Aasimar as Druid

[Sonoma]

So, I'm sitting at level 18.5 and thinking about my next life. I've never played a druid, but thinking the new aasimar race might make a good one. Any comments or advice would be welcome.

The Old Man of Cannith

[Enoach]

Just advice on the Druid class. It was more fun playing from a Wisdom focus then Strength focus .

The only other thing to point out is they do have plans to revamp the Druid class, you might want to check out the proposed changes to see if maybe you want to wait for that release before going down the path.

[unbongwah]

Thread about proposed druid changes here: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...Update-Preview

Caster builds won't change much. Season's Herald is getting a few buffs and there's some survivability perks in the new Nature's Protector tree you'd probably want for a caster. Otherwise any of the existing caster builds will still work fine.

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...asi-tank-build

Melee / shifter builds will be totally revamped, though, to the point where all existing wolf builds will be either broken or nerfed into oblivion (due to fixed bugs and changed mechanics). So I wouldn't TR into a wolf build right now unless you're just doing it for a druid PL and you plan to TR out of it ASAP.

[Vooduspyce]

So, I'm sitting at level 18.5 and thinking about my next life. I've never played a druid, but thinking the new aasimar race might make a good one. Any comments or advice would be welcome.

The Old Man of Cannith

Be aware that the big Ascendant Bond enhancement is a form toggle and is mutually exclusive with form feats (PM, Druid, etc), so could not use while in any wild shape. This alone is a turn off for me to play Aasimar as druid, though I did druid Aasimar just to try it out in the first of 3 lives of my Aasimar Project video series and was using Ascendant Bond on my caster druid starting at level 9 and until I got fire elemental form at level 13.

[MasterKernel]

Be aware that the big Ascendant Bond enhancement is a form toggle and is mutually exclusive with form feats (PM, Druid, etc), so could not use while in any wild shape. This alone is a turn off for me to play Aasimar as druid, though I did druid Aasimar just to try it out in the first of 3 lives of my Aasimar Project video series and was using Ascendant Bond on my caster druid starting at level 9 and until I got fire elemental form at level 13.

You don't need Ascendant Bond as a caster. Unless you play the role of a healer and want to utilise Divine Purpose: Protector… But in that case you don't need to be in any other form.

[Sonoma]

Since I have zero racial points to apply, I never use many AP for the racial tree anyway. I think the extra wisdom and healing will come in handy. Besides, there's all those colors to choose from.

Thanks for the help.

[Vooduspyce]

You don't need Ascendant Bond as a caster. Unless you play the role of a healer and want to utilise Divine Purpose: Protector… But in that case you don't need to be in any other form.

Nobody needs Ascendant bond but it's a big selling point of the race and if not available due to class conflicts, then it detracts from the appeal of the race for that class. The conflict is not an obvious one to someone who is taking a cursory look at potential race/class combinations, so just making sure the op and any other readers realize that this very nice enhancement doesn't work in elemental form.

Ascendant Bond (Protector): You gain +3 stacking bonus to all Saving Throws, 10% Competence Bonus to Max HP, and a +10 Determination Bonus to PRR and MRR.

If this could be used while in elemental form then Aasimar would probably be my permanent race on Gingerspyce and my warlock for that matter.

[MasterKernel]

Nobody needs Ascendant bond but it's a big selling point of the race

Ascendant bond is the latest thing I was looking at. Didn't know that it was "big" for somebody.

Ascendant Bond (Protector): You gain +3 stacking bonus to all Saving Throws, 10% Competence Bonus to Max HP, and a +10 Determination Bonus to PRR and MRR.
If this could be used while in elemental form then Aasimar would probably be my permanent race on Gingerspyce and my warlock for that matter.

Pfffff. It's not "You gain +3% to all Spells Crits, 10% Competence Bonus to SP, and a +10 bonus to all spellpower", therefore — U S E L E S S ! Stay behind the back of a Big Stupid Fighter™, cast your Call Lightning SLA and don't worry about PRR. ¯\(°_o)/¯

[Silverleafeon]

Since I have zero racial points to apply, I never use many AP for the racial tree anyway.

Aye.

I think the extra wisdom and healing will come in handy.

Agreed.

The plus races for Druid Casters would be:

Aasimar
Pro = starting Wis of 20, +2 Wis available in core racial tree, emergency heal that is effective even at level cap.
Con = none

Aasimar Scourge
Pro = starting Wis of 20, +2 Wis available in core racial tree, emergency heal that is effective even at level cap.
Con = Iconic starts with 1 level of ranger

Deep Gnome
Pro = starting Wis of 20, +2 Int, +2 Wis available in core racial tree, small size (hence smaller hit box).
Con = Iconic starts with 1 level of wizard

Dragonborn
Pro = deep investments in racial tree include dragonbreath SLA, +3 Evocation, +caster levels in one element
Con = requires spending a fair amount in the racial tree (although Druids only have a single caster tree to spend into)

Human
Pro = extra feat, extra skill point, +1 Wis available in core racial tree
Con = none

Sun Elf Morninglord
Pro = Mass Deathward and other SLAs available high in racial tree
Con = Iconic starts with 1 level of Cleric


Pretty much any other race does fine with a well built Druid Caster.

Feat priority (imhowcbw)
Max > Empower > Enlarge > Quicken > Heighten
{Make sure and pick up Spell Focus (Evocations) to allow epic magistar twists by level 21ish}
{Extend is nice for Body of Sun but its a luxury feat}
{Either Completionist or Past Life Wizard as available}

Ability priority
Wis > Con/Int > dump the rest

Skill priority
Concentration > Spellcraft > Heal > 1 rank tumble > 10 ranks jump > 10 ranks balance > Swim (fly speed) > Perform (for Epic Shirdai only) > possible Intimidate > possible Search (with Find Trap scrolls and search item to locate hidden doors)

Besides, there's all those colors to choose from.

Never underestimate the power of fluff!

Thanks for the help.

Indeed, and Happy Hunting!