As the thread stats, and to be more precise and specific, is there any Druid variants without the Wild Shape ability? I was never the biggest fan of their class ability and most players I know that (if ever do) play Druids never use it. I already know about the Unearthed Arcana variant, but what about any homebrew versions or ones here on the boards, any links? Thanks.
Any variant Druid classes?
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Storyteller01
First Post
I remember something about a 'Metal Master' in Dragon Magazine. I think it did not have a Wild Shape. It may have enabled a player to gain Iron body for a limited, however.
I believe the issue came out shortly after version 3.5.
I believe the issue came out shortly after version 3.5.
The Great Bear King
First Post
True Druids
Tell me what you think about this class.
True Druids
Druids or the oak wise were the priests of the ancient Celts and acted as spiritual counsel and performed sacrifices. They were considered to be seers and prophets, as well as philosophers, scientists, and wizards. They worshiped a god they called either Dagda or Be’al whom they believed to be the chief of all gods.
Hit Dice d6
Base Attack Bonus: Poor
Weapons:
Sickle, Dagger, Club, Net,
Blow Gun, Hand Axe, and Scimitar
Armor: Must be natural (wood, rock, leather, or hide)
Divine Spells: as druid
Arcane Spells: as wizard
One Domain: any but law or evil
Nature Sense, Resist Nature's Lure
Venom Immunity, Timeless Body
Divine Grace, Lay on Hands, and
Remove Disease, Familar
Alignment: must be good
Class skills: as wizard
Skill Points: (4+Int)x4 at first level, 4+Int every level afterwards.
Other classes: They get along well enough with barbarians, rangers, wizards and magi. They have little or no patience for clerics (whom they consider to be priests of lesser gods) and often times call rouges thieves instead. They respect paladins for their honor, decency and piety (though they are a little worried about the lawful ones). They dislike sorcerers and think of witches and warlocks as both heretics and asylum escapees. Shamans are considered equals. Black guards, Death Knights, paladins of tyranny and slaughter as well as other evil classes are thought of as abominations and blasphemies. All other classes are viewed with a neutral attitude.
Tell me what you think about this class.
True Druids
Druids or the oak wise were the priests of the ancient Celts and acted as spiritual counsel and performed sacrifices. They were considered to be seers and prophets, as well as philosophers, scientists, and wizards. They worshiped a god they called either Dagda or Be’al whom they believed to be the chief of all gods.
Hit Dice d6
Base Attack Bonus: Poor
Weapons:
Sickle, Dagger, Club, Net,
Blow Gun, Hand Axe, and Scimitar
Armor: Must be natural (wood, rock, leather, or hide)
Divine Spells: as druid
Arcane Spells: as wizard
One Domain: any but law or evil
Nature Sense, Resist Nature's Lure
Venom Immunity, Timeless Body
Divine Grace, Lay on Hands, and
Remove Disease, Familar
Alignment: must be good
Class skills: as wizard
Skill Points: (4+Int)x4 at first level, 4+Int every level afterwards.
Other classes: They get along well enough with barbarians, rangers, wizards and magi. They have little or no patience for clerics (whom they consider to be priests of lesser gods) and often times call rouges thieves instead. They respect paladins for their honor, decency and piety (though they are a little worried about the lawful ones). They dislike sorcerers and think of witches and warlocks as both heretics and asylum escapees. Shamans are considered equals. Black guards, Death Knights, paladins of tyranny and slaughter as well as other evil classes are thought of as abominations and blasphemies. All other classes are viewed with a neutral attitude.
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The Great Bear King
First Post
RisnDevil said:
Yes they get both types and use two spell lists. Their Divine magic comes from their god while their arcane magic comes from study and learning. Also if they loose their good alignment they loose status as a druid. If they loose status as a druid they loose all powers and abilities other saving throws, hit points, combat values (including armor and weapons) and Arcane spells and they must become a regular wizard. Even their familiar abandons them.
DSC-EricPrice
First Post
I was going to respond about our forthcoming sourcebook entitled Guardians of the Underhalls until I read on about your dislike for the Wild Shape ability. If anything the Guardians book adds more options to the Wild Shape ability, but it also adjudicates much of what we perceived was wrong with current implementations. Since they are underground druids, they have a whole new compliment of prestige class opportunities, feats, and abilities.
