Some questions concerning Druids

Remove all ads!

So I recently started a solo Druid. Yes, I'm nuts, but she is doing very good sofar. Not that I'm very far in the game yet (Shaengarne-Broken Tusk Clan), but she IS doing fine.

Some questions that I have, though. Some may be very simple to you, but I just want to know. (since knowledge is power, power is might and might is knowledge )

I'm about to level my Aasimar Druid4/fighter1 up with an extra level of the druid-class. This gives me the possibility to choose the wildshape: Panther. I tried it and I liked it. She's fast and inflicts pretty darn good damage 2d6 + 2d8 (10%) + 4 (str mod)
Attack rolls are +8/+4/+4

I never understood the 2 (sometimes 1 or 3) last attack-rolls. I understand the +8. Can someone explain the other 2 (+4/+4)?
Second: What does the (10%) mean after the 2d8 damage? Is this a 10% chance that the Panther will inflict 2d8 damage?

Some other questions. What feats do you suggest? My druid is quite capable with the bow. (I like to entangle my opponents, summon a rainstorm and shoot arrows) So maybe I should choose Precise Shot? Maybe Dash for a Shoot&Run attack strategy? Power Attack? Luck of Heroes? Lightning Reflexes?

Are there any tactics I should try? Some spells that are of special use? Some items I should look for? Arrgh, so much questions...
Thanks already (I know I will get some info here )

Edit:
Btw, These are my stats. 18 Str, 18 Dex, 17 Con, 3 Int (I hate that), 20 Wis, 5 Cha (No, I don't use animal empathy, you're right about that!)
I usually wield a longbow, a Greatsword (Wandering Sky), or Sword and Shield. If you want to know: She's called Madeleine.

[ February 06, 2003, 19:56: Message edited by: Master of Nuhn ]

 

You've a number of attacks per round, in your case it's three. For each attack you have a different attackrating.

Luck of Heroes is a given with any human, especially when soloing

Considering Stats: "Fire bow at monsters?"

*Madeleine sets her bow on fire and gives it to the monsters*



[ February 06, 2003, 20:15: Message edited by: Faragon ]

 

I would suggest the feat "Rapid Shot" to fire youre bow quicker.

 

To the Attack rolls:

Number of Attack rolls is equal to number of attack that a character makes in one round (6 second of ingame time).

+8/+4/+4 means: your druid attacks 3 times per round - first attack with attack roll +8, next two of them with attack roll +4

To ...+1d8(10%)...:

You perfectly correct: 10% means - you have 10% possibility to deliver 1d8 special damage - in paper version it is relized by throwing 2d10 (two ten sided dices) - one of them means 10-th of percent, the other plain percent ...

 

Wow that's a lot of questions.

1. Attack as a panther: I think the bonus decreases from +8 to +4 because you have multiple attacks and the bonus decreases by 4 for each additional attack after the first. I would also gather that your theory about the 10% 2d8 damage is correct (when you successfully rake an opponent perhaps). All in all, I imagine that you would have three attacks, a bite and two claws.

2. Feats: If you are set on using a bow, precise shot and rapid shot would be okay. Get additional slot for bow proficiency. I assume you already have a skill level for a bow whether you are elven or you chose it in the beginning. If you also enjoy shapechanging you can get extra shapechanging. I don't suggest taking the boring beetle shape nor shambling mound (kinda slow). I wouldn't have recommended the panther either but you already have it. Just wait until you get polar bear or dire bear (27 base STR I think). You can eventually become an elemental!

3. Tactics: You can shot and cast from afar and then mix it up as a bear, etc.

4. Items: The only item I can recall that only a druid can use is a cloak, Nature's Vengeance.

[ February 06, 2003, 20:22: Message edited by: Charlie ]

 

As for spells: Summons Summons Summons.

 

Bloody Dishes! You guys are quick. And you seem to reply all toghether at the same time. Thanks sofar.

I already have the Rapid Shot feat as well as Combatcasting - I hate it when my spells are interrupted, so I spent a lot of skillpoints in Concentration.

Just want to know how you feel about Shapechanging. I never liked it before, but the panther seems to be nice. I'm looking forward to these Bears and Elementals alright. Worth to put a feat in Extra Shapechange?

Nature Vengeance? Sounds nasty! Any other? Not nessessaraly (sp?) Class restricted. I hearded something about a ring Wis +5?

Summons were a good help soFar-agon.

