Pure Druid

[diddy33]

i could agree that pure druids need some changes. . but i don't think they really need some bonuses. . right now if any class needs pure bonus, then it'd probably have to be ranger. . how many level 40 rangers are there compared to level 40 druids?

[Eldaquen]

This may be outside what traditionally how spell DC's are implemented in NWN:

DC = 10 (base) + x (spell level) + y (ability modifier) + z (spell focuses)

however, much of Aetheria has been modified to improve upon what bioware left behind. Just because it is traditional does not mean our talented devs could not improve upon it. Furthermore if tradition is a reason to not change why does "NS4 Ideas and Suggestion" exist?

Not that this is without precedant within NWN, is not stunning fist DC calculated in similar fashion.

Ghost asked for an idea, since in "NS4 ideas and suggestions". Was an attempt to frame an idea for spells hardly used.

As far as the numbers suggested, its an idea, not a wish. The numbers may very well, as typed, be over done and need to be scaled back. Since I lack the ability to script, unable to test them to see. As typed merely frames the idea. I leave it to Aetheria's Devs to consider. If you believe too much, would prefer to read your ideas or thoughts rather than a parady/roast. There are a bunch of useless spells, why not come up with an idea to make Aetheria a more interesting place.

I thought the suggested dedication to druid levels and spell focuses would be welcome. Frankly thought that would be welcome for arcane as well, more resources spent higher the benefit gained.

Put forth an idea, get in return you don't know how to play the toons you built effectively. Great thanks.

[VagaStorm]

I disslike the idea of pureclass bonuses! I think it rewards being uncreative. That beeing said, aperantly pureclass is to be revarded, then druids should get bonus in what a druid is, and that is not an offencive caster. Maybe pure druids should get some bonuses to their elemental forms?

[Cijah]

then druids should get bonus in what a druid is, and that is not an offencive caster.

I have to disagree with you there. A druid is more offensive than a cleric or bard (which are both support builds). I see a druid fitting in between a sorcerer/wizard and the former two. The druid harnesses the powers of nature and brings it forth! Call Lightning, Firestorm, Bombardment, Ice Storm, Sunbeam, Sunburst, Earthquake, Crumble and Drown (if these worked better), Stonehold and Creeping Doom, ... you could even go so far as to say the repertoire of offensive damage spells available to a druid is on par with a wiz if not for the fact most are reflex-based.

All my previous posts were to encourage discussion on designing a pure caster druid as an option to the normal dragon build/elemental forms. Few players use a druid in this way, most have them as crafters or as dragon/dragon-shifter/shifter pre-req builds.

Of course some of the ideas toted need scaling back or even to be abandoned - they were included for discussion.

I will post later my thoughts on a pure rogue since I have never seen one on this server ... and yes rangers need love too, though they did get a tweak thanks to the Devs, Impr Evasion at 9, HiPS outdoors and some side-benefits thanks to the changes in Harper Scout i.e. AB and Dodge AC bonus vs favored enemies etc.

[Cijah]

I disslike the idea of pureclass bonuses! I think it rewards being uncreative.

Sorry VagaStorm and I'm not picking on you truly - this is not how I see it either. It is so easy to be tempted to multiclass for the minimum reward/max benefit. Look at the builds which take 6 fighter for EWS, 6 Monk for Evasion, Deflect Arrow, KD & IKD, Disc andTumble Dumps and Att progression, 5 SD for HiPS, 5/ Paladin/BG for Saves, 5 Bard for Disc,Tumble,UMD dumps. - This is uncreative!

I think the player that dedicates to a single-class with all its advantages and disadvantages should be rewarded for sticking it out!

[Shhhhhhh]

Isnt no haste and no defense at all the most important thing Druid casters lack?
Their spells can be strong or made stronger, but as soon as anyone gets near the druid its over.

[VagaStorm]

I disslike the idea of pureclass bonuses! I think it rewards being uncreative.

Sorry VagaStorm and I'm not picking on you truly - this is not how I see it either. It is so easy to be tempted to multiclass for the minimum reward/max benefit. Look at the builds which take 6 fighter for EWS, 6 Monk for Evasion, Deflect Arrow, KD & IKD, Disc andTumble Dumps and Att progression, 5 SD for HiPS, 5/ Paladin/BG for Saves, 5 Bard for Disc,Tumble,UMD dumps. - This is uncreative!

