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<blockquote data-quote="Shadowdweller" data-source="post: 7627244" data-attributes="member: 14563">No, there actually isn't any difference.&nbsp; What you're failing to realize is that the DM already sets how much damage ALL attacks deal, whether you're aware of it or not, by choosing which enemies appear and which abilities they have.&nbsp; A foe with high AC reduces damage from all PCs that rely on attack rolls.&nbsp; Fire resistant and/or high Dex enemies change fireball damage quite significantly.&nbsp; Flying foes with ranged or flyby attacks can effectively negate melee damage.&nbsp; Enemies with save-based attacks bypass PC armor.&nbsp; In practice - vanishingly few DMs deliberately choose weak summons for the purpose of nerfing or screwing over druids.&nbsp; (Purely random and/or setting-appropriate summons are by far the most common).&nbsp; There actually isn't even time or concentration to look for weaker summons while trying to keep track of combat as a DM.&nbsp; And the difference between optimal and not-quite optimal summons is rarely as great as one might think.Convenient then that druids receive this special language with which to issue commands - that is never taught to outsiders (c.f. merely shouting vs shouting orders).&nbsp; Also runs afoul of the Summons vs Allies presumption.Too bad the claim is patently false, as has been explained over the chain of preceding posts.&nbsp; The druid isn't lacking ways to defend themselves relative to other classes; though druidic defenses usually don't enhance or directly rely on AC.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Shadowdweller, post: 7627244, member: 14563"] No, there actually isn't any difference. What you're failing to realize is that the DM already sets how much damage ALL attacks deal, whether you're aware of it or not, by choosing which enemies appear and which abilities they have. A foe with high AC reduces damage from all PCs that rely on attack rolls. Fire resistant and/or high Dex enemies change fireball damage quite significantly. Flying foes with ranged or flyby attacks can effectively negate melee damage. Enemies with save-based attacks bypass PC armor. In practice - vanishingly few DMs deliberately choose weak summons for the purpose of nerfing or screwing over druids. (Purely random and/or setting-appropriate summons are by far the most common). There actually isn't even time or concentration to look for weaker summons while trying to keep track of combat as a DM. And the difference between optimal and not-quite optimal summons is rarely as great as one might think. Convenient then that druids receive this special language with which to issue commands - that is never taught to outsiders (c.f. merely shouting vs shouting orders). Also runs afoul of the Summons vs Allies presumption. Too bad the claim is patently false, as has been explained over the chain of preceding posts. The druid isn't lacking ways to defend themselves relative to other classes; though druidic defenses usually don't enhance or directly rely on AC. [/QUOTE]

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