UPDATE 58 PREVIEW 1 - Blightcaster Druid

[Torc]

New Archtype for Druid

New Tree: Blightcaster
Replaces: Nature's Protector.

Themes: Death, Famine, Decay, Plague, Poison, Insects, Moss, Fungus. Bleached Bones. Scavengers.

Summary:

Thesis statement: Death is a necessary part of life.

A dark take on druid that celebrates the cycle of death & decay. This druid's power still comes from the "cycle" of nature, it just focuses at the end of that cycle.

BASE CLASS PROGRESSION:

LEVEL 1: Disease Immunity - (applies to natural diseases like other immunities)

LEVEL 2: Wild Shape - Plague Wolf (note All wildshapes are using PLACE HOLDER ART in this build)

Basic Wolf Form replaced by Plague Wolf: Transform into a magically diseased wolf.

• 10% Combat Style bonus to attack speed, a +3 bonus to attack while flanking
• +10% enhancement bonus to movement speed.
• While in wolf form, you gain access to a number of spells and enhancements that require Wolf form, but the cooldowns on your non-animal form spells are increased to 2.5 times their normal length.

Bonus Feat: Imbue Toggle that only functions when in any animal form, pick 1 of 2.

• Biting Acid: 1d6 acid damage with all melee attacks. Scales with spell power. This can only be used in Wolf or Hive forms.
• Biting Poison: 1d8 poison damage with all melee attacks. Scales with spell power. This can only be used in Wolf or Hive forms.

LEVEL 4:

Minor Elemental Kin Form Pick (1 of 2)

WildShape - Thorn-Kin:

You create a suit of living thorny wood around your body armoring you from harm. Note: Note this will be gearset over-ride instead of an animal form so the player will fight with their regular weapons. Basically you become a knight in plate mail made of wood and thorns.

• +1 bonus to caster level and max caster level of Physical and Poison spells
• 10% exceptional bonus to armor class and 50% fortification.
• You gain access to the thorn imbue.
• 10% vulnerability to fire damage

WildShape - Hive Keeper:

You give part of yourself to the hive, gaining insect like reflexes and senses. Your bodily fluids become poisonous to others, and the swarm is always close.

• +1 bonus to caster level and max caster level of Poison and Acid Spells
• You gain 25% concealment and Evasion.
• Your reflex saves are increased by 1 for every 3 druid levels.
• 10% vulnerability to cold. Your diplomacy checks are reduced by 5 (Jeff Goldblum early in The Fly)

BONUS FEAT - Thorn Imbue: Your weapons sprout sharp thorns adding 1d6 piercing damage to all your weapon attacks. Scales with spell power.

LEVEL 5: Venom Immunity

LEVEL 8: Minor Elemental Kin Form Pick (1 of 2) - lets you pick the other form from level 4

LEVEL 11:

Wild Shape - Blighted Wolf

Plague wolf upgrades into Greater Plague Wolf:

• you gain a 15% Combat Style bonus to attack speed, +5 bonus to attack while flanking
• Grants +1 imbue dice while in this form.
• +1 per druid level (max 30%) bonus to movement speed.
• If unarmed, your natural attacks do 1d10 damage, do both piercing and slashing damage, and critically hit for triple damage on a roll of 19 or 20.
• You are considered a magical beast
• Wolf spell access as above.

BONUS FEAT: Imbue Toggle pick the other one from level 2.

LEVEL 13:

You gain access to full Elemental forms

WildShape - Thorn Knight: - (upgrade to thorn kin)

A more advanced version of Thorn Kin where you actually become a plant under the armor.

• You are considered a plant for purposes of most immunities, poison, sleep, paralysis, stun, mind effects. You can no longer drown in water.
• +3 bonus to caster level and max caster level of Physical and Poison spells
• You gain 10% absorption against piercing damage and 5% absorb against blunt damage.
• You gain +2 imbue dice
• 10% exceptional bonus to armor class and 100% fortification.
• 15% vulnerability to fire damage

WildShape - Hive Master:

You have become one with the swarm. Your body shifts between yourself and a cloud of insects, as you merge in and out of the swarm.

