Battle Druid help

[Thatwackyned]

I'm wondering how best to Optimize a Druid for front line combat? As a Druid, it makes sence to buff yourself and Wildshape into an Animal.

But there are multiple options with all the wotc 3.5 SRD books. PH2 has the Shapechanger choice, and the Druid with the Rage ability, and always multi-classing into other classes.

Shapechanger gives inherant bonuses to Str, but Bite of the Were-Tiger/Bear give better and you can't cast spells in the Shapechanger Shape.

Is rage all that important for a front line fighter?

My idea was to Create a fighter that becomes a Large Creature and uses Mighty Blow to knock his opponents around the field. Like a Cat playing with his kill.

Can anyone help?

 

[Humanaut]

I'll be following this thread myself, I'm interested too!

That said, I've wanted to try about 5 levels of druid before branching to a couple levels of Master of Many Forms - Comp Adv I think - (more changes/day and things you can change into) and then some levels of Warshaper - Comp. War - (for all the combat goodies).

If I had levels to give away I've thought about 2 levels of monk for Evasion, bonus feats, and WIS to AC. Barbarian 1 for the rage. Just have not had the opportunity.

 

[Starbuck_II]

I'm wondering how best to Optimize a Druid for front line combat? As a Druid, it makes sence to buff yourself and Wildshape into an Animal.

Shapechanger gives inherant bonuses to Str, but Bite of the Were-Tiger/Bear give better and you can't cast spells in the Shapechanger Shape.

Is rage all that important for a front line fighter?

Shapeshift gives enhancement bonus not inherent (same as Bull's Str or Belt of Str/Con +X).

Inherent bonus are non-dispellable and stack with enhancement so keeping names seperate is a good thing.

Rage gives a unnamed bonus to Str/Con, but with -2 penalty to Ac and no spellcasting.
It is okay, but really, you could just Wildshape and cast Bite of the X on yourself for similar bonuses (well, okay, the Bite spells are enhancement bonus but same idea)

 

[Runestar]

Straight druid should do the trick admirably. Shapeshift variant is generally considered a much needed nerft to the druid, so it won't make for a good front-liner (it can be a decent backup melee though). What lv are you starting at?

 

[Thatwackyned]

Well lets go with level 12. Gives lots of room for advancment.

I understand the point that Rage doesn't allow for casting, but once buffed, what Druid spells could do more damage than a well placed hit.

Yah sry about the wrong wording on the Shapeshift.

The plan is to Buff, Wildshape, then rage while entering combat. Just trying to find out what path would offer the most to a Druid in melee combat.