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So, as the title states, I'm trying to come up with a class, like a "Druid variant" that is a Spontaneous caster, like the Oracle to the Cleric, but also differently flavored, again, like the Oracle to the Cleric. So this is my concept.
INTRO: Like their Druidic brethren, the Herbalist maintains an unwavering devotion to nature and a recognition of it's perfection. However, the Herbalist differs from the Druid by focusing on bringing together all intelligent races in that same appreciation, starting by using the natural ingredients of the world to heal, support, and bolster those the Herbalist encounters. No strangers to or abhorrents of society, the Herbalist simply believes that if people were to let go of their excessive trappings and desires, and live lives one with nature in community and harmony, then all would be right in the world. Unfortunately, not all Herbalists are this altruistic. Some merely aim to take advantage of those who seek unconventional medicines, while the worst among them strive to gain simple peoples' trust, and then manipulate it for their own dark and unsavory ends. For most, however, by tending to the most urgent and essential of people's needs, the Herbalist will show to them a better way of life.
ROLE: The Herbalist is primarily a healer and supporter of her allies, and also able to stealthily blend into her surroundings, a tactic sometimes needed for retrieving dangerous ingredients, but also useful for scouting territory. When the time to defend the Herbalist's home, work, and patients is at hand, though, her repertoire of nature manipulating spells is certainly up to the task, whether by forcing the opponents into disadvantageous situations or by their direct and outright destruction
Alignment: Any
D8 Hit Die
3/4 BAB
Good Fortitude and Will Saves, Poor Reflex Save
Class Skills: Climb, Craft, Diplomacy, Fly, Heal, Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nature), Linguistics, Perception, Profession, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Stealth, Survival, and Swim
Skill Ranks: 4+ Int Mod
Weapon Proficiencies:
Dagger, Club, Quarterstaff, Wooden Stake, Sling, Machete, Greatclub, Shortspear, Spear, Longspear
Spellcasting: Uses Charisma, same Progression as Oracle, Druid Spell List
CLASS FEATURES:
Enhanced Herbalism (Buffed Druidic Herbalism [Nature Bond Option])
Brew Potion
Favored Terrain
Wild Shape (Plant)
Add Cure Spells as Spells Known
Nature Sense
Venom Immunity
Safe Body (disease immunity)
Timeless Body
Vanishing Meld (identical to Hide in Plain Sight)
Elevating Elixir (Temporary buffs to rolls)
Growth Focus (choose ONE)
A. Earth
B. Water
C. Air
(Growth Focus grants Bonus spells, movement types, and other advantages such as skill and armor bonuses as well as other abilities)
I know that there's still a lot missing, but I'm curious as to what people think of the concept. Also looking for suggestions, both mechanical and flavor(ful?)
I feel like it's a little further apart from Druid than an oracle is from the cleric. My 2 cents:
1) no alignment restrictions?
2) why add cure spells? I will personally do SNA.
3) expand on wild shape progression, please
4) expand on elevating elixir, please
5) where's fire growth focus? It usually adds movement speed.
6) no proficiency with natural weapons?
7) spontaneous casters usually have some sort of a path (oracle mystery, sorcerer bloodline...). ?
8) capstone?
That's it. I'm done.
PD
I feel like it's a little further apart from Druid than an oracle is from the cleric. My 2 cents:
1) no alignment restrictions?
2) why add cure spells? I will personally do SNA.
3) expand on wild shape progression, please
4) expand on elevating elixir, please
5) where's fire growth focus? It usually adds movement speed.
6) no proficiency with natural weapons?
7) spontaneous casters usually have some sort of a path (oracle mystery, sorcerer bloodline...). ?
8) capstone?That's it. I'm done.
PD
You're right, it probably is a little further away. I kind of felt like it had to be because of how much Druids can do already
1) I don't see a need for restriction with the Herbalist.
2) Cure spells for the healing theme, but mostly because I'm trying to stick to a Plant theme and move away from the elemental and animal themes of SNA
3) That's something with which I need help. Ideally, plant shape earlier than the Druid, but I don't want it to be OP.
4) Again, something I need help with, though I guess I'm imagining something like an Inspiration pool that can be shared but with more limiting action economy? Not really sure...
5) The Growth Focuses were supposed to be things plants need to grow (earth=soil, water=water, air=CO2), and Fire isn't great for plants usually, although now that I think about it, Fire could totally be fire=Sun. Hmmm...
6) Again, I don't think that fits as well
7) That's what the Growth Focuses are supposed to be
8) Not a clue yet.
I feel like it's a little further apart from Druid than an oracle is from the cleric. My 2 cents:
1) no alignment restrictions?
2) why add cure spells? I will personally do SNA.
3) expand on wild shape progression, please
4) expand on elevating elixir, please
5) where's fire growth focus? It usually adds movement speed.
6) no proficiency with natural weapons?
7) spontaneous casters usually have some sort of a path (oracle mystery, sorcerer bloodline...). ?
8) capstone?That's it. I'm done.
PD
To be fair "Tater" Fire is rather antithematic for a plant based class.