• You are considered vermin for the purposes of immunities and are immune to mind effects and knock down.
• +3 bonus to caster level and max caster level of Poison and Acid Spells
• You are ethereal to monsters while tumbling.
• You gain 50% concealment as displacement and Improved Evasion.
• You gain +2 Imbue Dice and +1 to Reflex saves for every 2 druid levels (Max 10)
• 15% vulnerability to cold and -15 on diplomacy checks (Yeah Jeff is just pretty creepy now).

LEVEL 15:

Timeless Body (as druid)

LEVEL 17:

2nd Wildshape Elemental Form Pick (Thorn Knight, HiveMaster)

....

DRUID FEATURES REMOVED FROM SUBCLASS

• No Wild Empathy (Or empathy in general...)
• No Goodberry
• No Wolf Companion
• No Bear Form
• No Fire or Water Elemental Forms
• No Auto Memorized Spells

SPELL BOOK ADJUSTMENTS:

New Spells:

These appear in BOTH base druid and Blightcaster books.

Thorn Strike- Level 1: Conjuration - Cost: 2 Sp, Cooldown 2.0 seconds. Sends a giant thorn toward the target doing 1d6+2 piercing damage per caster level (max 10d6+20 at caster level 10).

Thorn Bloom- Level 3: Conjuration, Cost: 15 SP, Cooldown 3.5. Point Blank AOE - Send a wave of thorns out from your body dealing 1d6+4 piercing damage per caster level (max 10d6+40 at caster level 10). Reflex save for half.

Plant Growth- Level 4: copy of Animal Growth for Plants (which the thorn knight form works with)

Thorn Wave- Level 6: Conjuration, Cost: 25 SP, Cooldown 4.5. Cone - Fires a wave of powerful thorns in a tight arc in front of you dealing 1d6+6 piercing damage per caster level (max 20d6+80 at caster level 20).

Grasping Roots- Level 6: Conjuration, Cost: 30 SP, Cooldown 20 seconds. Duration 10 seconds. Powerful thorny vines rip out of the ground siezing all enemies in the area. Enemies save vs Reflex or become entangled, with a Re-occurring Strength save to break free. Entangled targets also take 1d6 in piercing damage every 2 seconds (max 15d6). All enemy movement through the area is slowed by 30%, no save. Area of effect fire spells will destroy these vines and free any entangled creatures. Incorporeal creatures and oozes are naturally immune. Fire elementals and other fire creatures are immune because they burn through the plants.

Thorn Lance-Level 8: Conjuration, Cost: 20 SP, Cooldown 5.5. Bolt - Fires a single powerful thorn that pierces through targets for 1d6+8 piercing damage per caster level. (Maximum 20d6+160 at caster level 20.)

New Animal Spells: - Blight Caster Only

Blighted Charge: Requires Any Wolf - Cost: 25 sp Cooldown: 15. You leap forward with the speed and ferocity of a sudden avalanche. You attack enemies in your path, dealing an extra 2[W], and targets caught in your wake are blinded for 20 seconds. A successful reflex save negates the effect, and creatures can attempt fortitude saves to escape every 3 seconds. Creatures also suffer 1d4 per caster level in acid damage every 2 seconds. This damage is changed to 1d6 poison damage if you are using Biting Poison Imbue. (Not functional in this build)

Jaws of Doom: Any Wolf - Cost: 20 Cooldown: 20 seconds. As your jaws close over your enemies, they begin to dissolve. This attack deals an extra 6(W), +1 bonus to critical threat and multiplier, and if it counts as a sneak attack, your foe is stunned for 6 seconds and are considered helpless. Fortitude save negates, and the creature gets and additional save attempt every two seconds. Stun vs Fortitude DC: 10 + Druid level + Highest of Wisdom, Dexterity, or Strength + Stun Bonuses. The target also takes 1d8+6 Poison damages. If you are using Biting Acid Imbue this damage is changed to 1d6+6 Acid damage. (Not functional in this build)

Blighted Bite: Valid Forms: School: Evocation Cost: 10 sp. Any Plague Wolf. You gain +2 Imbue dice while in any wolf form for 20 minutes.

