Current draft of Druid Tank

[Xyfiel]

Posting this for a friend to give feedback on and for anyone else that may benefit from something in it. It is a draft that has changed multiple times as info has come out. I also spent a few weeks away from game, unhappy with new stuff. I don't want to play my other chars until the PrE update, and after spending many hours trying to find a build to play just for fun, I made this. So before posting feedback, remember it is just to have something that sounds fun for some time not the uberest tank eva. Also, this is just rough data for a basic build, it isn't exact for every number.

Guillotin
Tank Alt
Past lives complete: Barb, Fighter, Wizard
Current: 15Wiz/3Paladin for PL paladin(LR+5)

Draft of Druid tank(has gone thru many variations)
Half Elf 13Druid/6Fighter/1Wizard/5Unyielding Sentinel

Stats:
16str +4 levels
13dex
16con +2 levels(+3 tome for Epic toughness)
11int(already used a +3)
10wis(+3 tome for Monk Dil)
14cha
Don't have the feats or ap to benefit from a lot of dodge, but will keep dex at 13 for future options and reflex saves. Wisdom is an all or nothing situation.

Feats:
(F)Shield Mastery
(F)Improved Shield Mastery
(F)Combat Expertise
(F)Improved Crit Bludgeon(animal forms)
(W)Extend(animal growth, PL paladin, 26 min main buffs)
1 of Power Attack/Maximize/Skill focus Intim/PL fighter
Natural Fightingx3
PL Barb(Toughness requirement, +2 intimidate)
PL Paladin(divine favor clicky)
Empower Healing
(E)Bulwark of Defense
(E)Epic Toughness

Skills:
Intimidate: 78 +6twist +raid buffs = 84+ after reaching Draconic
23ranks + 5epic + 6cha +6shroud +1profane +2coin lord +15item +2luck +4morale +4enhancement +2PL Barb +6US +2Defender
Concentration, Umd, Spot maxed
Balance, Tumble remaining

Enhancements:
(3)Racial Toughness II
(3)Druid Toughness II
(6)Druid Str II
(6)Druid Healing III
(6)Human Versatility III
(6)Human Healing Amp II
(6)Monk Healing Amp II
(6)Human Str/Con I
(4)Intimidate IV
(1)Armor Boost I
(3)Haste Boost II
(4)Defender I
(1)Wiz Fire I(40 spell power over 20 for Druid)
(1)Wiz Cold I(40 spell power over 20 for Druid)
(6)Natures Warrior II
(5)Vengeful Hunter II
(6)Shrike II
(2)Fatal Harrier
(2)Celerity
(3)Bestial Nature II

Healing Amp:
1.05 Paladin PL
1.2 Tod Ring/Leviks
1.3 gloves
1.2 Half Elf
1.2 Monk Dil
1.1 Ship
260%

Regenerate Spell:
Emp Healing: 50 spell points
Every Wolf crit = 20 Temp spell points
1d6+13 healing every 2 seconds for 10 seconds(4 ticks?)
2 ability damage and 1 neg level every 2 seconds(can use DQ bracers once I make a healing amp Tod ring or just have lower amp)
16.5 base *(90Devotion Item +50Druid Heal III +25 US +30 Twist EA + 75 Empower Healing) = 16.5 * 3.70 = 61.05
61.05 healing * 260% amp = 159 healing/tick, 142 with potency +52(Madstone)
Cooldown with Expertise = 20 Seconds

Hit points: 916
20 Heroic +30GFL +45shroud +10DV +4Wiz +60Fighter +104Druid +20Toughness item +20Racial +20Druid +100US +50Epic Toughness +30PL Barb +300Con +20Yugo = 833+10%

AC/PRR: TBD(Heavy Redscale +Madstone is current plan)
To hit: TBD
Spell points: TBD(1300+)
Waiting for live for final US, Druid, and gear info.