Also, super, SUPER minor, but I'd probably add Appraise to skill list.
Jeez. Okay, so lets start from the top:
3) plant shape, sadly, is never as good as beast shape even if it's 2 levels or so earlier. I will recommend:
5th: as plant shape 1, 1/day
7th: as plant shape 2, 2/day
9th: as plant shape 2 OR elemental body 1 (as growth focus), 3/day
11th: as plant shape 3 OR elemental body 2 (as growth focus), 4/day
13th: as plant shape 3 OR elemental body 3 (as growth focus), 5/day
15th: as plant shape 3 OR elemental body 4 (as growth focus), 6/day
17th: " " " 7/day
19th: " " " 8/day
20th: " " " at will?
4) idea:
pick either mutagen(physical) OR cognatogen(mental) at ?th level.
? levels later, it becomes greater mutagen/ cognatogen, and can use the regular of which you didn't pick.
?? levels later, it becomes grand mutagen/ cognatogen, and can use the greater of which you didn't pick.
8) druids have no capstone except for the wild shape at will. maybe this?
PD
no one? not even the OP?
crap.
no one? not even the OP?
crap.
I'm here. Sorry!
I like most of the ideas. The mutagen/cognatagen is especially intriguing. For a capstone, I was thinking more along the lines of something like "Heightened Herbalism" that gives more stealth bonuses, enhances potions made with (original) Herbalism, and upgrades cognatagen/mutagen.
I need to flesh out the Growth Focuses a bit more...
would you like the growth focus to be based(template wise) on a bloodline(where every level you get something new) or a mystery(where you have a list of abilities that you can pick every x levels when you meet the level preq)?
would you like the growth focus to be based(template wise) on a bloodline(where every level you get something new) or a mystery(where you have a list of abilities that you can pick every x levels when you meet the level preq)?
Hmm... I think since the Herbalist learns his craft, and it's a Growth FOCUS, the second makes more sense...? Like, he can decide what to FOCUS in on even within the Growth Focus (ie cherrypick abilities like the Oracle), so probably more like an Oracle. More versatility that way too, I think. Which is important because there's only 3 (4 if Fire equaling Sun isn't too much if a stretch) Growth Focuses.
Thanks for helping me sort that out!
No problem! It could actually be cool to make the capstone IN the growth focus a la oracle capstone.
No problem! It could actually be cool to make the capstone IN the growth focus a la oracle capstone.
Oooh. Now THAT'S interesting.
Also, there's so many Fire spells on the Druid list I feel like Fire=Sun HAS to be a Growth Focus.
Coolio! Would you like to make a PDF with the class features and bab table just because?
Would I like to? No, not really, because this is on a tablet with limited software (I don't have a PC) and I'm not comfortable doing that. Sorry...
Fire is appropriate for a Druid, even a plant based one, though it seems antithematic on the surface. It is part of the Cycles and the Balance. Without fire, undergrowth chokes out new growth, old and weakened plants allow disease and parasites to grow stronger and affect healthy plants. Some plants actually require fires to complete their reproductive cycles.
Would I like to? No, not really, because this is on a tablet with limited software (I don't have a PC) and I'm not comfortable doing that. Sorry...
Crap. Guess I'll have to do it myself because I'm a hard working potato.
PD
Sorry, but I do appreciate it (for what that's worth)! I just wouldn't even know where to begin with this thing/am not sure it's even capable of it.
Fire is appropriate for a Druid, even a plant based one, though it seems antithematic on the surface. It is part of the Cycles and the Balance. Without fire, undergrowth chokes out new growth, old and weakened plants allow disease and parasites to grow stronger and affect healthy plants. Some plants actually require fires to complete their reproductive cycles.
Awesome. Feel less weird about it now, thank you very much!
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Very nice!
For another take on a spontaneous version of the druid, you might check out the Shaman from Kobold Press.
It was originally published in Kobold Quarterly magazine, and then as a stand-alone PDF: The Expanded Shaman
Learn about the genesis of the Shaman's creation:Designing the Shaman
The current version of the class, re-named Spirit Shaman to avoid confusion with Paizo's Shaman class, appears in the soon-to-be-released New Paths Compendium Hardcover
Very nice!
For another take on a spontaneous version of the druid, you might check out the Shaman from Kobold Press.
It was originally published in Kobold Quarterly magazine, and then as a stand-alone PDF: The Expanded Shaman
Learn about the genesis of the Shaman's creation:Designing the Shaman
The current version of the class, re-named Spirit Shaman to avoid confusion with Paizo's Shaman class, appears in the soon-to-be-released New Paths Compendium Hardcover
Thanks! That means a lot coming from you.
And honestly, that whole Compendium looks super interesting and cool. Several of those classes are huge personal interests of mine.
@PD
You're doing me a favor, so I hate to ask, but were you still interested in doing that PDF? If not no problem. I'm just curious.
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Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know the Expanded and Updated New Paths Compendium Hardcover is now available right here on Paizo.com!!
Expanded and Updated New Paths Compendium Hardcover
Includes the Spirit Shaman plus 11 other new classes (plus archetypes, spells, feats, and more)