Flame blade wielding druid

[lillentle]

So I've spent half the day planning my next life(after hitting level 16 I seem to have all these brilliant ideas and excuses not to go to level 30)
And I thought a fighter/bard would be a nice idea, Singleweapon fighting, 30% feat bonus to speed, then 16 fighter for 10% combat style bonus to speed(vanguard) only to realize that the single weapon fighting feat shows feat bonus but actually means combat style bonus, so scratch that idea.

But what if I had a 15druid/2fighter/3bard... human
14 druid for druid past life, flame blade, spell usage & body of the sun.
3 bard for swashbuckler(using a shield while SWF)
2 fighter for extra feats(shield master+sheild bash) and bonus's for using a shield...

I was thinking of using the flame blade for wisdom damage... but also being able to cast spells pretty well.

This is a very early draft so let me know what you think, could it work?

[cru121]

EDIT: deleted, I posted non-sense.

[Krelar]

So I've spent half the day planning my next life(after hitting level 16 I seem to have all these brilliant ideas and excuses not to go to level 30)
And I thought a fighter/bard would be a nice idea, Singleweapon fighting, 30% feat bonus to speed, then 16 fighter for 10% combat style bonus to speed(vanguard) only to realize that the single weapon fighting feat shows feat bonus but actually means combat style bonus, so scratch that idea.

But what if I had a 15druid/2fighter/3bard... human
14 druid for druid past life, flame blade, spell usage & body of the sun.
3 bard for swashbuckler(using a shield while SWF)
2 fighter for extra feats(shield master+sheild bash) and bonus's for using a shield...

I was thinking of using the flame blade for wisdom damage... but also being able to cast spells pretty well.

This is a very early draft so let me know what you think, could it work?

Scimitars (flame blade) are not swashbuckling weapons so you can't use swashbuckling stance with them which means you can't use a shield with single weapon fighting.

[lillentle]

Scimitars (flame blade) are not swashbuckling weapons so you can't use swashbuckling stance with them which means you can't use a shield with single weapon fighting.

I thought the same, I proved myself wrong, although you do lose the 10% dodge , 1% damage and the +1 enchantment bonus

[unbongwah]

Scimitars (flame blade) are not swashbuckling weapons so you can't use swashbuckling stance with them which means you can't use a shield with single weapon fighting.

You don't get Swashbuckling bonuses, but you can still use SWF with a buckler if you take Skirmisher, because the "you may use a Buckler and still benefit from the Single Weapon Fighting line of feats" doesn't depend on Swashbuckling being active. I was never convinced that was WAI, but it's been over a year and a half since SB came out and Turbine hasn't nerfed it, so *shrug*

That said, the main issue with OP's build idea is Flame Blades have never been a great option for a few reasons:

• Stops scaling at CL:20 which means they don't get more powerful in epics. [Also no +[W] modifiers.]
• Every time you swap your mainhand, you dissipate the spell, so any time you use a wand, scroll, etc. you have to recast.
• On a heavily-MCed druid like OP's idea, you delay Flame Blades' improvements by that many levels.
• Obviously, it's a poor choice for fire-resistant/-immune enemies, which means you either switch to a regular weapon (losing WIS-to-dmg) or switch to a different WIS-to-dmg weapon; for SWF your only other options are Scepter of Healing and Forgotten Light.

Personally I would just stick with pure WIS-based druid; tweak the feats and Enhancements on my pure wolf druid and you're swinging a Flame Blade instead. If you skip Power Atk or Precision, you can dump STR & DEX to focus solely on WIS & CON; maybe some INT for extra skill pts and Spellpower. If you're just trying to bang out a druid PL, you don't need a MC.

[crackas]

Personally I would just stick with pure WIS-based druid; tweak the feats and Enhancements on my pure wolf druid and you're swinging a Flame Blade instead. If you skip Power Atk or Precision, you can dump STR & DEX to focus solely on WIS & CON; maybe some INT for extra skill pts and Spellpower. If you're just trying to bang out a druid PL, you don't need a MC.

Could do, but then I have to drop the shield

[unbongwah]

Could do, but then I have to drop the shield

In heroics, Imp Shield Mastery is "only" +8% doublestrike; considering you're not gaining Swashbuckling benefits, I don't consider it worth the 3-lvl bard splash. Going WIS-based implies you're focused on the caster side of things, so I don't like delaying spells, particularly if this is just an HTR life; the sooner you gain Wall of Fire, the easier your heroic life becomes.

The main downside to SWF druid in heroics is you can't use metal orbs, which means the earliest you can equip one is lvl 12 (HN Madstone Skull). Golden Orb of Death (ML:7) is, well, gold, so it's out.

[lillentle]

Very well, I will most likely go with just a caster druid.

[silinteresting]

Very well, I will most likely go with just a caster druid.

if you go and get the house c equitment namely the cloak of flames, bracers of wind etc
you then dont have to worry about having weapons in your hands for spells and can then
weild your flame blades without worry about lowering your spell casting. this way also if
you get a couple of weapons/scepters that have insightful fire, lightning etc etc this will
boost your casting when your in full casting mode but wont hurt you if you try to melee
and cast at the same time.

after lots and lots of druid builds flame blades ive found are good for levels 1-10 it helps
also for saving your blue bar for tougher fights. after level 10 i find im in full caster mode
as this is much better.

hope in a small way this helps.

your friend sil