Help me decide on my NPC feats!

[orcmonk220]

Hiya guys
Well, I'm designing a Gnoll Druid, and need help on picking the feats for him. He is level 5, CR 8. Therefore, he needs three feats. So far, I have decided on one: Scribe Scroll.
Any help with picking the other two would be great. He is not a direct combatant himself, he had minions to do that for him. He will, however, be stood on a rock 50 foot above the battle field. So, I need a 1st level feat (from his racial HD - no druid levels), and his 6th level feat (4th level druid - so, alas, no Wild Shape!)
I'm thinking meta magic (if that can be applied to divine spells), possibly extend spell or the like), and maybe something to improve ranged weapons.
Cheers
Chris

 

[FreeXenon]

Perhaps Augment Summoning for much more annoying summoned creatures, if you go that way? or Natural Spell so he can cast spells in animal form to be not so obtrusive?

I am not sure of the prerequisites for either.

 

[orcmonk220]

Those were among my first thoughts too, but Augmented Summoning requires Spell Focus (conjuration), and Natural Spell requires the Wild Shape ability

 

[Darklone]

I'd take the Spell focus and the augment summoning.

 

[FreeXenon]

Ahhh, yes, you mentioned no wildshape yet.

Like he said Spell Focus, Augment Summoning sound good.

You could go Point Blank and either Rapid shot or Precise Shot to support his summoned creatures or allies; or Point Blank and Weapon Focus.

What type of spells or tactics are you considering using beyond not being involved in melee?

 

[FreeXenon]

How about Practiced Spell Caster which will increase his caster level by 2, which will increase the duration of all your spells.

Practiced Spell Caster and Weapon Focus in its ranged weapon.

 

[orcmonk220]

Ahhh, yes, you mentioned no wildshape yet.

Like he said Spell Focus, Augment Summoning sound good.

You could go Point Blank and either Rapid shot or Precise Shot to support his summoned creatures or allies; or Point Blank and Weapon Focus.

What type of spells or tactics are you considering using beyond not being involved in melee?

Well, mostly, he's a ranged weapons guy, stood on his rock. However, with the limited selection of weapons for Druids, he's supporting with a sling (50 foot ranged increment, so maybe Far Shot (prereq. Point Blank Shot)), summoned critters and spells like Call Lightning and Produce Flame. when the battle turns against him, however, he'll use his one wild shape to escape in the form of a bird.
Also, he's packing a few 'zombified' Gnoll rangers

 

[orcmonk220]

How about Practiced Spell Caster which will increase his caster level by 2, which will increase the duration of all your spells.

Practiced Spell Caster and Weapon Focus in its ranged weapon.

What book is Practised Spellcaster from?

 

[FreeXenon]

Practiced Spell Caster, I think, can be found in the Complete Arcane and Complete Divine.

Point Blank and Far seems appropriate.
Humanoids are should retain proficiency with Simple Weapons from their type, so you might be able to use a crossbow vice a sling which would give you more options.

Please for give this next question: Gnoll Ranger Zombies? That seems rather antithetical to Druids, unless he is a Blighter type druid.

 

[orcmonk220]

Nope, in the Fiend Folio is something called a Yellow Musk Plant, which creates 'zombies', which are under its control. Basically, this Gnoll has lured his tribe to the plant, and, resisting it's pollen, had them transformed into these 'zombies'. The zombis are a bit thick (Int 2, or something like that), so provided the Gnoll can keep luring adventurers to the plant, the plant is fine to let the Gnoll use its zombies as bait, and the zombies are too thick to attack the gnoll full-on.
It's tricky to explain...