Multiclassing Cleric/Druid?

[Zilant]

So this is pretty much pertaining to 3.5 core mostly. I can use other books but the less sources the better.
My brother is running a cleric in a party of 3 (rogue and fighter) and he was wondering how bad it wood be to start taking levels in Druid?

Most if this is being considered from a fluff aspect since the three PCs are still fairly new to the game, so no one is optimizing or anything like that.

[molten_dragon]

Well, it certainly wouldn't be optimized. It would actually be quite un-optimized.

The only really good thing they have going for them is Wisdom synergy.

Other than that, you have a few places where they clash.

Druids have restrictions on what armor and weapons they can use that are much more severe than clerics do, so to keep being able to cast druid spells, you'd have to give up any armor heavier than hide (at least until you could get dragonhide plate or something).

Druids have alignment restrictions that may not mesh with the deity he worships.

Add to that the fact that his spellcasting (and animal companion and wildshape) will be several levels behind for most classes, as far as I know there is no divine/divine theurge class that would help by expanding both classes' casting, and that the cleric and druid spell lists overlap a lot, it's a pretty bad choice when you get right down to it.

If he wants spellcasting from two classes, he'd be much better off going cleric/wizard and then taking mystic theurge levels from there. Still not optimized, but much more playable than alternating levels of cleric and druid.

[Gavinfoxx]

What, precisely does he want to accomplish with the character?

Why does he believe this route will accomplish that?

[Fouredged Sword]

Ok, have him take the Wild Cohort (http://http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a) feat, and stick a rank in speak language (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/speakLanguage.htm). Note that druidic is on the list of learn-able languages. Domains can get him spells of the druid list if he is looking for a particular one or two. The contemplative class can open up some more for him. Shapeshift and other self targeted polymorph spells will imitate wildshape at later levels.

Stay away from multiclassing casters. The fluff of cleric is loose enough to be anything. No need to strong arm your character into the druid class just to be a druid.

[Corlindale]

It's a very, very bad idea to multiclass cleric/druid. He would really just be slowing himself down, severely if he took more than 1 level.

If he enjoys the druid fluff more I would ask the GM if he could "respec" his cleric into a druid - shouldn't be too big of a change flavour-wise, if he's already steering his character in the nature-direction.

Alternatively pick some nature-focused domains.

[erikun]

Cleric/Druid is pretty unoptimized, especially if you're looking at spells more than melee capability. Consider that, while Druid 1 does grant you some spells, you're looking at 1d8+1 healing and 1-round durations. A single level of Druid doesn't even add to your fighting capability compared to another level in Cleric, and as Molten Dragon pointed out, could actually make you worse by taking away your best armor.

Druid/Cleric (that is, a Druid with a single level of Cleric) works a bit better, because you get a few abilities (namely domains) and don't get any additional restrictions for the class. The animal companion from Druid 1 just isn't really impressive at higher levels.


What is the player looking to get from a level of Druid? If they're looking for more healing ability, then there are other classes - Dragon Shaman from PHB2, Crusader from ToB - that can grant you unlimited healing over time.

[Invader]

Ok, have him take the Wild Cohort (http://http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a) feat, and stick a rank in speak language (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/speakLanguage.htm). Note that druidic is on the list of learn-able languages.

IIRC It's still Druid only though so you can't take ranks in speak language (Druid) unless you're a druid, which I know makes no sense because you get it free from actually being a druid.

[Fouredged Sword]

The Druid(only) is under the typical speakers field. Thus only druids typically speak druidic. It is listed in the list of languages learn-able in speak language. The clause that makes a druid becomes an ex-druid when they teach a non-druid druidic suggests that druidic can be learned and used by a non-druid.

So, while you are unlikely to get a druid to teach you druidic (though you could use compulsion or charm magic, he could atone later), you could learn it from the written form, from overhearing druids talking among themselves, another non-druid who speaks druidic, or through magic.

Taking racks of speak language does not require you to have a teacher, you just learn the language.

[Zilant]

Alright, so overall a bad idea.
I don't even think he knows what he wanted to do, it was just an idea that crossed his mind.

So far as alignment goes he is NG. That fits the druid and cleric just fine. If I remember correctly his cleric has one nature based god and the other is pelor.

[Rubik]

pelor.He's a Neutral Evil cultist infiltrating your party! He follows The Burning Hate! He's a witch! Burn him!

A fittingly ironic death, for sure.