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ShortQuests -- Pocket Sized Adventures! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed for 1-2 game sessions.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lord Pendragon" data-source="post: 1835711" data-attributes="member: 707">I haven't played one because, as I noted in my reply to Saeviomagy, I'm allergic to the flavor of the class. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p"  data-smilie="7"data-shortname=":p" />  But I've been in a game with one pretty much continually since 3.0 came out.  I'd like to think that's given me plenty of opportunity to see the class in action.I agree that the druid spell list isn't as versatile as some of the others.  But it's incredibly effective.You never get more than three attacks with a medium BAB.  But with the animal's insane ability scores, those attacks are going to hit more often and for more damage.  You can, btw, get more than three attacks as a wildshaped druid as soon as you hit 9th-level (and large shapes).  Say hello to the Dire Ape and his Claw,Claw,Bite and sometimes Rend routine.  At high levels, say hello to the Dire Tiger and his Claw/Claw/Bite/Rake/Rake routine on each and every charge (thank you, Pounce.)You can also get through DR by shifting into aforementioned Dire Ape form and wielding a scimitar of the appropriate material/alignment.Before you can change into Large critters, Wildshape is a subpar melee combat ability, though still a fantastically versatile problem-solver.  (Need to fly?  Sure!  Need to swim to the bottom of the lake?  Got you covered!  etc. etc.)  Once you hit large shape, you're looking at Dire animals, rhinos, etc.  Very nice.At the cost of a feat, Dragon hide can boost it to +8.  Toss a Wilding Clasp on it, or get it the "Wild" armor enhancement, and suddenly when you wildshape your AC isn't so horrible anymore.Perhaps so.  In previous (up to level 12) campaign, the panther AC wasn't doing very well at that point.  However, that was 3.0.  Currently at 7th-level, the black bear AC is still doing very well in combat.  Maybe that will change as we continue to level up, though I doubt it.  Animals can be trained for war and gain heavy armor proficiency, allowing them to be fitted with full plate barding, that's +8 to AC even before you factor in any magic the druid might supply in the form of items or spells (our druid regularly uses Share Spells to cast Barkskin on herself and her companion.)Definitely.  But even with Handle Animal maxed, that's 3 skill points per level, and a good skill list.  It's merely another goodie for a class loaded with goodies.Nature's Favor is still another +3 to attack and damage for the druid, and his companion, that stacks with everything.  How is that iffy?  And the wilding clasp solves the big problem you had with wildshape: the weak AC most animals possess.  Plus it allows the druid to maintain his boosted Wisdom score in animal form for spellcasting, and whatever cloak or vest he may have.lol.  I agree wholeheartedly.Why would you ever be anything other than a dire ape (or a legendary ape if your DM lets you get away with it)?  Keep using all your equipment.  Get a better strength, dex, and con, and a few natural attacks just in case you need them.  Even better, once you get the ape, 4 skill points will solve any wildshape communication problems.  2 each for you and a partymate to learn sign language.Yes, the paladin's fear and disease immunity go the same way, it seems.  I really think Heroes' Feast should be removed from the game.Interesting.  Our druid usually keeps her companion back when we face a melee brute, which is perhaps one in five encounters.  In the others we usually face a swarm of critters, none of which can simply drop her companion, so it's fairly safe for it to participate.  I wonder if what you describe is a product of your game, or high-level play in general.Interesting.  We do a fair bit of dungeon-crawling, but haven't run into the space issue much yet.  We'll have to see how it works out at higher levels.I think it's important to note that I am not claiming the druid is invincible, or as powerful as 4 other PCs combined.  I do believe that the druid is the single most powerful class, pound for pound.I don't know.  Sadly, I've not yet had a 3.x game get to a high enough level to take one on. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />  Perhaps you'd care to point out the difficulties?</blockquote>

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