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I was thinking about playing a druid for the first time ever in BG2. A radical departure for me. I usally need to be up front bashing heads with a big axe or sword. I have also played IWD, and find the druids in the BG series to be lacking compared to their IWD counterparts. Does anyone know if anyone out there has created a file that I can download that has transfered some of the spells and abilites for druids from IWD to BG2? I have seen many mods, custom items, and kits out there, but very few help the poor druid class.

Maybe since I am such a brute at heart I should do a fighter dualed to a druid. Any suggestions? The last time I played a non-fighter type I found my wizard charging blindly into battle along side Minsc, swinging his dagger wildly with berserker froth coming out of his mouth.

Wasn't preaty.....

I played a horde of fighters, and this is my first time playuing a druid. So far, I love it.

They're not AS GOOD in melee as fighters, but dual-wielding scimitars at top profiency is a plus. I love my Belm and regular +2 Scimitars because, well, they just kick butt.

You can dual over to a fighter, but if you wanna do that, why not just take Jaheira along? It's be easier...

But I love my Totemic Druid mainly because the spirit animals and thier special abilites. Druids are quite the impressive charactors...But that's just in my opinion, I suppose. I'd definetly reccomend them to *experienced* BG2 players.

The Avenger, what a druid! People will soon get bored of me singing the praises of the Avenger, but the spell book is impressive, allowing a mage spell per level to level five, and also has many shapeshifting abilities including a sword spider whose attack can break through stoneskin and it's increased dexterity gives it 5 attacks per round and a -5AC. Later, this druid is very easily tanked.

Ahh, there goes Ysh, trying to convert people over to the Avenger religion again.

I tried an Avenger at the beginning, but then I found out about Spirit Animals. While six mage spells could be quite tempting, you are pretty restricted as to which ones you get. However, I suppose they are the most beefed up Druids if Shapeshifting is your thing. (Not for me. I only like running around as a wolf by using the Cloak of the Wolf.)

Maybe we should challenge eachother sometime! I'll show you that my Totemic could easily kick your Avenger's butt. (You know I'm just playing around, right? However, I still think I'd easily win )

But I guess even regular Druids are fun to play. It all just depends on how you wanna set them up as warriors. I hope I haven't lead your opinion the wrong way, Slayer.

I reckon the shapeshifter is the most fun druid to use. I mean c'mon... it lets your turn into a greater werewolf!

What isnt fun about turning into a big teddy bear and going around cuddling everything???

hehe

Hmmmm.....

I see Snoop Dog's PC in Bodhi's lair...

Bodhi: I must say, you are becomming an impressive pest...one that I am finding difficult to ignore!

PC: Awwww....C'mon, B! You know you love me! Alright, gimmie a hug!

Bodhi: What in the Nine Hells are you talking about?! Eww! Get away from me!

PC: Don't try to hide your emotions! **glomp**


...Riiiiiiiiiiiight. lol. I never was inspired to play a Shapeshifter. For some reason I prefer my human form unless I'm using a rare magical item to do the work for me. I keep forgetting I have Shapeshift abilities anyway...

Wow. We all got our opinions! Maybe I'll have to try all of these kits in my next games (This is why I love BG2. You can play in repeatedly and make everyone in your house mad because you're always on the computer.)

I hate Cernd.
Tree-huggers deserve to rot and die a slow death.
I say no more.

i'm a loyal fan of druid spells etc., but i never shapeshift, and rarely play as a druid. why? because the freaks are NEUTRAL!! ARGH! i detest neytral characters, because a player is good or evil, and once you're past irenicus' dungeon, they will be miserable for the entire game! hippy freaks

Originally posted by Aqua-chan
Ahh, there goes Ysh, trying to convert people over to the Avenger religion again.

I tried an Avenger at the beginning, but then I found out about Spirit Animals. While six mage spells could be quite tempting, you are pretty restricted as to which ones you get. However, I suppose they are the most beefed up Druids if Shapeshifting is your thing. (Not for me. I only like running around as a wolf by using the Cloak of the Wolf.)

Maybe we should challenge eachother sometime! I'll show you that my Totemic could easily kick your Avenger's butt. (You know I'm just playing around, right? However, I still think I'd easily win )

But I guess even regular Druids are fun to play. It all just depends on how you wanna set them up as warriors. I hope I haven't lead your opinion the wrong way, Slayer.

