Deep Gnome Druid

[Jasparion]

Hi all, Im wanting to play Deep Gnome for my next life and Ive already got 3 Wizard, so Im thinking Druid could be fun. Want it to be a caster, so is 1 Wiz, 19 Druid good? 1 Wiz, 2 Monk, 17 Druid? Or do I use a +1 LR and then go pure 20 Druid?

Im keen on CC as the primary, but would like to do some DPS - primarily because I run with a group who do a lot of DPS so most of the time CC isnt needed, and I dont want to be bored.

But the CC would be very helpful in EE/LE content - so I do wonder what the best Class mix is.

No matter the build I assume I max Wis, then put stuff in Int for skills, Con for health. Do I need Dex if I go Monk and want to put feats in to Dodge and Mobility? Or do I just go for Medium or even Heavy Armor and get the PRR?

Thanks.

[Tilomere]

EE/LE is about epic spells and epic destiny synergy.

By the time you reach LE, your build will be strongest if it doesn't use a single heroic ability for damage, CC, or healing, and only uses heroic abilities indirectly for procs of epic abilities.

Your build will be strongest if you replace all the heroic healing and regen abilities with consecrate, sacred ground and cocoon twists, and healing spring. The mana efficiency of damage and healing and targeting under your feet for anyone to move into if needed is beyond any heroic ability.

Your build will be strongest if you replace all the heroic damaging abilities with procs like Shiradi and energy burst.

Your build will be strongest if you replace all the heroic CC with helpless no-save CC like nerve venom.

One simple Gnome build is 1 Wiz, 6 Warlock, 13 Druid in Shiradi, with Consecrate/Sacred Ground and Eburst twisted. Pure Con/Tanky build, without a single feat or stat wasted on DCs. Pick up all the epic spells you can, and intensify in epics.

Druid enhancements are outdated 2-3 years, so just drop all of them and take T5 SE for mana procs to fuel epic abilities, and T4 ES for tankyness and aura, T4 TS for confusion. Some arcane caster level gear and epic abishai set will bump up MM/MM SLA.

[Jasparion]

EE/LE is about epic spells and epic destiny synergy.

By the time you reach LE, your build will be strongest if it doesn't use a single heroic ability for damage, CC, or healing, and only uses heroic abilities indirectly for procs of epic abilities.

Your build will be strongest if you replace all the heroic healing and regen abilities with consecrate, sacred ground and cocoon twists, and healing spring. The mana efficiency of damage and healing and targeting under your feet for anyone to move into if needed is beyond any heroic ability.

Your build will be strongest if you replace all the heroic damaging abilities with procs like Shiradi and energy burst.

Your build will be strongest if you replace all the heroic CC with helpless no-save CC like nerve venom.

One simple Gnome build is 1 Wiz, 6 Warlock, 13 Druid in Shiradi, with Consecrate/Sacred Ground and Eburst twisted. Pure Con/Tanky build, without a single feat or stat wasted on DCs. Pick up all the epic spells you can, and intensify in epics.

Druid enhancements are outdated 2-3 years, so just drop all of them and take T5 SE for mana procs to fuel epic abilities, and T4 ES for tankyness and aura. Some arcane caster level gear and epic abishai set will bump up MM/MM SLA.

I can see that build doing a lot of DPS, but in part requires me hunting down epic Abishai gear (I honestly have no clue which Seals and Shards I have collected over the years). And it will be effectively useless at CC, when I really want a build which can do a good job with CC and the DPS is the bonus.

Do you need to be pure Druid to do well with CC? Or can 1 Wiz, 19 Druid still get high numbers?

I should also add that I find Shiradi to be incredibly boring because you are basically spamming the same couple of spells over and over - and that isnt fun.

Would much prefer options in EA or DC or even Draconic or Magister (I assume EA is the best).

