Multiclassed Druids

[Kizyc]

I had some questions regarding the abilities of the Druid and their seeming throwback to 2e with them. The Druid has a "Spiritual Limitation" on weapons selection that prevents them from using their Druidic abilities while wielding prohibited arms & armor, and for 24 hours thereafter.

I am currently playing an Elven Ranger in the Living Greyhawk RPGA Campaign. Character development-wise I would like him to start taking Druid Levels. I don't have problems with the armor and wooden restrictions, but the loss of a bow to a dexterity-based ranger is a bit crippling.

I have stayed away from the option of going Cleric/Ranger as turning undead is not this character's style. Trackless Step, Companions and Nature sense are. I realize I may have to head that way due to the limitations of the living campaign. However, if I want to recreate this character in our local game, what kind of options do I have to merge these aspects together? Are there any published Druid alternates out there to consider as options? Does anyone abide that 2e Throwback of Spiritual Weapons, or do they let Druid's buy the Martial Weapon Proficiency Feat like everone else?

 

[drowdude]

It suxxx... but if you multiclass as a druid you still have to obey the weapon/armor restrictions...

 

[Mr.Binx]

I am not finding anything in defenders of the core books or Masters of the Wild. Someone else may know of something. You could become a cleric of Obad-Hai while choosing the Plant and Animal domains. The animal domain gives you access to Animal Friendship so you can still have the animal companions and you'll have the ability to turn or rebuke plant creatures. However, it looks like you'd have to give up the bow if you wanted trackless step and nature sense without having a magic item created or taking the time to work out a new prestige class with your DM. Last of all, you can always house rule it.

 

[Gaiden]

In FRCS, druids of Meleikki (sorry about spelling, don't have books) are not spiritually bound to not use all martial weapons not on the druid's list. I don't think they start out with all martial weapons, but they can still use them. I know you are in Greyhawk, but the above info could provide a useful argument for persuading your DM to rule the same for Elhonna. Also, look to the PrC: Fleetrunner of Elhonna (I am assuming you would go with Elhonna and not Obad-Hai). They have no restrictions on weapon choice and clearly are designed to be taken via a divine caster of Elhonna.

Finally, I am not sure on this but you may be able to bypass the rule via a magical item. Look at the spells woodshape and ironwood. A few years ago I encountered a druid my DM designed who had a wooden longsword that had a permanent ironwood on it to give it the same stats as a longsword (but was still wood, so did not violate the druid's oath). Not sure if that will help, but again, the spirit of it might.

 

[Li Shenron]

Ironwood is the spell which can solve a lot (but not all) problems with weapons & armors; unfortunately it's a very high level spell (I don't remember, but maybe 7th level).
It doesn't solve everything, for example bows are made with wood (or something else, but not metal) but Druids can't use them: actually, it's not a strict matter of metals, since they CAN use scimitars and sickles.
So Ironwood doesn't help with bows at all, although it's a must for Druids to wear the best armors.

Unfortunately, I don't know ANY way to overcome druidic "bowlessness", and indeed it is very sad, me & my friends could not believe it when we first read it long ago (we had the image that druids could be exactly one of the most archer-type characters, since bow is a very wilderness weapon).

I may suggest you to discuss with your DM a trade-off between the ability to use bows and something else you give up from the class features. OR to plan a PrCl with him...

 

[Kizyc]

Most of the weapons are not a problem

Especially since I could probably get things like a Large-sized Scimitar (1d8 + 1.5 Str and it is a 18-20/x2 Critical) as a weapon. Additionally, Scimitar/Sickle or Scimitar/Dagger are not too different from the Longsword/Shortsword combo.

The hardest one is still the Longbow, which, to date has been the staple weapon of the character.

I will look over the Ehlonna description in Deities and Demigods, there may be meat there for the arguement. The meilikki way may be the best way to go for the local campaign. Though I doubt that I will get much leverage in the LG.

 

[Mr.Binx]

You could always switch range weapons if you just want to be able to gain the benefit of your high dex but you wouldn't be as cool and rangerly anymore.

 

[AuraSeer]

You could just ask the DM to modify the druid class. Let all druids in your campaign world use bows, in exchange for a restriction in some other ability. (Maybe a further reduction of melee weapons choices would compensate.)

 

[Christian]

Or maybe not even that, Seer. It's been asserted by various designers that the weapons restrictions for druids are more for flavor than for balance. IMC, the druid weapons list is just a list of proficiencies, like those for rogues or wizards. If they multiclass or spend feats, they can use other weapons without penalty (and would only suffer the -4 non-proficiency penalty in any case).

In LG, he's basically SOL, though.

 

[drowdude]

Re: Most of the weapons are not a problem

I will look over the Ehlonna description in Deities and Demigods, there may be meat there for the arguement.

I could find nothing in Deities & Demigods nor The Living Greyhawk Gazeteer the allowed for druids to use any other weapons than those listed in the PHB.

The meilikki way may be the best way to go for the local campaign. Though I doubt that I will get much leverage in the LG.

There are however notes in the FRCS and Faiths & Pantheons that allow for druids to use their god's favored weapon, and in the case of Mielikki, pretty much any weapon they want...

But that is all from FR sources, and you specifically mentioned you were playing in Greyhawk, thus I did not bring them up *shrugs*