In need of build advice for Druid/monk

[Devonian]

I'm in need of a new lowbie char, as my only genuinely fun char has rather plateued. That char was a monk, and the combination of resilience, adaptability, and useful tricks was very fun. So I figured I might try a Druid with monk splash, mainly melee with an eye towards healing, ideally able to frontline things, to catch that fun again.

However, they have managed to change enough of druid that I'm not sure what works with that, how deep a splash to take, what PRE to shoot for or what I'd really be gaining. so any and all advice is gratefully welcomed. If anyone needs clarification please do ask.

[EnjoyTheJourney]

The biggest drawback is that you'd be playing a Dronk, Drunk, Druink, or Muid. You wouldn't be able to explain your character in polite company, if that ends up being the case.

On a more serious note, you'd probably like to "go animal" for your druidic prestige, rather than Season's Herald, to be stronger in melee.

[Devonian]

Oh, one thing I was toying with was using staves and using the Shileligh spell to boost damage, will that work in animal shape? or, am I better focusing on handwraps?

Also how do say Elven longsword Enhancements work when in animal shape? Or dual wielding?

[moriedhel]

Oh, one thing I was toying with was using staves and using the Shileligh spell to boost damage, will that work in animal shape? or, am I better focusing on handwraps?

Also how do say Elven longsword Enhancements work when in animal shape? Or dual wielding?

No, no, no, no.

S&B for animal form, wraps maybe if you remain in elemental form.

[Devonian]

No, no, no, no.

S&B for animal form, wraps maybe if you remain in elemental form.

So that would be a no? ;p

I'm not seeing how S&B is worth it if I'm taking a monk splash, and my attempt at pure druid lacked something.

[jcTharin]

The biggest drawback is that you'd be playing a Drunk,

This is a drawback?

[moriedhel]

So that would be a no? ;p

I'm not seeing how S&B is worth it if I'm taking a monk splash, and my attempt at pure druid lacked something.

S&B gets you the doublestrike and prr/ac combo. You still get some monk goodies even if uncentered afaik (I think evasion, the extra feats and use of stances... not sure tho haven't played monk yet)

FYI my S&B wolf 18 drd/1 ftr/1 wiz played as a fast moving front line, self AOE healing, sneak attack damage dealer or disabler (depending on what weapons I use) with high surviveability and AOE spells and DoTs too. Though I TR'd immediately after I realized I'm stuck looking as every other wolf out there.

[jsaving]

In wolf form, staves can actually be decent for a monk splash -- shillelagh does have an effect (converts your damage type to blunt) and you can use SF too (handy with certain named staves). On my 18/2 I typically use wraps but carry a staff just for skellies and the like, so I can gain full benefits from my natural fighting feats while dishing out blunt damage.

Is S&B worth it on a monk splash if you plan to stay in wolf form? Maybe. Opting for wraps means you'll be centered and have a top-notch stun, both of which go out the window if you equip a shield. But going S&B means a higher doublestrike chance and better AC/PRR, and you don't even lose evasion as long as you stick with light armor.

The real question to ask yourself before doing the splash is why you want to splash monk in the first place. Is it mainly for the bonus feats and evasion, which you can have no matter what's in your hands? Or do you specifically want to use stunning fist, which would point you toward wraps? Only you can answer that, but I think there's a very strong case to be made for going S&B on an 18/2 unless you see SF as key to your build.

[Culver.Civello]

So that would be a no? ;p

I'm not seeing how S&B is worth it if I'm taking a monk splash, and my attempt at pure druid lacked something.

S&B gets you the doublestrike and prr/ac combo. You still get some monk goodies even if uncentered afaik (I think evasion, the extra feats and use of stances... not sure tho haven't played monk yet)

FYI my S&B wolf 18 drd/1 ftr/1 wiz played as a fast moving front line, self AOE healing, sneak attack damage dealer or disabler (depending on what weapons I use) with high surviveability and AOE spells and DoTs too. Though I TR'd immediately after I realized I'm stuck looking as every other wolf out there.

not sure tho haven't played monk yet

Lolz.

You get Evasion, 2 extra feats (Though likely one will be spent on Stunning Fist and the other one toughness... so really only 1 unless you for some STRANGE reason DO NOT take stunning fist which would be kind of... meh.)

Stances do not work if you are uncentered, which a shield would cause. Also, you would lose stunning fist, Monk special moves, and Wisdom Mod to AC. Though you could just wear armor and get some AC from that instead. Wind stance gives you some doublestrike, as well as GMOF. I personally dont find the loss from shield mastery doublestrike that big of a deal. Not with stunning fist in your back pocket. except maybe on unstunnable mobs, in most cases will be bosses, which you will be DOTing up anyways. You do lose some PRR, which I guess... it isnt really that high anyways. So, Id say it is a toss up of preference and game style. When I did my Drunk build, I already had 3 past lives of monk and tons of Monk related gear... so... it was an easier option for me. If you decide you want to stay centered, Wraps are a nice choice if you dont have anything else... but if you can get your hands on some nice kamas... that would be the way to go. put your primary kama in your main hand and in your offhand, put in a kama with something like spell power, Deception, Seeking, and ect. Stunning stuff you will have to get with wraps as it can only go on bludgeon weapons...

It is very possible and I have found enjoyable... but... if you are creating a new toon, it might be a bit more tricky to go with a drunk. Id personally say youd be better of with a 20 Druid for now and later if you want to TR into a drunk, that would be a better choice. Up to you though.

As for PRE, unless you are going for a very specific type of build... like one that doesnt use animal forms so much, and focus on other things like casting, and fighting with say TWF or whatever... which there are builds out there that do.. always go with Natures warrior. If you arent using Animal forms hardly EVER... then... it wont benefit you much, and although Seasons herald isnt that great overall.... it will benefit you much more.

[unbongwah]

When in animal form, THF / TWF feats don't apply; only doublestrike bonuses count, which can come from Natural Fighting feats and either the Shield Mastery feats or Wind stance. Naturally you can't have both and you want to max out your doublestrike as much as possible, so the first thing you have to decide when making a Drunken Wolf / Bear is: do you want to stay centered for stances & monk strikes, which means using robes & monk-only weapons (handwraps if you want Stunning Fist); or are you going S&B+SM feats and just splashing monk for the extra feats + Evasion (which also would let you equip light armor for the PRR)? This in turn is going to depend on whether you plan on going STR- or WIS-based, how deep of a splash you're doing, what other feats / abilities you want, etc.

I have two druid 18 / monk 2 build ideas I want to try out: the first is TWF w/handwraps (EDIT: easily adapted for khops or scimitars instead tho) focused on fire elemental + Body of the Sun which can go with either PrE; the second is a winter wolf build (NW II). Both have Stunning Fist (which means even the drunk wolf still uses handwraps & robes), WIS-based for higher DCs, mix of melee & caster DPS; druids don't excel at either, but combine the two and you're a decent powerhouse with a selection of useful buffs and secondary healing capabilities.