[Jasparion]

I can see that build doing a lot of DPS, but in part requires me hunting down epic Abishai gear (I honestly have no clue which Seals and Shards I have collected over the years). And it will be effectively useless at CC, when I really want a build which can do a good job with CC and the DPS is the bonus.

Do you need to be pure Druid to do well with CC? Or can 1 Wiz, 19 Druid still get high numbers?

I should also add that I find Shiradi to be incredibly boring because you are basically spamming the same couple of spells over and over - and that isnt fun.

Would much prefer options in EA or DC or even Draconic or Magister (I assume EA is the best).

No-one playing a DC caster Deep Gnome Druid?

Is anyone able to point to solid DC caster Druids of other races/iconics? I assume the +2 Wis from Deep Gnome in part makes up for the lost Feat that Humans would get...

[Jasparion]

No-one playing a DC caster Deep Gnome Druid?

Is anyone able to point to solid DC caster Druids of other races/iconics? I assume the +2 Wis from Deep Gnome in part makes up for the lost Feat that Humans would get...

Bumped for effect.

Is no-one playing DC caster Druids now?

[Tilomere]

1 Wiz > 13 Druid > 6 Warlock or Human 13 Druid 7 Warlock

Stats: Max Con, all level ups in Con. Int Secondary. Decent strength for carrying capacity.

1 Maximize Wiz/Human: Empower
3 Quicken
6 Extend (for body of the sun and displacement)
9 Shield Mastery
12 Improved Shield Mastery
15 Shield Deflection
18 Tower Shield Proficiency
21 Wellspring of Power (for Body of the Sun)
24 Intensify
26 Epic Arcane Blast
27 Epic DR
28 Hellball
29 Arcane Pulse
30 Cone of Cold
30 Scion of Fire

Enhancements:
34 points in T5 SE for mana procs and eldrich wave.
23 points in T4 ES for brilliance and eldritch burst and no ASF med armor.
23 points in T4 TS for confusing and faltering blasts and stunning blast

Gear: Medium armor, 0 ASF shield (legend or skyvault)

ED Shiradi with Consecrate/Sacred Ground twisted/Shield Mastery/Cocoon/Ephemeral Evolution (3-2-2-1-1)

Skills Concentration, Heal, Spellcraft, Spot, UMD, Perform

Playstyle: run body of the sun, and warlock aura to nerve venom, confuse, and bewitch mobs all with no save. Then hit all the warlock free AoE's maximized/empowered/intensified to deliver as many AoE hits as high a spell power as possible to further CC and damage mobs with procs, while standing on top of consecrated ground. Drop a blizzard on top for no-save slow.

Hit an epic spell button for variety when you want.

13 Druid/7 Warlock human for displacement is tankier, but 1 wiz with 3 piece epic abishai and arcane augmentation has better boss dps.

[unbongwah]

Is no-one playing DC caster Druids now?

Based on Tilomere's build, I would say, "No, no one is playing DC caster druids anymore."

Ginger's build is easy enough to adapt to gnome / DG if you want. But it feels like DC casters in general are still waiting for buffs which don't require Shiradi spamming mechanics like Tilo's build.

[silinteresting]

typical of the forums im afraid ask for a druid and you end up getting a warlock in
disguise.

ive just tr'd out of a deep gnome druid that i was experimenting on, i went damage
based to start running in exalted angel, double burst build using emperian etc. this
was ok drop a earthquake, ice strom then double burst and move on to next pack
of mobs while team mates came after and cleared up.

the 2nd build i did after i epic tr'd was to run a pure dc caster druid with all the
trimings, all spell pen feats and evocation feats were taken plus anything that
helped my dcs such as master of wilds, embolden, arcane insight and plane of air.
this build had to be run in shiradi for this to work, the boosts from master of wilds
was okish. my call lightning was hitting for between 5k/8k and my word of balance
was doing the same or more depending on the mob.

