Is a high wisdom elemental form melee build possible?

[Amante]

I haven't played at all on the test server, but I've been watching the forums and reading the info released.

I know Druids can use their wisdom for either hit or damage instead of strength, and I thought they could use weapons in elemental form. So, would a Druid work out okay as a melee focused spell caster hybrid type? I'm less concerned with how effective it would be and more concerned with whether or not wisdom actually works for attacks.

Thanks!

[Jaid314]

wisdom only works for attacks with a flame blade. so far as i am aware, the flame blade should work in elemental form, though i haven't tested it; however, the key problem here is that using only one specific weapon will really, really, *really* hurt you.

but yeah, i'm pretty sure you actually can do it. but i would really strongly recommend investing at least somewhat into strength so you can use a variety of melee weapons available to druids.

[threefeetunder]

The spell flame blade summons 2 scimitars made of fire, which do fire damage instead of slashing damage and use your wisdom modifier for hit and damage (they scale with your level, up to lvl 20). You can summon them in any form (normal, animal or elemental, all work with them, though the animal forms won't be getting the wis to hit and damage)

They're not too bad, so it's a viable build as a caster/melee (if you can include twf in there), but don't expect to melee any fire elementals or fire immune stuff. You will literally do no damage. On the other hand, it's not affected by dr or anything of the like.

[DrakHar]

The spell flame blade summons 2 scimitars made of fire, which do fire damage instead of slashing damage and use your wisdom modifier for hit and damage (they scale with your level, up to lvl 20). You can summon them in any form (normal, animal or elemental, all work with them, though the animal forms won't be getting the wis to hit and damage)

They're not too bad, so it's a viable build as a caster/melee (if you can include twf in there), but don't expect to melee any fire elementals or fire immune stuff. You will literally do no damage. On the other hand, it's not affected by dr or anything of the like.

"Amrath? Vale? I'll uh... pass, guys..."

[Ryiah]

"Amrath? Vale? I'll uh... pass, guys..."

A build like this would be focusing on Wisdom. As such it would still be viable in Amrath and Vale just more heavily as a caster than a melee.

[Amante]

With Druid's elemental focus, would there not be a good chance of more than just flaming swords as weapon choices? Has there been any word on whether there would be weapons for the other elements Druids can work with?

[threefeetunder]

With Druid's elemental focus, would there not be a good chance of more than just flaming swords as weapon choices? Has there been any word on whether there would be weapons for the other elements Druids can work with?

None so far, and I doubt there would be. There's no 'water blade' or 'acid blade' in dnd, just flame blade.

[idle1]

Its certainly viable, only problem really been the 3-4 feats and you'd use on a caster so I'd go human and really need a +2 dex tomb. Make sure wisdom is 16-18 to start. For melee I'd switch to wolf form, put on best weapon and shield you can, cast animal growth and few other buffs then melee down. But ice storm/creeping colds/spike growth/storm of veng/earthquake/creeping doom combo or wolfs ice breath sure make killing fire elementals or devils np as long as you have, max wisdom and patience.

Druids are more of a aoe dot class in my eyes.

[decease]

if you can ignore the dr and immunity(or even absorb) then it might be a good idea...

p.s. sad thing is you won't do much damage.. dr is kinda nasty..especially when fighting golems..

[butcheredspirit]

if you can ignore the dr and immunity(or even absorb) then it might be a good idea...

p.s. sad thing is you won't do much damage.. dr is kinda nasty..especially when fighting golems..

Well yes.
But I would hope if someone maxed their wisdom, they didn't play their toon as a one trick, scimitar wielding pony.

The person just needs to adjust their tactics for the situation.

[Emili]

Some are forgetting that wisdom is also your casting DC. Seriously what makes them think you would not be viable in other avenues at moments your melee is not up to par... a swap of items and you're a caster.

Funny fact is... spells are far more potent than melee and druids ... least in PnP are a heck of a caster.

[Ryiah]

Some are forgetting that wisdom is also your casting DC. Seriously what makes them think you would not be viable in other avenues at moments your melee is not up to par... a swap of items and you're a caster.

So long as the player picked their feats intelligently, yes.

[TreknaQudane]

Funny fact is... spells are far more potent than melee and druids ... least in PnP are a heck of a caster.

PnP .. yes

Here?... not so much

They made too many 'spells' that are for wildshape and kind of forget that druids cast real spells too.