 

Yo Aragon, Ancalìmon is back! OK, dude, a druid is a kick-ass solo character, really. Lots of offensive magic, some defensive too, and a darn good attack (and hp) in wildshape. I wouldn't go for a heavy multiclassed druid though. I prefer a pure one. But a level of fighter could prove useful, but try to avoid the xp penalty. Really, as a solo, you need all the xp you can get. A few levels of ranger isn't bad (you get two-weapon fighting!) becouse a druid has to wear light of medium armor anyway (spell casting failure). So continue on that build, it'll become very powerful! One more thing, what is your race(and favored class)?

 

Right now I'm an Aasimar Druid6/Fighter1 (with a 20% XP penalty which I don't mind)

My baby is powerfull already. Entangle and rainstorm fried the Orcs sofar. Beastclaw is pretty nasty too, as well as Moonblade, Call Lightning, some summons, Barkskin, Spike Growth and lots of others.

I don't think Druids can wear any armor when casting spells. They are Divine Spellcasters and as far as I know druids, paladins and clerics can only be interrupted by a good whack on the head. I'm still wearing these Studded Leather Armor of the Shield, though.

 

Druids cast their spells the same way as Clerics, only their magic is given to them by Nature, instead of a diety. So yeah, no spellfailure unless they're getting beaten into a bloody pulp

And yes, there's a +5 WIS ring. But you'll have to pry it from my Battleguard's dead fingers to get it. (28 WIS baby, yeah! )

There's also a certain potion which you might want to look for.

 

Ooh, a solo druid! You seem to be doing pretty good with her. But yeah, druids can wear like armor when casting spells. I tell ya a secret though. With my druid, I gave her exactly 1 level in ranger 'cause then, she can get the two weapon fighting and that-long-"A"-word-that-I-don't-feel-like-typing feats pretty much for free if she wears light or no armor. As for that potion, I'd sell it. It takes off an unforgivable amount of Constitution that your solo character will be needing.

 

There is a potion that drains 2 CON for 1 WIS. I never used that one, because basically it's a bad deal. 1 for the price of 2, nuhuh. The potion I'm talking about takes 1 DEX and grants 2 WIS.

One pointer though, I haven't played a druid yet, but you're not capable of casting spells indoors right? That's gotta hurt... I foresee a certain snowy area with hole in the ground getting very difficult for you. Well, without cheese it'll be anyway

Damnit, so many fun classes for solo. (Pal/Sorc, Druid, Cleric, Bard... graaah!) I really need to finish my 6person party first, but I want to solo so very badly

[ February 07, 2003, 09:46: Message edited by: Faragon ]

 

Did I say that? Did I really say that?! Pityfull how a druid with 20 Wis can be under the influence of MindFog. -sigh-

About the Ranger's dual-wielding: I concidered it before, but I'm lacking AC sometimes and need a nice shield now and then. If I don't need a shield, then I want to use my strength to the max and that is a powerfull hackmaster Greatsword. Unless you can convince me. Mentioning some good scimitars/longswords in a nice combo would be sufficient, methinks.

What are good indoor druid-spells? Mass-destruction prefered...

 

Hmm.. here are the spells which can potentially do mass damage although all are not necessarily great. Check them out first: Thorn Spray, Tremor, Whirlwind, Firestorm, Flame Strike, Sol's Searing Orb, Static Charge, Sunbeam, Ice Storm and Spiritual Wrath (alignment-based though). Other good spells that are not mass damage are: Heal, Spike Stones, Finger of Death and Elemental Legion (dangerous but wicked).

 

I'm a big fan of druids. I did ranger 2/druid x in my first IWD2 game. That was good. But I'm now taking three, a paladin 1/sorcerer x, a monk, and a straight druid through the game. It's frightenly easy.

In choosing inside/outside spells, remember to focus on fortitude (con based) saves vs avoid (dex based) saves.

For instance, in chapt. 3, in the second level of the ice palace, you find a group of angry Talisian (sp?) warriors, thieves, wizards, and so forth trapped in behind some extradimensionally-enhanced glass. I took that group out with the druid almost exclusively by using my monk to occupy them while I fired two spells--thorn spray and smashing wave. The first shot killed 9 (yes nine) of them, leaving the powerful warrior and the sorcerer and the thief. The next was smashing wave, and that was somewhat ineffective. But 9? Yep. That's a good damage spell with a fast casting time.

I'm using the Weimer mods, so I have shape-shifting powers that are really not fair. At 12th level, I can do a Rehmorhaz, a Wyvern, two giants--these forms rock at melee.