The Druid Compilement.

[theSanchez]

Many people (including myself) have longed for the Druid class. O am making this thread to compile all the information we have a avialable and to discuss it's role in a party. But I can't do it on my own. That's why I need you and all out fellow forumers to assist me. Until its release, this thread will be a rough draft. If you know something, I will add it.

What we know:

Due sometime in 2011. (update 11 at earliest)
Druids can heal, cast offensive Arcane spells, and have Wildshape.
They would most likely worship Gods in a way the FvS do
Access to Martial Weapon, but cannot wear metal armor. (One god does allow it though)
Could possibly be based in upcoming House T(forgot full name. Threshrak?) along with Half-orcs
There will be Wildshape

[Symar-FangofLloth]

It wouldn't be 8; even updates are adventures only.
So we're looking at 9 at the earliest.
However, they said more along the lines of 'the end of the year', so I'd expect it to be more like U13 or U15.
If at all.

As for a Druid's role in the party? We can look to tabletop for that answer.

They get Cure spells, Heal, and other restorative spells, albeit at often delayed spell levels from a Cleric. This will allow them to be a healer, although with the same sp pool as a Cleric and higher sp costs, it'll be tough for them. Still better than a bard. They'll have to spend slots to get the spells, like a FvS, but can swap out at any shrine, so it's not much of an issue.

They get control spells, and also get Wall of Fire and Finger of Death. These will let them fill a CC/Nuker/Instadeath roll, similar to an Arcane caster. Have a Bard in your party for the Arcane Buffs, and you won't need a Sorc or Wiz. However, again, they get the spells at later levels, and so they'll be at higher costs.

They get Shapechanging/Wildshape. This, if implemented properly, will allow a Druid to enter into a heavy melee mode of some sort. Coupled with a 3/4 BAB, a moderate weapon list, and plenty of buff spells, they should be able to perform a melee role very well; better than a Cleric, and similar to or better than a Favored Soul.


So like any other divine caster, they have a myriad of options.

[theSanchez]

Removing Natural spell wouldn't exactly gimp them.
Wildshape could have problems. This is why Wizards don't have Polymorph.

If DDO Druids are goinng to be the same as PnP Druids, other classes could become obsolete compared to a self-healing, firewall flinging bear.

[Chai]

Try: Druids due in MOD 2...

/ducks

[Symar-FangofLloth]

Removing Natural spell wouldn't exactly gimp them.
Wildshape could have problems. This is why Wizards don't have Polymorph.

If DDO Druids are goinng to be the same as PnP Druids, other classes could become obsolete compared to a self-healing, firewall flinging bear.

Unless you can't do all three at once.
I think having no Natural Spell would be the way to go; but they do need a way to cancel out of the form.

And once they get Wildshape down, unless they go with the PHB2 alternative (which I wouldn't mind), I could foresee Polymorph coming into play.
At least, perhaps, as an offensive spell.

[MyersVandalay]

you would have to largely question if wall of fire will be likely to go on druids in DDO, might be alot more broken in that situation (considering in P&P wall of fire wasn't really a major damage spell, for the most part druids did not get any of the main damage spells, due to the brokenness that that would allow. I would imagine wildshape will probably be more akin to it's WoW form, or perhaps 3.5's PHB2 variant where the forms were more or less bonuses to stats rather then raw changes of them, similar to monk stances almost.

[Angelus_dead]

I think having no Natural Spell would be the way to go

A common modification is to change Natural Spell into a metamagic, so that you can still cast as an animal but it's more costly.

[theSanchez]

Wildshape was confirmed in an interview that can be found at gamebanshee.com

[Diyon]

Druids can heal, cast offensive Arcane spells, and have Wildshape.

That would be offensive Divine spells. Druids are a divine caster not arcane.

[Absolute-Omniscience]

If DDO Druids are goinng to be the same as PnP Druids, other classes could become obsolete compared to a self-healing, firewall flinging bear.

Blade barrier says hello. Aka the superior version of firewall.

Druids will be fun though.

