The Druid, Natures Avatar

[Khellendross]

I'm looking for a druid variant that forgoes wildshape and gets a bonus on casting in some way. I want to be more more like a nature wizard with a horse animal companion, possibly the horse out of Eberron that gets 80' speed. I know I could just be a wizard that takes nature like spells but I want the druid spells so is there a variant that would support this concept.

Yes I know I'm not going to use two of the more powerful aspects of the druid. No wildshaping into a Legendary ape with my fleshraker at my side lol.

[PId6]

Most of the Druid ACFs trade Wild Shape/Animal Companion for melee ability of some kind. Maybe you should look into Spirit Shaman instead? It casts from the druid spell list, without the Animal Companion/Wild Shape to go with it.

[Khellendross]

Hrmm I could do a Spirit Shaman and take the Wild Cohort feat then to get the horse.

[gbprime]

Simple druid variant from Unearthed Arcana. You get favored enemies, fast movement, tracking, and wisdom bonus to AC... at the cost of wild shape and armor/shield. Then take reserve feats. You get blasty battery life and all the summoning you care to crank out.

http://www.systemreferencedocuments....l#simple-druid

[Khellendross]

That's even better. I think I'll take that variant.

[Sc00by]

Or take the variant above, then take 3 levels of Wizard and hook yourself up with some Arcane Hierophant (RotW) goodness
Natural bond will stop your horse suffering from lack of Druid levels

Just a thought. Adding a bunch of wizard spells sounds like a boost to casting to me.