I am a melee focused druid, currently use octopus form but I'm open to any form which allows me to do some serious DPR. If I get up to level 8 I can achieve the Giant Lake Octopus form which comes with a 30ft tentacle reach which would be really nice. I should state that our GM has allowed me to take the feat multiattack which makes this form very good indeed. I'm looking to do more damage but still have spell casting ability to self buff myself. I'm playing ROTRL and I'm looking for some recommendations on what would be my best option to dip into another class, and how many levels of that other class would you all recommend to get maximum benefit. Also what level should I stop leveling at for the druid, I would like to cast mid level spells (ie. Stoneskin, Animal Growth, etc). Since this is my first character, I wouldn't want to multiclass into three or four different classes, just one other one would be plenty for a newbie. Thank you all.
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Unless you have a very specific plan for a build that will achieve exactly what you want, multiclassing is generally a bad idea that will result in a weaker character. This is doubly true for casters.
So my advice is just stay a Druid.
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Unless you have a very specific plan for a build that will achieve exactly what you want, multiclassing is generally a bad idea that will result in a weaker character. This is doubly true for casters.
So my advice is just stay a Druid.
Agreed.
You can get 9th level spells. Which pays off more than a simple Dip.
The only worthwhile dip is Monk but since you did not Plan on that when you started the character it will not be as good as a build that was designed from Level 1-17. This is why a lot of people plan out their characters but if you do not do that then I suggest never dipping as it ends up being weaker than just sticking with the class.
You should look to items and magic to increase your damage.
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Staying druid is better as @Dave Justus said.
If you want damage Bloodrager (furious enhancement), Mutagenic Mauler
and Medium (champion spirit) are three that get you damage quickly that have a lot of bang for your buck damage wise in one level dips.
There is also the martial mastery trick with dedicated adversary to get a +2 to attack and damage.
Ulfen guard gets you rage and a rage power with one level.
Id rager bloodrager can get you a +6 strength rage, or a +2 bonus on attack rolls against the last enemy to hit you, and deals damage against that target as if your weapons were one size category larger, or a move action study for +2 to hit and +1 to damage.
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druid-> unchained monk for trex bite attack flurry of blows
This idea can work but you can't be a trex it is onside the size limits of wild shape. Arsinoitherium can flurry hilariously.
I just reread Arsinoitherium its gore damage is most likely typo. The gore is the same damage as the powerful charge. It should likely be 2d8. Still solid but not as crazy.
Would it be worth it to dip into unchained monk is there enough upside and can someone explain how the flurry of blows would work on an arsinoitherium? Sorry have never played an unchained monk before. Would it basically being able to attack with 8D8 per round?
Ahhh very good. I will definitely look into these options. Would be interesting to hear from Scott on this topic also for something not too complex for my noobself.
Would it be worth it to dip into unchained monk is there enough upside and can someone explain how the flurry of blows would work on an arsinoitherium? Sorry have never played an unchained monk before. Would it basically being able to attack with 8D8 per round?basically you pick an animal with one big powerful attack you pick up feral combat style or what ever its called which lets you blurry of blows with natural weapons so with unchained monk you get less attacks in a flurry but they are more accurate so at high enough level you will have like 6 attacks each doing the same damage as the one big attack, plus you get wisdom to ac and cmd and evasion
Ahhh I see, and what level would be high enough? And what level should I stop taking druid levels at? I guess I would want to get to level 8 for max wild shape potential correct? For the +6 STR increase rather than the +4 where I am at now (level 6). I could take the behemoth hippo form which does the same damage as Arsinoitherium but with better reach and speed.
Would it be viable to take levels in tetori? I just had a thought, not sure if at all its viable or not but was just thinking could I become a giant squid and have the team wizard cast overland flight on me while I grapple and constrict opponents with that 4D6 'tentacle' grab attack? Eventually get greater and rapid grapple to wreak some serious havoc.. Is this even possible or just wishful thinking?
I just noticed overland flight is a You only spell. Is there anyway I could get my hands on that spell via an item?
Ya the goal would be whatever the campaign goes to, I think it goes to at least level 18. I'm sure not sure if going straight druid would be best or if taking levels in Monk which I would love to do would be better.
You may, if going monk, want to consider dragon style and dragons ferocity. Or getting a resizing sansetsukon and clobber everybody as an earth elemental.
Would I come out ahead this way? Going dragon style I mean. By ahead I mean would it be stronger than if I stayed druid for 18 levels?
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Tetori is a vialble dip I tend to recommend switching from druid at 6 and being a dire tiger all the time.
You you want overland flight it is a domain spell for the eagle domain. Flying carpets and brooms would be you option for unlimited all day flight. Air walk should cover you. It a a good duration.
Tetori is a vialble dip I tend to recommend switching from druid at 6 and being a dire tiger all the time.
You you want overland flight it is a domain spell for the eagle domain. Flying carpets and brooms would be you option for unlimited all day flight. Air walk should cover you. It a a good duration.
I guess I could dip right now then we just leveled to 6. My numbers show me that with multi attack (which I have) the giant octopus is a better option than the dire tiger. Would this dip be worth losing out on that level 8 wild shape ability? Its significantly better.
Stay druid. It really isn't worth anything to dip.
How come only one level though? Is it worth taking more or better to stay druid the rest of the way except the one level.
