Pure Caster Druid: Bad Idea?

[Kyuubil]

Looking for an alt to kill time with, as just sword and boarding with my pally/fighter leaves me desiring change from time to time -- and I Was looking through ED's (after all, if i'm not going to enjoy the endgame, why bother with the leveling?)

And out of all of them, Shiraldi Champion jumped out at me the most, -- mostly it's wide variety of toolbox effects -- so I thought why not ranger? but.. eh, I'd want to AA, and monkchers just seem better for that.

Then I noticed many of them had >on offensive spell added on

and that got me thinking, why not a druid? offensive/defensive caster? I mean I remember threat about healing druids being solid casters, surely it's possible to play one as an offensive caster (hell, sidespec into healing enhancements, and I can even run as a healer popping over into summer stance)

Anyhow, I mocked up a quick build --got to 12, and realized.. I have no idea what the fizzlestick I cam doing... so what i've got:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.14.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 12 Lawful Neutral Human Male
(12 Druid) 
Hit Points: 176
Spell Points: 789 
BAB: 9\9\14
Fortitude: 11
Reflex: 5
Will: 12

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 12)
Strength             10                    10
Dexterity            12                    12
Constitution         16                    16
Intelligence         12                    12
Wisdom               16                    19
Charisma             10                    10

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 12)
Balance               1                     1
Bluff                 0                     0
Concentration         7                    17
Diplomacy             4                    14
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                0                     0
Heal                  3                     7
Hide                  1                     1
Intimidate            0                     0
Jump                  0                     0
Listen                7                    18
Move Silently         1                     1
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                1                     1
Search                3                     3.5
Spot                  7                    16
Swim                  0                    12
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device      2                     2

Level 1 (Druid)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness


Level 2 (Druid)
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Wolf


Level 3 (Druid)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell


Level 4 (Druid)


Level 5 (Druid)
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Bear


Level 6 (Druid)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Enhancement: Druid Season's Herald I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Druid Waxing Hoarfrost I
Enhancement: Druid Waxing Sun I
Enhancement: Druid Waxing Life I
Enhancement: Druid Energy of the Locus I
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of Hoarfrost I
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of Hoarfrost II
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of the Storm I
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of the Sun I
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of the Sun II
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of Life I
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of Life II
Enhancement: Druid Wisdom I
Enhancement: Druid Toughness I


Level 7 (Druid)


Level 8 (Druid)


Level 9 (Druid)
Enhancement: Druid Spring's Resurgence
Enhancement: Druid Energy of the Locus II
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of Hoarfrost III
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of the Sun III
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of Life III


Level 10 (Druid)


Level 11 (Druid) 


Level 12 (Druid)
Enhancement: Druid Autumnal Susurrus
Enhancement: Druid Season's Herald II
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Druid Energy of the Locus III

Essentially building like that -- focusing on AOE (flame strike, ice storm) and CC (Sleet storm, earthquake) -- while keeping healing "competitive" allowing me to swap some gear and a spell or two out and heal with the best of 'em.

Problems/concerns/notes

From a quick overview, it seems i'm going to perma water elemental, so many ways to reduce reflex saves, allowing me to unleash the fury of nature upon anything in my way like the fist of an angry god. -- Autumnal Susurrus is essentially perma-shaken, for instance.

Feats; I have no idea how to feat out a caster, I obviously want empowered healing, and empower spell but.. beyond that, i'm lost. Any advice is welcome

Spells: anything not-obvious? I've done a bit of research, know the majority of the powerhouse is in Ice storm, earthquake, and Sleet storm -- flame strike will likely see use while leveling ( I love AoE, really, I do, it's one of the reason my pally makes me so happy, intimidate -> cleave -> great cleave just touches me in an oh-so-special way -- and I've heard druids are among the best in the game at laying waste to rooms.. so.. happy) -- for single target, my options are pretty much CREEPING COLD, ALL DAY.

Skills: here's the tricky part, the caster capstone is.. eh, so I was considering going 18/2 rogue making me essentially a walking troubleshooter, heals, traps, evasion -- but seems it'd be skill starved -- any comments? anything I missed?


Generally: Bad idea? good idea? "eh" idea?

[EnjoyTheJourney]

This looks like a solid plan, overall, at least in my own (admittedly limited) experience.

You would probably do better to take maximize than empower, if you feel the need to choose between the two. But, you may find that maximize makes a good replacement for extend, instead of dropping empower. Getting spell focus: evocation and eventually greater spell focus: evocation would also be helpful, to cut down on mobs with evasion making a reflex save and shrugging off some of your damage spells.

Extend doesn't extend the "vigor" line of spells or regeneration spells, does it? Or does it? If it does, then extend is a lot more attractive than I first believed it to be.

For skills, balance helps you get back on your feet and would probably provide more utility than investments in listen or swim. That's not a character-destroying issue, by any means, but getting back up quickly after getting tripped or knocked over would probably make your druid more fun to play, as well as more effective.

[hermespan]

A druid will be good at anything you focus on

The tools are there to make them competitive as healers, offensive casters or melee if you specialize.

With the right gear you can swap some gear in and out and be competent at healing (at least as a backup healer) even if your build is not healing focused.

No it's not a bad idea at all.