View Full Version : Three druid builds, only one is the best.
Ryu_Bonkosi
2011-09-09, 12:55 AM
I can't decide between a few builds of a Dreamsight Shifter Druid. Which of these is the best?
Druid 5/Planar Shepherd 10/Druid 5
Druid 5/Planar Shepherd 5/Moonspeaker 1/Planar Shepherd 5/Druid 4
Druid 5/Planar Shepherd 5/Moonspeaker 1/Planar Shepherd 4/Moonspeaker 5
On the topic of Shifter Druids, which is better, the spirit animal thing or the standard animal companion?
Tvtyrant
2011-09-09, 01:08 AM
Where is Moonspeaker from? If I knew the class I could help.
olentu
2011-09-09, 01:14 AM
Where is Moonspeaker from? If I knew the class I could help.
Races of eberron.
NOhara24
2011-09-09, 07:23 AM
Druid optimization is like adding a pound of TNT to a nuclear bomb. We get it; you're going to kill everything either way. Do you really need that extra pound of explosives?
Urpriest
2011-09-09, 09:19 AM
The first build is probably the most powerful, since sacrificing wildshape HD as a Planar Shepherd hurts. That said, the trick with Druids is making them interesting, not making them powerful, and I'd argue the third build is more interesting.
Ryu_Bonkosi
2011-09-09, 12:37 PM
Druid optimization is like adding a pound of TNT to a nuclear bomb. We get it; you're going to kill everything either way. Do you really need that extra pound of explosives?
But more boom means more fun...
Icestorm245
2011-09-09, 11:20 PM
But more boom means more fun...
Vaarsuvius: "As the size on an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero." =P
tyckspoon
2011-09-09, 11:51 PM
On the topic of Shifter Druids, which is better, the spirit animal thing or the standard animal companion?
Personal opinion: The standard companion is more powerful, especially if your build advances AC throughout like your Druid/Planar Shepherd layout. The extra actions and active body the normal Animal Companion adds to your party is very good if you have a build that allows it to remain at or near full strength. The Beast Spirit feature isn't bad- Prepare Spell and the typeless bonus to a physical stat are the standouts- but it doesn't compare to the advantage of a full on pet. It's good enough, tho, and it's a decent replacement if you want to reduce your Druid's bookkeeping load and/or don't want to argue with your DM about what exactly you can get your Animal Companion to do.
Godskook
2011-09-10, 01:49 AM
For those who don't know the two prestige classes being discussed in detail, the relevant bits:
Planar Shepard:
-Progresses Animal Companion
-Progresses Wildshape(except types)
Moonspeaker 1:
-Augment Summoning(without pre-req)
-Many feats now count as shifter feats for determining certain shifter racial bonuses
Moonspeaker 5:
-Progresses Wildshape(except types)
So what you 'lose' for not going Druid 5 is:
-Up to 5 levels of Animal Companion power
-Venom Immunity
-Wildshape(if MS 1/Dr +4)
What it loses for 5 levels of Animal Companion:
-2 HD/AC/Str/Dex and 1 special ability(maybe)
--------------------
@OP, personally, I'd go with the full moonspeaker 5 choice. Your AC is already fairly powerful, to the point where you'll likely not notice much difference, and should you notice such a difference, your AC is probably going to die regardless, so in either case, you're better off having the better buffs yourself.
Urpriest
2011-09-10, 09:56 AM
For those who don't know the two prestige classes being discussed in detail, the relevant bits:
Planar Shepard:
-Progresses Animal Companion
-Progresses Wildshape(except types)
Moonspeaker 1:
-Augment Summoning(without pre-req)
-Many feats now count as shifter feats for determining certain shifter racial bonuses
Moonspeaker 5:
-Progresses Wildshape(except types)
So what you 'lose' for not going Druid 5 is:
-Up to 5 levels of Animal Companion power
-Venom Immunity
-Wildshape(if MS 1/Dr +4)
What it loses for 5 levels of Animal Companion:
-2 HD/AC/Str/Dex and 1 special ability(maybe)
--------------------
@OP, personally, I'd go with the full moonspeaker 5 choice. Your AC is already fairly powerful, to the point where you'll likely not notice much difference, and should you notice such a difference, your AC is probably going to die regardless, so in either case, you're better off having the better buffs yourself.
Just to note, Moonspeaker progresses Wildshape at level -4, not at full, even at Moonspeaker 5.
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