I think the player that dedicates to a single-class with all its advantages and disadvantages should be rewarded for sticking it out!

I am fully aware that most players agree with you, but the main reason I play nwn and not some main stream mmo is the diversity that is posible buildswise. In nwn, you can do what you whant instead of following the path you selected at lvl 1.

How ever, looking at your argument for the druid, I might be wrong about druid. Looking at the spells you mention, even tho a pure druid should do prety well damagevise, most of em are reflex based. Icestorm how ever is not... maybe add the no save from ice storm to 1 or 2 of the other spells to?

[Ryddwillow]

All in all I have read the last 3 pages and for me it seems they best class is Air elemental period. Immune to crits and sneaks and a great amount of dexterity to obtain other classes such as a SD in which you could obtain epic dodge and other combinations that come to my mind. I do have a high level shifter and it does not compare to the air elemental form which I said before has the greatest ab and ac. I found out NOW that i have to take weapon focus to increase the ab, what is the sense of having different shapes now? You put that much wisdom into a shape to obtain these different forms to be ruined by taking all these weapon focuses. Ac compared to a pure druid in air form vs a shifter of same level in a undead shape and the air elemental wins except the mind flayer is comparable but the hitpoints are way less along with discipline and in air form i'm immune to sneaks and crits. The gazes now are way underpowered due to every mind protection spell adds all these bonuses to will and fort saves like protection from evil/good. So I invest all this wisdom for what? A druid/sd/fighter (or something else to this formula) that gets epic dodge, hips, blinding speed, weapon focused, immune to crits, immune to sneaks, high ac, high ab and a decent amount of hitpoints and high spot compared to either a druid dragon or a shifter, I would pick the air elemental shape hands down. How many druid dragons level 40 are roaming around now compared to prewipe? My answer would be hardly any due to cant see a sd, you move terribly slow unless buffed with haste from a party member, you cannot cast from shifted shape and from forums you can't cast epic spells now. I feel that Melencia is known for it's Druids and Shifters and to invest a ton of wisdom into a shape you cannot wait till it hits level 40 to see what you can do is wasted away to a mere leather crafter from reading forums here.

I can make epic characters (DD, PM, COT, ASSASSIN, RDD) from other factions in which I have done in the past and the present and am most satisfied.

I look forward to reading the clerics are underpowered thread

Na, I had one where ac was in high 70's and ab high in the 60's and could spot, cast spells, move around quite quickly, etc, etc, etc....

[Rufio]

Isnt no haste and no defense at all the most important thing Druid casters lack?
Their spells can be strong or made stronger, but as soon as anyone gets near the druid its over.

I agree, but if you really wanted to make a dedicated caster, it wouldn't be difficult to add 5 levels in a complimentary class for a considerable boost in defense (monk comes to mind. Hey, it still works when you aren't shifted) just like most other dedicated casting builds. You would have to sacrifice dragon shape to do this, but I wouldn't consider a dragon a dedicated caster. The problem is that the offensive spell selection is limited at higher levels as evasion becomes more and more common, and opponents' saves get higher and higher. I don't think the spells should be as powerful as a wizard's, but right now a casting druid isn't all that scary.

[Eldaquen]

Just wanted to say thank you to the Dev's and DM's for considering and implementing changes to infestation of maggots, drown, quill fire, healing sting, etc. Thank You

[Cijah]

I too would like to thank the dedication and affability of our Devs. They are the best!

[Ryddwillow]

Drow forms get move silently bonus that scales with shifter level +1 MS per shifter level, or half shifter level if not merely druid/shifter.

So from the last part of "if not merely druid/shifter" meaning that you dont have to be merely a druid/shifter but can branch out? clarification would be a great response and other things that merely not mentioned so as too not waste soooo many characters and redo the actions that were placed from previous times?

[Korr]

You can be a druid/shifter/(any other non-prestige class here) but that means you cant take the epic form feats (undead, dragon, construct, outsider). The bump is higher for druid/shifter only because they dont get class-rank skills in it.

[Ryddwillow]

this was supposed to be from a developer or a dm.

[Korr]

LoL you NEED a DM or a Dev to tell you that a druid/shifter/(any other non-prestige class allowed in TC here) is a playable? I can send you a SS of my monk/druid/shifter if that helps. . .