Spell Focus for pure caster druid?

[GlassJaw]

I'm thinking about LR/TRing one of my characters into a pure caster druid (human). I've been messing around with some builds but not sure on Spell Focus+GSF vs Mental Toughness and IMT.

If the Spell Focus chain is worth it for a caster druid, what school is the best?

I'll add that this would be for EN/EH content or TRing again after hitting 20. Thanks!

[Lonnbeimnech]

When I join a group on my druid, before the group says hi, they say yay earthquake... and that's evocation.

[SirValentine]

Evocation, yes. Many of your save-for-half damage spells are Evoc, as is the aforementioned Earthquake.

If you're tight on feats, a single Spell Focus will allow twisting in an additional +5 worth of DC from Magister & Draconic. The Greater Spell Focus isn't nearly as big a bang for the buck.

[unbongwah]

Short answer is: it depends.

Long answer is: it depends on your gear, what PLs / EDs you have already, what content you plan to run, etc.

E.g., on my first-life caster druid (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/428464-Help-With-Caster-Druid-(returning-player)?p=5142861&viewfull=1#post5142861), I focused on DCs; the way I see it, what's the point of boosting your crit chances thru Mental Toughness if you're having trouble getting your spells to land in the first place? OTOH, let's say someone is TRing a 1st-life sorc which has already gotten everything they want from Arcane ED sphere; they'll have +1 Evo DC from PL and up to +5 DC from Magister / Dragonic. So for them, SF:Evo is enough to open those DC Twists; if they're not planning on farming EEs, the extra SPs & +3% crits from MT x3 may be worth more than an extra +1 to +3 DCs (GSF/ESF/Great WIS x2) like my build goes for. EDIT: alternatively, maybe they take SF in Evo & Conj to open up Twists for each; I'm fond of Storm of Vengeance, which is Conj.

[arminius]

Also keep in mind that the Mantle of the Icy Soul gives -4 reflex to anyone you hit with a cold spell. That + a single Evoc spell focus + a twist or two from Draconic and/or Magister will be all you need for Earthquake on EN/EH. With a decent group, going Ice Storm, Earthquake, Ice Storm, Earthquake, ad infinitum is all you need to do to win. Elite is a different story but you said EN/EH.

[unbongwah]

Good point: although I'm not sure if it stacks w/Icy Mantle, I also have a Solid Fog clickie on my druid, plus a bunch of Gtr Vials of Seafog (hey, had to use up my gold doubloons on something!).