Monk/Druid, Wild Shape & Cleave

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Hello guys,

I'm just replaying to IWD2 and trying to go deeper for character development.

I'd like to know if in general cleave & dodge both work for a druid in wild shape.

Furthermore do stunning attacks work while I'm in wild shape if I multiclass with a monk?

Thanks a lot

EDIT:
Expertise doesn't work while in Wild Shape, so consequently I think Dodge doesn't work as well, since by D&D rules the Expertise bonus to AC is a Dodge Bonus.
But I still hope any of you has an answer for cleave

 

Never tried Cleave with shapeshifts, since either you're not using them (druid with tank build has better stats in human form) or you can't pick Cleave feat at all (the physically weak diplomat druid using shapeshifts early on).

But to your AC question. Nothing except for Monk wisdom bonus carries over to shapeshifted forms. You can buff the forms after you've shapeshifted using standard spells, but that's about it.

 

Well, the idea of the multi class Monk 3/ Druid X is that you carry over the Monk Wisdom AC bonus to Wild Shapes forms, hence from Polar Bear going on you're one of the strongest tank of the game.

Hence even thought Power Attack doesn't work while in Wild Shape, it may be really good to know if cleave works (my idea is that it does, but I'm not 100% sure).

What about stunning attacks anyway? Do you think they works?

 

tell me more about this build, I just finnished IWD so i'll try IWD2 now I could maybe use a character like this

anyway some questions;

what stats you wanna use?

with WIS bonus to AC do you actually wear armor or you can't/have no use of wearing armor

why monk3 instead of monk1?


I'm thinking of taking it instead of my barb1/lathander x for my party-of-2 playthrough ^^

another question would barbarian rage would be of any help when talking barb level later on?

btw is this 100% true ?

 

I always seem to need to shapeshift before buffing the druid, but once I shift back into human form, I get to keep the buffs cast on the animal form. It's worth noting that the buff symbols do not disappear upon shapeshifting, but the effects are gone. Some spells that do not show the buff symbol such as Call Lightning and Mirror Image (Druid with a side course in Arcane magics such as Bard) seem to stick around through the shapeshift.

Edit: WIS AC bonus has the same restrictions as normal monks would, except that the stats on the armor/shield worn are ignored for the most part. Stuff like stat bonus or elemental resistance seem to carry over, however.

 

Yes, it is (sorry for the delay)

Monk 3 because you get Deflect Arrows and faster speed. Unfortunately you can't take Barb level if you are a Monk, and the same holds for a Barbarian who wants to take Monk levels.

Stats I use are 16 18 18 3 18 3 (more or less) and I use a Half-Elf because of the save bonus vs enchantment magic that adds to the Monk's saves and makes the character a good mage fighter.

When you take bonus points for level characteristics you simply increase WIS. You're not interested in feats like Expertise or Dodge cause they do not apply to wildshape, and he wears no armor but he can take magical bracers to increase AC.

I believe you discover the real potential of this character when at level 9 he gets Polar Bear wild shape.

p.s.

About my question on cleave under wild shape, I made some tests and it seems working, so in particular if you have a party of 2, it may be a good choice for him

 

Yea I already got Dire Bear, with 2characters leveling is crazy fast, I believe I already have 5th level spells when crashing Oswald ship. What sucks about animal forms is that you can't heal yourself, either with magic or potions. Also my partner, wizard can't heal me either :S BUT wizard buffs make Dire Bear awesome, ghost armor, stoneskin, bulls strength and it just tears everything in his path expect from these annoying golems :/

I went with same stats, but took only 1level of monk

It's very good warrior/druid mix

 

You know, responding to your questions I got a doubt I hope someone has the answer:

Deflect Arrows bonus to AC is a miscellaneous Bonus, not a Dodge one, but are we sure it applies while in wild shape?

If not, there are no very good reasons to take 3 levels of Monk.

 

Does it hold for Deflect Arrows as well?

 

Never tried, but considering Dodge and Expertise won't help wild shapes, I certainly doubt that Deflect Arrows will either.

Plus that's a lousy feat to have to waste two complete levels for in any case.

 

This is not really the reason why I got 3 levels of Monk.

In general I use this multiclass with a half-elf cause at level 3 the monk takes +2 to saves vs enchantment magic (in addition to faster speed), that sums up to the racial +2 of the half elf.

If Deflect Arrows doesn't work, I would be tempted to play a Monk 1 / Druid X with a human character.