the problem with the dc build is you need to do a lr+1 to go pure and you need the
best gear thats out there which i have as im a multi tr life 125 at the time. the build
between 20 and 26 sucked big time. you wont lead a single kill count if thats what
you want. after 26 when you get the thunderforged,shroud and toee sticks it gets better.
after 28 when the raid items get added its gets better again and when your 30 its
a fun build.

the problem with this kind of build as stated already its a all or nothing build thats fine
if your staying at lvl30 but not for leveling.

if your doing a fun druid life and tring at 30 then may i suggest a 17 druid 2 fvs 1 wiz build.
leveling order dosent really mater. youll have scourge and just reward for getting back spell
points, twist in emperian magic/fire burst and run in exalted angel and im sure your have a fun time.

hope this helps in someway and have fun druids are cool to play.

your friend sil

[Tilomere]

Now that lag is down feel free to make whatever you want. Everything works on EN/EH.

so I do wonder what the best Class mix is.

OP specifically asked for the best class split. Of course it is warlock based.

[Tilomere]

Based on Tilomere's build, I would say, "No, no one is playing DC caster druids anymore."

Ginger's build is easy enough to adapt to gnome / DG if you want. But it feels like DC casters in general are still waiting for buffs which don't require Shiradi spamming mechanics like Tilo's build.

They are playing them, and this is how I see them played. A 3000 point mana pool divided over 15 minutes in say phase 1 of shroud is 200 mana/minute, or 3.5 mana/sec.

Earthquake costs 40 mana every 20 seconds or 2 mana/sec, leaving 1.5 mana/sec, and deals insignificant dps ~ 100.

1.5 mana/sec will fuel:
Call lightning sla (.75 mana/sec) (200 dmg x 9 (spell power) x 1.5 crit / 8 sec = 337 dps)
Word of balance SLA (.4 mana/sec) (300 dmg x 8 (spell power x 1.50 crit / 15 sec = 240 dps)
Produce Flame SlA .375 mana/sec (100 dmg x 9 (spell power) x 1.5 crit / 8 sec = 163 dps)

This leaves them with < 1k total dps, without sufficient mana to also cocoon others, which would cost an additional 2 mana/sec. Depending on gear (lantern ring/resonation) they can do a small amount more.

So overall they deal <1k dps, and heal near 0, while sitting in the back. This is about 50% more dps and less tankyness/healing added to the raid or party than the ooze proc on my LGS weapon.
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In contrast, Warlocks splash hitting 3 targets AoE with:

Aura every 4 seconds generating 30% chance of 16 mana generates 1.2 mana/sec on top of its damage.
Eldritch Wave hitting 3x every 4 seconds generates 1.8 mana/sec on top of its damage.
Eldritc burst hitting 1x every 5 seconds generates .96 mana/sec on top of its damage.
Stunning blast hitting 1x every 10 seconds generates .48 mana/sec on top of its damage.

The warlock splash generates damage for free on top of 4.5 mana/second, over doubling the amount of mana usable for spells and abilities. Even if you were to make a DC earthquake druid in EA, it would still have 6 mana/sec available after earthquake with a warlock splash (and free aoe damage) compared to 1.5 mana/sec for a pure druid and be vastly more powerful, more active, and more versatile.


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By all means feel free to make and play whatever you find fun. But don't expect any answer other than warlock if you are looking for the best.

[Tebaco]

I am on phase of grinding some PL when end game is bit laggy. So without much planning and thinking I rolled deep gnome iconic druid. (atm 1wiz/13 druid)
I had luck in auction when i bought +1 heart so keeping that as backup when things gonna went tough.
But probably will saving that heart for end life.

I just tried one heroic quest before servers went down. And I have to say I had after long time really great fun with game again. Hope they open words soon.