[bunitchu]

That would be offensive Divine spells. Druids are a divine caster not arcane.

yes they are divine casters, but their spell list hase some arcane stuff, such as FoD, firewall, etc..

[Xyzima]

i think playing them will be fun but the Devs will completely mess up what 3.5 druids are..

AND THEY SHOULD GET ANIMAL COMPANION!

IN PnP. the DRUIDS. not rangers. animal companion is quite a beast(no pun intended) thats mostly due to all the options druids get to pick from, in pnp.

Maybe if the implement more animals into the game they could make animal companion similar to the Rangers of Guild Wars. Go out and charm it. and it follows you around in instances, and levels as you do.

[Diyon]

yes they are divine casters, but their spell list hase some arcane stuff, such as FoD, firewall, etc..

Except they are just as much divine spells, just that DDO has no caster that can cast them as divine spells as of yet. Resist Energy can be cast by divine and arcane casters, that doesn't make it one or the other, its both outside of the context of the caster. Same with CLW, which bards can cast. Bards still cast only arcane spells. Every spell a druid casts counts as and is a divine spell.

[Symar-FangofLloth]

you would have to largely question if wall of fire will be likely to go on druids in DDO, might be alot more broken in that situation (considering in P&P wall of fire wasn't really a major damage spell, for the most part druids did not get any of the main damage spells, due to the brokenness that that would allow.

Right.
But how well is a Firewall going to be without any Enhancement boosts?
Sure, there's still items and metamagics, but having to rely on an item to get crits and missing that +40% (or whatever it is) that sorc/wiz gets...

[Diyon]

Right.
But how well is a Firewall going to be without any Enhancement boosts?
Sure, there's still items and metamagics, but having to rely on an item to get crits and missing that +40% (or whatever it is) that sorc/wiz gets...

You know, I'm okay with that. Not being as good, but not being as good as one of the most useful midgame spells is not bad at all.

[KKDragonLord]

i think playing them will be fun but the Devs will completely mess up what 3.5 druids are..

AND THEY SHOULD GET ANIMAL COMPANION!

IN PnP. the DRUIDS. not rangers. animal companion is quite a beast(no pun intended) thats mostly due to all the options druids get to pick from, in pnp.

Maybe if the implement more animals into the game they could make animal companion similar to the Rangers of Guild Wars. Go out and charm it. and it follows you around in instances, and levels as you do.

Except that in high levels of PnP the companion usually becomes a hassle and a liability more than really an asset.

I still want them though (and they **** better kick ass).

[richieelias27]

Here is what I see happening:

Wildshape - for 5 minutes you cannot cast spells, have poor melee DPS, a new poorer stat distribution, and lower AC

Elementalshape - same as above but with the proper elemental immunity.

Aside from that should have all the proper druid spells (the real draw), will likely have a somewhat decent animal companion (with the option of taking a feat to buff it up some), and will get an extra spell slot containing either the current summon I-IX line, or a new summon animal I-IX much as the cleric has the free slot devoted to cure spells.

All in all not bad and probably a very valuable addition to parties just for the druid spells alone.

The shapeshifting is likely to be completely worthless though. In fact I seem them borking it up somehow by making you spend AP on it.

[Diyon]

Wildshape - for 5 minutes you cannot cast spells, have poor melee DPS, a new poorer stat distribution, and lower AC

While I'll hope for it to be better on that, lower AC makes no sense, half the time you wild shape in PnP you increase your ac, not mention if you had wild armor on.

[Angelus_dead]

Sure, there's still items and metamagics, but having to rely on an item to get crits and missing that +40% (or whatever it is) that sorc/wiz gets...

The DDO Druid will probably get an enhancement series that gives +40% to both Fire and Lightning damage.

(If it were up to me I'd stop it at 30%)

[Calebro]

The DDO Druid will probably get an enhancement series that gives +40% to both Fire and Lightning damage.

(If it were up to me I'd stop it at 30%)

They will probably get this, yes. They will also probably get a healing enhancement line. They will also probably get wildshape enhancing lines similar to a Barb's rage enhancing lines. They will also probably get all summon spells automatically, similar to Clerics and healing spells.