[PF] Looking for help with a strange build

[Vastly]

I'm trying to figure out how to build a cleric, who has 2 levels of druid (unfortunately I do not know how he has build those 2 levels). It's an odd situation and the player of this character does not want to start a fresh lvl 1 cleric. He came about wanting to go cleric after seeing another player, with a cleric, channeling and empowered healing during an adventure and basically saving the parties buns.

So, how does one go about building a druid/cleric? Or should I just try to instead steer him back toward a full druid? And if I directed him to full druid, does anyone have ideas on how to do this (aside from directing me to one of the guides)?

Thanks in advance.

[Waker]

Did the player in question have any particular goals with what he wanted to do? It's one thing to say "I want to play a cleric" and quite another to say "I want to play a character dedicated to necromancy while still able to provide backup healing."
Also what is the starting level and level of optimization?

[stack]

There is a feat to let inquisitor levels stack with cleric for channeling. Could homebrew one for a druid, allowing a 1-level druid dip to grant channeling. If not, could he respec as a cleric with nature domains. Its not really a great idea overall though. The party shouldn't need two characters busting out the channeling in combat. Out of combat it just saves wand charges.

[Chained Birds]

Variant Channeling could be an option. I quite like the Earth Channel as I don't think it actually offers a save due to not directly affecting creatures but the area around the Cleric.

[Arbane]

You could let him swap levels of druid for cleric levels - the character's just changing HOW they worship nature.

[Slipperychicken]

What does he want to accomplish with the Druid dip?

[Vastly]

What does he want to accomplish with the Druid dip?

Sorry, I failed to be clear about it. He mostly wants to be versatile, but he enjoyed the effective healing and support that the cleric brought to the table.

He's stuck with 2 levels of druid (this is beyond his control, and the GM in question isn't budging on it). I unfortunately don't know what feats he chose at 1st level. I suppose I'm looking for a direction to steer the player (I'm helping him with optimization, but I'm not familiar with the druid and only marginally familiar with clerics).

So basically what's the best way to get him into the healer/support role?

[Saidoro]

He will be more effective continuing in druid than changing to cleric, the two druid levels do very nearly nothing for a cleric while simultaneously putting him a full spell level behind everyone else. Druids can be built for support, they just do it in a different way than clerics do, focusing on summons and battlefield control rather than buffs and healing. Introduce him to the idea that a well placed entangle or a summoned monster can prevent far more damage than an equivalent spell could heal.

[Slipperychicken]

So basically what's the best way to get him into the healer/support role?

Straight Cleric gets him better healing, but he's best off continuing Druid so he can use the animal companion, summoned monsters, control/buff spells for support, and maybe mix it up in melee with Wildshape. Also, Duids can operate CLW wands, which is all the healing most parties will need.

Getting his spells on time will be a lot more useful than dipping. Pathfinder makes dipping a dangerous proposition, especially for spellcasters because they now have class features in addition to spells (thou shalt not lose caster levels).

EDIT: Yeah, if your DM has enemies attack summoned monsters, remember that every attack, ability damage, and status effect they take is one which a) didn't target party members and b) you won't have to spend resources healing later. As Saidoro said, the damage and effects they absorb is a lot more than an equivalent Cure spell would heal.

[Person_Man]

Since the DM says he's locked into Druid, you might want to see if he's open to allowing him to convert it into Spirit Shaman from Complete Divine (which could very easily be converted to Pathfinder). It's WEAKER then the Druid (since it lacks Wildshape). The big draw is that you get full spontaneous casting from the Druid spell list, and you can change the list every day like most divine casters.

This would allow the player to basically play a Druid, be also be a healbot, without sacrificing a huge number of spell slots specifically for any one role.

[JusticeZero]

As I recall, a druid 7 can pump out more hp of healing than a cleric, via unicorn. Just sell him on the awesomeness of the druid because everyone will be awesome at something and he's best served chasing his awesome than everyone else's.

[Saidoro]

As I recall, a druid 7 can pump out more hp of healing than a cleric, via unicorn. Just sell him on the awesomeness of the druid because everyone will be awesome at something and he's best served chasing his awesome than everyone else's.
Unfortunately, pathfinder heavily nerfed summon nature's ally by removing most of the casting options and reducing the strength of creatures summoned in general.

[Vastly]

Alright, I'll direct him toward straight druid, focusing on preventing damage more so then healing. I suspected that would be the overall consensus, but wanted some opinions before I got back to him.

Thanks guys for the help.

On a side note, any build route recommendations?

[Saidoro]

The Augment Summoning (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/augment-summoning---final) and Superior Summoning (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/superior-summoning) feats both add a lot to his summons, Dazing Spell (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/dazing-spell-metamagic) gives the best action economy advantage in the game(though it's useless until at least seventh level) and there are some gems on the druid list that go particularly well with it, like spike growth. Natural Spell (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/natural-spell---final) isn't as necessary as it was in 3.5, but you'll still want to take it as soon as you can. If you want to use archetypes, the Menhir Savant (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/druid/archetypes/paizo---druid-archetypes/menhir-savant) is generally considered an upgrade. Reincarnated Druid (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/druid/archetypes/paizo---druid-archetypes/reincarnated-druid) and Mooncaller (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/druid/archetypes/paizo---druid-archetypes/mooncaller) are also pretty neat and flavor neutral, but they give up a bit more and give a bit less.