solo monk/druid

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I am trying to solo IWD2 with a druid:
Drow CG Monk 1/Druid X
Str 12
Dex 16
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 16
Cha 10
I have ranks in Hide, Spellcraft, Concentration, and Diplomacy. I am planning to raise INT later to get Bluff skill.
Feats: Extra Wild Shape, Weapon Focus in Scimitar, Bow.
I have played through the second level of Shaengarne Fords with no problems and I am now up to level 7. I am going to try to focus on melee combat for now, but I will start to focus on spells when I get to the Goblin Warrens. Any advice or ideas are welcome.

 

Try a Level of Barbarian later, if rage can work for the animal forms. The Barbarian's speed will be an incredible boost for your character, I think. In theory the Barbarian level may help - but if the multiclass doesn't work out after one encounter drop it.
Try to focus on whether you'll be fighting in human form or shapeshifted form. I'm not sure the Maximized attacks feat can be taken by Druids, but if it can't you should have tried putting your weapon focus (if you plan to go melee via shapeshifted form) or extra wild shape (if you wanted to fight in human form) points elswhere. What character are you trying to make? A warrior type who casts magic to enhance his abilties? A warrior-summoner? Warrior-offensive spell caster?

 

He has to be lawful in alignment to take the monk-lvl (if your not using a mod.) Othetwise the druid has good offensive spells in almost every lvl (sunscorce lvl1, call lightning lvl3, flamestrike lvl4, static charge lvl5, firestorm lvl7 and the finger of death at lvl8). try to take enough skillpoints in spellcraft (10 including your int-modifier) and take the elementalfeats for fire and lightning (spirit of flame and scion of storms) if you plan to use those spells. And max out concentration.

 

@scythesong
I'd be fighting in natural form mainly, but in the goblin warrens which is coming up, I would use the dire panther form for strength and speed. I normally use shapeshifts for quick healing and speed, (scouting in panther form is a lot of fun as I have learned from previous games) and I use spells both to enhance abilities and to do damage. Call lightning and static charge are really useful. I use ranged to kill as many monsters as I can before they get to me, then attack spellcasters in melee and with spells of my own. Then I go after the archers and wait for the warriors to come up so I don’t have to deal with ranged weapons in the hands of enemies. Thanks for the tips.

@mudde
I do know about the alignment thing; thanks for reminding me. I had alignment LN for that reason but cheated to change it to CN...(I wasn't clear on that in my post. I should have mentioned it.) Alignment doesn't do much to dialogue in IWDII

Does any one know if there is a feat that lets you cast spells in wild shape, or is that just in my D+D books? I think it’s called wild spell or something like that.

 

Iirc, that feat came in D&D 3.5 edition. So i doubt it is in IWD2, but i wont say for certain, havent palyed druid in the game for ages.

 

You cannot cast spells in Wild Shape; sorry!

Really, a wild shape I would love to have available is just a bird... small, fast bird who flies from place to place quickly, and essentially invisibly (because who notices a bird?) Great for scouting, and dropping the druid behind enemy lines, but that's about it.

 

@Shayleigh
Scion of Storms and Spell Focus: Transmutation should help. Besides making entangle/spike stones/spike growth stronger, it maxes out Static Charge and Call Lightning (these go well with shapeshifted form and some summons).

Otherwise, go for Spirit of Flame and Spell Focus: Evocation. You actually don't need the Extra Wild Form feat too much - with only 1 monk level as an extra class you'll be able to shift many times at higher levels. Try to take Focus on a weapon with Bludgeoning type damage, unless you take the Shambling Mound form feat. (Or you can try putting some in Axes - their are some very good axes in the game, and the Haft over Head does Blunt damage instead of piercing) This will help make your life much easier in the Ice Temple.
Lastly, if you like the Dire Panther form too much, it goes well with the Dash feat.

Btw, the Dire Panther and Air Elemental forms are quite powerful (and along with Dire Bear and Shambling Mound are the only worthwhile forms, sadly) and although they do not make you completely on par with a pure Fighter, it makes you a decent one. So if you are hard pressed to melee, shapeshifting is the way to go. Barbarian Rage actually works in cojunction with Wild Shape also... among other abilities.

[ May 08, 2005, 07:18: Message edited by: Scythesong Immortal ]

 

@MrNexx
good idea.

@scythesong
Thanks for the tips. Yes, I like dire panther too much. I should try the Dash thing. BTW Something really fun in the ice temple is to get the magical staircase to take you to the battle squares room (before you open any doors) and then put yourself in the ethereal form, cheat to leave the room, and obliterate everyone.
In my other game, I have a druid with dire panther form and I basically keep her there all the time we're fighting that no one's about to die (she is my only character with Heal). It works really well with her and actually increases her AC a bit.

 

Get Greater Spell Focus: Evocation, Greater Spell Penetration and Spirit of Flame and you are set.

 

I should probably get Scion of Storms, too, for the amount of time I have a Static Charge or Call Lightning going on.

 

Stack them. Stacked Call Lightnings and Static Charges define the role of the Druid in HoF.

 

hee hee hee. I figured that one out already and it is making the game *so* much easier. (Except when I'm inside the goblin warrens and haven't gotten another 5th lvl spell slot.) I only have 9 druid levels as of now.