And now that info you looking for.
Everything depends, about how good player are you, what knowledge you have and about your toon past lifes.
But basicaly you need set feats for meta magic (maximalize, quicken, empower, heighten), evocation SF, (consider later take Mental Toughness for additional crit and spell points), feats for survivability (shield mastery, maybe heavy armor prof.)
Than you spent enhancements in deep gnome tree for get +20 spell craft and +2 wis, perma blur and other you like.
Than spent enhancements in druid caster tree for get every SLA. Use on SLA meta feats..

Also i spent point in archmage for get SLA invisibility.
My wiz spells i took: tumble, protection of evil, shield


Take spells:
evocation attacks spells, restoration, some heals spells, some utility spells (sleetstorm, fom, dw)

Take gear with spellpower and spellpower crits.

I been hitting over 1k with some spells and zerging as usual with red alert with no death. But as I said it depends about your PL and players experience.

Saves:
My saves are great i think hitting almost about 40 on each, only reflex isnt that good (over 21)


Epic levels in future:
There isnt nothing about worry about. If I hit bad on EE, I can run EH...
But i think I consider running in angel, sentinel or draconic. Sloting twists for evocation boost, emypirian magic boost, fire power boost..


Aditional info:
Deep gnome druid is probably best race for druid caster build (see above +20 spellcraft is no joke and +2 wis is great too).
Not sure if must be pure or not (probably yes for beat EE saves, but something like 18/2 rogue or monk may be interesting too)

[Tilomere]

This isn't my build, but I did want to show relative power levels and that a 6 mana/sec after EQ druid is equally powerful to any warlock, melee, or ranged character, as well as how powerful LGS Oozes are.

If the oozes belonged to the 6 mana/sec after EQ druid, then that would total 46 kills for the 6 mana/sec after EQ druid, putting them ahead of the warlock and at the top of the pack tied or ahead of everyone aside from, well, me.

[Roland_D'Arabel]

I have run this before and plan to run it again as a Deep Gnome.

15 Druid 4 FvS 1 Wizard Nuker (did 1 sorcerer fire savant last life, not planning on spending a +1 heart this time)

Full Season's Herald and Angel of Vengeance trees, about 10 AP left over for other things. I'll probably go racial tree for the extra wisdom and spellcraft.

Play in Exalted Angel, focus on light and fire damage, energy burst, sun bolt, divine wrath plus produce flame.

Earthquake and sleet storm do well for crowd control, jump in the middle and burst away, clean up single targets with produce flame, sun bolt, avenging light.

Very good party support as well with vigors and cure moderate mass.

[Jasparion]

I have run this before and plan to run it again as a Deep Gnome.

15 Druid 4 FvS 1 Wizard Nuker (did 1 sorcerer fire savant last life, not planning on spending a +1 heart this time)

Full Season's Herald and Angel of Vengeance trees, about 10 AP left over for other things. I'll probably go racial tree for the extra wisdom and spellcraft.

Play in Exalted Angel, focus on light and fire damage, energy burst, sun bolt, divine wrath plus produce flame.

Earthquake and sleet storm do well for crowd control, jump in the middle and burst away, clean up single targets with produce flame, sun bolt, avenging light.

Very good party support as well with vigors and cure moderate mass.

Thanks. Looks more "Druid" than Warlock aura bursting in Shiradi, thanks !

So Body of Sun and fire spells. What do you use against fire resist/immune mobs?

[Roland_D'Arabel]

Thanks. Looks more "Druid" than Warlock aura bursting in Shiradi, thanks !

So Body of Sun and fire spells. What do you use against fire resist/immune mobs?

It's really not too much of a challenge. In Heroics you can go with call lightning, ice storm, sleet storm, earthquake, nimbus of light. In Epics, avenging light, sun bolt and divine wrath from the Exalted Angel tree will offer plenty of options for fire resistant mobs.

I found myself doing more light and alignment damage vs. fire damage in the higher epic levels. I actually dropped Body of Sun, I think because of the short duration, was a pain to keep re-upping all the time. You will have plenty of room to have a secondary spec of another element as well.