Druid. Good choice or bad choice?

[amp776]

I am starting a new game in BG. I was thinking of playing as a Druid. What are the pro's and con's of playing as this class?

[DaemonJ]

Druid's in BG1 are a bit under-powered but in BG2 they are much stronger.

Are you planning to play through the entire series or just BG1?

[amp776]

The whole series.

[mr_sir]

Once you get the good spells in BG2, druids are great. I've never played as a druid but I always have Jaheira in my party. Spells like the insect ones are great for stopping enemy spell casters

[Crenshinibon]

I believe that the main advantage of a druid is his or her shapeshifting ability. The original Duid class can only transform into a black bear, a brown bear and a wolf.

So you might get some extra THAC0 and health, which is alright for BG, but quite useless for BGII. The only two "good" forms that you'll be able to get for a Druid are the earth and fire elemental shapes, and even then, yoou probably won't get them until a good portion into ToB, unless you solo SoA.

[Barrada Kor]

Good point is they go up through the experience levels quicker, so if you're after healing spells for the party it's good news.

For me the main drawback is you still need a couple of meaty fighters with you which in BG1 is fine but BG2 can be a struggle depending on who you like to have arround you.

Only played druid through BG1, didn't finish the druid in BG2. Have fun.

[Coot]

I did try to play a druid once. He was fresh out of Candlekeep and ran into a single (!) Hobgoblin. My druid and the Hobgoblin took swings at each other for long, long minutes. I was sitting there with my mouth open and then finally terminated the game. IIRC I created a bard after that and had a very nice, satisfying game.

For me, druids are the least attractive class.
BG1: They've some spells no one else has access to. Call Lightning is a powerful spell but it only works outdoors.
The druid gets to shapeshift but only at the higher levels and then you get what? A wolf and some bears with abilities that won't help you at all and worse, aren't very interesting.

In BG2 druids get some real powerful spells like Creeping Doom and Nature's Beauty. But these are IMHO the only advantages you'll get with a druid and you have to wait a long, long time to get them.
The kits in BG2 aren't very interesting either IMHO - but some people have said they've enjoyed playing the Avenger because it's shapeshifting abilities are useful.
The druid stronghold in SoA I've no experience with.

But for me, the very worst aspect of the druid is the ridiculous 'there must be balance' philosophy which makes no sense at all, period.
It also makes no sense to me that a nature lover (and protector) would conjure up animals and sacrifice them in fights.

Obviously this is all very subjective and I'm sure there must be people out there who like druids.

[wise grimwald]

In BG2 there are also spells summon insects and insect swarm which stop mages casting spells on you. Very useful! Also if you are a pure Druid, not fighter Druid, you can use various pieces of Druid equipment that according to their descriptions, can only be used by one person.