Totemics vs Avengers: The Eternal Question

[Aqua-chan]

As some people know, the Druid is a very neglected class, IMHO. Oh, yeah.. The protogonist never is a Druid because you can just pick up the Fighter/Druid Jaheira, or the Shapeshifter Cernd... And if you don't like either of those personalities, well then, there isn't a whole lot a Druid can do that any of the three Clerics in BG2 can't handle, right?

Well, lucky for us Druids, there are classes that attract some attention. There's the Shapeshifter, the Avenger, and the Totemic. Each has thier own special charactoristics, but conflict has arisen...

When we do see each other, Avenger Yshania and Totemic Aqua-chan are always thinking up ways to convince the other that thier kit is better. Now, I've finally brought this up over here.

This is going to have to rely on opinions alone ( I lost my Versus book with all the information on Druids in it ), but I can honestly say I have been there, done that when it comes to other kits. Ya need a list? *sigh* Alright...Ladies that I have taken through SoA/ToB (SOme of them were even in BG1 and TotSC)

Lorlei - Fighter
Seteal - Necromancer Mage
Eva Reena - Inquisitor Paladin
Althea - Avenger Druid (She never made it past the Temple District, folks )
Delara - Totemic Druid
Simbul - Swashbuckler Theif

I've had... some experience, really. ( )

But, this is a poll. Tell me what you think....And I know this disscussion has been held before, but I'm looking for more rescent results, ya know?

[Impaler987]

None of the kits really impressed me when I played with them. My favorite druid by far is the berserker-13/druid dual class. This guy is scary. Under SoA you can reach only level 14 as a druid anyway, so no experience is wasted by those berserker levels. You can reach level 14 as a druid under the SoA experinece cap even with 13 levels of berserker. And you'll be much more effective in combat.

There's just something about wearing Iron Skins into a fight, casting Insect Plague and Nature's Beauty, then Enraging and easily killing the rest of the fools who survived the initial onslaught. Or turning into an animal for another form of fun.

[UserUnfriendly]

i usually sk jahiera into totemic druid fighter,,,,

how is avenger kit???

i dislike the shapeshifter kit cause of the armor restrictions,,,,anyway by the time you reach tob, you got g elemental transform, which beats it cold, especially with regen spell.,....

avenger shapechange has same issues,,, g elemental transform with regen makes both shape and avenger pretty lame in comparison....

regen is such a killer spell....

use with impr haste, or just have jahiera click on whirlwind and you regen at twice the normal speed...3hp per round jumps to 6....sure makes survival easier....

the earth elemental is great for bashing things, fire is fun for troll hunting.....

[Jaesha]

Originally posted by UserUnfriendly
i usually sk jahiera into totemic druid fighter,,,,

I like to play a fighter/druid, not picking up jaheira.
The transformation abilities are a blast!
I´d say totemic druid, love the spirit animals, boost with barkskin...

@User: How about making a hacked bun bun druid or something along those lines? Or just giving bun bun shapechange abilities?

[MasterDarkNinja]

just how did you start a poll aqua-chan? I tried to start one of what is the best class type a while ago and it never showed up.

well anyway I think that the avenger is the best druid kit, I use priests over druids though due to the types of NPC's in the game since think about it, Jaheria stinks since he main stats strength and wisdom are too low, and cernd stinks to since he can't wear any armor, the shapeshifter is the worst druid class I think from that armor loss the only advantage he has is soloing but enemies can dispell your transformations (so the werewolves will be beaten). Cernd also has a dex that's way too low for his class which makes his AC stink, druids really suffer in Baldur's Gate from NPC's I think.
but back to the topic I think that the avenger is better since the summons of the toremic druid are all weak and useless, most summons in BG2 can't do any real damage to the enemies and are more useful for blockers then fighters.
the avenger does suffer from -2 str and con. the str can be fixed with a belt but not the con since the only belt to fix that lasts for only 6 hours which isn't worth it, only the few perminate stat raising stuff can counter it but luckily the avenger is more met to be a archer then a close up fighter. the avenger also has some 3 shape shifts, a good trick with the spider is to hit one enemy and hit another since you will poison them, the draw back however is the avenger will be your healer and have to leave that form that it can become only once per day.
the avenger also has 6 wizard spells, half of them are useless though.

[Aqua-chan]

Originally posted by UserUnfriendly
i usually sk jahiera into totemic druid fighter,,,,

You actually took Jaheira with you??

Totemics are, by far, my favorite. I mean, Spirit animals just rocks. Snakes have the poison, the Bears are impossible to kill, the Wolves can level drain and the lion is the best cat you can summon in BG2.

Mage spells? SO what? That's what we got our mages for!

[MasterDarkNinja]

yeah but just how did you start a poll like that? I tried to but I never got a choice for what to have in the poll (just a choice selection thing) and my thread never showed up.

[Alson]

Originally posted by UserUnfriendly

avenger shapechange has same issues,,, g elemental transform with regen makes both shape and avenger pretty lame in comparison....

regen is such a killer spell....

use with impr haste, or just have jahiera click on whirlwind and you regen at twice the normal speed...3hp per round jumps to 6....sure makes survival easier....

User, from one Wes fan to another - try the Ease of Use Shapeshifter Balanced Form.
It makes Shapeshifters rock...
Though Cernd still sucks because he's soooo boring!

The Greater Werewolf form regenerates 3HP/Sec, just like Regeneration spell!

[UserUnfriendly]

aqua, jahirea is irritating, but i usually take her...fighter totemic druid multi is pretty sweet.....

bun bun does have shapeshifting abilites...just pick shapeshift as a 9th level spell, and

change to mindflayer....use g whirlwind, and attribute drain anything to death....

also, i have not tested this, but i think with the

disable spell casting immunity, she can still cast spells as slayer or flayer....

use with chain contingency and simmie spell,,, 4 bun bun mindflayers,,,yes you keep thaco bonuses,,, charge a dragon and int drain in 1 round.....

bwbwbwahahhahahahaha