Playtest: The Druid (merged)

[Timeboxer]

I notice that the at-wills are in some cases strictly better than a comparable wizard at-will, e.g. flame seed vs. cloud of daggers.

 

[thecasualoblivion]

I notice that the at-wills are in some cases strictly better than a comparable wizard at-will, e.g. chill wind vs. thunderwave, flame seed vs. cloud of daggers, and so on.

(Edit: Ninja'd.)

Chill Wind and Flame Seed don't deal +Wisdom.

 

[Hawke]

I wonder how easily it would be to completely ignore either the more distance-controller side or the beast form side. Hard to tell from the first, uh 2, levels.

But as an example you could create a Shapeshifter/Werewolf
At-Will (Call of the Wild, Grasping Claws, Savage Rend)
Encounter (Darting Bite)
Daily (Savage Frenzy)
Utility (Fleet Pursuit)

I wonder how this would ultimately scale... or if we can expect a similar wild shape from the Warden with beefier abilities more tailored to a defender? It seems easier to be a full-controller druid, though.

 

[doctorhook]

And that they have EIGHT to choose from straight off the bat.

That said, so far I am liking what I am seeing. The utilities seem to give erm utility to the beast form. Skittering sneak is nice for those players who like using thier wildshape to scout and spy.

Phaezen

I really like Skittering Sneak. The layout of that power suggests to me that we'll see additional wild shape utilities at higher levels, including perhaps Large or even Huge creatures, or Swarms, presented with similar mechanics.

 

[ppaladin123]

It looks like I can easily re-skin the druid into a monk..I mean really easily. Pick all the close/melee powers, change the implement to ki-straps or something of the sort, make wild shape (let's you shift as a minor!), "battle focus" and viola.

 

[Timeboxer]

Chill Wind and Flame Seed don't deal +Wisdom.

Huh, you're right. I stand corrected.

Interesting to see "Beast Form" and "Implement", incidentally.

 

[Shroomy]

Huh, you're right. I stand corrected.

Interesting to see "Beast Form" and "Implement", incidentally.

Its needed to scale the at-will powers correctly. Whats cool about the Beast Form at-wills is that all of them contain a mini-controller effect even though they are melee powers.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Its needed to scale the at-will powers correctly. Whats cool about the Beast Form at-wills is that all of them contain a mini-controller effect even though they are melee powers.

Well I guess the long-standing question of how one would do a melee oriented Controller has been answered

This one really looks like it will be one where without any effort a whole smörgåsbord of different types of characters can come into being.

 

[doctorhook]

Its needed to scale the at-will powers correctly. Whats cool about the Beast Form at-wills is that all of them contain a mini-controller effect even though they are melee powers.

This is the closest to "melee Controller" we've yet seen, though it's not a dedicated melee combatant.

I'm not sure I'd a character with those Hit Points up front all the time anyway.

EDIT: Partially ninja'd.

 

[Andor]

Wow, is it just me or is this guy the rogue's best friend? An at will that grants combat advantage? Not to mention they can fling baddies around left and right for optimal positioning.

A rogue and a druid in the same party looks to be just gruesome. And really, it just makes sense that 'dirty alley sneak' and 'savage wilderness priest' should make the perfet team. Err... What the hell, it works.

Oh, and what the heck is an aftereffect? New keyword there?