Blighted Breath: Valid Forms: Cost: 20 SP. Cooldown: 2 seconds. Any Plague Wolf. Sends out a breath of poisonous gas in a frontal cone dealing <rgb=#00BFFF>1d8+2 points of Poison damage per caster level every 2 seconds for 6 seconds</rgb> (up to a maximum of 90 to 195 damage at caster level 15). If you are using the Biting Acid Imbue this damage is converted into 1d6+2 Acid damage.

Revamped Spells: - applies to all class versions of these spells.

Contagion - focused down to 3 versions instead of 7.

• Blinding Sickness: Target goes blind and they take 1d4 ability damage to strength and dexterity
• Cackling Fever - Target is stunned for 6 seconds and takes 1d4 ability damage to wisdom and intelligence
• Slimy Doom - Target takes 4d6 acid damage +1 per caster level every 3 seconds

Melf's Acid Arrow - Now does 1d6 acid damage per caster level (Max caster level 10 for 10d6). Applies damage and ticks twice again over 4 seconds (Damage occurs 3 times in total)

Black Dragon Bolt - is being updated to do 1d10 acid damage per caster level (Max caster level 25, caps at 25 to 250 damage). Applies damage and ticks twice again over 4 seconds (Damage occurs 3 times in total)

Spells Added to the Druid spell book for Blightcaster

• 1st level - Night Shield, Thorn Strike, Chill Touch, Acid Spray
• 2nd level - Gets Contagion at level 2 instead of 3, Melf's Acid Arrow, Web
• 3rd level - Acid Blast, Thorn Bloom, Stinking Cloud
• 4th level - Fear, Acid Rain, Plant Growth, Wave of Fatigue
• 5th level - Negative Energy Burst, Blighted Breath, Cloud Kill
• 6th level - Negative energy ray, Jaws of Doom, Blighted Bite, Thorn Wave
• 7th Level - Acid Fog, Wave of Exhaustion, Horrid Wilting
• 8th level - Black Dragon Bolt, Thorn Lance
• 9th level - Acid Well, Wail of the Banshee, Rend the Soul, Blighted Charge

Spells Removed from Druid Book for Blightcaster

• No Animal Summons
• No Basic Cure Wound Spells or the Heal Spell (you keep Vigor but get them 1 level later, no mass regeneration)
• No Fire Spells
• No Sun Spells
• No Fire Shield
• No Bear Spells
• No Elemental Fire/Water Elemental Form Spells

Skills: as Druid

Past Life

Blightcaster:

Past Life: x3 (stacks)

+5 Acid and Poison Spell Power

BLIGHT CASTER TREE:

Core 1:

The Cycle of Decay - You gain 5 Force, Poison, Negative, and Acid Spell Power per core in this tree.

Core 3:

Spread the Blight - Your offensive spells now apply a 10 second debuff called Blight: reduces saves by 1 and incoming positive healing by 20%.

Core 6:

Death Eater - You gain 1 temporary hit point equal to your wisdom score whenever you kill an enemy (Creatures 2 levels below you do not count). These hit points remain until damage removes them or the quest ends. This can stack 5 times and is refreshed on each kill.

Core 12:

Know the End - You gain Know the End which acts as a permanent Death Block. Blight effect is improved to reduces saves by 2 and incoming positive healing by 40% for 10 seconds.

Core 18:

Vile Eruption - Earth Quake now deals 2d6 + 1 per caster level in acid damage every 3 seconds in addition to it's regular effects.

Core 20:

Master of Decay:

• +2 Wisdom & Con
• SLA Creeping Doom Cost: 20 spell points Cooldown: 15 seconds
• Blight now reduces saves by 4 and positive healing by 60%

TIER 1:

Prickly: 1/2/3 PRR, rank 3: +1 to damage with weapon attacks.

Kiss of the Blight: You gain 5/10/15% Absorption against Poison and Acid Damage.

