Class Review: Druid

[Thief Of Navarre]

I went through a 2 month RP process with a single DM (Machiavelli, bless his soul) and had unbelievable DC's and perma chances at every turn, took permanent stat damage (after I had already suffered a 2 point permanent stat damage from that god modded Syran vamire NPC when Kaizen was like, level 12) and even took the time to write a neat little RP fiction - to get a level in a class that isn't even restricted, and all things considered, isn't that OP compared to ... clerics, favored souls, stormlords (which, if you recall, Kaizen once was .... I also gave up for the sake of RP), vampires, wizards, sorcerers and pretty much everything that isn't a fighter or barbarian.

<--- The unbelievable DC I was referring too.

And all for this, which represented the monk level:




BUT I DIGRESS.

MoMF. Don't do it.

And Monk/Druids are impossible to RP, no matter what you do, so don't do that either.

Okay, I think I'm done QQing now.

I've been thinking about that recently. monk/druid RP really doesnt make any sense.. the two classes are almost a polar opposite in ethos.

[Root]

Sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of meditating under a freezing natural waterfall as I attune myself to the environment, shun all weapons and armour, and seek to find true balance within myself and the world.

Monk/Druid is completely RP-possible. You get a thousand points if you take more than one level in Monk, too.

[roguethree]

This is the thread where we talk about Blurry's characters, right?

Remember when *insert character name* made a deal with *insert sort of person/demon/devil/etc. you shouldn't make a deal with* and gained incredible power but was never seen again? I miss *insert character name*.

Remember when we were going to be PALadins, and then you left me? Did you think I'd forget?

Ah, but then you did that thing that was awesome. You know what thing I'm talking about.

[Kaizen]

... I remember the first two.

I'm at a loss for the third. Probably because I don't remember doing anything remotely awesome since Kaizen was level 5 and Snoop Dogg let him burn down Exigo. That was the highlight of my Sundren career.

It was all downhill from there.

EDIT: I DO REMEMBER!

EDIT2: And it wasn't even RP related...

EDIT3: QQ

[Cornuto]

Remember when *insert character name* made a deal with *insert sort of person/demon/devil/etc. you shouldn't make a deal with* and gained incredible power but was never seen again? I miss *insert character name*.

.

This thread's about Dain now?

Boom, roasted.

[Kaizen]

This thread's about Dain now?

Boom, roasted.

I say it's what we should all do to those who do the 1 monk/19 druid thing. Make them all MoMF.

Counter-attack!

[Thief Of Navarre]

Sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of meditating under a freezing natural waterfall as I attune myself to the environment, shun all weapons and armour, and seek to find true balance within myself and the world.

Monk/Druid is completely RP-possible. You get a thousand points if you take more than one level in Monk, too.

Monk's are supposed to be completely detached from the world. Druids are supposed to be completely attached to the world. Opposite - fact

We ideally need another class that is unarmed that doesnt require you being a monk or a cleric. Brawler of some sort.

[FoogooFish]

I get the feeling Blurry's holding back on us.

Please, tell us how you really feel about MoMF.

[Dragor]

I get the feeling Blurry's holding back on us.

Please, tell us how you really feel about MoMF.

In a new thread

Or you can wait till I get to that one

[Zoberraz]

I haven't played druids much on Sundren (at least not one that got beyond level 9, which I later deleted)... but I remember having tons of fun with the druid I made over on Frontier (not Frontier Reborn).

No small part of that might be tied to the RP flavor possible there for the druid, something I've unfortunately been unable to experience in Sundren for... I'll be nice... different circumstancial reasons.

Mechanically, I've always enjoyed the druid for the span of interesting abilities it the class has... though some don't work out all that well. The stealth bonus in nature isn't something that can really be taken advantage of for most. Wild Shaping is much more a roleplaying tool than anything else: it often is more of a liability than an asset early on... and later it's a conscious choice made between balancing greater melee damage and greater vulnerability (though quite helpful in a bind if caught unprepared). They have a nice array of offensive spells, but they kind of have second-tier group presence next to the clerics based on buffs and healing.

Also, having played Maia before Firiel, I realized that playing a divine spellcaster was a lot like playing NWN easymode. Firiel's stealth wasn't as good, and her single-target ranged attack quite as potent... but she could do everything Maia could and outlast her in a lot of situations.

I personally find that druids have a lot to go on when it comes to dueling. Again, spellwise, they have tons of cool stuff to play with that can best very strong opponents with clever application.

I remember this one duel where my Firiel, a level 16 druid, was representing her Circle in a one-on-one duel to the death (permadeath) against an Half-Orc priest of Gruumsh to settle a territorial dispute that was threatening to become an open feud. Fighting a slightly higher-level cleric was a pretty intimidating prospect due to the impressive array of enhancing spells they could resort to in order to reach "demi-god fighting prowess" and the duel allowed for such buffs to be cast beforehand. Lots of HP and the ability to heal back a lot of it on top of protective magic like 'Stone Body' made a lot of players bet against Firiel.

So, it became Firiel's strategy to declaw the Gruumsh cleric and then apply so much pressure on him to force him into what I call a 'healing panic' - when all you can do is heal yourself, be on the defensive, and not be able to strike back.