There are six Level 9 spells. Half of those only work in a specific animal form. And one of the remaining three is SNA. No Elemental Swarm, No Mass Cure Critical Wounds, No Shambler, No Shapechange


Thinking on it I don't think they gave druids cometfall like they should have. Which fits.. they didn't give clerics/fvs Earthquake.. or storm of vengeance.

[wax_on_wax_off]

PnP .. yes

Here?... not so much

They made too many 'spells' that are for wildshape and kind of forget that druids cast real spells too.

There are six Level 9 spells. Half of those only work in a specific animal form. And one of the remaining three is SNA. No Elemental Swarm, No Mass Cure Critical Wounds, No Shambler, No Shapechange


Thinking on it I don't think they gave druids cometfall like they should have. Which fits.. they didn't give clerics/fvs Earthquake.. or storm of vengeance.

I don't recall druid ever getting cometfall.

Overall I'm expecting them to flesh out the spell list and different things quite a bit over the coming updates particularly with the full enhancement release which is Soon (TM). Druid will be a money maker for a while to come so no reason not to keep improving it.

[TreknaQudane]

I don't recall druid ever getting cometfall.

Overall I'm expecting them to flesh out the spell list and different things quite a bit over the coming updates particularly with the full enhancement release which is Soon (TM). Druid will be a money maker for a while to come so no reason not to keep improving it.

cometfall-completedivine.png

Definitely a Druid spell.

I've little faith in them making NEW spells for druids when they haven't even give them EXISTING spells they should have.

[wax_on_wax_off]

cometfall-completedivine.png

Definitely a Druid spell.

I've little faith in them making NEW spells for druids when they haven't even give them EXISTING spells they should have.

I stand corrected, the spell doesn't appear on the d20 SRD for some reason (don't have source books anymore).

Give it time, Turbine has good monetary incentives to address these obvious issues. I doubt druid will get cometfall (no need to give them ALL the best toys when they already have most of them) but I'm sure the spell list will get fleshed out a bit more over coming updates.

[butcheredspirit]

PnP .. yes

Here?... not so much


Thinking on it I don't think they gave druids cometfall like they should have. Which fits.. they didn't give clerics/fvs Earthquake.. or storm of vengeance.

It's a shame the feel of offensive casting struggles to translate onto DDO.

Just to stir the pot a bit, Earthquake, Storm of Vengeance and Regenerate were formerly cleric only spells.
It wasn't until 3rd ed. that druids got access to these cleric spells.
http://pandaria.rpgworlds.info/cant/...dnd_spells.htm

[twoton]

I have a lvl 20 druid on the test server and, he is a half orc with 16 wis could start at 18 on a tr build with high str like 18 or 20 to start. With a rahls might q-staff you can have avg dps along with high dc on your spells. my regular hits are around mid 50's to mid 60's and crits only in the hundreds but still decent. tag that with casting aoe affect spells and your a pretty good one man recking crew.

[Ryiah]

I have a lvl 20 druid on the test server and, he is a half orc with 16 wis could start at 18 on a tr build with high str like 18 or 20 to start.

What is his Constitution? With high Strength and Wisdom it sounds a bit like you dumped it. While Constitution doesn't automatically mean low hitpoints, it does make quite a difference on characters with a low hit die.

[azrael4h]

What is his Constitution? With high Strength and Wisdom it sounds a bit like you dumped it. While Constitution doesn't automatically mean low hitpoints, it does make quite a difference on characters with a low hit die.

Assuming Half-Orc:

STR 18 (10 build points)
CON 16 (10 build points)
WIS 16 (10 build points)

Leaving 2-6 points, depending on first life/1TR/2xTR. Meaning on a Half-Orc you could go 18/8/16/6/18/8 on a third lifer.

For mine, that's basically what I'm doing. Except likely Human or Half-Elf (3rd lifer, so 36pt build).

STR 16 (10)
CON 16 (10)
WIS 18 (16)

Melee won't be a focus, just a backup. Likely Half-Elf Fighter Dilettante so I have some effective weapons, since Wildshape is worthless except for Snowslide and Elemental spell damage boost, and Shillelagh was nerfed into worthlessness as well. Should get me through the low levels where I won't have much efficient spell casting damage, and serve as a backup in the mid levels where I'll not want to cast at times or won't be able to (beholders).