Bear Form -- Tank/Healer/Caster -- Help welcome

[Andoris]

One of my friends is looking to come back to the game and is looking to play a Druid in Bear form. Base requirements are that it should be a Decent tank and have a good ability to solo.

I have never played a druid personally (nor have really tried to build one before) so I am looking for help, guidance, direction, or a slap upside the head from the community.

While he will mostly be sticking to EH content (or below), I did want him to be somewhat useful if I drag him along for some EE content (at least not die and be able to contribute). To that end, I was thinking of focusing on healing (his main toon was a healing focused cleric) and try to get him good (somewhat) Evocation DC's, while not completely throwing away any chance to do melee dps (for when he is soloing).

One of the big questions I am struggling with is: Is am I wasting time trying to invest in the TWF feat line, or should I drop them and boost Evo DC's higher (+3 ) and take empower healing to strengthen the caster and healing roles?

I know I am better off going with elemental forms if when going caster focused, and I know wolf form (TWF+SWF) is better DPS.. but Bear form is non-negotiable in this case.

Here is what I came up with as a first draft... suggestions or even a completely different direction (it needs to be a Bear though), is welcome.

----------34 point build---------

Name: Bear Warrior (Caster/Tank/Healer)
Class Split: 20 Druid
Race: Human

Abilities:
Str: 35 -- (14 base + 3 tome +1 Beast Mastery +8 item +2 Insight +1 GoTIB +2 ship +2 ram’s might +2 rage)
Dex: 32 -- (14 base + 3 tome +1 Beast Mastery +9 item +1 GoTIB +2 insightful +2 ship)
Con: 42 -- (16 base +3 tome +1 Beast Mastery +1 destiny +10 item +2 insight +1 GoTIB +2 Ship +4 Bear Form +2 Rage)
Int: 16 -- (10 base +3 tome +1 GoTIB +2 ship)
Wis: 58-- (16 base +3 tome +7 Levels +5 Enh +10 Item +2 insight +1 GoTIB +2 ship +2 yugo)
Cha: 24 -- (8 base +3 tome +8 Item +2 insightful +1 GoTIB +2 ship)

Spell Craft, Heal, Intimidation, UMD, Tumble (1), Rest in Concentration

Feats: Past Life: Sorc x1
Base: Empower (1), Maximize (1), Heighten (3), Quicken (6), TWF (9), Shield Mastery (12), ITWF (15), GTWF (18), SF: Evocation (21), Improved Shield Mastery (24), Epic PRR? / Heavy Armor? / Improved Critical? (27)
Epic Destiny: Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting (26), Mass Frog (28)

Enhancements:
Druid: Nature’s Warrior (41 ap): Nature’s Warrior Cores (6), Extra Wild Empathy III (3), Bestial Nature III (3), Action Boost: Doublestrike III (3), Flight III (3), Fight I (1), Fatal Harrier III (3), Improved Dodge III (3), Wis II (4), Essence of the Turtle II (2), Four Legs Good (1), Alpha Strike III (3), Wild Healing II (2), Celerity III (3), Natural Adept (1)

Druid: Season’s Herald (33 ap): Cores V (5), Season’s Greetings: Winter III (3), Beguile III (3), Wax and Wane III (6), Produce Flame III (3), Creeping Cold III (3), Wisdom II (4), Call Lightning III (3), Spring Resurgence III (3),

Human (6 ap): Action Boost: Damage (1), Wisdom I (2), Healing Amp I (2), Don’t Count me out I (1)

Core Stats:
HP: ~1250
Evocation DC: 57 (10 base + 9 spell level + 24 wis + 1 Sorc PL + 2 Precise Casting + 3 Evo Specialist + 5 Item + 2 Augment + 1 Airship)
Intimidation: 65 (23 base + 7 cha + 8 epic + 6 Sentinel +6 Greensteel + 4 GH + 3 tome + 3 ship + 2 good luck + 1 profane +2 Coin lords)
PRR: 108 (30 Nature’s Warrior Cores + 10 Epic PRR + 17 Med Armor + 24 Sheltering + 17 Legendary Shield Mastery + 10 Shield Mastery)

Epic Destiny – Unyielding Sentinel:
Con I (2), Brace for Impact II (4), Shield Prowess III (3), Commanding Presence III (3), Legendary Shield Mastery III (3), Renewal III (3), Intolerant blows (2), Strength of Vitality III (3), Undying Vanguard (2)

Twists: Draconic: Energy Burst: Cold (4), Draconic: Piercing Casting: Evo (2), Magister: Evocation Specialist (2)

[MadGardener]

I have a pure bear tank druid (20 epic 8). I rarely play it as anything is better , it hits like a newborn kitten, slow attack, slow casting times, poor spell points (note: special attacks cost spell points),
I would suggest a monk in a bear suit....5ish levels of druid (or so for bear form) and monk for everything else likely about 12 monk, this leaves a little room to do 3rd splash or a little more of druid/monk.
I my opinion the bear is not viable, so pick something else. (short of being something else in a bear costume)

[unbongwah]

Bear form on a pure druid is...not very good, at least from a DPS perspective, for the reasons MadGardener outlined. If you really wish to play a bear, you should multiclass; either monk or ftr 6, at least, IMHO, for feats and the various defensive bonuses.

If you want to stick with pure druid caster, I am contractually obligated to link one of my guild officer's builds; fortunately, it's also a good build.