Looking for advice: PFS "CORE" Druid (Wild Shape)

[Krell44]

I am trying to convert my current level one Druid to a Wild Shape focused Druid for PFS. He just earned his 3rd EXP point and is ready to level to 2, so I need to do this before I play my next scenario.

I am interested in building a Wild Shape focused Druid, and will most likely take 2 levels of Barbarian for the Rage/Rage Power, but I am interested in what my Feat progression should look like.

Human
Level 1: Barbarian
Level 2: Barbarian/Druid
Level 3: Druid
Level 4: Druid
Level 5: Druid
Level 6: Druid Barbarian

I am tempted to take the first two level as Barbarian to get them out of the way, and take advantage of the Rage Power and additional rounds of Rage per day. But I am listening to opinions on whether it will be best to get the Wild Shape ability a level earlier, and then take 2nd level of Barbarian.

Level 1 Feat: Toughness ?
Human Feat: Power Attack ?
Level 3 Feat: Weapon Focus: Natural Attacks ?
Level 5 Feat: Natural Spell if I only took 1 level of Barbarian, ? if not?
Level 7 Feat: ?
Level 9 Feat: ?
Level 11 Feat: ?

Rage Power: Quick Reflexes? Intimidating Glare? (Im noticing not a lot of great Rage Power choices from Core for a Wild Shaper)

How does Armor work when I wild shape? Do I lose its bonus? Would it being Dragonhide make a difference?

I assume when I shift, I use my stats and augment them based on the Beast Shape 1 spell, and I gain the animals attacks as long as I am eligible to use them per the spell?

Ultimately, I want to play a wild shaper who will generally take the same shape as his animal companion (Velociraptor/Wolf/Tiger..maybe Alligator because....Alligator. Also, flying into a rage when I attack seems natural for a Tiger.

Any tips are appreciated.

PFS Core Play, 20 point stat buy.

[Avoron]

I would definitely only take one level of barbarian before druid 4, and probably only one level ever. A second level would mean delaying your wild shape, animal companion, and spellcasting, and for what? A couple extra rounds of rage you could get with a feat and a rage power that you can't find a meaningful use for. Now, if this wasn't Core it would be a different story.

You lose your armor bonus when in wild shape unless it has the wild enchantment. Dragonhide doesn't make a difference, except for allowing you to wear metal armor in the first place without breaking your druid vows. With some help from your party you can put on specially made non-humanoid armor after you use wild shape and it will work normally.

Otherwise, your understanding of how wild shape/beast shape works is correct.

[Vinyc Kettlebek]

Remember Weapon Focus has to be assigned a specific type of weapon, so you'll need to buy it for each of your natural attacks - bite, claws, etc.

[BadBird]

Note that Wild Shape has restrictions by level and form. You can't turn into a tiger until Druid 6, and you can never turn into a huge tiger for better bonuses. With alligator, you can't ever be more than a medium size with medium animal bonuses.

[Avoron]

There aren't many huge forms at all for a core druid - you're stuck with either an aquatic creature, an herbivorous dinosaur, or an elephant. Honestly, you'd be better off just sticking with a large form and losing out on the +2 Str, -2 Dex, and +2 natural armor, especially if you'd prefer to match with your animal companion. Or you could start turning into elementals. Or just branch out into barbarian before reaching level 8.

Even before that point, turning into a deinonychus ("velociraptor") or crocodile ("alligator") has problems because they lack medium and large versions respectively. Either you miss out on the opportunity to turn into a creature of that size, or you get the closest approximation. A monitor lizard? A giant frilled lizard? This has the possibility to be very underwhelming. You could start out with deinonychus and switch to crocodile later on, but they use very different fighting styles, and you could only pick one for your animal companion.

Wolf would work okay, with a medium wolf and a large dire wolf. But I would suggest tiger. With their many attacks, pouncing, and grabbing, they are incredibly powerful as both animal companions and wild shape forms. At 4th and 5th level you can turn into a leopard (flavored as a small tiger if necessary) for a very similar experience, and they get rake at level 8 to remain viable in comparison to your newly-acquired huge forms. Plus, as you mentioned, turning into a tiger and pouncing along with your tiger companion can make you feel very much in the spirit of being a barbarian. Eventually, you can even summon tigers to join in the fun. The more the merrier!

[Krell44]

Well, if I remember correctly a Druid can release an Animal Companion at any time, and tame a new one. So, in theory I could have a velociraptor at level 1-3, at level 4 pick up something that maybe grew to large size at 4 (if there is something), and then switch out to a tiger at 7.

I must admit, I like the idea of prowling around as a Tiger, with a Tiger Animal Companion, and summoning other tigers at a higher level. Pack of cats!

[Avoron]

Apes and constrictor snakes become large at level 4, just for your information.

[Krell44]

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I am now building my PFS Core Druid as I hadn't had an opportunity to play "CORE" for some time.

Human - Druid
Focus on Wild Shape
Tiger Companion
Wild Shape as a cat, eventually a Tiger and plan on summoning tigers as well once able.