When our actual duel started, Firiel used Greater Dispel when the other used Dismissal to take my companion and summoned elemental out of the fight. Firiel answered his Battle Tide with another Greater Dispel. Finally, he rushed in to fight, and Firiel slapped down a last Moonbolt to mitigate his strength.

Her strategy was entirely dependent on his Stone Body ward not being active - a sickle swing confirmed that much without the need to use more dispels. She was bent on using offensive spells foremost because the assumption was that he was equally capable of dispelling any enhancements she bestowed on herself - anything to defend or recover needed to have more spontaneous, less dispellable benefits like, say, Rejuvenation Cocoon.

Once he was close and started hitting against the buffer of her Stoneskin spell with Wildshape feats used to help with her defense/critical hit immunity, Firiel herself was casting defensively with shield up for cover, and sent out her first Extended Creeping Doom spell. Then another. And another followed by a normal Creeping Doom.

A single Creeping Doom spell could manage eight times 2d6 damage per round, with a base attack of +22 when cast by Firiel, and that for 3 rounds - 6 if extended. By the fourth cast, there were at least 32 such attacks being made on the Gruumsh cleric every round, with an overwhelming amount of numbers popping out to track damage. A Heal spell was only a temporary delay when he reacted too late to make up for the hideous amounts of damage being done. Tenser's Transformation was his last recourse, but one that he failed his concentration check for (which Firiel turning into a Dire Bear and clawing his face off was not helping)

Death by papercuts. Or, from the RP perspective, death to the big tall tough brutal savage Gruumshite Cleric via being covered by thousands of tiny, biting, flying insects. Not an enviable death, all things considered. >_>;

tl;dr: I find druids fun, and wrote a out-of-the-box dueling anecdote.

[Root]

Monk's are supposed to be completely detached from the world. Druids are supposed to be completely attached to the world. Opposite - fact

We ideally need another class that is unarmed that doesnt require you being a monk or a cleric. Brawler of some sort.

*looks around at the strange argument that's become about Dain or Blurry or something, not sure if he should be having discussion with Thief or headbutting him*

Monks are supposed to be detatched from the world? Not trying to sound aggressive/sarcastic/etc, but got a source for that?

Closest I can think of is being detatched from the material world, eg. vows of poverty and so on. But the natural world is a big part of spirituality, and monks are all about spirit.

Monks live in monastaries, separated from the civilised world. Druids live in camps and caves, doing the same. Monks seek perfection in their natural physical form, without interference from impurity. Druids seek perfection in the natural world, without imbalance.

The two classes can have a hell of a lot in common. Heck, the biggest monk faction on the server, that being the frost fists of Auril? They're monks. And ice druids aren't too hard to come by if you look amongst their allies.

As for an unarmed class, I don't really think there's much place for one. I mean, how far will 'Well, I hit things really hard with my fists' get you when you're fighting a dragon? You know, one of those things that take siege weapons to the face and keep coming?

Strange thing to hate, I know, but I just don't think it makes any sense for your front line to be composed of the greatest armoured knight of the area, a mighty sorcerer who has harnessed his dragon blood to bend reality to his will, the high priest of the God of War, decked out in his grandest armour, and... That guy from the pub who hits things.

[Kaizen]

No small part of that might be tied to the RP flavor possible there for the druid, something I've unfortunately been unable to experience in Sundren for... I'll be nice... different circumstancial reasons.

This is directed towards me, just to clear up any nagging doubts or mind encompasing confusion. So you other druid players, it's not you - no longer must your consience be plagued with guilt and the self vindicating question ... "Did I do something wrong?" 'Cause you didn't. So you are-pee to your druidic hearts content.

[roguethree]

[Thief Of Navarre]

*looks around at the strange argument that's become about Dain or Blurry or something, not sure if he should be having discussion with Thief or headbutting him*

Monks are supposed to be detatched from the world? Not trying to sound aggressive/sarcastic/etc, but got a source for that?

Closest I can think of is being detatched from the material world, eg. vows of poverty and so on. But the natural world is a big part of spirituality, and monks are all about spirit.

Monks live in monastaries, separated from the civilised world. Druids live in camps and caves, doing the same. Monks seek perfection in their natural physical form, without interference from impurity. Druids seek perfection in the natural world, without imbalance.

The two classes can have a hell of a lot in common. Heck, the biggest monk faction on the server, that being the frost fists of Auril? They're monks. And ice druids aren't too hard to come by if you look amongst their allies.

As for an unarmed class, I don't really think there's much place for one. I mean, how far will 'Well, I hit things really hard with my fists' get you when you're fighting a dragon? You know, one of those things that take siege weapons to the face and keep coming?

Strange thing to hate, I know, but I just don't think it makes any sense for your front line to be composed of the greatest armoured knight of the area, a mighty sorcerer who has harnessed his dragon blood to bend reality to his will, the high priest of the God of War, decked out in his grandest armour, and... That guy from the pub who hits things.

Firstly druids are highly social creatures - monks.... not so social. (you dont have to remind me they get a skill related to their dump stat, I know!)

Second - The guy from the pub who hits things is pretty different from the martial arts expert who has trained his body (not necassarily his mind) to be nigh on superhuman. Despite the title how often do you see dragons in any game bar skyrim anyway? bah, dragons my foot!

Enough. I have derailed this thread for the last time. *extended creeping doom's everyone*

[[DM] Grinning Death]

What happens when real life brawlers take on dragons.

Or the closest equivalent.