Monk or Barbarian dip for Bear Shaman?

[Groshuk]

I'm playing a Pathfinder game for the first time and I can seem to find any really definitive guides for the shaman archetypes. It's a medium power game at best so I know I'm not going to be all I can be and the real point is to be a bear riding a bear while summoning bears at least occasionally, generally I'll be the group's tank and I am more worried about survivability than doing mass damage.

We are starting at level 1 and I'm a dwarf with reactionary and deft dodger traits, dodge as my first feat and stats after adjustments are 13 str, 14 dex, 18 con, 10 int, 16 wis and 7 cha. I'll be using a masterwork quarterstaff to start and sheleighlee or however you spell it. I'll be trying to keep the same bear companion the whole game for story's sake and I was thinking maybe a few levels of monk or barbarian at some point to improve my melee/tank abilities but I am not sure when and whether to do 2 or 3 levels, I also haven't much for prestige classes that work with druid so if there's something that works well other than pathfinder chronicler (I think that's the name at least) that would be helpful info as well.

Thanks

[magotter]

Monk. Definitely Monk. While not a great class in its own right, Monk and Druid go together like peanut butter and apple slices; different and always apart, but tasty together.

1 level in any kind of monk is going to get you +2 to every save, your choice of bonus feat, and importantly Wisdom-to-AC. You might think wearing a hide vest is all well and good, but recall that you lose shield and armor bonuses while wildshaping. You do not, however, lose Wisdom to AC. Ditto that this applies to AC, Touch-AC, Flatfooted-AC, CMD, and Flatfooted-CMD. It's a strong amount of defense, and as a druid, you really owe it to yourself to be pushing 18-20 wisdom from level 1. Feel free to take any monk archetype you wish, as well; I like Master of Many styles to get you Crane Style for even more defense (coupled perfectly with the Dodge Feat and 3 ranks of Acrobatics for +5 to AC and CMD while fighting Defensively), or taking Flowing monk in order to get Redirection, letting you reposition or trip anyone who attacks you once per round as an immediate action.

[grarrrg]

I was thinking maybe a few levels of monk or barbarian at some point to improve my melee/tank abilities but I am not sure when and whether to do 2 or 3 levels

Barbarian ends up being better for an Offensive boost.
Monk winds up being better for a Defensive boost.
1 Level of Ranger (and a feat (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/shapeshifting-hunter)) gets you full Favored Enemy advancement.

Since you want your Companion to be not-dead and stuff, then Boon Companion (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/boon-companion) is nice.
Likewise, the Shaping Focus (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/shaping-focus) feat does similar, but for Wildshape.


I also haven't much for prestige classes that work with druid so if there's something that works well other than pathfinder chronicler (I think that's the name at least) that would be helpful info as well.

I think you mean Pathfinder Savant (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/a-b/pathfinder-savant), not sure what Chronicler would really get you.
Savant lets you add off-list spells to your list. Very handy.

There's also Green Faith Acolyte, which counts 1/2 for Companion and Wildshape. But honestly, seems more like a "oh you're a Cleric but would rather Druid?" type of PrC. You're almost straight up better off going straight Druid than taking Acolyte.

Nature Warden (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/n-r/nature-warden) can be nice for your Companion and any Summoning spells you cast. At 4th your Companion/Summons gain DR 4/Silver and their weapons count as Silver for bypassing DR. It has Full Companion advancement, but only 7/10 casting (the Favored Terrain requirement is fairly easy to get).

That's about it for solid "druid" PrC's. Lots of various casting ones though.

[Groshuk]

Yup was thinking Savant but forgot the name. I want to be more defensive and able to take a beating so monk seems the way to go and I'll take boon companion and shaping focus to make up for the dip.

One more question, is one level enough as the main draw is the wis to AC or is it worth taking 2 or even 3 levels?

[grarrrg]

One more question, is one level enough as the main draw is the wis to AC or is it worth taking 2 or even 3 levels?

One level good. Two levels OK. Three levels not so good.


I'd say your best bets are Master of Many Styles, or Sensei.
2 levels of Many Styles (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-archetypes/master-of-many-styles) gets you any 2 Style feats (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/style-feats) (ignore most requirements), and can (F)Use Two Styles at the same time. So you can either have 2 Feats in the same Style, or 2 separate Styles at the same time. All you really lose is Flurry of Blows, which as a Druid with intent to Wildshape you weren't going to get much use out of anyway.

Sensei (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/monk/archetypes/paizo---monk-archetypes/sensei) trades away a bit more, but for a Dip you only really lose Evasion and a bonus feat. In exchange you get Inspire Courage as a Bard that runs off WIS for Rounds, and at 2nd level you can use your WIS instead of STR or DEX for accuracy with Monk Weapons (Quarterstaff most likely).

The only reason I see to take a 3rd level is so to get 'double' bonuses from a Monk's Robe (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/r-z/robe-monk-s).

[Groshuk]

Going to go with a single level of sensei I think, I like the idea of being able to boost the group a bit since we don't have a bard. Thanks for all your help.