Looking for Feat advice:

1st: Toughness
Human Bonus: ?
3rd: ?
5th: Natural Spell
7th: ?
9th:
11th:

I am wondering if I should take the summoning feats and the feats that give bonus to Reflex and Fortitude save.

Are there any feats that mesh well with Wild Shaping?

[Liminy Spickett]

The summoning feats are fine but you want to use your level 2 spells for Barkskin. (Remember you can cast it on your allies as well. Puck up an Extend metamagic rod.) And you'll want to use at least 2 of your level 3 spells for Greater Magic Fang. (Did I say buy an extended metamagic rod? I meant buy 2.)

Your level 4+ spells are mostly utility. So you can be versatile but turn any of them into an augmented summon.

I can assure you an augmented lion is pretty good on offense even without the celestial template. And Dire Tiger at SNA6 is just bonkers.

[Tyrant Lizard King]

Don't forget other Huge animal options that deal some good carnage like the Allosaurus! At higher levels you could have an Allosaurus companion, Wild Shape into an Allosaurus and summon additional ones.

You think a pack of Tigers or Deinonychus is scary? Try a pack of Allosaurus!

I think Toughness is a poor feat choice, maximum bonus of 20HP by level 20. Maybe seek Endurance and Diehard instead... would fit if you are multi-classing Barbarian. You already have Natural Spell which is definitely a good choice.

Wild Shape Feats;
1st: Endurance
Human: Diehard
3rd: Animal Soul
5th: Natural Spell
7th: Extra Rage/Rage Power
9th: Powerful Shape
11th: Planar Wild Shape
13th: Quick Wild Shape

Tiger Focus Feats;
1st: Endurance
Human: Diehard
3rd: Weapon Focus: Claws
5th: Power Attack
7th: Natural Spell
9th: Rending Claws
11th: Rending Fury
13th: Improved Rending Fury

[Krell44]

Not sure much of the above is available to PFS "Core" builds. I don't believe Allosaurus is an option for an AC...not sure about as a Wild Shape option. Perhaps?

I also guess that the Rending line of feats is not core.

[Bigguyinblack]

Allosaurus and many of those feats are not core.

For animal companion levels 1 - 3 pick what you want. Wolf has a chance to trip, Boar has the best AC, Camel has a ranged touch attack that sickens with no save.

Level 4 some good options are
Large
Ape 3 attacks with reach and you can probably convince it to carry a PC while climbing.
Snake (Constrictor) Only 1 attack but it is very strong and has both Grab and Constrict

Medium
Cat, Small You can actually leave it small and give it +2 to Con and Dex instead of the usual advancement. Give it Agile Maneuvers for a better chance to trip. Useful if you want an animal companion that can look harmless.
Crocodile Not as strong as the snake but being medium has it's advantages. Can both grab and trip. An opponent who is grappled and prone is not a happy one.

Level 7
Wolf is now strong enough to actually succeed on some trip attempts but at this level some enemies start becoming immune or nearly so.
Dinosaur, Deinonychus If you want to avoid a large companion this is your best option for damage.
Cat, large 5 attacks, 3 with grab, lots of damage.

Personally I would just skip Barbarian and go pure Druid. Barbarian doesn't get much in core. But faster wild shape progression gets you to the heavy hitting shapes as fast as the bonuses you would get from raging in multiclass.

For most of your characters career you won't have any better armor then Mage Armor and you can't afford a super high Dex. You will get hit so Toughness is fine.

And don't forget that you don't have to take the biggest form when using Wild Shape. So at level 4 Deinonychus form gets 4 attacks but not much else.
But at level 6 if you are in an area where large isn't ideal you Wild Shape with Beast Shape 2 and are still a medium Deinonychus with only +2 Str but now you get Pounce.
Level 6, 4 attacks, +2 Str, and full attack on a charge.
Core Barbarians go green with envy.
And at level 8 you get to be team tiger. You and your animal companions get pounce, rake, and grab.

Many people say Druid is the strongest class in Core. I'm not sure about that but I think it is in the top 3 with Wizard and Cleric.

Quote:

How does Armor work when I wild shape? Do I lose its bonus? Would it being Dragonhide make a difference?

You absorb any armor you are wearing and don't get the AC bonus or the armor check penalty. Dragonhide can be used in place of metal for some armors but has no special effect when Wild Shaped. The Wild enhancement grants the armor bonus and armor check penalty while wild shaped. But at a +3 enhancement it is a late game item. For my druid I plan to take heavy armor proficiency and save up for +1 Wild Dragonhide full plate.

Quote:

I assume when I shift, I use my stats and augment them based on the Beast Shape 1 spell, and I gain the animals attacks as long as I am eligible to use them per the spell?

Correct though as you gain Druid levels you Wild Shape using higher versions of Beast Shape. Meaning you can access more of the animals abilities and larger forms. So like I mentioned at 6th level you are using Beast Shape 2 but you can choose a medium animal with the +2 to Str and natural armor but with all of the abilities listed in Beast Shape 2.