D&D 5E What race for Druid?

[daddystabz]

What race(s) do you all recommend for Druid and what are your overall recommendations for making the most effective Druid I can make? I've never played a Druid before in any edition of D&D.

 

[Paraxis]

I like wood elf or human(variant) personally for the bonuses.

I like stout halflings because lucky is wonderful and the idea of a little halfling becoming a big bear/dire wolf/giant spider is just very cool.

 

[Sacrosanct]

play whatever race you want that fits the type of character you find most appealing. If you prefer to play D&D based on min/maxing rather than flavor, then I'm afraid I can't provide an answer because I don't play that way.

 

[GameDoc]

The best race for a Druid is the triathlon. Bike as a human, run as a cheetah, and swim as a marlin. Gold medal all the way. USA! USA! USA!

 

[Kobold Stew]

Hill dwarf is very solid, I feel, but it's hard to get around the extra feat if you can play the human (variant).

 

[jimmyjimjam]

play whatever race you want that fits the type of character you find most appealing. If you prefer to play D&D based on min/maxing rather than flavor, then I'm afraid I can't provide an answer because I don't play that way.

I on the other hand, can recommend something to the OP. Play Fourth Edition.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Most effective? This should probably be moved to Character Optimization.

My recommendation: Human. The variant, that gets you the feat at first level. If playing Point Buy then put your highest stat in Wisdom and your lowest in Strength--who needs Strength when you can wildshape into a bear?

For the feat: I recommend Observant. Wildshaped druids make terrific scouts, and the +5 to Perception and Investigation means you'll spot most every secret door and trap. The feat's +1 Wisdom means your starting Wisdom can be 14 instead of 15: you'll still net out at a 16 Wis (thanks to one of human's +1), and save 2 points in Point Buy.

Criminal is a good background for Druid, as you'll probably have a high Dex. That proficiency in Thieves Tools, and your high Wisdom (and Observant feat) make you an effective alt-thief.

Human Druid
Str 8
Dex 16 (15, +1 from human)
Con 12
Int 14
Wis 16 (14, +1 from human, +1 from Observant feat)
Cha 8

Languages: Common, Druidic, Sylvan (human bonus)
Background: Criminal
Proficiencies: Druid weapons, light armor, medium armor, shield, herbalism kit, thieves tools, gaming set.
Skills: Stealth, Deception, Perception, Nature, Investigation (human bonus). [if allowed, swap Deception for Athletics--this will help with grappling in animal form]

 

[was]

Forest Gnome

 

[77IM]

Wood elf is nice. It gets you a wisdom bonus, longbow proficiency, and bonus speed, which can all come in handy when you are not wildshaped and have to resort to spells and such. I assume you are going moon circle, right?

 

[Ragmon]

play whatever race you want that fits the type of character you find most appealing. If you prefer to play D&D based on min/maxing rather than flavor, then I'm afraid I can't provide an answer because I don't play that way.

I have to say, I disagree. The fluff can be made to fit any combination (IMO its even more fun to try to make a back-story for a miss-matched race/class/background). But you can't make a optimized character design fit all race/class/background combos.


To the OP.

- Human (variant, you can't o wrong with it)
- Half-Elf (Half-elf, is always a good choice for anything)
- Wood Elf (Its fluffy and crunchy at the same time)
- Hill Dwarf (the one with the +WIS)
- Halfling (The re-roll is always useful)