Attack speed comparisons:
100% base(Sword and board speed is slightly faster than twf main hand)
+30% base attack WinterWolf
18% doublestrike Natural Fightingx3
8% Improved Shield Mastery
9% Unyeilding Sentinel Legendary Shield Mastery
3% Epic Spare hand
130%base * 38%doublestrike = 179%
Slightly lower due to bab loss

Compare to 20 Fighter or Paladin With Bastard/Dwarf Axe
100% base S&B
10% doublestrike Capstone/Zeal
8% Improved Shield Mastery
9% Unyeilding Sentinel Legendary Shield Mastery
3% Epic Spare hand
20% Glancing Blows(Aoe but hard to calc)
20% Shield Bash
100%base * 30% doublestrike + 20% Glancing +20% Shield bash= 170% + Glancing Aoe
Less dps vs single target, more dps vs multiple targets(I do get Aoe nukes though)but uses 5 feats instead of 4, has to have Dps Shields, and is restricted on weapons.

Compare to base Gtwf
100% base main hand(actually a bit less then S&S)
80% off hand, half strength
3% Epic Spare hand
103% main + 80% off hand = 183%
This is actually a few % lower due to half str on off hand, which makes the Dps very close. Of course 20 Fighter, Wind Monk, Tempest, Paladin would have higher, but would lose the AC/PRR of the shield, and the threat bonus.

Misc:
1d10 17-20x3 (basically a greensteel Khopesh and I can equip any weapon, ranged, daggers, whatever I want for effects, lots of versatility here, really liked Sacrificial Dagger with str damage)
Can use Handwraps without Monk level, including Tod burst damage. Didn't test Cove gloves.
4d6 Sneak attack
2d6 extra damage when mob is <50%.
+4 to crit damage before multipliers
various Druid animal enhancements
Extra Intimidate/minute via Half Elf
Firewall/Icestorm for leveling
Fire Elemental Form for firewall, fire aura, and immunity to stuns(could be timed in Tod, but doubt I would try)
Self Cast: Barkskin, Freedom, Resists, Stoneskin, Deathward, Rams Might, Enveloping Swarm, Animal Growth(+4 str/con, -2 dex), Fireshield, Poison, Disease. Animal growth makes up for Defender III str/con bonus. Rams gives +2 damage, same as weapon specialization feat, without requiring focus.
Pet for levers
4 LOH regenerating from US.
Sadly not much I can use for Wizard Level 1 spells and bypass the ASF from Heavy Dragonscale. Featherfall is only one that bypasses.

Current issues:
Defender bonus when using weapon and shield not applying(Threat and 10PRR)
Bestial Nature stance turns off when entering defender(can live with)
Tod burst damage doesn't always work in form. Will apply good effect from Holy Burst. Works correctly if handwraps equipped.

[decease]

have you test this already on lam with end game content? also.. it seem to be alots of works putting there... it seem with your current effort you could achieve much more with barb or fighter..

p.s. with that much of effort even sorc can be main tank... XD

[Xyfiel]

have you test this already on lam with end game content? also.. it seem to be alots of works putting there... it seem with your current effort you could achieve much more with barb or fighter..

p.s. with that much of effort even sorc can be main tank... XD

Much more what? Tanking ability? I don't run the hardest content so it doesn't have to be the best tank in the game. Can it tank a normal TOD and do Epic Normal, sure. Maybe even Epic Hard.

What effort? Leveling and getting a few new items? Everyone will be leveling and getting a few new items. No different than any other Druid build starting at low levels.

Did you skip over the part where I stated I was unhappy and couldn't find something to play? I only found 2 builds that would keep me playing until the Prestige update, a Druid tank and a Monk shuriken spec. I choose the one I was better setup for.

[decease]

Much more what? Tanking ability? I don't run the hardest content so it doesn't have to be the best tank in the game. Can it tank a normal TOD and do Epic Normal, sure. Maybe even Epic Hard.

What effort? Leveling and getting a few new items? Everyone will be leveling and getting a few new items. No different than any other Druid build starting at low levels.

