Most Fun Druidic Character for Full Saga Playthrough?
Shrimpboy107
Member Posts: 13
So I'm in the mood to make a druid character for my next run and I couldn't find a post that compares all the options I am interested in. So I decided to make one!
I was wondering what some of your experiences were and what you think will be entertaining and useful throughout the saga.
I know Avenger druids (and Totemic if wanted) play a bit more caster-y than the other options mentioned which may affect some opinions but getting some feedback of all the options I think would be an interesting read.
So let me know what you think!
I was wondering what some of your experiences were and what you think will be entertaining and useful throughout the saga.
I know Avenger druids (and Totemic if wanted) play a bit more caster-y than the other options mentioned which may affect some opinions but getting some feedback of all the options I think would be an interesting read.
So let me know what you think!
- Most Fun Druidic Character for Full Saga Playthrough?54 votes
- Totemic Druid (Firetooth/Spectral Brand + Belm or Staff of Arundel)9.26%
- Avenger Druid (Staff of Arundel)20.37%
- Berserker 7 -> Druid X (Spectral Brand + Belm)18.52%
- Half Orc Shaman (Firetooth or Staff of Striking)9.26%
- Multiclass Fighter/Druid29.63%
- Other12.96%
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Comments
Armor is not all that big of an issue, Iron Skins, Basrkskin, Shield Amulet and potions will easily get you through the game. Ummm... once you have all of those things that is. No problemo before that either, throwing and poison throwing daggers make before dualing pretty easy also.
Dualing into a Druid needs ridiculously high stats though 15 strength, 17 wisdom and 17 charisma. Doesn’t leave much for anything else unless you want to roll for a while.
I loved more the shapeshifter, but i modded its claws and abilities and not an option here.
As a single-class druid you lose weapon specialization, a real shield and medium-heavy armor proficiency and there are far better offensive spellcasters than the druids (druids have great support, debuff and summoning spells but have limited options in ofensive magic and no school specialization). Even if you want to use it as a full-time caster, losing combat progress for a few caster level and some more spells/day is not a good trade, because unlike other spellcasters, you do not have that many ofensive options, IMHO.
You also have it dual-classing but I found that the difference with a proper multiclass fighter-druid is not that much in health, thaco and spells/day.
If you ask for a fighter-cleric build I will go berserker or ranger dual-class hands down, but not with druid.
As a multiclass you have a solid character and ready to go from the beginning in bg to the end of tob.
Drawbacks, you may ask? Does anybody really use shapechange if you're not an Avenger or Shapeshifter anyway?
It's also false that solo class druids don't have combat options. You gain levels significantly faster than multiclasses, which is important because the druid level 2 spell list leaves a lot to be desired (pretty much the only saving grace there is Charm Person/Mammal, which is only notable in BG1). Thus, gaining more level 3+ spell slots ASAP is crucial AND particularly notable in the druid's case - access to one more nymph alone (from the Call Woodlands spell) gives you access to 10(!!) more mid-level spells, for example. You presume that the power your character gains from having more spell slots follows a linear progression - it really doesn't (something that's actually pretty universal in BG2 btw).
Also, Avenger/Totemic Druid enjoy significant benefits from having higher caster levels.
Finally, although you won't have much in the way of personal combat options druids have access to more than enough potential "I-win" spells (like Hold Monster spam from nymphs, Insect Plague and Nature's Beauty). At higher levels you also get Fire Seeds and Energy Blades, spells people usually underestimate until they're at the receiving end of them.
I don't really blame the OP for not having Shapeshifter as an option. What that kit really needs is a werewolf form that allows spellcasting.
Everyone else gets enough proficiency points to do whatever they want given time.
Shamans are about as restricted as Druids in terms of melee abilities, however, so if you intend to make use of your Half-Orc's greater Strength, you may want to consider multi-classing him.
It is nice to see that the character keeps growing during SoA since max level for a single-class Druid in BG1 is 10 and max level is 14 in SoA (the SoA cap is the same as ToB in EE but serves as a good indication of the total xp you’d get on average with a full party). A fighter/druid is capped at 13/13 in SoA. Some however, might on the contrary feel that the multi-class furthers this xp gap between 14 and 15.
The ability to equip belm compared to a F/C kind of compensates for the fewer buffs while insect plague takes care of those pesky (non scs) spellcasters.
I like to think of F/D as a Druid that delays spellcasting ability for a permanent shapeshift that actually deals damage and lets you cast your spells.
Another fun option is to dual from wizard slayer and stack up on fire seeds for area of effect spellcasting failure. This strategy is probably reserved for Legacy of Bhaal SCS Ascension craziness.
Note: If you don’t mind cheese at epic levels, the combination of critical strike high level ability and harm (the hit is guaranteed) is deadly.
Old cleric/ranger or fighter/mage can do the same
But yes, multis are way stronger in the hla territory.
I also plan on buffing the elemental shapeshift ability just a bit to make it more useful. Going to make it more tanky and hit slightly harder.
Really enjoying the druid so far, still in bg1 but almost have level 4 spells and not even too deep in yet.
The elemental form HLAs are no exception since in pretty much any situation where those forms are going to be useful, you're better off casting spells or pelting enemies with Energy Blades.
'Game Options', 'Cleric Ranger Spells', '0'
https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/30553/the-tale-of-the-totemic-druid
Also, if you turn on the SCS takes your gear in Spellhold setting, having a shapeshifter is fantastic.
Then, as you level past greater ww form, your spell-casting will be fully realized.
Eventually, the elemental form HLAs make you pretty scary in melee again
@JuliusBorisov , I'm curious, while you were doing that, did you always match your animal spirit to the enemy, rotating among the four possibilities according to your situation? I've always wanted to run a totemic druid (as Charname in a party), but I think for roleplay, and according to the class description, you should have to choose *one* animal totem at character creation, (which for me would be the cat), and never have access to the other three.
The ability to rotate them at will just seems very contrary to the class description for me.
I rotated them a lot, especially in BG1, because of the differences in immunities and abilities they have. https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/66378/totemic-druids-spirit-animal-stats
My run was a solo run with a druid, with SCS - it's impossible to RP there if one wants to survive. I can see, however, how a run with a preferred, one animal totem, can be done in the party.
On a side note, I find an ability to choose between animals to be fun. Limiting it would hamper druid's versatility (which they don't have, frankly).
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Lost Druid kit is also awesome, but looks like that mod doesn't get maintenance in a long time.
At least Faldorn kept my druid needs warm.
I wonder if I missed any saving throws that battle?