Pick Your Poison I Multi Selector

SLA: Thorn Strike 3 ranks, cooldown 7/5/3 Spell Cost 3,2,1
SLA Acid Spray 3 ranks Cooldown 12/8/4 seconds , 4/3/2 SP cost

Sharp Edges 1: Spell Crit +1 to Force/Neg/Poison/Acid Spell Crit Chance. (costs 1 AP, instead of the usual 2)

Lore of the Great Plagues: You gain a +1/2/3 saving throw bonus against poison and disease. Rank 3: Gain 5 Poison and Negative Spell Power.

TIER 2:

Defiled Growth - Your Entangle and Spike growth spells now cause 1d4 negative energy damage per spell level every 2 seconds.

Meta Selector, Empower, Max, Quicken

Pick your Poison II Mutli Selector

SLA Splinter Bolt 3 ranks, Cooldown 8/6/4, Spell Cost, 6,4,2

SLA Melf's Acid Arrow 3 ranks, Cooldown 8/6/4, Spell Cost, 6,4,2

Sharp Edges II: Spell Crit +1 to Force/Neg/Poison/Acid Spell Crit Chance. (costs 1 AP, instead of the usual 2)

Every Rose Has it's Thorn - Spike Growth damage is increased by 100%.

TIER 3:

Out Break - upgrades the contagion and insidious spores spells to also hit enemies near the primary target.

Meta Selector - Empower, Max, Quicken

SLA Enveloping Swarm - 3 ranks, Cooldown 16,12,8, Cost 8,6,4

Sharp Edges III: Spell Crit +1 to Force/Neg/Poison/Acid Spell Crit Chance. (costs 1 AP, instead of the usual 2)

Stat Boost - Wis/Con

TIER 4:


Fast Acting Poison - The Poison spell now does 1d6 per druid level poison damage every 3 seconds for 15 seconds in addition to its original effect. A successful Fort save applies this dot at half strength.

Murder of Crows - 120/90/60 second cool down, A swarm of crows blasts through you and a narrow path ahead. Enemies in the way take 1d3 piercing damage per druid level and must save vs confusing and blind separately DC: 20+ druid level + Conjuration DC. If you have a crow summon active from the falconry tree when you used this ability you gain the Murder in your Eye effect for 10 seconds; All your spells and attacks apply 1d6 piercing damage to blind targets for every druid level. This damage can only apply once every two seconds.

Pick your Poison III Multi Selector

SLA Thorn Bloom - 3 ranks, Cooldown 16, 12, 8, Cost: 20,15, 10

SLA Acid Rain - 10 SP cost, Cooldown 20/16/12 seconds

Sharp Edges IV: Spell Crit +1 to Force/Neg/Poison/Acid Spell Crit Chance. (costs 1 AP, instead of the usual 2)

Stat Boost, Wis/Con

Tier 5:

Thorns in your side - Multi Selector -

Poisoned Thorns - Your Splinter Bolt and Thorn Spells now also cause additional 2 points of Poison damage for every spell level. This scales with spell power.

Vile Thorns - Your Splinter Bolt and Thorn Spells now also cause additional 1 point of Acid damage for every spell level. This scales with spell power.

SLA Grasping Thorns - Spell Like Ability: Thorny Vines erupt from the ground seizing all enemies in the area. Save vs Reflex or be Entangled. On Successful save the targets have their movement slowed by 35%. Targets also take 1d6 piercing damage every 2 seconds per caster level. This double is doubled on targets which are entangled.

Everything Decays - Gain 5/10/15 Acid & Poison Spell Power Rank 3: Your spells remove Acid and Poison Immunity for 30 seconds.

Doomsayer - Gain a +1 Bonus to Conjuration, Evocation and Necromancy DCs


ADDITIONAL CHANGES....


Changes to Seasons Herald

Core 3 (level 6) updated to : +1 to max caster level of your season. Your Shillelagh does one extra W of damage. Your plant spells like entangle, spike growth and grasping thorns will no longer be dispelled by fire effects.