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My two cents as a druid 11, ranger 1, monk 1, played since level 1 in PFS:
You can do one level of ranger for shapeshifting hunter, but I'd suggest one level of master of many styles and go for dragon style, dragon ferocity, and feral combat feats if you can only pick one multiclass. This will increase your damage significantly, especially with any of the pouncing forms. I went master of many styles instead of unchained for the better saves and the free style feat, but it's your call.
If you are dedicated melee honestly you could just stop leveling druid at any point and pick up strait barbarian just to keep things simple--lesser fiend totem rage power gives you an extra gore attack--it might not be optimized, but it'd be extremely strong.
Level breaks for spells are strong jaw as a 4th level spell, wall of thorns as a 5th level (because it doesn't offer a save), and spellstaff, liveoak, greater dispel magic, and source severance as 6th level spells; as a melee druid those are my favorites. So pick an odd numbered level as you last druid level if you want access to the next tier of spells. If you do stick with octopus consider planar wildshape--the 1/day smite is disgusting with 9+ attacks.
Also I like to put a greater dispel into a ring of counterspells if you get to that point--you have a lot of buffs running and not a lot of spells per day, getting hit with a greater dispel can make you sad.
The thing is this is my first campaign so I am not sure if its viable to stay melee all the way until 18 of will I need the high level spell casting ability in the late game? Our party does have a full wizard in it.
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The problem with a melee druid is that at level 12 your wild shape stops, you don't get anymore forms or better forms.
You then have to look at two potential ways of improving your melee:
Spells
Other Class Abilities
For the Spells route, you should consider Quicken spell and grabbing spells like Frostbite, Vine Strike, Produce Flame that you can drop as swift actions so they don't interfere with your full attack routines or pounce. You also gain impressive flexibility in being able to pulls spells like Hunter's Blessing, Transport via Plants and other useful utility in addition to your buffing routine.
For other class abilities the two that work very well in my experience are Monk and Barbarian. You can with some investment even combine both. I have a PFS character that is now a Druid 11, Unch Monk 3, Barb 2 and the combination is very strong and very hard to kill.
For monks the break points are 1st (Wis to AC, Saves, Bonus Feat), 2nd (Bonus Feat, Evasion) and 3rd (depending on build either Still mind or ki pool, plus combined with a monk's robe you get +2 ac instead of one and higher unarmed strike damage)
The barbarian levels stack right away with Wild Shape plus Rage pushing stats to high levels. Grab extra rage and/or recovered rage to keep the rage going. Keep advancing and you can grab rage powers and more rage rounds. Depending on Druid level you may never make it to 11th level but I have considered a Druid 9, Barb 11 build with Shaping Focus that gets the most out of Wild Shape, Rage and still gets you 5th level spells. You can imagine the effect of a pouncing allosaurus with a 46 strength.
1. Retrain into a Cave Druid
2. Multiclass into Barbarian (optional)
3. Take Vital Strike feat chain
4. Wild Shape into Carnivorous Crystal
5. End lives
If you can find a way to become immune to Fatigue then take the Furious Finish feat with Barbarian and just destroy everything... one round at a time.
The problem with a melee druid is that at level 12 your wild shape stops, you don't get anymore forms or better forms.
You then have to look at two potential ways of improving your melee:
Spells
Other Class AbilitiesFor the Spells route, you should consider Quicken spell and grabbing spells like Frostbite, Vine Strike, Produce Flame that you can drop as swift actions so they don't interfere with your full attack routines or pounce. You also gain impressive flexibility in being able to pulls spells like Hunter's Blessing, Transport via Plants and other useful utility in addition to your buffing routine.
For other class abilities the two that work very well in my experience are Monk and Barbarian. You can with some investment even combine both. I have a PFS character that is now a Druid 11, Unch Monk 3, Barb 2 and the combination is very strong and very hard to kill.
For monks the break points are 1st (Wis to AC, Saves, Bonus Feat), 2nd (Bonus Feat, Evasion) and 3rd (depending on build either Still mind or ki pool, plus combined with a monk's robe you get +2 ac instead of one and higher unarmed strike damage)The barbarian levels stack right away with Wild Shape plus Rage pushing stats to high levels. Grab extra rage and/or recovered rage to keep the rage going. Keep advancing and you can grab rage powers and more rage rounds. Depending on Druid level you may never make it to 11th level but I have considered a Druid 9, Barb 11 build with Shaping Focus that gets the most out of Wild Shape, Rage and still gets you 5th level spells. You can imagine the effect of a pouncing allosaurus with a 46 strength.
I am very intrigued. This barbarian multi class may be an idea. I really do like a monk/druid too though I am torn. I love me the ability to have 9 attacks a round in the giant lake octopus form as I believe I should really take advantage of it since I have the multiattack feat. I speculate this form may rival the allosaurus' damage output. The added reach is gravy. Could I still cast 9th levels spells and just dip 2 levels of barbarian or how many levels would I need to make the most use out of this form? And is this the unchained barbarian? Are there even great 9th level melee spells for a druid out there?
Ugh ya that's a lot of levels, don't think I'd want to do that. Would it be better dipping just a couple levels of barbarian or unchained monk?
Could I still cast 9th levels spells and just dip 2 levels of barbarian or how many levels would I need to make the most use out of this form? And is this the unchained barbarian? Are there even great 9th level melee spells for a druid out there?
for druid lvl 9 spells is lvl 17, which means you'd need to get to lvl 19 with a 2 lvl dip to get them. Unfortunately RotRL goes to lvl 18