* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : Druid , what good from it? Started at 01-18-04 06:24 PM by Karn1 Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=167051 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : Karn1 Date : 01-18-04 06:24 PM Thread Title : Druid , what good from it? Hi guys, i begenning a new quest with second edition with my crew and i decided to do a druid(forest druid) and well no one tried it only my gm played it before, so well after finished it all(never do a priest too..). i check the spell i can have, and i say what the :censored::censored::censored::censored: anything good or what? only things saw who is not so bad (not including healing) is summon insect, heat metal, earthmaw(from druid book)puffball(from druid book), and darkness and well its almost all... also the quest is mainly underearth so forget call lightning. no hold person, no withdraw,no flamestrike (geezz is not elemental?!) We begin level 7, i also checking what i could shapeshift too, and well he accept i shapeshift in cave bear who is not so bad for now(taco 13, 3 attack but poor reaction..+9) ... but im wondering anything good to shapeshift at hier lvl to tank? What is more frustrating is that my gm give xp to poeple who hit the monster (very funny when we are a caster or a fighter)... its one of is most core rule grr.. so its like only heal and you got no xp from monster... Well i got 2 question for you guys, first anyone know spell usefull that i could use and any suggestion for shapeshift (beside snake for poison, who is fairly not usefull ( taco 19...) any suggestion will be very apreciate, beside changing class ;) i like alot the roleplay of the druid. im french, sorry if i got some error of grammar ;) thx -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : DngnMstrBailey Date : 01-18-04 11:24 PM Thread Title : playing Druids I've been playing AD&D since 1980, and druids are my second favorite character to play (I have a 13th level druid). I am playing a 3rd level druid in one of the PbEM games I'm involved in. From what I understood from your post, it seems the DM is setting unrealistic limitations. All party members should share equally in xp from deveating a monster that it took more than one party member to slay. That aside, have you tried "Shillelagh", a 1st LvL spell from the spheres of combat and plant. Since you are starting at 7th level, try "Produce Fire" a 4th level spell from the elemental sphere, or it's L-2 cousin "Produce Flame", also of the elemental sphere. There is the spell "Flame Blade", a L-2 spell (elemental). There are also the spells that help the party, those granting bonuses to die rolls for the party and penalties for their enemies: Bless L-1; Detect Snares/pits L-1; Heat Metal L-2; Giant Insect L-4. And, if all else fails, grab your scimitar and wade in swinging. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : Zythrst Greyeyes Date : 01-19-04 08:01 AM Entangle, Entangle, Entangle, Entangle and Entangle Thank you :) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 4] Author : MadBall Date : 01-19-04 11:10 AM I am not sure if you really can tank with any of the shapeshifting options... ok bears can do tank but as a matter of fact you are a druid and you have to use your owhn THACO so at least it would be good option to help out the fighters or to stay behind and definitevly can protect the more vulnerable mempers of your party (thiefs, wizards)... I think the best would be to change in something flying as you can become more useful to the party when you can fly... you can scout... obviuosly it is not such a good fighting option, although some birds of prey have the rule to pick out another ones eye on a succesfull hit and stunn the opponent on a roll of 4+ an D6 and to blind him on a 6... But these are just remarks... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 5] Author : Karn1 Date : 01-19-04 12:50 PM well its true that how my master give xp is not realistic, i dont know why, it push a wizard to divide hes magic missile too have more xp and hes not a beginner, he played for 7 year and do master for like 3 year. anyway thx for all your response i will check the brid and the spell you talked about. like i say the quest is mainly under the surface.. not alot of plant there to do entangle :) thx for all the input ps: also your sure that i have to use my taco and not the one from what i shapein? is it written in the player handbook? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 6] Author : Sildatorak Date : 01-19-04 02:38 PM I had never thought about using the THAC0 of the creature you changed into, but looking back at my PHB it is ambiguous. The druid ability says he takes on all of the creatures characteristics -- its movement rate and abilities, its Armor Class, number of attacks, and damage per attack. The all is a poor choice of words in my opinion, unless you want your druid to suddenly have an intelligence of 1 and a change in max hp. Looking at the spells Shapechange, Polymorph Other, and Polymorph Self, you run into similar language, with some exceptions. Polymorph Other clearly states that you keep your mentality in another form, including saving throws and hit points (it is ambiguous about THAC0). Polymorph Self says you retain your hit points, saving throws, and attack rolls (i.e. THAC0). Shapechange says you gain all of the abilities of the creature except those that depend on intelligence, inate magic, or magical resistance. It also says that you keep your hit points. I would personally say that your THAC0 is primarily a mental value, it focuses on your skill at finding weak points in armor and then hitting them. In that case you should keep it, though you'd probably lose any ability score modifiers to attack. