Druids in Space?

[Sagawork_Studios]

No really, it is a serious question!
Does a Druid fit into Space Opera?

If the answer is yes, how would you portray your character concept? If the answer is no, is it because "It just doesn't fit?" I am sincerely interested in believable concepts for these characters that fit into a space opera setting, much like Star Wars.

 

[The Shaman]

My character is a member of a mystical order of terraformers, able to draw from the energy of the biosphere to preserve and enhance ecosystems - he's Liet-Kynes crossed with a Jedi.

 

[TarionzCousin]

I tend to categorize Druids as one niche of specialty priests, much like Illusionists are specialized Wizards. That said, Druids' niche is usually nature or a specific environment like "urban."

If you look at it that way, Druids easily fit into Space Opera; their possible niches are the environments of space exploration: space itself, a spaceship, maybe "the stratosphere/lower orbit" or something like that.

Does that make sense?

 

[Liquidsabre]

Druids in Space as...

...a member of a galactic order of non-violent natural healers and herbalists
...the last off his kind in a race of ancient long-lived mystics, searching for what caused his race's downfall.
...a shapeshifter race that excel at the hunt.
...a worshiper of ancient long-dead races as gods and believe all creatures in the gaalxy to be their creation and study all the denizens in hopes to understand the deeper secrets of their gods.
...a pilot and loving caregiver for a massive living biosphere (interior of an asteroid) or living ship that they have bonded with to explore the galaxy.

 

[Herobizkit]

How about a sentient plant from a world of sentient plants?

 

[Aberzanzorax]

Yes and / or no.

Depends on the concept of Druid in your campaign.

If druids are regional and "natural" then sure. Then you need to consider what "space" is. Is it the vacuum? Is it the boundaries between planets? Is it navigation by the stars? What defines the region of "space" as opposed to other druid regions in the campaign?

NOTE: other druid regions in such a campaign might be, in our solar system: Earth, the moon, Mars, Jupiter, one or all of Jupiter's moons etc.

Alternately, the could be more standard druidic regions of tundra, prarie, woodlands, etc.




If druids are driven by life and balance, then I would think space druids could exist perhaps, but would be very very rare...anomolies. There's not much life in space, though there may be some.



I guess, a lot of it depends upon what defines druids in the campaign, and what kind of campaign it is (spelljammer, space opera, prime material with a few minor excursions of import, etc).



But, by the way, you're wrong.

It's not "Druids in space."

It's "Druids in SPAAAAAAAAAACE!"

 

[Dungeoneer]

No really, it is a serious question!
Does a Druid fit into Space Opera?

Meh. These aren't the druids you're looking for.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Hello Sagaworks,

Concept for a Space Druid:
- Where as a "regular" druid works within the confines of a particular environment, a Space Druid views the whole cosmos as their environment - although perhaps they might only focus on a galaxy or perhaps just a Star System. A Space Druid has to start somewhere.
- Of importance to them are the many constellations. Knowledge (Nature) to them is more like Knowledge (Astronomy). Perhaps there is even an element of prophecy in this that can be thrown in. The cosmos requires a certain balance or equilibrium of which it is the space druid's to know of and seek out situations where this balance is upset.
- Ultimately, one would think that a space druid would become some sort of quasi-deity almost. It is very difficult to conceive of a space druid as anything else than a creature of immense power and wisdom.
Just some ideas.

Sidenote:
By the way, I followed your links to Paizo and your free adventure: Horror at Dagger Rock... all free 74 pages of it. Looks very good (I love that AD&D vibe you have going on). Will be checking out Rel Draxa at the same time by the way. Good to see a fellow Sydney-sider living the "Pathfinder Dream".

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

When I think Druids in Space Opera, I think..."Cool!" They'd be sensing life forces on the various planets they visit...maybe read ley lines. Aboardship- away from the background noise of a living planet, a Druid may be able to detect life-bearing planets from amazing distances. The Jedi have a bit of this.

Maybe they reawaken the dormant seeds and fauna of nearly dead worlds. They might be involved with bringing water to deserts. Like in Dune.

On a water world- see Costner's movie, or better yet, SG:Atlantis or David Brin's second Uplift Trilogy- the Druid communicates with aquatic life.

The possibilities...oh, the possibilities.

 

[Stormonu]

How about a sentient plant from a world of sentient plants?

Zotoh Zhaan from Farscape is an excellent view of what a druid in space might be like.