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Each subsequent edition, I continue to wait for the druid to get his due. It is, without a doubt, my favorite character type, and one of the least played characters. Now, when I heard clerics were getting a boost, I thought "surely they'll boost druids now too, to retain some parity...". But no.

A look at how druids and clerics stack up:

Clerics: Extra spell slot, 2 extra abilities, extra spells from deities (which kick -ass-)
Druids: Animal Companion

Clerics: Ability to wear all armor
Druids: restricted to medium.

Clerics: Can turn, drop spells for cure spells.
Druids: can shapeshift into such badasses as "bear". (useless after about 6th level)

A look at the spells:
Druids: Flame Lash, Call lightning (excellent spells, both). However, the druid doesn't get anything particularly good after that. Stoneskin is OK, but a druid's primary damage will come from call lightning and versions thereof until he gets to about 17th level.
Clerics: It's all downhill for the druid/cleric comparison as soon as level 5 spells kick in. Raise dead at level 5, Harm/Heal/Blade Barrier at 6 (harm and heal a level before druids get it), Word of Faith at 7 (automatic, non-saveable stun?!?), Mass heal at 8 (again, a level before the druid, who will have to sacrifice one of his level 9 spells to take this) , and then implosion at 9.

The only thing that druids have that can compare to that is Creeping Doom (which clerics can get if they go plant domain...). Now, admittedly, creeping doom is a badass spell if you use it right (killed 2 dragons at once, solo, with 2 of these), but it doesn't compare to powerhouses like word of faith. Stuff like elemental swarm is garbage, as if one of them gets dispelled, no more come (boo!).

The result: Druids are clerics, minus the damage-dealing and offensive capacity, with 1 notable exception. Boo.

What I want:
1.) One good mid-high level offensive spell, a-la-word of faith, or something that actually does real damage or has a quality effect around 6th level.
2.) People to actually have to make checks when going through entangle...it -never- seems to catch people unless they sit in it for ages.
3.) More -DRUID- spells. It's bad enough to be the bastard child of clerics...now not only do we get no good special abilities, but all the druid spells from 3rd edition were cut out, so now they're just clerics who can do less.

Which bites!

-Cross

Well - script a presitge class build over the druid
That way you can make your bad-ass druid.

Unfortunally I've yet to get my copy and thus get into scripting - but it can be done.

I don't have the game yet so I'm probably not able to help much but I wanted to say that some empowered, extended and maximized versions of your favourite spells can get you through the medium levels. Of course, you'll have to spend feats on them but so do all casters who want to use them.

My druid has beaten the game; I object to the fact that while I must re-use 3rd level spells until I run up against things that are immune to them (at which point I SUFFER HORRIBLY), a cleric can rely on good new spells at every level. Not to mention spells that can't be stopped by globes of invulnerability (as you progress in the game, you will see why this becomes a problem)

-Cross

Its not that Druids are underpowered in 3rd Edition its simply that some of the better Druid abilities didnt make it into NwN. In tabletop you can make an animal companion of just about any animal, dire animals included, not to mention the ability to shapeshift into dire animals later. Also at higher levels druids can shapeshift into elementals. Druids got their due in 3rd Edition, they simply lost some of it NWN.

Is it just me or does call lightning only work when you're outside?

well I don't know about this game cause I haven't played as druid, but in BG2 it only worked outside and I THINK it does so in NWN too.

It worked inside in PS:T. For what that's worth to know.

Yeah, but in PS:T you were carrying around enough angst to generate your own electrical field off it's mass, I believe.

I still yearn for the day when Scott Warner and JE Sawyer complete their dream project, Torment Racing

And, on a different note, I have to agree with Crosswind. Cleric has druid beat in NWN, hands down. Cleric can even get his own version of 'animal companion' if you select the death domain.

Also, try playing a chaotic neutral druid.... do just -one- small good or evil deed and your alignment has shifted enough that you can no longer advance.

My suggestion, Crosswind, is to see if you can go about scripting any of the stuff you think is missing from NwN that had it uses in 3rd Edition.

I'm not for sure what is and isn't possible to script, but I know I'm looking into it, cuz there are certain things I think NwN is missing that could still be implemented. Basically, I'm gonna see if I can do it myself.

Yes, call lightning works inside, although I would gladly have it not work inside if druids got -anything else- good...

-Cross

I hate nature and have a severe sunflower phobia.

...

So playing a druid for me is out of the question. Personally I can't see how anyone could like that class but hey, that's just my opinion. The term "bad-ass druid" makes me chuckle and remember the Diablo II LoD days where druids would get PK'ed by high level sorceresses and barbs.

Hate to break it to you, but it seems to me that divine magic could win over natural magic any day.

But then some people like playing that way. Too green for me though.

You hate it all you want, but it's here, the nature. And it will be around after you will be long gone. And it's only better for the nature if you hide in your place. Makes it easy for everybody to enjoy what's real and beautiful, though I clearly overestimate your significance to the natural order of things. So please, by all means - live along for a while !

Game can be very boooring with druid and yes they didn't get as much attention as other classes.
I like druid class in general.. as well idea? but they are terribly done in DnD, and that means in most other RPGs[who borrow ideas from dnd]. I think both how class is done [Fighter+Cleric], their beliefs, their appearance, their spells all sucks, with a bit of imagination and effort you can shape this class into what you like [which is probably why u like it in dnd/if you do], but the base material you get in my opinion is rather dull and boring.

you could try shapeshifter epic class, but shapeshifting doesn't do much good in nwn I'm afraid. Higher level shifting spells were more useful in BG:Soa, but in nwn they are weak. You can shapeshift to BLOODY DRAGON[tryed as mage] and any SINGLE highlevel enemy can take you down. useful as living wall though.

Hryunir wrote:You hate it all you want, but it's here, the nature. And it will be around after you will be long gone. And it's only better for the nature if you hide in your place. Makes it easy for everybody to enjoy what's real and beautiful, though I clearly overestimate your significance to the natural order of things. So please, by all means - live along for a while !

Why resurrect a 7-year old thread to argue with someone who doesn't even post here anymore? Especially when the comment is not game related in the least.