Bear Form Druid

[Daemoneyes]

I know that when monks or other humanoid characters fight unarmed that it is bludgeon damage. But any class mixed with a monk level also switches to the unarmed style of the monk. I.E. rapid, chop socky roundhouse kick style. I don't know from experience but i'm guessing this doesn't apply to animal form druids. If it did then splashing one level of monk would solve the attack speed problem. (and look pretty hilarious)

The wiki says that the bear does bludgeon and slash damage. So even though conventional unarmed fighting is all bludgeon, i was thinking that animal form fighting might be exceptional as regards improved critical since it doesn't (i'm assuming) act like other classes regarding adopting the unarmed monk fighting style when splashing monk. Probably an easy way to see what kind of damage it is outputting would be to test it against zombies, skellis, and spiders, since they all have dr based on the type of the weapon. A bear should do normal damage to both zombies and skellies, but not spiders, and a wolf should do normal damage to spiders and skellis, but not zombies.

Another question: Is the flaming scimitar from the spell affected by IC/slash? Again on the wiki it says that it does fire damage rather than slashing damage. But it's a scimitar. I'm curious about how this works too.
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you keep fighting as animal but monks increased base damage works
my winterwolf attacks with 2 d10 atm (with pl monk this would be 3 d10) ^^

i would guess its flame scimitar is affected but IC/slash
but in animal form its IC/bludg.

[robinrochester360]

Just want to update my progress. i am currently stuck at 16 as I've gotten alt fever and been playing some others, and my comp is having health issues so my play on my druid has been limited. However, when i cannot find an epic run i have been messing around soloing elites levels 13-15.

I got a lvl 16 Wall of Wood and the Blazing scimitar (Iforget the exact name). I have been really enjoying him. In elite Cry for Help I was never did less than 22 base damage, and that was only once or twice in bear form. That was strictly weapon, before anything else, and a regular attack. Add in flaming burst or bear special abilities and I was hitting for well over 200 regularly. Add to that I was largely unkillable. I have 'perfected' rapid form switching and pop between bear and water elemental to throw down ice storm or call lightning storm and then back to bear to melee. things die quickly.

I am really hoping to get through vale this week end and then get to ED. I really didn't want the build to be so gear centric but it looks like it will have to be to succeed.

[wildbynature]

I have actually really enjoyed bear form for many groups. I run in, intim, cleave, greatcleave, shrewd, rising fury, other special attacks. My parties usually pick off whatever's around me one by one. Reaving roar goes off and everyone dies. I have a 62 ac at level 14 in dire bear form, decent pr and dr. If I get into a bind, I cast regenerate and turtle up, and then it looks like I don't get hit. Melee acacrity items help as does haste.

My double strike isn't as high as it should be (12%) DPS isn't really an issue, though. I've found that many people concentrate on dps over survivability, so they're usually happy to see a tanky Druid tanking. There are a couple archers who run away with agro when they decide to get the first hit in and I decide to not chase. I just take down the next mob and wait for the ding. I swear by cleave/great cleave/ reaving roar, and I'm a pure class, so I'm told that my toon isn't going to be viable for very long after 12, so I may not have the best advice.

[Ghwyn]

I prefer bear form, but also see weak dps for a bear. I think bears should get a huge str bonus to compensate for the slow melee. For most quests I stay in bear, toss a few creeping colds and then dps. In some quests I stay in ele form, like the last parts of shroud.

I know I can get better dps with better gear. Now I am using ice razor for my main weapon in bear form, along with a shield.

[crazycaren]

I'm playing around with a dwarven bear druid myself, and have a couple of questions.

According to the wiki, bear form does bludgeon and slashing damage. Wolf does bludgeon and piercing. So why do all the builds suggest taking IC/bludgeon? Is it so you can use it with both animal forms. I ask because i was thinking of taking IC/slash instead, so that it would work in the bear form but also if i want to melee in human form, with a real weapon.

Has anyone tried meleeing with a bear without using any of the standard attacks at all? It seems like you might be able to chain trip,sunder,cleave,great cleave, and the spell bear attacks constantly and avoid the slow standard attack routine. Anyone have any insight about this?

Improved Crit slash has no effect in animal form.

a wolf should do normal damage to spiders and skellis, but not zombies.

Wolves damage type is slashing so they do yellow dmg to skellies and orange to zombies. Check out the Winter Wolf Damage thread for more info.

[crazycaren]

I built my Druid with the intention of going straight bear to the end, but am having issues with it. Mainly, attack speed and damage. I am currently 13 druid 2 monk. Not sure on my base stats but my str, con and wis are all at least 23. I am sitting just under 400 hps. I have PL Ranger, Monk, Sorc. I want to go sword and board for the doublestrike but hate losing the evasion and the sure speed of attacks not in bear form. Losing my stance sucks to.

I was hoping the mass damage and survivability of being a bear would make up for it. Sometimes it's fine,e specially soloing. However when i get in an experienced TR group I feel like a gimp just trying to keep up. most everything I read on here are just wolf form, some elemental form. I really don't want wolf form... I don't know why, maybe next life. Gear shouldn't be an issue, if I need to find something specific.

So is bear form just the absolute worst (:P) and should I give it up, or is there something I can do?

I can't remember exact feats but I think it is: PL Monk, IC: Bludgeoning, Deflect Arrows (maybe), Toughness, Wild Form attack or whatever it's called. Sorry i know I am not providing everything I need to... lol

I'd rather not go more monk levels. i already have a 24 monk and don't want to really be just another monk form.
Thanks guys!

Why don't you re-run a quest in wolf form that you've just finished in bear form and try it out? I love love LOVE playing my wolf. Even without the special wolf attacks and buffs it would give you a sense of the attack speed. If you have the swailing blade from the Druids Curse it has a combustion boost on it so works great in animal or fire ele forms.