D&D General Druids and Path Dependency: Why the Scimitar Helps Illuminate D&D

[J-H]

Yeah, I'd like to see the shapeshifting split off into its own class (Subclasses: Lycanthrope, beast, and something like the 3.5 Evolutionist class). I have a druid 20 character sheet sitting around right now and the wildshape is pretty much bolted on... like, what if I don't want to Wildshape and just want to be a really cool nature wizard?
The casting side of druid could almost be its own sorcerer subclass.
Or better yet, have Druid come in different flavors like a Warlock. Some druids do plant stuff, some do animal stuff, some do weather stuff, etc.

 

[MGibster]

If D&D were being designed for the first time today, it probably would have some generic name and would represent all manner of different archetypes: shamans, witches, druids, animalists, summoners, etc. It's rough because while the idea of a nature-communing magician is universal, the druid often gets kicked for being too "western". File the name off, make some minor edits and the class fits fine outside of Faux-European settings.

What's the difference between a witch, a druid, and a summoner?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

What's the difference between a witch, a druid, and a summoner?

1) Their names
2) Whatever you want it to be.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

What's the difference between a witch, a druid, and a summoner?

The number of syllables.

 

[pointofyou]

What's the difference between a witch, a druid, and a summoner?

One of them summons things.

One of them lives in a wardrobe.

One of them is a D&D character class.

 

[Voadam]

What's the difference between a witch, a druid, and a summoner?

Depends. Pathfinder 1e they are three different full classes.

 

[bedir than]

Depends. Pathfinder 1e they are three different full classes.

But why?

 

[Voadam]

But why?

In Pathfinder 1e

Witch is an arcane full caster with not a lot of evocations, but has a patron, a familiar that is their spellbook, and a lot of witchy themed power options like curses and brewing potions.

Druid is a divine full caster with nature animal/plant/elemental themes, animal summoning, wildshape, and a big animal companion. Plus scimitars.

Summoners have limited arcane spellcasting but can do their at the moment choice of big quick summon monster spells or a big customizable summoned long-lasting thing/eidolon which acts as a combat brute.

Using the class chassis to execute different flavor and mechanics among spellcasting concepts.

 

[Fifth Element]

A big part of the issue is that the archetype filled by the D&D druid does have an appropriate name, but it's already in use elsewhere. From a folklore point of view, what do you call a person with magic shapeshifting ability, and healing, and a connection with nature? You call them a wizard.

But D&D already has another archetype filled by something called a wizard. This archetype, of course, is not something that derives from folklore. It's a trope of modern fantasy instead. Wizards throw fireballs in D&D because D&D started out based on a wargame, and wizards were designed to be the fantasy equivalent of artillery. Though they were magic-users at the time of course. They're nothing like the wizards of folklore, which are far more like D&D druids.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

The quintessential "Wizard" - Merlin - has often been portrayed as what we D&D players would think of as a Druid.