Races and Classes--I has it!

[grimslade]

OK, I have to say it. This is so "World of Warcraft". Sorry, it is.

Sorry, you're wrong. WoW contains no druid forms of hawk or mouse and the bear form would be a defender not 'ripping up the orc king'. Not to mention the whole argument is specious as the WoW druid is stolen from the D&D druid. Say it if you like, but you're wrong.

 

[Voss]

OK, I have to say it. This is so "World of Warcraft". Sorry, it is.

Only because the WoW druid is lifted directly from D&D in the first place. They could be recursively feeding on each other and I wouldn't care, but really, The tree-hugging hippy shapeshifter with some healing and lightning bolts is a D&Dism thats been borrowed by other people (like WoW). It sort of stands out, since it doesn't bear any relation to the Druid of history or myth.


I agree about the fire elemental, however. I can't figure out how the dragon's breath is 'extra flamey' enough to harm the walking, talking Incarnation of the Essence of Fire.

 

[Elarid]

I agree about the fire elemental, however. I can't figure out how the dragon's breath is 'extra flamey' enough to harm the walking, talking Incarnation of the Essence of Fire.

Think about it this way - it would be like putting out a match with a blowtorch. The dragon's breath is so overpowering that the fire elemental can no longer sustain itself. For a brief moment, the elemental exists as part of the breath weapon. When the breath weapon dies off, so too does the elemental.

That's how I see it, anyway.

 

[UndeadScottsman]

Only because the WoW druid is lifted directly from D&D in the first place. They could be recursively feeding on each other and I wouldn't care, but really, The tree-hugging hippy shapeshifter with some healing and lightning bolts is a D&Dism thats been borrowed by other people (like WoW). It sort of stands out, since it doesn't bear any relation to the Druid of history or myth.


I agree about the fire elemental, however. I can't figure out how the dragon's breath is 'extra flamey' enough to harm the walking, talking Incarnation of the Essence of Fire.

Volume. Throw a pitcher of water at a person, he'll just get wet and maybe a little angry.. Aim a fire hose at him though, and he be getting bruised and knocked around. Aim a tidal wave at him and he's gonna get crushed.

EDIT: Whoops, typo.

 

[RPG_Tweaker]

Druid
The current design for druids allows them to select wildshape a lot more often, but at a price(?). Druids select shapes they can assume in much the same way that other classes pick spells and manoeuvres {so presumably they may have 'at will', 'per encounter' and 'per day' shapes}. They designed different forms for different needs - hawk for spying, mouse for sneaking, bear for tearing the orc king apart. To give an incentive to walk around in human form there will be a selection of nature themed spells to give some utility and ranged attacks.

Hmmm...

My grognardism might be showing here, but I definitely prefer the traditional type druid (nature priest, scholar, healer, and arbitrator) to the shape-shifty battle beast.

I wasn't too fond of 3Es emphasis on shapeshiftig ability, but now to have that be their primary schtick?

Having them removed from the PHB might be a good thing now... as I will probably have to develop my own version anyway.

 

[Wormwood]

OK, I have to say it. This is so "World of Warcraft". Sorry, it is.

What server does T.H. White play on?

 

[tombowings]

Hmmm...

My grognardism might be showing here, but I definitely prefer the traditional type druid (nature priest, scholar, healer, and arbitrator) to the shape-shifty battle beast.

I wasn't too fond of 3Es emphasis on shapeshiftig ability, but now to have that be their primary schtick?

Having them removed from the PHB might be a good thing now... as I will probably have to develop my own version anyway.

I think that a cleric of a nature deity may be able to take over the nature priest, scholar, healer, and arbitrator types, while the druid is more feral.

 

[Wormwood]

My grognardism might be showing here, but I definitely prefer the traditional type druid (nature priest, scholar, healer, and arbitrator) to the shape-shifty battle beast.

Scholar, healer and arbitrator? Sounds like a good starting place for a 4e Bard.

A level or two of cleric could handle the Nature part, I suppose.

 

[kennew142]

I think that a cleric of a nature deity may be able to take over the nature priest, scholar, healer, and arbitrator types, while the druid is more feral.

I agree. I've never felt that the Druid class in D&D was very good at portraying quasi-historical druids. I'm using the name in my upcoming 4e campaign, but expect that I will use clerics to model them

 

[RPG_Tweaker]

I think that a cleric of a nature deity may be able to take over the nature priest, scholar, healer, and arbitrator types, while the druid is more feral.

Scholar, healer and arbitrator? Sounds like a good starting place for a 4e Bard.

A level or two of cleric could handle the Nature part, I suppose.

IMC druids had the Bardic Knowledge ability... no singing and prancing though.

As I'm not sure how cross-class power dipping / multi-classing works in 4E, I can't foretell how I would reproduce the druid. I assume the cleric will be the base for my build.

If I get the book that inlcudes the Beornling-type 4E "druid", it will get another name.