The Most Devastating Druid Class
Elrandir
Member Posts: 1,664
Halfway through my poll series already! This time it's the druids up for grabs, so who's your favorite? As always, this is for personal preference, and not to say what is the strongest kit. (the title's just for mild alliteration) That said, feel free to debate to your heart's content in the comments! I'm sure some of you will be happy to see that I did NOT repeat my blunder from last week, and the "Just show me the results" option IS here. Hopefully the mistake will not be made again.
- The Most Devastating Druid Class136 votes
- Druid: I hug trees. Sometimes they hug back.10.29%
- Totemic Druid: Fly my pretties! Or don't fly... You get my point.16.18%
- Shapeshifter: Show me on the doll where the werewolf bit you...12.50%
- Avenger: For the last time, my name is not Captain America!39.71%
- Just show me the results.21.32%
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Comments
On topic: conceptually the Shapeshifter is one of the most appealing kits of all classes and kits to me, which is why they got my vote. Inspiration for a roleplayed playthrough with a Shapeshifter comes easily. I still want to play one but I'm unsure whether to go vanilla (which version is known to be underpowered) or the rebalanced version (which could be overpowered). Any recommendations anyone?
I could have also voted for the Avenger, in terms of actual gameplay a very versatile and balanced kit. One of the funnest I've played.
I would say that the arsenal certainly helps make its shapeshifting less relevant. This is basically the point where I transition Cernd for instance into being more of a caster. Once you factor in the HLA's druids get a bunch of great/good spells at level 7 (and only start with 6 slots for them).
I have the same feelings exactly towards the Totemic Druid. The feeling I got when ran with him through BG:EE in a no-reload solo attempt will always stay not only in my mind but also in my heart. It was my first solo druid playthrough no more no less. The fact many of you watched his progress, his way towards Sarevok adds heavily.
If it weren't for that run, I would have chosen an Avenger druid. This character is fun to play as, I like the diversity of his fighting abilities. You can feel yourself a mage, you can "insect plague" your enemies, you can be a spider queen and finish your webbed victims, you can poison with the wyvern claws.
But that moment your spirit animals annihilate the whole SCS Drasus party...
I have always wanted to try a high level dual of druid... I did one with a Berserker/rogue, which was still fun, but this would be excessive unless soloed. Iirc, you can nab 1 hla for a druid and still activate your powers. It wouldnt be a powergamey playthrough, but a fun one maybe with a solo and lots of patients. Might be more practical to dual out earlier, but giving up casting ability to get fighter hla alone seems... stupid.
Webbing enemies, shifting to spider form, and then slaughtering the stuck fools is pure joy.
The forms are probably best used by a fighter/druid so that you can take advantage of fighter hlas (10 APR from greater whirlwind for instance). I wouldn't really use them otherwise.
Chromatic Orb - Finally a damage spell with a chance to stun and do other stuff. The druid levels up quickly at the start making it even more powerful.
Web - Amazing AoE spell to hold down the enemy, just play safe with your own.
Lightning Bolt - A bit risky but it's a great alternative to call lightning when you're indoors.
Improved Invisibility - What's not to love? Can't be targeted by spells, +AC and saving throws, free backstab if you throw it on a rogue?
Chaos - LOVE IT, AoE confuse and it's very powerful.
Chain Lightning - These fill up most of my level 6 druid spells. While it's not that impressive on a mage, it's a GREAT offensive spell on a druid. Throw 2-3 of these into the enemy party and you'll see them fry, it's also party friendly!
While i love all druid kits, the Avenger is by far my favorite.
I like the idea of the shapeshifter as it seems pretty powerful, but I never took Cernd to a high enough level to find out.
The only experience I have with totemics are the few times I EEKeeper'd Jaheira into one.
Thinking about this does give me a nice RP idea. Vanilla fighter Charname (with a prediliction for scimitars) gets bitten by the first werewolf he/she encounters. *Poof* dual to shapeshifter.
The avenger loses out on 2 CON and STR. The CON isn't needed because 16 is the highest a druid can get for health and no single class druid will require a STR score higher than 16. There are many good leather armors so not losing out on much there.
The totemic druid loses out on what? Wolf and Bear form? I would never play the original druid when you can have the totemic druid and lose out on nothing.
Now the shapeshifter can't use ANY armor.
None of the druid kits have that bad weaknesses, but in my opinion the shapeshifter has the worst.
I like summoners
to me avenger doesn't feel enough like a druid and the shapeshifter just doesn't appeal for rp
Shapeshifters are probably most powerful in the first game, while Avengers are always good. I even like Totemic (I gave Jaheira this kit in one of my games and it was fun having all those animals)
Avenger by a whisker simply because Shapeshifter is kinda bugged out
Really though it is probably fighter/druid
Clerics got Righteous Wrath of the Faithful, which sounds totally cool, and was a big buff. Rangers had that bonus attack, which was nice.