of skilled maneuver
Neck AoMF +4
Shoulders Cloak of Resistance +2
Wrists Armbands of the Brwaler
Slotless
Wayfinder with Ioun Stone Clear Spindle Cracked
Wayfinder with Ioun Stone Dusty Rose Prism cracked
Rod of Extend Minor
Handy Haversack

Any ideas what to do to improve myself a bit more?
Normally i use my spells to buff myelf. Natural Armor, Longstrider, Lockjaw. Stuff like that.

Any ideas would be great. Oh and i don't know how much money we get. That is totally erratic. Sometimes he gives out 100k a day, some days we don't get any. All in all we have around 10 times as much as we should i guess...

Kind Regards

Frolo


Pearls of Power would let you recall some spells per day. With your money, you could afford quite a few. The level 2 version is great for a druid to pass out a lot if barkskin and resist energy spells, and keep yourself resistant to multiple elements. You can even lend them to others to get an extra heroism spell or something. Best used with long-duration buffs (all three I mentioned here are 10 min/lvl).

On that note, some metamagic rods are also useful, especially extend spell for those buffs. (Edit- You already have one, though an extra wouldn't hurt with your riches).

Craft feats are only bad if you don't have a lot of time to use them, or you have magic-mart-style item availability, which it sounds like you might. Maybe ask about retraining it?

Sovereign Court

Threads like this make me wonder why druids are full casters in the first place... a lot of people just play them as a tank, so there should be archetypes that let you do away with spells in exchange for full BAB or other martial/wildshape benefits.

It's been years since I played one: can they even cast while in wildshape? (says you lose ability to speak...)

Grand Lodge

You lose the ability to speak in animal form. Elemental, some plants and Giants (the main focus of the Goliath Druid) let you speak normally. Some may not let you cast somatic components (Table variation) while others still allow all your gear to transfer and change size with you (one of the big advantages of the Goliath Druid).

As for gear, you could grab more Rods of Extend, lesser and even a Rod of Extend for 4 - 6 level spells. Your level 4 spells include Freedom of Movement and Echolocation which are really useful and last 10 min/level which last a long time especially when extended.

Rod of Quicken is also an option so you can cast produce flame/vine strike/frostbite as a swift action, drop rod as a free and then full attack with extra damage on all your natural attacks.


Purple Dragon Knight wrote:

Threads like this make me wonder why druids are full casters in the first place... a lot of people just play them as a tank, so there should be archetypes that let you do away with spells in exchange for full BAB or other martial/wildshape benefits.

It's been years since I played one: can they even cast while in wildshape? (says you lose ability to speak...)

Many druids take Natural Spell feat to cast as an animal. Not really a problem in some forms though

Sovereign Court

Paulicus wrote:
Many druids take Natural Spell feat to cast as an animal.

That's the one... I remember now. Thanks!


Hmm ok, then it is more spellcasting then. More Rods and Pearls to buff a bit more. The problem is that our Master is a bit erratic and pre battle buffing is not always great to do. But once into higher levels this will be better.

The Problem with Rod of Quicken is the way to use it. I need a Glove of storing to get it out without wasting actions, right?

And what should i retrain my craft wondrous items to and which new feat to take?

Oh and since i am a Goliath Druid i shapeshift to Humanoids, so no need for all the usual animal stuff. I stay Humanoid, i just get a bit prettier ;)

Kind Regards

Daniel


So, any particular reason for going AoMF and natural attacks as a goliath druid?

Since your weapons grow with you, that means you can easily go with a large sized scimitar, or a spear (not glamorous, but it goes up to 2d6 when you are large, so good enough).

I wouldn't say that giants are usually 'amazing' at natural attacks. Usually just bite/claw/claw as far as I remember.


I use the Two-Headed Troll, so i have Bite/Bite/Claw/Claw, so 4 Attacks vs 1 Attack with a Scimitar and all of those are Mainhand so 1 Time the Strength Bonus. With the Quickrunners Shirt i can switch Targets 4 times a day and still make a Full Attack. So either 4 times a +13 Attack or 1 Time with 1.5 Strength. I choose the 4 Times. Perhaps later on i will switch to a Big Two Handed Weapon but i get the reach and more attacks. So why not go with the Unarmed Attack. Oh and on Level 12 when i switch to a real Troll i even get the Troll Regeneration and even then i am some attakcs ahead (or i choose Multiattack and do a Scimitar, Claw/Bite/Bite Routine ;)

Kind Regards

Frolo


Resist/protection from energy are useful to cover vulnerabilities as well.

Extend spell would get you just over two hours at level 7. Not great in all situations, but amazing in some!


Frolo the Second wrote:

I use the Two-Headed Troll, so i have Bite/Bite/Claw/Claw, so 4 Attacks vs 1 Attack with a Scimitar and all of those are Mainhand so 1 Time the Strength Bonus. With the Quickrunners Shirt i can switch Targets 4 times a day and still make a Full Attack. So either 4 times a +13 Attack or 1 Time with 1.5 Strength. I choose the 4 Times. Perhaps later on i will switch to a Big Two Handed Weapon but i get the reach and more attacks. So why not go with the Unarmed Attack. Oh and on Level 12 when i switch to a real Troll i even get the Troll Regeneration and even then i am some attakcs ahead (or i choose Multiattack and do a Scimitar, Claw/Bite/Bite Routine ;)

Kind Regards

Frolo

Eh. When you are a large humanoid, I view your natural reach as a great advantage though. You can play a reach build without any of the traditional problems.