Changes to Nature's Warrior: - (Not in this build, coming next preview)

• Howl of Winter renamed: Hunter's Howl to make it agnostic to Blighted Wolf or Winter Wolf
• Great White Wolf Gets a multi selector with the alternate called Doom Wolf - 10/20/30 acid spell power, 10/20/30% Acid Resistance
• Jaws of Winter get's renamed "Feasting Jaws" - Gain 10 times your character level in temporary HPs for 30 seconds after using Jaws of Winter or Jaws of Doom
• Cold Breath damage will be updated to match current spell damage formulas

Notes on things coming down the line:

• Will be adding a Flame Blade equivalent to the Blightcaster (thorn themed, weapon type or types TBD. We might do a few) for the next preview
• Will be adding Master of Thorns Epic Feat: +140 SP, will boost thornstrike, thornbloom and splinterbolt by 10 max caster levels.

KNOW ISSUES

• NO ART IS IN YET (it's all place holder on the wildshapes. Only a few spells have a basic vfx pass)
• Blighted Charge and Jaws of Doom and the new Contagion effects are not set up yet.
• Nature's Warrior Changes are not in this build mostly
• Don't think Mind Immunities on Hivemaster are done yet
• Thorn Knight's water breath perk isn't in this build
• Blight debuff makes undead take less damage from healing
• Murder of Crows works with the RAVEN in falconry (ability will be renamed to a Raven theme. We got our birds mixed up)

[cmecu]

Hi Voodu

[Smokewolf]

Just skimed through this and Wow!

[Zeklijan]

I am absolutely stoked to try out this new druid archetype!

[Xezom]

Will there be an epic feat that increases the CL/MCL of these new spells/SLAs as well like most of the other caster trees get?

Also an SLA Evards in the form of Grasping Thorns is going to be sick.

[Scrag]

This is all very confusing to me, but it seems like its pretty potent with the enhancement tree. I am building up some +acid/acid lore gear on my sorcerer, but most of that alts gear is +cha.

It definitely seems... interesting. How well do you guys think this would play in the hands of a noob?

[Torc]

Will there be an epic feat that increases the CL/MCL of these new spells/SLAs as well like most of the other caster trees get?

Yes! I forgot to add that to my post. Will fix.

Master of Thorns: +140 SP, will boost thornstrike, thornbloom and splinterbolt by 10 max caster levels.

-T

[Xezom]

Yes! I forgot to add that to my post. Will fix.

Master of Thorns: +140 SP, will boost thornstrike, thornbloom and splinterbolt by 10 max caster levels.

-T

Awesome! I was assuming so, but wanted to double check.

Unrelated question: Will
Every Rose Has it's Thorn - Spike Growth damage is increased by 100%.

also increased the added damage from
Defiled Growth - Your Entangle and Spike growth spells now cause 1d4 negative energy damage per spell level every 2 seconds. (assuming this is in addition to the 1d4/cl of piercing it naturally does in spike growth)

or will it only increase the base damage by 100% (1d4/CL to 2d4 per CL)?

Basically is the resulting numbers: 2d4/cl piercing + 1d4/cl negative or 2d4/cl piercing and 2d4/cl piercing + 2d4/cl negative

[dlsidhe]

Did y'all know it's my birthday this week, because this is a dang gift.

[Cadic]

Are you adding another Falconry bird because there isn't a Crow available in Falconry atm?

[Xezom]

Found an oops. Cure serious wounds in still in the spell book at level 4

[Evendor]

First impressions:
Nice! Was wishing for something similar to this for druid.
Aww, was hoping they'd find a use for the wood wowd transform from old primal avatar.
I think we could benefit from a few more instakill spells on this death/decay druid. Hopefully # of spells prepared can be a gate between them and all the other goodies. Would like to see Destruction and Circle of Death added, along with druid already having finger.
I was thinking could have druid the inflict damage spells, as rust damage, and to be able to make all enemies vulnerable to rust damage.
Was hoping past life would give +1 necro DCs.

Still excited though. Thanks.

[QuantumFX]

Just to be clear:

Decay Wolf uses the Natural Fighting Feat Chain?
Thorn Knight and Hive Master use the TWF/THF/SWF/S&B feat chains?

[Xgya]

Is the projectile speed on Thornstrike closer to Produce Flame or to the Sorc/Wiz Elemental Bolts?
While we're here, could you also make the Bolts move at the speed Produce Flame does?