Did you skip over the part where I stated I was unhappy and couldn't find something to play? I only found 2 builds that would keep me playing until the Prestige update, a Druid tank and a Monk shuriken spec. I choose the one I was better setup for.

so you already have the tome, 3x barb p and most of the gear? niiiiiiiiice.. well if you are just for fun then this seem solid~~~ good luck =)

[Therrias]

Tanking in wolf form?

[LupusVai]

Current issues:
Defender bonus when using weapon and shield not applying(Threat and 10PRR)
Bestial Nature stance turns off when entering defender(can live with)
Tod burst damage doesn't always work in form. Will apply good effect from Holy Burst. Works correctly if handwraps equipped.

Also:
Natures warrior PRE that adds 2d6 damage when mobs under 50% isn't working. Seems to proc about 5-10% of the time on mobs under 50% health. Has been bug reported and also forum reported (read by dev although unsure if he actually replied to that part or just other parts in the post). With any luck they'll fix it before release. (won't be holding my breath though!)

[Jay203]

are you sure you can pick up monk dilly with 10 base wis and a +3 tome?

[TreknaQudane]

are you sure you can pick up monk dilly with 10 base wis and a +3 tome?

Yes. Feats check you current stats for requirements not what you had at that level.

[Jay203]

Yes. Feats check you current stats for requirements not what you had at that level.

that can't be WAI xD

[TreknaQudane]

that can't be WAI xD

Been like this since feat respecs were introduced oh so long ago.

[Jay203]

Been like this since feat respecs were introduced oh so long ago.

so is the ladder bug

[Xyfiel]

Tanking in wolf form?

I have the option to switch to Direbear, if gaining AC/hps is better than dps. It is a catch 22, you have a little better defense but much less offense, meaning the Dps wil steal your aggro constantly. There are times when blocking will be needed, it takes a second to change over to Bear. Run the numbers, you can't stay in Bear form and keep aggro.

[Gulain]

I have the option to switch to Direbear, if gaining AC/hps is better than dps. It is a catch 22, you have a little better defense but much less offense, meaning the Dps wil steal your aggro constantly. There are times when blocking will be needed, it takes a second to change over to Bear. Run the numbers, you can't stay in Bear form and keep aggro.

Except bear form also gets a 50% threat increase self-buff spell in Roar. Even at 30% lower damage the 50% more threat = higher total threat output especially as it may also increase threat from spells (would have to test and confirm). Pair it with other defensive bonuses and free intimidate on attack spell with 6s cooldown that bear gets and it's a no contest on total threat.

Also... I don't get using wraps. You can't equip wraps and a shield so you lose out on the PRR (and doublestrike??) bonus of using shields.

I actually thought of a similar build but went with 13 Druid 6 Monk 1 Fighter and didn't take extend. You pick up 25% incorp and 6% dodge from the monk but are left in pajamas. Should be able to hit 90ish AC, 80-90 PRR, 20-25% dodge and 25% incorp total this way for some hefty mitigation.

Second reason for this is using earth stance for extra PRR/Con and using in combination with villager set bonus for 25% damage reduction for 10s after a vorpal crit once every 20s.

[Xyfiel]

The 30% damage is a multiplier, it factors in before everything else.
The 50% threat is additive, it factors in with all threat.

For this build I have 100% intimidating presence(shield) threat and +50% defender in wolf form, and 50% more in bear form. Total threat bonus 150% and 200%.

Feats and items same so doublestrike is 38%.

Lets take 100 dps for base Bear for a easy number. Wolf would be 130 dps due to faster base attack speed, this is ignoring all other factors like crit profile, haste, that benefits the wolf.

Bear:
100 dps *(1+38%) *(1+200%) = 414 effective threat

Wolf:
130 dps *(1+38%) *(1+150%) = 449 effective threat

The higher the dps, the further apart it gets. Wolf = more threat, more dps. Best part, I can use both depending on the situation, because there are times having more hps, ac, and Rising Fury will be better. Of course this all could be wrong, so many bugs who knows whats WAI.

Your other build intrigues me for another character. I didn't think a Monk build could get that much Ac/Prr/Dodge at the same time.