Druid PrC that's not Planar Shepard

[WarKitty]

I'm looking for a PrC that I can enter into as a druid that would aid with casting. I am currently one of two full casters in our party of 7, the other being your standard healbot cleric. I'm quite frankly not using wildshape all that much. I like the fluff behind Beloved of Valarian and Swanmay, but the first is not a casting class and the second...swans? seriously? Published non setting specific material is allowed, online supplements are not.

P.S. yeah, I know, I know, druids are overpowered blah blah blah. I'm a caster not a wild shape monster, and I've got 5 melee'ers to keep alive.

[Keld Denar]

If you don't want Wildshape or those goodies, Sacred Exorcist is pretty decent. It gives Turn Undead, which can be used to DMM your drood spells (since drood spells are divine). The knowledges might be kinda hard to get though. If you don't want to DMM, there is Divine Spell Powah, and SacEx's Consecrate Aura helps with that a ton. Worst case, its 3/4 BAB and d8 HD, same as druid, so you aren't really losing anything.

[Starbuck_II]

sentinal of Bharri? full-ish caster. Become a Bear at will, summon bears, Quicken spells.

[WarKitty]

sentinal of Bharri? full-ish caster. Become a Bear at will, summon bears, Quicken spells.

I do *not* need bears! If anything I need to focus away from dealing damage.

[eggynack]

You lie. There is no situation that can't be resolved by the implementation of more bears.

[Starbuck_II]

What about making a sandwich? How do Bears help than?

[Eldariel]

Moonspeaker is the other worthwhile Druid PrC. It is Shifter-only though so I suppose that doesn't happen to hit?

[SurlySeraph]

The best sandwiches involve meat. Bears can either catch meat-bearing animals for you, or be converted into meat.

Back on topic, what about Contemplative if you're at a high enough level? A domain never hurts.

[Kalaska'Agathas]

You might, if your DM allows it, take Prestige Ranger 4, and Sword of the Arcane Order. You lose out on two CL but gain access to the Sorc/Wiz list.

[Frosty]

Does Bearington the Bearbearian involve levels of Sentinal of Bharri?

Anyhow, you shouldn't worry about PrCing...you can just take a lot of casting feats (like metamagic) and you'll be fine.

[The Glyphstone]

Indeed, solid Druid is still a great caster, and probably a better caster than most PrC options. And what's this nonsense about not needing more bears? Bears are great for more than damage, they make excellent and cheap meatshields.

[FMArthur]

They crowd up the battlefield a bit more than 5 melees would want, methinks.

I'm sorry OP, but I don't understand what you want out of a prestige class for this. Can't you just specialize in playing a certain style without having a separate class devoted to it?

[WarKitty]

Indeed, solid Druid is still a great caster, and probably a better caster than most PrC options. And what's this nonsense about not needing more bears? Bears are great for more than damage, they make excellent and cheap meatshields.

I think that's what the rest of my party qualifies for. I'm really working to complement our melee-heavy party.

In all seriousness, I was looking for something focused on the debuffing/control side of life. I was mostly looking for a way to trade off the wild shape abilities that I'm frankly not using (3/day will be more than enough for my needs) for something more handy for a caster in terms of class skills. Something cool like, you know, turn undead or bonus feats.

[Fax Celestis]

Sacred Exorcist (CDiv), Contemplative (CDiv), Holt Warden (CCham), Paragnostic Apostle (CCham), and Earth Dreamer (RoS) all have their merits. Each is 10/10 (or 5/5 in two cases) casting, none progress wildshape, and all are easily entered for druids.

[grarrrg]

You lie. There is no situation that can't be resolved by the implementation of more bears.

Agreed.

Does Bearington the Bearbearian involve levels of Sentinal of Bharri?

I'm pretty sure it would be a net-loss in Bearishness.
To get the Pre-Reqs would require loosing some Bearishness, so it's more a trade off than a bonus.

[The Glyphstone]

Bearington doesn't cast spells. They're not bear enough for him.

