LF Caster Druid Splash/Multiclass Options?

[DyrtNap]

I'm not at all new to the game but I am completely new to the Druids class. I've mostly played Arcanes and a little TWF melee and until a few days ago never even thought about a druid. After looking into them I found I liked the idea of such a versatile utility caster. The problem is that there seems to be VERY little discussion on caster Druids outside of some simple feat list questions.

With all the amazing synergy going on between classes right now it feels downright weird to think of being a pure. Pure Cleric seems to be considered more powerful as a caster DPS by many and it seems from what little I can glean since U19 Druid is in that same boat as well. I really like hunting for little synergistic Easter Eggs and while I can see PLENTY of melee synergy so far I'm just not seeing much for casters.
I've seen the obligatory 18Druid/2monk and that's about it. Under the new enhancement system I just can't imagine trying to use all those AP's in 1 classes trees especially one with only a single related tree. Which seems sad and a waste of potential if true.

So whats the deal? Are the DC's just too important? Did the old forums hold a wealth of knowledge on this subject? Or am I just blind as well as stupid?

[unbongwah]

I'm blanking on any splashes for a caster druid which is gonna boost your caster DPS or DCs much; SH capstone isn't awesome, but it's still +3 Conj/Trans DCs (mostly good for Storm of Vengeance) +1 all other DCs. I suppose you could add FvS 2 for Scourge + Just Reward, but you won't get as much outta that as, say, a Fire Savant or even a light Divine Disciple would.

Other splashes are the usual suspects: rog or monk for Evasion; rog or arty for UMD and/or trap skills; ftr for extra feat & Haste Boost; wiz splash for extra feat and maybe AM SLA (Shield? Invis?); etc.

[Grailhawk]

I remember thinking that a Sorc splash to pick up fire or water savant could be interesting but I think that was mostly just as a place to spend AP after i got sick of Season.

[unbongwah]

I remember thinking that a Sorc splash to pick up fire or water savant could be interesting but I think that was mostly just as a place to spend AP after i got sick of Season.

On my pure caster druid, I put my extra APs into human (+WIS, heal amp, etc.) and Nature's Warrior (+Pos Spellpower, Bestial Nature for +3 Reflex).

Although Air Savant splash might be nice for +%crits, Electrocution, maybe Alternating Current; esp. on a TR who doesn't need as much help w/DCs as my druid does.

[Grailhawk]

On my pure caster druid, I put my extra APs into human (+WIS, heal amp, etc.) and Nature's Warrior (+Pos Spellpower, Bestial Nature for +3 Reflex).

I use Convalescents of Parrying bracers kind of makes Bestial Nature meh the +Pos Spellpower is nice but there's so much other meh in Natures warrior that its hard to justify spending points in it if your not looking to melee ever. If you will be meleeing from time to time then natures warrior is fine I don't really thing a sorc splash is better then a pure build its just an option.

Although Air Savant splash might be nice for +%crits, Electrocution, maybe Alternating Current; esp. on a TR who doesn't need as much help w/DCs as my druid does.

[DyrtNap]

I appreciate all the answers a lot and will chew on the answers here for a bit while I'm deciding what to do.

I have another question

I'm playing a 15wiz/3fvs/2mnk Shiradi atm and today I started wondering if there is any "NO DC" option for druids that would allow some deeper build diversity. I realize it would likely force you into Shiradi but... at least its an interesting box.

[JasonJi72]

I appreciate all the answers a lot and will chew on the answers here for a bit while I'm deciding what to do.

I have another question

I'm playing a 15wiz/3fvs/2mnk Shiradi atm and today I started wondering if there is any "NO DC" option for druids that would allow some deeper build diversity. I realize it would likely force you into Shiradi but... at least its an interesting box.

You really don't want to have less that 17 druid, unless you are building a moncher druid, and you really want level 18 so you can drop two storms of vengeance at a time. Mass regenerate is one of the best spells in the game.

Pure Druids are good. You do not have to splash. The most common is 2 monk though.

[A3oN95]

I've been searching for druid splash alternatives too, for a gimped build-concept I'm trying to roll (and nope, you're not blind, the info on the class is a little scarce atm).

Not having the monk class unlocked, I thought about a 2-Rog splash for evasion at first, but from what I've been told in this thread, druid's reflex is too low to make it worthwhile.

I'm trying to find out if Drd19/Wiz1 is useful. The wiz level would give:
- 1 extra metamagic feat
- +41 hp for 8 Action points (EK+PM)
- Invis SLA (AM)
- -30% threat gen (Subtle spellcasting) for 3 APs
- +90 SP (EofS) for 6 APs
- +1% Elemental spell crit chance for 2APs

Seems to be a little better than a fighter splash (unless you plan to melee a lot - I don't), and at least as viable as the 18Drd/2FvS option already mentioned by Unbongwah. But I have 0 experience with druids, so I can't say for sure if it would be worth the DC lost from the capstone.

[unbongwah]

I'm playing a 15wiz/3fvs/2mnk Shiradi atm and today I started wondering if there is any "NO DC" option for druids that would allow some deeper build diversity. I realize it would likely force you into Shiradi but... at least its an interesting box.

Druids only get a couple of no-DC spells: Creeping Cold, Gtr Creeping Cold, and Ice Storm. Also, another problem with Shiradi druids is the random procs can only happen on the initial tic of your DoTs, not every time they do dmg, IIUC. Basically druids don't get the spammable DPS of Shiradi arcanes, who are trying to max out their hits and thus their proc chances. On the plus side, though, Shiradi does boost druid CLs.

That said, if you're going caster druid, you should really pick up Storm of Vengeance, IMHO, which means at least druid 17, pref. 18 to get the SLA.

Not having the monk class unlocked, I thought about a 2-Rog splash for evasion at first, but from what I've been told in this thread, druid's reflex is too low to make it worthwhile.

To clarify, druid's base Reflex saves are low; and since they can't take a pally splash due to alignment restrictions, your options for boosting your saves are more limited than, say, a clonk's. But that's not to say it can't be done:

• Racial: dwarf (up to +5 saves vs spells), halfling (up to +4 DEX and +4 to all saves), human (Gtr Heroism clickie, Saves action boost), HE w/pally dilly
• Stat: boost DEX or INT+Insightful Reflexes; the latter will also boost your Spellcraft skill & give you more skill pts, at the expense of 1 feat, ofc.
• Druid: take Bestial Nature from NW for +3 Fort & Reflex -3 Will
• Monk: Ocean stance will boost your saves as well as WIS
• Gear: obviously, you'll want the best Resistance / Reflex item you can get, as well as stat boosters. Parasitic Breastplate (or the robe if a Drunk) w/+10 Reflex is one option for mid-teen lvls.

[DyrtNap]

Mmmk u guys talked me into giving up the idea of a funky split.

My final question before I use a LR+20 would really be can druids solo EE's? I pretty much only solo. I don't like playing characters that can't handle at least EH alone and preferably EE's. I have heard about a druids high level of control and utility + somewhat respectable caster damage but with how DC reliant Druids are right now I just can't see DC casting working well in EE's. Hence the current build I'm playing which is ridiculously strong but also faceroll and borderline boring. This will be a first life character with zero gear so how hard will it be to reach the DC's to even do EH's easily let alone EE's.