druid prc's?

[Scion]

I have a druid that I am working on right now, very low level so I have some time to plan ahead.

Currently he is 2nd level human druid who went the vow of poverty route, it is working out pretty well so far roleplaying wise, but I am definately feeling the hit when just about everything I have is worse than everyone elses

Still, that is neither here nor there, I am trying to find a prc to go into. Failing that I'll just stick to straight druid, but I would like to see some options..

I remember an incarnate from some relics and rituals book, saw a couple in complete warrior, and there was the one from masters of the wild... are there more? are there any good ones? I would just like to know of any good ones out there, and what people have seen about them in play. Pretty open right now, any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Dimwhit]

I have a druid that I am working on right now, very low level so I have some time to plan ahead.

Currently he is 2nd level human druid who went the vow of poverty route, it is working out pretty well so far roleplaying wise, but I am definately feeling the hit when just about everything I have is worse than everyone elses

Still, that is neither here nor there, I am trying to find a prc to go into. Failing that I'll just stick to straight druid, but I would like to see some options..

I remember an incarnate from some relics and rituals book, saw a couple in complete warrior, and there was the one from masters of the wild... are there more? are there any good ones? I would just like to know of any good ones out there, and what people have seen about them in play. Pretty open right now, any suggestions? Thanks!

Not that I want to discourage you taking a PrC, but Druids are very flexible and make for great classes keeping with straight Druid. They're easy to roleplay, and they can be quite powerful, either as spellcasters or as fighters (or a good combo).

If you wanted to focus more on a fighting class, the Nature's Warrior PrC in Complete Warrior is a good one. My 11th level Druid would take it next level if I didn't have to throw a feat for Track. Just can't afford it. But it's a cool PrC.

 

[Scion]

I understand but as it is very early on I am just looking for paths to take. As now is the time to plan and get dm approval.

 

[Crothian]

There are a few from MotW that could fit really well. I guess it depends what you want out of the druid. I suggest Oozemaster

 

[Scion]

There are a few from MotW that could fit really well. I guess it depends what you want out of the druid. I suggest Oozemaster

That sounds interesting what do they do?

Thinking way, way back though to the last time I saw masters of the wild.. didnt the oozemaster have some problem with cha? that might interfere with my exalted feats

Edit: I dont need exacts, so no worry about the ogl hopefully. I will check out a friends copy, but cant for a few days.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

The two options I would recommend are Nature's Warrior and Warshaper from CW.

Nature's Warrior is the more middle or the road of the two. 5 levels. +1 to spellcasting twice. Wildshaping still improves. Essentially you are losing companion advancement and a few levels of spellcasting for some interesting & flavorful wildshaping tricks.

Warshaper is more extreme. Also 5 levels. You do not advance in wildshaping nor spellcasting nor companion. On the plus side you get some really nice wildshaping/polymorph bennies every level, e.g. Morphic Immunities -- immunity to stun and criticals. Because your wildshaping ability is not advancing, this is a pretty steep price unless you already have achieved polar bear form or somesuch.

 

[Tetsubo]

Shifter. Still the coolest PrC in the entire game.

 

[Black Knight Irios]

I think Shifter from MotW is great, requires nothing costly like M/F/DF components for spells you might want to cast. Downside, no spellprogression and no animal companion progression. Upside the best Wildshaping abilities that you can get! Sounds nice with Vow of Poverty, totally selfdependent.

 

[Pax]

Complete Warrior has a couple good ones; Warshaper makes you much better in combat; Warshaper + Shifter is a truly wondrous combination (I have a shifter/warshaper in the Exodus, in fact - Demetian; granted, he's epic, and has Vow of Poverty instead of equipment, but ... Druid(5)/Warshaper(5)/Epic Shifter(11), Human with the Saint template, which is houseruled to a +4 LA in the Exodus).

Here's my quick-writeup of the combat data for one of his (favorite) forms - the Bone Ooze:

BONE OOZE FORM
  (GARGANTUAN)
  ABILITY SCORES
    Str 57(+23) (10/base  30/form -/age -/saint 8/vop 4/war 5/inh) 4p
    Dex  9( -1) (10/base -10/form -/age -/saint 4/vop -/war 5/inh) 4p
    Con 45(+17) (10/base  18/form -/age 2/saint 6/vop 4/war 5/inh) 8p
    Int 20( +5) (14/base -/form 1/age -/saint -/vop -/war 5/inh) 8p
    Wis 24( +7) (14/base -/form 1/age 2/saint 2/vop -/war 5/inh) 8p
    Chr 24( +7) (14/base -/form 1/age 4/saint -/vop -/war 5/inh) 8p
  
  SAVES
    +25 FORT (7/con 4/dru 4/war 7/shf -/epc 3/rst)
    +17 REFL (5/dex 1/dru 1/war 7/shf -/epc 3/rst)
    +18 WILL (7/wis 4/dru 1/war 3/shf -/epc 3/rst)
  
  HIT POINTS   : 318 (28/dru 25/war 55/shf 210/con)
  ARMOR CLASS
    Standard   : 38 (10/base -1/dex 11/exa 2/nat 3/dfl 7/ins -4/siz)
    Touch      : 25 (10/base -1/dex  -/exa -/nat 3/dfl 7/ins -4/siz)
  
  INITIATIVE   : +5 (5/dex)
  BASE ATTACK  : +14/+9/+4 (3/dru 3/war 7/shf 1/epc)
  
  WEAPONS
    Slam Attack
      Attack     : +38(/+33/+28) (14/bab 23/str 5/mag -4/siz)
      Damage     : 4d6+28, +1d6/Str, +1d6/Dex, +1d6/Con
      Threat     : 20/x2
      Properties : magic; wounding(5hp/round)
    Morphic Claw Attack
      Attack     : +38(/+33/+28) (14/bab 23/str 5/mag -4/siz)
      Damage     : 4d6+28, +1d6/Str, +1d6/Dex, +1d6/Con
      Threat     : 20/x2
      Properties : magic; wounding(5hp/round)

  SPECIAL ABILITIES
    Ability Drain 
      absorbs 1d6 each S/D/C when hits;
      double on critical hit
      heals 5hp when successful, 10hp on crit
    Bone Meld (vs engulfed foe, Fort DC35 or die, 1/round)
    Engulf (bowl over Huge or smaller; reflex save DC 35 or be engulfed)
    Wounding (all hits case 5hp/round from blood loss)
    Blindsight

Warshaper is a 5-level class, so it wouldn't (by itself) detract TOO much from your druidic spellcasting - you'd lose access to 9th level spells, but you'd gain much-improved wildshaping in return. Stacked atop the Shifter PrC as with Demetian, and ... well ... ^_^

There're a few others in CW that are worth looking at - Nature's Warrior, specifically, is aimed at druids nd druid/rangers. Also a 5-level PrC, it offers three choices from a pool of "no matter what form you're in" advantages. A few examples: Wild Growth (gain Fast HEaling 1), Claws of the Grizzly (unnamed +3 bonus to damage when using natural weapons), Earth's Resilience (DR 3/-), Serpent's Coils (adds a pseudo-constrict ability to any shape that has Improved Grab). NW levels stack with Druid levels for determining wild shape abilities, too - and you don't give up 9th level spells with this class, as it gives +2 to yoru caster level (+1 each at levels 2 and 4). Further, it's got a Fighter BAB ... +1 per level; a Druid(15)/Nature's Warrior(5) would have a +16 BAB.

 

[Scion]

Thanks all! lots of ideas here, I will have to pick up several books I see I'll check around and see what the dm has to say. mmm.. epic wildshaping with epic vow of poverty.. interesting...lol