Tinkering with the druid

[Corsair]

This is my first post in this section of the forum. I am a player not the DM in this situation, but the DM gives me a lot of leeway if I want to customize things to my liking. As one of the most comfortable with the rules people in our group, the DM relies on me for a lot of the balance and rules questions that come up, so he trusts me for the most part to do this. (Of course he'll still have to approve it in the end)

I've been looking over the druid recently, and decided I want to play a divine caster with druid flavor, but NOT the whole "WILSHAPERAR!" aspect. So I wanted to tweak the druid to take away some of the combat aspects, and focus more on his abilities as a caster/summoner.

Here is want I was considering:

LOSE:

Animal Companion
Wild Shape
Drop HD to d6

GAIN:

Rapid Summoning (as Conjurer Specialist variant in UA)
Domains (As cleric, but limited to Fire, Water, Air, etc... druidy domains)


Compared to a cleric, this druid would have d6 vs d8 HD and no heavy armor proficiency (and he keeps the metal armor restriction) to make up for the slightly better skills and minor druid abilities that are left. Rapid summoning instead of turn undead. And the druid spell list instead of cleric spell list.

Does that seem relatively fair?

 

[Arkhandus]

Hrmmm. I'd give only one domain at 1st-level, move the other one up to 5th-level or whatever, when Wild Shape would have otherwise been gained.

Are you intending to make the druid's spells-per-day table the same as the cleric's, when adding the domains? I only ask because it's likely that it would be overkill to let them cast the domain spells with their normal spell slots (that is, not limited to just using domain slots for them).

 

[Moon-Lancer]

I dont think its fair. it may be balanced with other classes but your takeing alot away from the druid.

I don’t know if this is balanced, it actualy seems a bit much, but a druid in unearthed arcane gets ac like a monk, speed like a monk, and favored enemy like a ranger, in return he gives up wildshape.

 

[Arkhandus]

Unearthed Arcana has a lot of overpowered variants that give up little or nothing in exchange for moderate or significant benefits. I don't put any more stock in that book than I do in Savage Species or Masters of the Wild, balance-wise.

I figured this variant was a bit weak, too, with the lowered hit dice, but then I realized that they could have some significant elementals in place of the animal companion and wild shape forms (through the Earth Domain and Fire Domain, for example) as well as being able to summon stuff quickly, and possibly ending up with some extra slots for those domain spells. It's probably still kinda weak, but only if the druid doesn't take and use the elemental domains heavily (of course, the Animal Domain grants an animal companion anyway if taken, doesn't it? I don't recall if that's still the case in 3.5 or if it was only in 3.0).

 

[Corsair]

Yes I would be adding 1 domain slot per level like the cleric (which is what I meant when I said "as clerics"). For the domains I was considering allowing the elemental domains along with plant, animal, sun (though the domain power would have to be changed for druids), healing and possibly protection out of the core rules. Obviously things like "cold", "storm", etc from other sources would be allowed too.

Rapid summoning seemed like a good trade 1 for 1 for animal companion (as rapid summoning would allow you to get a SNA out to act on the first round of combat, where as the animal companion would ALREADY be there to act that round).

The wildshape for domains is because I want to give them more spells per day. Without wildshape, they won't be running into combat, and they will be more likely to spend those actions sitting back and blasting/summoning away.

 

[trav_laney]

Does that seem relatively fair?

I don't know if it is what you are looking for, but you are welcome to use my "nature cleric" variant if you like. I think it would be a lot less work than rebuilding (and then re-balancing) the druid.

Start with a basic cleric, then:

1. replace the cleric's class skill list with the druid's
2. use the druid's spell list instead of the cleric's
3. replace turning/destroying the undead with rebuking/commanding animals.

Everything else stays the same as the original SRD cleric (hit dice, saves, BAT, skill points per level, spells per day, etc.). Your DM might impose the druid's equipment restriction, like I did...but if he/she doesn't mention it, don't bring it up.

Then, your nature-based cleric could select any two domains that fit his/her style and ideals. If it is a summoner that you want, check out the Summoning domain from Complete Divine. As for the Rapid Summoner ability, ask your DM if you could take it as a feat, or maybe make it the granted power of the Summoning domain.

 

[MongooseFamiliar]

blech. If you take away Wildshape, what's the fun of being a druid?

 

[trav_laney]

blech. If you take away Wildshape, what's the fun of being a druid?

Creating armies of animals to do your bidding? Controling the weather? Baking knights in full-plate like so many foil-wrapped potatoes?

 

[Machiavelli]

One of my past-times at work is coming up with druids in my head who throw wildshapes into Wild feats, or take varients without it, or don't reach 5th level before taking a PrC that advances their spells... that sort of thing.

 

[MongooseFamiliar]

Creating armies of animals to do your bidding? Controling the weather? Baking knights in full-plate like so many foil-wrapped potatoes?

I suppose that is a playstyle thing, there. I most often used my wildshape to sneak around and listen to things that a human couldn't (like assassins plotting a murder), so removing wildshape would remove a lot of the enjoyment for me. If you want to do the foil-wrapped potato thing, that is fine too, I suppose.