When it comes to AoOs, I might prefer the scimitar for the stronger single hut, especially if you can get fortuitous on it (which gives you a mini full attack in AoOs). That, combined with the fact that you start to get iteratives next level, and there is always the good old staple of haste...

That, plus the general advantages of going with manufactured weapons- cheaper enhancement, and you can get an amulet of natural armor instead of wasting spells and actions getting barkskin up.


So in Higher Levels i want a +5 Fortuitous keen Scimitar for the Two Handed Attacks of Opportunity. And my Normal Attack Sequence is +15/10 with this Scimitar and 3 Attacks at +13 with my Bite/Bite/claw withy my +5 AoMF. If i need to move i can use the Two Handed Scimitar as well, if i use my Swift Action for a Quickened Spell. Oh and of course Haste with the Scimitar as well. I only need Multiattack as a feat.
Oh and with the Rod of Extend (which is so cheap i can staples of them) i get Barkskin +4 at 3,5 Hours per casting (at level 10).

Damn that Lockjaw states "other natural attacks", otherwise i could grapple all people and beat them senseless ;) Or is there a chance to Grapple somebody and attack him at the same time wiht all other attacks? I know i can release the grapple as free action, do my attack routine and if i hit try to regrapple him...

Kind Regards

Frolo


@Paulicus: You sold me on the idea of Pearls of Power, will buy a handful of Level 2 ones, i guess they are really cheap and offer the most for me: Ironskin/Barkskin for me/Pet, Lockjaw, Lesser Restoration, Resist Energy (Fire/Acid) which i definitely need all day long :)

Level one does not offer overly much for me, or am i overlooking great spells there besides Longstrider for me an my pet? And perhaps feather step?
Level 3 has good spells, but the pearls will be quite expensive at that level and i don't need so many spells of that level. Level 4 would be great but even more expensive...

Kind Regards

Frolo


I just know level 2 pearls are great for druids from a friend. Another trick is keep a few extra pearls and lend them to another caster in your party if you want to get a copy of their buff. You don't need mage armor, but if anyone has heroism you could lend a pearl/rod to get yourself +2 to all that stuff, same duration as barkskin. :)


Sadly, we only have a shaman, Ranger, Sorcerer, Rogue and me in the Party. So besides Haste no other buff to get there. Oh wait the shaman gave out Bless and he is constantly healing us and using staffs and spells to soften the enemy up. We as Damage Dealers do exactly that. We deal as much damage as we can and that is a damn lot if we are left free to do that.


Frolo the Second wrote:
So in Higher Levels i want a +5 Fortuitous keen Scimitar for the Two Handed Attacks of Opportunity. And my Normal Attack Sequence is +15/10 with this Scimitar and 3 Attacks at +13 with my Bite/Bite/claw withy my +5 AoMF. If i need to move i can use the Two Handed Scimitar as well, if i use my Swift Action for a Quickened Spell. Oh and of course Haste with the Scimitar as well. I only need Multiattack as a feat.

While I can see keeping the bites, I doubt you want the remaining claw.

Once you mix in manufactured weapons, the natural attacks go down to 1/2 str and power attack as they go secondary. That is pretty much exactly the amount of damage you add onto the scimitar when you use that second hand to 2 hand it. And 2 handing would improve your damage, if only for the fact that the str/power attack bonuses that would ahve gone to the claw goes into a 15-20/x2 weapon.

The bites are free attacks, but using the 2nd hand for the claw jut divides your existing bonuses and adds little to nothing. If you were a rogue/ranger/paladin/etc, where you have a ton of bonus damage on each hit, then you might justify splitting just to get the extra hit. But druids are more about str bonsuses. It is the same reason why you see few to no TWF barbarians.


Heh, I'd almost suggest buying a Page of Spell Knowledge of Heroism for the sorcerer with all the money you have! Though it'd be pricy, and the Pearl of Power wouldn't help (the sorcerer version of the pearl is double price, too - ouch).

Eh, probably just grab some Heroism potions to have on hand when you know you're going into a dangerous place - they still last 50 minutes for 750gp each. Not a bad boost to have when you need it.


Ok, let me try to get that straight: Either i attack with 5(including haste) Natural Attacks
5* (BAB+5+Str) for 1w8+Str+5
or i attack with Scimitar (+haste +iterative) + Claw + 2Bite
2* (BAB+5+Str) +1 *(BAB-5+5+Str) for 2w6+Str+5 + 3*(BAB-2+5+Str) for 1w8+5+Str*0,5
or i attack with Scimitar 2 Handed +2Bite for
2* (BAB+5+Str) +1 *(BAB-5+5+Str) for 2w6+Str*1,5+5 + 2*(BAB-2+5+Str) for 1w8+5+Str*0,5

I have a Strength of +8 (and no really good way to improve it anymore since i am already at a belt +6) so that means that i get 1w8+13+PA(+4)
2w6+17+PA(6)+1w8+9+PA(2)

Hmm, tough decisions. If i get more iteratives i think changing to Weapons is great but just for one iterative attack i think i stay with the 5 Natural attacks. Once i get my second iterative i will propably change.

@Paulicus: Heroism is a great idea. Till now he has not to many great spells to buff. Any other good ideas for low level buffs the sorcerer could dish out. He has always to many level 1 and level 2 spells and not enough level 3 ones since he likes blasting ;)

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