As an aside, most people consider the Wildshaping ability to be the most unbalanced, since it gives access to some pretty incredible combatants and abilities (my players ALWAYS use the damnable eagle to catch up with fleeing enemies for example)
I suppose if you wanted to do away with the Wildshaping ENTIRELY you need to be prepared to give some serious benefits back. Perhaps a Bark of the Tree ability which grants the druid a natural armor class that gets progressively better as they advance. I myself was never fond of Timeless Body (which seems to be the antithesis of anything NATURAL) perhaps instead of wildshaping you could give the player the ability the straight up ability to assume elemental forms (such as earth, wind, and water). Thats a lot like wildshaping though.
Something that we did in the Underhalls book was have a prestige class that gives a circumstance bonus to a druids ac based on their ability to capitalize on the familiar terrain of the UnderEarth. Its a lot easier than trying to decide if the druid is standing behind a rock formation every round... On the other hand, its an ability that doesnt work against those FROM the UnderEarth or in any other environment that isnt like their native caves and grottos. Perhaps you could adopt something similiar for druids in a forested area.
Just a couple of thoughts. Now, since Im supposed to be working, Im going to sign off...
As an aside, most people consider the Wildshaping ability to be the most unbalanced, since it gives access to some pretty incredible combatants and abilities (my players ALWAYS use the damnable eagle to catch up with fleeing enemies for example)
I suppose if you wanted to do away with the Wildshaping ENTIRELY you need to be prepared to give some serious benefits back. Perhaps a Bark of the Tree ability which grants the druid a natural armor class that gets progressively better as they advance. I myself was never fond of Timeless Body (which seems to be the antithesis of anything NATURAL) perhaps instead of wildshaping you could give the player the ability the straight up ability to assume elemental forms (such as earth, wind, and water). Thats a lot like wildshaping though.
Something that we did in the Underhalls book was have a prestige class that gives a circumstance bonus to a druids ac based on their ability to capitalize on the familiar terrain of the UnderEarth. Its a lot easier than trying to decide if the druid is standing behind a rock formation every round... On the other hand, its an ability that doesnt work against those FROM the UnderEarth or in any other environment that isnt like their native caves and grottos. Perhaps you could adopt something similiar for druids in a forested area.
Just a couple of thoughts. Now, since Im supposed to be working, Im going to sign off...
Storyteller01
First Post
Mongoose Publishing had a Witch class that wasn't too bad.
In a nut shell, take a sorcerer and give them the wizards Bonus Feats per every five levels. Throw in The Thousand Faces and Timeless abilities.
It's substantially weaker than a Druid, combat wise, but makes up for it in spells available and knowledge of wildlife use and lore. They also had their own spell list (Mass Polymorph Other, Mass CHarm Monster, Mass Charm Person, Sobriety, etc.)
In a nut shell, take a sorcerer and give them the wizards Bonus Feats per every five levels. Throw in The Thousand Faces and Timeless abilities.
It's substantially weaker than a Druid, combat wise, but makes up for it in spells available and knowledge of wildlife use and lore. They also had their own spell list (Mass Polymorph Other, Mass CHarm Monster, Mass Charm Person, Sobriety, etc.)
Li Shenron
Legend
The Great Bear King said:
As a fan of arcane spellcasters how couldn't I just LOVE a Wizard who gets better HD, a domain, several extra abilities and druidic spellcasting abilities, in exchange for only the wizard's bonus feat?
I really hope that at least you meant that the 2 spell lists are merged, but spells/day are just as a regular wizard...
Beast Lord
One of my players in my new Eberron game wanted to focus more on his Animal companion. So we made it so that his Animal companion now leveld as a PC class < Fighter > and to allow it to go Dire when he could get a dire Animal comp. later in levels.
While i have never had a player play a druid, looking at other builds - and avaiable spells i think it will even out to be of equal power over the course of the character.
One of my players in my new Eberron game wanted to focus more on his Animal companion. So we made it so that his Animal companion now leveld as a PC class < Fighter > and to allow it to go Dire when he could get a dire Animal comp. later in levels.
While i have never had a player play a druid, looking at other builds - and avaiable spells i think it will even out to be of equal power over the course of the character.
