[HoW] Can a druid really replace a wizard?

[Fingers Boggis]

Evening all

First off I guess a Happy New Year is in order. So there it was. Anyway, I completed IWD when it first came out years ago without add-ons when I borrowed it from a friend. Since then I've played through BG1 and 2 and IWD2 so many times I've become a bit bored with them. But despite that I feel the need to get a bit of CRPG action in, I thought about completing PS:T again but then spotted IWD1 on Amazon. I'm now just waiting for it to arrive, with add-ons this time.

So my question is as the title suggests, with Heart of Winter installed can a druid really replace a wizard in a party?

The party I'm (initially) intending is as follows, though it may change:
Human Paladin
Half-Elf Bard
Halfling Fighter/Thief
Human Fighter>Druid

There are obvious concerns about early healing there but I figure that Lay on Hands and potions should see me through until I dual the Fighter at 3 and the smaller party means that this should happen pretty soon. If this looks like too much of a liability then I'll add in a half-elf Ranger/Cleric as well, a staple from my most successful BG party.

cheers
Fingers

[kmonster]

A druid cannot replace a wizard since he cannot cast wizard spells. But a bard can fulfill the wizard role easily.
Your problem are rather the cleric spells, ("PfE 10' "or "raise dead" can be quite useful), but you'll have powerful druid spells instead.

[GawainBS]

If healing is the problem, your bard learns a song with Regeneration at lvl 11, IIRC.
Personally, I'd rather dualclass the fighter to a wizard. On the other hand, if this IWD is the one with improved Bard spell progression (up to level 8), then you might do just fine. Druid spells in IWD are good.