Druid Pass changes

[Hirosue]

Hi follks,

I dropped out of druid class on my main to get some paladin past lives and will soon be returning to Druid.

I have always played a caster Druid and was wondering if there are any major changes since the Pass for caster Druid.

I was running with a Guildy Druid last week and noticed that his earthquakes times out pretty fast , has the duration been changed ?

Thank you

[Iriale]

Hi follks,

I dropped out of druid class on my main to get some paladin past lives and will soon be returning to Druid.

I have always played a caster Druid and was wondering if there are any major changes since the Pass for caster Druid.

I was running with a Guildy Druid last week and noticed that his earthquakes times out pretty fast , has the duration been changed ?

Thank you
Druid caster is better than before. There are some changes that should have been made and have not been made, but it has definitely improved. The bypass of immunities in elemental form is a huge buff, although personally I think that buff in particular was a mistake. All the changes: https://www.ddo.com/en/update-38-release-notes

If you liked the druid before, you will like it more now

The shortest duration of earthquake is due to reaper. All the CC has reduced duration in reaper, the more the skull is bigger. It happens the same with all classes

[skorpeon]

Hi follks,

I dropped out of druid class on my main to get some paladin past lives and will soon be returning to Druid.

I have always played a caster Druid and was wondering if there are any major changes since the Pass for caster Druid.

I was running with a Guildy Druid last week and noticed that his earthquakes times out pretty fast , has the duration been changed ?

Thank you

I would look at Gingerspyce's caster/healer/quasi-tank build as its very comprehensive and unto date. I will be doing this as my first druid life.
I probably don't have all the gear but I think it will work well enough. Sleet storms and earthquakes while standing in the middle should be fun. It may not be very zergy but thats no big deal. I just ran a warlock life so good to have a change of pace.

[Hjarki]

I would look at Gingerspyce's caster/healer/quasi-tank build as its very comprehensive and unto date. I will be doing this as my first druid life.

There's a tremendous amount of useful information in the thread, but it really isn't an archetypal caster. Perhaps the most important omission is using the pet to proc Essence of the Shrike (and additional pick up Prey on the Weak once you're at T3 NW).

In general terms, the biggest obstacle with Druids is likely the lack of helpless effects. Burst of Glacial Wrath has some promise, but it's difficult to land even for an Evocation-focused build.

[SirValentine]

If you liked the druid before, you will like it more now


Not necessarily.



Druid caster is better than before.


If you're a nuker build, maybe. Yay for SLAs if you care about that sort of thing. (I don't.) And yay for easy button that lets you use same damage on everything, instead of having to use your brain to work around mob strengths & weaknesses.

They nerfed the **** out of DC-caster druids. Took away spell pen, took away save debuff, reduced DC & caster level bonuses.

And unlike most class passes, they didn't increase casting stat in capstone to +4, just left it at +2. Unlike other caster classes, there's no option to take casting stat in 3rd tree; bear tree has no option for Wis.

My caster Druid is objectively worse off than before.

[unbongwah]

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/427398-Gingerspyce-s-caster-healer-quasi-tank-build

Fundamentally pure caster druids haven't changed, though an Enhancement respec is probably a good idea. E.g., 11 APs into Nature's Protector gets you heavy armor proficiency (saves a feat), +20 PRR, up to +35 MRR (cores+Enchanted Defense+Fey's Blessing), and +40 HPs. You can see Ginger puts even more APs into NP for higher saves and +1 CON.

[Hirosue]

Not necessarily.



If you're a nuker build, maybe. Yay for SLAs if you care about that sort of thing. (I don't.) And yay for easy button that lets you use same damage on everything, instead of having to use your brain to work around mob strengths & weaknesses.

They nerfed the **** out of DC-caster druids. Took away spell pen, took away save debuff, reduced DC & caster level bonuses.

And unlike most class passes, they didn't increase casting stat in capstone to +4, just left it at +2. Unlike other caster classes, there's no option to take casting stat in 3rd tree; bear tree has no option for Wis.

My caster Druid is objectively worse off than before.


Thank you.

That looks like a fair bit of nerff especially the saves de-buff.

[Hirosue]

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/427398-Gingerspyce-s-caster-healer-quasi-tank-build

Fundamentally pure caster druids haven't changed, though an Enhancement respec is probably a good idea. E.g., 11 APs into Nature's Protector gets you have heavy armor proficiency (saves a feat), +20 PRR, up to +35 MRR (cores+Enchanted Defense+Fey's Blessing), and +40 HPs. You can see Ginger puts even more APs into NP for higher saves and +1 CON.


Thank you.

That is some useful information on changes.