I have a melee druid, spec'd in grappling. I was wondering if there is a specific archetype that would enhance my grappling even further or if the best option is the base Druid? Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.
Feral Shifter can get some stat bonuses to help CMB/CMD.
Nature Fang can get the feats much easier through divine combat style Irori, Kurgess. The study bonus should apply as well. Though losing wild shape is rough.
Hmm they both seem substantially worse than the base druid. I was looking at kraken caller, which also appears to be lackluster.
Nature Fang is by no means 'worse' than the base druid. Sure, it gives up some versatility that wild-shape brings in but you get different versatility through the slayer talents. It even makes up for your medium BAB with studied target. It makes your spells DCs HIGHER against your studied target.
You can still use druid spells to take the form of vermin and dragon's later.
I suggest a Nature Fang Druid with the Crocodile domain. Nets you a familiar (slap Protector archetype on it for effectively +50% HP), scaling sneak attack, 'Death Roll" (lets you auto-trip a creature you are grappled with, and deal damage), and decent domain spells.
Also, you could sneak two levels of 'Strangler' Brawler into the mix to up your sneak attack and get sneak attack during a grapple. It is very nice.
Nature Fang is by no means 'worse' than the base druid. Sure, it gives up some versatility that wild-shape brings in but you get different versatility through the slayer talents. It even makes up for your medium BAB with studied target. It makes your spells DCs HIGHER against your studied target.
You can still use druid spells to take the form of vermin and dragon's later.
I suggest a Nature Fang Druid with the Crocodile domain. Nets you a familiar (slap Protector archetype on it for effectively +50% HP), scaling sneak attack, 'Death Roll" (lets you auto-trip a creature you are grappled with, and deal damage), and decent domain spells.
Also, you could sneak two levels of 'Strangler' Brawler into the mix to up your sneak attack and get sneak attack during a grapple. It is very nice.
Hmm, thee way I'm built now I am aiming for big damage and in snake form around level 8 I'll have constrict. Wouldn't that out DPR any death rolling? I'm hoping for something that goes beyond constriction damage if something like that exists?
Well, Death Roll may only do a flat 1d8, but it knocks them prone as well as part of the maneuver. With Strangler, you get to add sneak attack damage to the grapple check.
If we use level 8 as a comparison:
BAB 6 (4 druid, 2 brawler)
Str +4 (18 str assumed)
Studied Target +2
Domain +3 (1/2 druid level)
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+15 CMB not counting any feats you take (You get martial flexibility as a strangler)
1d8+4d6 sneak attack
If you take any slayer talents that deal extra conditions on sneak attacks, you increase the potential danger to anything you grapple.
There's a build I once heard of that used a Serpent Druid with a dip into Monk or Brawler. The idea was to use the serpent animal companion and summoned snakes to aid one another in grappling.
is there anything out there that does more damage in a round than a wild shaped giant anaconda. Which is doing 6d8 plus 9 times Strength bonus per round (3 grapple checks per round, dealing 1d8 + 1 1/2 Strength for the bite and an equal amount for constrict). Without dipping into any other class, just your base druid.
A Peuchen is medium size so has a lower strength bonus but it gets to add poison via its bite. Also it flies and medium size means it's easier to get it into places.
Also druids can eventually cast Form of the Alien Dragon I-III and Shapechange, and I think these would allow even better damage.