What's a Druid worth

Kovi · Post by **Kovi** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 11:31 am

I have finished the shapeshifter druid without items: I was not able to beat Mellisan.
I have managed to make a good strategy and beat her in "single" fights, but too many spells/abilites were used and I still needed some luck (eg. to avoid the Death Tyrants). The first battle is very hard without summons. The Elemental battles are quite easy. With a really good luck it might be possible to reach the third battle, but that is almost impossible in itself. I was able to win the previous encounter without resting (using the pocket plane), but I don't even had such option.
The only other fight I had to give up was against Improved Abazigal, I had no chance in an immedate battle (no summons) against 6 strong, magic resistant opponents. And of course, I didn't even tried Ascension. The hardest battle (won) was against the Guardian group in WK.
Conclusion: this class is very good and easy to "manage" against moderate groups or single tough bosses. But multiple, magic resistant strong enemies (like Demons) are very hard, especially when they possess special abilities.

Chips_40285 · Post by **Chips_40285** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 7:23 pm

since druids level up so fast in the first half of SoA, couldnt you just take a figher up to 1.25 mil and then dual to druid? you'd still get the spells and such but you could get a sweet kit like kensi with druid spells and shapeshift. youd have to play with a weak pc for a while, but if your not soloing, it could be good. any thoughts?

Kovi · Post by **Kovi** » Tue Jan 08, 2002 11:29 am

Not bad, but a multi fighter/druid is better.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Jan 08, 2002 12:04 pm

Originally posted by Kovi:
<STRONG>Not bad, but a multi fighter/druid is better.</STRONG>

They're certainly easier to play. Jaheria is a good example. You get the benefits of both a reasonably decent fighter, the druid spells, and the added benefit of the Harpers' Resurrection spell as you gradually advances. She's pretty effective while inexperienced, and a danger to everybody when she really takes off.

seanthony · Post by **seanthony** » Thu Jan 10, 2002 12:19 am

Well, I've always been a big fan of druids.. and while waiting for ToB (early last year), I was hoping for the developers to keep their promise- to make Druids more powerful (coz we ALL know how weak they were in SoA).

Admit it guys, Cernd and Jaheira are weak (in a power gamer's point of view).

But it's managable to win the game with a Druid (or two). It just takes time.

With the right equipment and armour, a Druid can have a decent AC of -14 (at one point where I was the Shapeshifter) and an average Thaco of -5 (or -8, can't remember). These aren't the best stats in the game (obviously), but they are average.

And out of the 3 Druid kits, I prefer the Avenger.. then Shapeshifter and then the Totemic druid. I mean, for a Shapeshifter in ToB, I rarely EVER used my Werewolf (or Greater WW) forms.. EVER! I had good staves or spears... and plus.. I relied a bit on my priest spells too.

Curdis · Post by **Curdis** » Fri Jan 11, 2002 10:26 pm

@Xyx - 120 lbs? That's a whole lotta elf! Oh Momma

@Eleshar - 'Admit Jaheira is weak' ah nope. I've played the game through so many times it is getting silly and it seems that (unless my main is a melee specialist) I generally end up with Jaheira as my main frontline tank.

Her Dex means you get full benefit of the best armour and with Iron skins she just doesn't get hit. eg currently She only has 78 H.P. (while Anomen has 112) but she rarely loses any. If by weak you mean untamed killing machine.... - Curdis

seanthony · Post by **seanthony** » Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:20 am

Curdis: I don't want to be flaming anyone here, but the reason why I said Jaheira was weak was because I had my reasons. I mean, face it, would you rather have Sarevok or Korgan in your party.... or Jaheira? I mean, I'd take Anomen on with me (and his whining) rather than Jaheira.

It just seems that later on in the game, ToB, she IS weak. You may be a fan of hers, but I am not. I completed ToB and SoA about 5 times each, thoroughly. Two of the runthroughs, I had Jaheira, but when facing Melissan.. her Thaco was rather high (-5 or something, I think).. and her AC and HP weren't that good either. I had to eventually get her use her Greater Elemental ability (Earth). But even after the transformation, she was weak. And her Druidic spells were mediocre. I mean, Harpers Call??? I prefer Resurrection dammit! haha...Coz when I use Harpers call, I need to cast Full Heal as well- a waste of spell slots.

Anyway, as always, this is a discussion board.. not one where a person has to force his/her ideas across. Hence my slightly biased opinion of Jaheira.

Aegnor · Post by **Aegnor** » Sat Jan 12, 2002 8:12 am

OK, so since i claimed ambivalence about Jaheira earlier in this thread, I've taken her with a full party for a second run through ToB. Well, she *just* hit 15th level druid, right before our fight with abazigal, and OMG!!!

FIVE more 7th level spells? Incredible! I now have to seriously reconsider druids...but I don't get why the gamemakers opted for this long-awaited mega-jump in abilities in just one level-up, instead of going with a more gradualistic approach.

Anyway, I now finally understand what all the fuss is about...the only problem is that now that J is finally 15th level, we only have three more big battles to fight.

In the meantime, Jaheira has proven herself as a fighting spellcaster in the party. Giving her the amulet of power definitely made casting during combat more viable - i think that dolorous decay spell ends up being an insta-cast with the amulet. Add in the fact that in SoA her quests are fun and rewarding

, and I have to now put myself in the pro-Jaheira camp.

Curdis · Post by **Curdis** » Sat Jan 12, 2002 9:04 pm

@Eleshar -'I don't want to be flaming anyone here' - didn't seem to be a flame to me and I didn't take it as one. This IS a discussion board as you point out and I am happy to discuss any TOB related issue with anyone.

What you say is true if you take the offensive role to be the most important. I am no great fan of Jaheira's but with Iron Skins and the right armour she is MUCH better with defence than Saervok, Korgan, or Anomen. One in 20 Kobolds will hit and damage S,K or A - but not Jaheira with Iron Skins. - When we start talking about Yagashura (etc) each one of those hits is a serious matter and two are worth a heal spell (6th level not 5th level for Iron skins) I don't think the THACO is such a big deal when balanced against damage immunity. - Curdis

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Mon Jan 14, 2002 2:59 pm

Originally posted by Curdis:
<STRONG>@Xyx - 120 lbs? That's a whole lotta elf! Oh Momma </STRONG>

Half-Elf. Plus I figured she'd be taller than average and well-built and all that.