The druid is not fighting!!! LONG!

[arbados]

Let me start by saying that I have never had a need to post this type of question before, but I am interested to see what the rest of you think

I DM for a very experienced group of players who are all pretty good friends and have been playing together for years. I myself have DM'd for 25 or so years and the player love the game. All anounce their enjoyment and apreciate all the hard work that I put into making the game detailed with a growing world and intricate plots.

However, over the last couple of games I have noticed and verbally heard comments from three of the four players that they are disappointed and bothered by the druids actions in the party.

The group consists of:
1) A 12th level Elven Rogue who's main focus is ranged attacks and does it nicely.
2) A 12th level human wizard/2nd level Fate Spinner/1st level bard human who nails her opponents with her spells.
3) A 9th level human Psychic warrior/2nd level fighter who uses both his powers and melee fighting skills in battle.
4) An NPC human of 6th level Fighter/4th level Devoted defender who just plain kicks ass in melee.
and finally...
5) A 12th level elven druid . details forthcoming...

The druid basically does not like to comfront his opponents in close combat. He stays in the back utilizes his spells, sometimes quite well, and then when he is done with casting because his offensive spells are depleted will stay away from battle putting up defensive spells and somewhat keeping away from the battle at hand.

Problem: The other members are getting a bit perturbed by the druids actions because at times his nonaction has caused casualties within the group (at least that is what the other players feel).

The druid in many ways, although he will never openly admit it, is somewhat cowardly unless the mission at hand deals with something which he very strongly feels he needs to personally address. Even then he will rely heavily on the rest of the members to put themselves in harms way and always keep as far as possible from danger.

At times in battle after the druid has run out of offensive spells he will say "I can't do anything". The rest of the members will give him direction as to what to do, but I don't allow too much of that because I try to keep the combat quick paced. However, even with some snipets of information, he still will usually say he can't do anything.

He does have a nice thunder staff which does heavy melee damage and the other party members say that his attack bonus in melee is very good (which it is).

The rest of the party is starting to get annoyed saying that there should be a penalty to him (possibly treasure). I know the druid will be extremely bothered by this and I am not sure if this is a good approach.

I give bonus xp's for good game play and very often he has very good ideas, but the other members are getting a bit pissed.

As a group we talk things out all the time and heavily prep for game battles by discussing tactics and such. I was wondering what you thought should/or could be done to remedy this. Should I become involved, should I let the players work it out. I want everyone to continue to be happy with each other and the game, but I can see a little annoyance.

Well shoot away. Sorry so long.
Just to let you know the game is still strong and nobody is planning on leaving or anything.

Thanks

 

[Piratecat]

In another thread, someone suggested letting the druid swap out any prepared spell for a "summon nature's ally" of the same level. This might be a great solution for your druid; it would allow him to contribute in combat (via his summoned beasts), helping his friends, but would allow him to stay safe. I don't think it would overbalance the class, either, especially considering the classes' other restrictions.

 

[Liquid Snake]

If the druid player is acting in character then there's no reason for you to intervene. Let the players work it out between themselves, preferably inside the game with their character confronting the druid character about his/her cowardly ways

The only thing I reccomend you to do is to remind the druid player that he can always use wild shape to kick some butt in melee.

 

[arbados]

That's a good suggestion Liquid Snake. He doesn't ever use his wild shape to change into an animal to attack. It is usually to scout as a bird or bat (of course safely away from harms way).

Any more comments? Keep em coming!!!

 

[Gothmog]

Personally, I don't see any problem with the druid's behavior. If it is in character for him to avoid physical combat, then let him do so. Druids have lots of offensive and hindering options at their disposal, and IME the druid is a vastly underrated class.

You need to remember that although the druid's BAB might be high, his AC likely isn't. And at that level (12th), he is almost guaranteed to be hit by opponents, even with decent buffing spells. Also, some players develop a concept of a character that doesn't include melee prowess- and there isn't any reason to force them into the melee role. One solution I have used is allowing druids the use of shortbows and longbows. It doesn't make any sense that druids wouldn't be able to use bows, considering their natural ties. This might help alleviate the grumblings from the other players, and give the druid something to do when he is done casting spells.

 

[Corinth]

I don't see this case as a role-playing issue. It looks like a player that's too much of a wuss playing a character clearly meant to be a combatant.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

If he's playing the character consistently, don't interfere. Conversely, don't intervene when the other PCs "can't do anything" when he gets attacked directly, maybe by a critter that somehow makes its way through a hole that suddenly opens in the ranks of the PCs.

I've seen worse things happen to PCs that other players don't think are pulling their weight.

Anyway, let the players work it out on their own. In cases like this, nothing speaks louder than peer pressure. Should make for an interesting party dynamic.

 

[mirzabah]

I don't see a problem with main spellcasters avoiding melee. Makes perfect sense to me. Your player probably doesn't want to play a fighter with some "soften up the opposition" mojo - he wants to play a druid. Tell your players to get their noses out of the BAB tables and think about the ways in which a druid can be of benefit to a party other than simply adding to their repertoire of colorful ways to take down mooks, which any fool munchkin can do.

Now, if it was a Ranger avoiding anything that even smelt of danger while constantly trying to wangle the best weapons and armour from the other fighters and hassling the cleric for cures every time he so much as stubbed his toe, then I'd agree that you had a problem...

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Druids (and Clerics, for that matter) are tougher physical combatants than Sorcerers and Wizards for a reason. They are also secondary combatants, that bolster the tanks when things get rough. At need, they can roll up their sleeves and wade into combat, and have a middling chance of doing alright. They shouldn't be taking the brunt of the fighting, of course, but they also shouldn't be hiding in a corner when their offensive magical abilities are depleted.

As a DM, I wouldn't interfere to the extent of suggesting battle plans, or other ways to utilize party members. Let them figure it out on their own. That's what they're supposed to do.

 

[mirzabah]

Druids (and Clerics, for that matter) are tougher physical combatants than Sorcerers and Wizards for a reason. They are also secondary combatants, that bolster the tanks when things get rough. At need, they can roll up their sleeves and wade into combat, and have a middling chance of doing alright. They shouldn't be taking the brunt of the fighting, of course, but they also shouldn't be hiding in a corner when their offensive magical abilities are depleted.

Yes and no. Yes, druids are basically feral clerics and as such can hold up their end in a melee. However, I don't see why this means that a player can't conceive a druid character who doesn't get involved in melee.

As a DM, I wouldn't interfere to the extent of suggesting battle plans, or other ways to utilize party members. Let them figure it out on their own. That's what they're supposed to do.

Yes, though I think some gentle prodding to think outside the box is occasionally called for. In this instance, the problem is not so much the fact that the druid doesn't get involved in melee, but that he spends a lot of time sitting back and doing nothing during battles. Perhaps a different complement of spells could keep him actively involved for longer. Or maybe he could take up some kind of ranged weapon - in most climactic battles, there is sufficient room to manouvre in such a way that allows ranged weapons to contribute to a battle while minimizing the risk of friendly fire.

And again, it should be considered that perhaps the druid is already punching above his weight away from the battlefield.