Post error alert - you noted Plant Growth twice, and made Dragon Bolt deal 10d25.


Still pretty nice idea. The healing loss will definitely hurt, but it's good to see tradeoffs where needed.

[Torc]

Are you adding another Falconry bird because there isn't a Crow available in Falconry atm?

Rats! I mean Ravens! CURRENTLY it works with the raven...It's really just a name mismatch. Likely the murder of crows ability will just be renamed The Unkindness of Ravens with different puns

-T

[Torc]

Awesome! I was assuming so, but wanted to double check.

Unrelated question: Will
Every Rose Has it's Thorn - Spike Growth damage is increased by 100%.

also increased the added damage from
Defiled Growth - Your Entangle and Spike growth spells now cause 1d4 negative energy damage per spell level every 2 seconds. (assuming this is in addition to the 1d4/cl of piercing it naturally does in spike growth)

or will it only increase the base damage by 100% (1d4/CL to 2d4 per CL)?

Basically is the resulting numbers: 2d4/cl piercing + 1d4/cl negative or 2d4/cl piercing and 2d4/cl piercing + 2d4/cl negative

2d4 Piercing, 1d4 Negative. (max caster level applies to all effects normally). Rose doesn't double defiled.

[Torc]

Just to be clear:

Decay Wolf uses the Natural Fighting Feat Chain?
Thorn Knight and Hive Master use the TWF/THF/SWF/S&B feat chains?

The wolves use the same combat style as basic druid wolves.

The Thorn Knight and Hive Master are like fire/water elemental forms. You still have thumbs (thorny or buggy thumbs) and you use weapons and styles normally.

[Lotoc]

Seems really interesting, especially to finally have an acid focused caster that isn't lacking for spells or just using green flavoring on their regular spell damage like alchemist or warlock. Very nicely supported by the thorn side of primal avatar, also having poison/acid immunity strips being more common will help make the ninja spy imbue, assassin imbue and other forms of poison damage more relevant.

I will say it's a bit ironic that the tree and the forms don't really focus on negative casting and then the class has rend the soul while the heavily negative focused archetype Dark Apostate lacks a negative damage 9th level spell.

[Darckssassins]

Ah yes i have always dream to roleplay as a sickened animal !

no in all Seriousness can we get something different another wild shape? a giant beetle (just x10 fire beetle model and make it green)

i believe that another tree with a Cat Wild shape will be nuts something between the wolf and the bear, like a ranger cat, that uses 2wf because its a cat one blade in each front paw (wild shaped of corse into claws ) and with one core that make you atack with your back legs as well because you are a dam cat , oh bonus saves vs enhancements (because cats) and penalty vs illusions.

or at least a form selector to change the wolf for a lioness since they work pretty much the same in hunting regards, perhaps give the wolf piercing damage and the lion slash damage .

i even have the Feat description :

Feat "cats un grace":
you are a Cat: you don't care ...
you get 1/4of you dex as bonus saves vs enhancements and same amount as penalty vs illusions

Feat: "Meh"
you are a cat you don't obey orders and feel conformable in loneliness
you get +2 to flank and tack bonus when no allies are in Range ( aura of courage range) in aiditon allies feel your hostility , allies with in range take -2 penalty to armor class

Feat : "yes you"
You are a cat you occasionally choose someone's companionship making them feel special
Target: target can be with in "meh" range with no penalties , in additional they get +2 morale bonus to armor class and atack roles per 5 wildness lore feats you have .

[Xezom]

2d4 Piercing, 1d4 Negative. (max caster level applies to all effects normally). Rose doesn't double defiled.

I didn't assume but wanted to check if it was a math oops or the way it was intended.

In game, Defile also states that it heals you for 1d2 per CL while standing in it if you have death eater and does not. Guessing as it's not in the patch notes this was a scrapped idea that the text made into the preview? Should probably be removed. From what I'm finding playing it, it doesn't need the extra sustain power anyway. Death Eater is EXTREMELY strong. So much so I would almost suggest bringing it down to max of 3 stacks or add a set duration of a minute or two. You basically have a permanent 5x widsom temp HP shield cause last hitting on these guys is not hard at all.