Honestly, druids don't make phenomenal debuffers or battlefield controllers with their default spell lists. As summoners, they excel though, so if you want to help out your melee, being able to conjure flankers en masse is always a nice tactic, though you can do that with default spontaneous Summon Nature's Ally. Bears are good for that purpose too.

I'd say Sacred Exorcist is the best option. Turn Undead can be used to fuel Divine Metamagic into things like Rapid Spell (for this-turn flankers instead of next-turn flankers) or Extend Spell/Persistent Spell.

[WarKitty]

I think last time I did that my melee companions complained that my summons got in the way too much. Then again they complain period.

But yeah if there was any good way to expand a spell list that would also be appreciated.

[Fax Celestis]

Use the PF druid and take a domain? Or do what I do and use a lot of walls. Druids get some good ones: sand, smoke, stone, ice, fire... Contemplative could get you some domains too, for MOAR SPELLZ. As could whatever that Faiths of Eberron one is that gives you a domain every level.

[Zaydos]

Contemplative (Complete Divine) mentioned above gives you a domain at 1st level in it which would expand your list further.

[Keld Denar]

sand, smoke, stone, ice, fire...

THORNS!!!! Wall of Thorns >>>>>>> all other walls. Period.

I forgot about Earth Dreamer. Thats a really good one.

[Pyron]

I would like to second the recommendation for Holt Warden for access to the Plant Domain (and extra domain spell slot!) and Heal SLA. The requirements are non-existent for any druid.

[Fax Celestis]

THORNS!!!! Wall of Thorns >>>>>>> all other walls. Period.

I forgot about Earth Dreamer. Thats a really good one.

Stonespeaker Guardian is better than Earth Dreamer IMO (earth glide at will instead of for a couple of times a day) but is saddled with a bizarre racial requirement.

Wall of thorns is good, but I prefer stone and smoke. Smoke is actually pretty crazy for a first level spell: concealment and nausea? And you can use smoke stairs on it too for exploratory purposes.

[The Glyphstone]

If his melee complains when he summons flankers that can be moved out of their way, I can't imagine they'll be happy with walls that not only can't be moved, but are potentially hazardous to them as well.

[Fax Celestis]

If his melee complains when he summons flankers that can be moved out of their way, I can't imagine they'll be happy with walls that not only can't be moved, but are potentially hazardous to them as well.

I have a suspicion that their actual complaint is that the minions are killing as well as they are.

[Starbuck_II]

I have a suspicion that their actual complaint is that the minions are killing as well as they are.

True, they likely find the situations un-bearable.

[The Glyphstone]

I have a suspicion that their actual complaint is that the minions are killing as well as they are.

This is a potential problem. Bears are, after all, the penultimate killing machines. We need something weaker than bears...balors, maybe? Or monkeys. Everything's better with monkeys, you can get a lot of them with an Empowered Summon Nature's Ally, and they suck at actually hurting anything or really doing anything that doesn't involve being a flanking dummy. Bonus points if you use Signature Spell to make them come out of a barrel.

[Zaq]

Honestly, druids don't make phenomenal debuffers or battlefield controllers with their default spell lists.

Gonna disagree with this one. A Druid has almost as many ways to simply clog up the field as a Wizzie does. Yeah, the lack of things like Solid Fog hurts, but if you look hard enough (hint: Frostburn is fantastic, but even just the PHB and SpC are wonderful), there's no shortage of spells that can seriously get in your enemies' faces and keep them where you want them. (Wall of Thorns, anyone?)

[Leon]

I would like to second the recommendation for Holt Warden for access to the Plant Domain (and extra domain spell slot!) and Heal SLA. The requirements are non-existent for any druid.

Third on the Holt Warden

[WarKitty]

Thanks everyone! I think I'll go in for Contemplative; thank goodness for PF skill point systems. Druid 10/Contemplative 10 sounds like a good fit for the character.

[Malbordeus]

walker of the wastes... (sandstorm)

*ducks*