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 7] Author : Karn1 Date : 01-19-04 03:14 PM well now that you explain, its make sense to me, its alot better too.. not for now but in futture my taco will be more low than a cave bear and is from most of what i can shapeshift in, will talk about that to my gm... still i was keeping my hp... the advantage of healing when shapeshifting would be uselessif if i was changing my max hp. thx for the info -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 8] Author : DngnMstrBailey Date : 01-19-04 08:14 PM Thread Title : Shapechanging THAC0 In the PHB it says, "by doing so he takes on all of that creatures characteristics---its movement rate abd abilities, its Armor Class, number of attacks, and damage per round." As far as I'm concerned, that also includes the creatures THAC0. As for shapechanging, the druid can turn into "natural animal", presumably any that the druid is familiar with, not such what would be native to the local the druid is in. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 9] Author : Karn1 Date : 01-19-04 09:13 PM well we using the druid handbook too, there is no extra talk about shapeshift beside my gm limite me to animal who live or can be found in a forest. It still come blurry with the tacho, while i agree that the tacho could be te one i use when im normal cause im still conscient of what i do.. i could understand that my tacho should be the one who i shapeshift in..its very frustrating that they dont clear it in the druid handbook.. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 10] Author : Sildatorak Date : 01-20-04 02:53 AM I don't know if it makes any difference to your gm or not, but in third edition, they did clear up that the druid keeps his base attack bonus (roughly equivalent to THAC0). It is just more circumstantial evidence that says you should use the druid's THAC0 no matter what form. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 11] Author : Zythrst Greyeyes Date : 01-20-04 01:03 PM Originally posted by Karn1 anyway thx for all your response i will check the brid and the spell you talked about. like i say the quest is mainly under the surface.. not alot of plant there to do entangle :) thx for all the input Aha, so bring your own plant, maybe a fern or a cactus. When the enemies aproach chuch that bugger out there and Entangle away :) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 12] Author : Karn1 Date : 01-20-04 01:22 PM lol its a good idea Zythrst ;) for the tacho i will talk about that to my gm.. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 13] Author : rostoff Date : 01-21-04 10:22 PM You have to expand your thinking on plants. Those molds and lichen that cover everything, those are plants. The roots hanging down from the roof of the tunnel, they can entangle also. Some DM's even consider Slimes and Jellies to be plants, giving the druid powerful underground allies. I'm 1e, but Stone shape is 3rd level and very usefull underground, as is 2nd level create water. as far as your shape changing goes, don't forget about the Giant Rat. It makes the ultimate scout underground. The enemy won't look twice as you. You Can listen to their entire conversation. Make sure your DM adds to the environment. Whatever animals are around will allow you to hide with them. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 14] Author : Zaknafein Date : 01-22-04 03:56 AM someone mentioned entangle before, and i agree, this is a great spell that can be gotten very early. in ur campaign druids power will be a bit hampered, call lightning is a very good spell. some of the spells u mentioned arent half bad like heat metal; i think itll be alright. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 15] Author : Zythrst Greyeyes Date : 01-22-04 02:05 PM Call lightning is very powerfull, but... it takes a turn to cast and requires there to be a storm of some kind so.... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 16] Author : Karn1 Date : 01-22-04 03:49 PM yea entangle can be usefull, still my dm willl not allow me to entangle if there is not alot of plant to stop the ennemie, well i dont think so, i will say him theses arguments you gived me rostoff.. for call lightnning, im not sure if i understand well the spell but you do not need to concentrate on the storm while de turn? n. The caster need not call a bolt of lightning immediately--other actions, even spellcasting, can be performed so if you just initialise the spell do other thing while 9 round... its not bad, after 10 round if your in the :censored::censored::censored::censored: its a good thing to have in the hand for my part stone shape is usefull sometimes, but usually we know in advance that we will need it, for a spell level 3 i prefer to have two summon insect(caster hate me) and one despel magic memorized. (*got 18 of wisdom :) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 17] Author : Zaknafein Date : 01-22-04 08:12 PM Originally posted by Zythrst Greyeyes Call lightning is very powerfull, but... it takes a turn to cast and requires there to be a storm of some kind so.... which is why the druids powers might be a bit hampered since his campaign is set underground. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 18] Author : JRRNeiklot Date : 01-24-04 12:56 AM The 2nd edition druid sucks. Check out the 1e druid and you'll see what I mean. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 08:19 AM.