*grins* as ever!

They are the most beefed up druid if you have a tendency to forget their class and dive in swinging your scimitars too! I would be interested to compare the spell books of a Totemic and an Avenger, and re the shapechanging, except for the sword spider I rarely used it until my Avenger gained the ability to shapeshift into a fire elemental she generally tanked, with a very useful spell book.

ROFLMAO!! Anytime, my friend - only not in the DF, it is not good to bicker among the ranks - generally the druids are peace loving, even if they do have the odd chaotic moment and a tendency to have out of body experiences and indulge in unidentified fruits and pumpkin seeds!

Druids are not uber characters, they have their challenges and limitations, but can be a lot of fun!

Originally posted by Lost One

I hate Cernd.
Tree-huggers deserve to rot and die a slow death.
I say no more.

Good! Nice contribution!

Originally posted by Yshania


Good! Nice contribution!

Thank you.

Ok, slightly more serious now, unless a druid fits into a theme (eg. check out my thread on themes...yes, I know there've been others) they don't appeal to me. Cernd is not an appealing character because IMO he does not fit in with the rest of the NPCs.
Spirit animals are cool in the beginning, shapeshifting is also cool considering you get to keep all your eq when you shapeshift and can pick up stuff, I think. However, I don't see how a shapeshifter with greater werewolf can become an awesome, melee force with low hps, etc...
I also get really annoyed that avengers can't dual to fighters (not high enough strength)...but oh well...druids are all right...NOT!

Originally posted by Lost One


Thank you.

Ok, slightly more serious now, unless a druid fits into a theme (eg. check out my thread on themes...yes, I know there've been others) they don't appeal to me. Cernd is not an appealing character because IMO he does not fit in with the rest of the NPCs.
Spirit animals are cool in the beginning, shapeshifting is also cool considering you get to keep all your eq when you shapeshift and can pick up stuff, I think. However, I don't see how a shapeshifter with greater werewolf can become an awesome, melee force with low hps, etc...
I also get really annoyed that avengers can't dual to fighters (not high enough strength)...but oh well...druids are all right...NOT!

I will take your sarcastic smilie to be a friendly one

I agree re Cernd, I have only ever had him in my party long enough to complete his quest. His spell book does not compare to my Avengers, and he is weak in combat...also, if you choose to shapeshift him during battle you lose his attack per round.

I haven't had spirit animals, so haven't missed them. Re shapeshifting, you do get to keep your equipment (but lose your spell casting ability), and there is something else to consider - if you shapeshift into a sword spider, your dexterity is greatly increased, but your strength is compromised. My current Avenger can carry 500lbs (not hacked, but an import from BG1 with Tomes) a sword spider will be immediately immobilised with such weight. When you shapeshift, your stats are adjusted accordingly - how could a spider carry five suits of plate mail?

You cannot dual an Avenger because it is a kit, not a class

Cernd schmernd.. no one likes cernd, he and nalia should start a support group "Hated and useless npc's anonymous"

Druid!? Ill give yer druid...

If only druids could cast holy smite... The darkest day mod adds ALOT of spells for ye olde druid but that dont work wit tob

Heres the deal... get yer dalekeeper and extract all the druid spells you want, get yer infinity engine editor pro and make sure there all right and sound for bringing into soa.. and bung em all in the soa override folder...

Maybe make a copy of yer soa override folder first in case something goes wrong

Or put some cleric spells in your spellbook with sk, holy smite and the like....I spose the other way is better, but it also takes longer

Originally posted by Yshania

You cannot dual an Avenger because it is a kit, not a class

I beg to differ, I had a totemic druid who dualled to a fighter...though it turned out to be a bad mistake (few weapons). Your first class can be a kit, the second one can't...so an avenger to fighter would be possible if not for the max.16 strength when rolling.

On another note: does shapeshifting get better in the future (eg.with levels, or in TOB)?

@ Lost One:

Shapeshifters gain quite a few more greater werewolf transformations after they get through the big xp jump between lvls 13 and 14, as they start to level up quite fast.

Originally posted by Lost One


I beg to differ, I had a totemic druid who dualled to a fighter...though it turned out to be a bad mistake (few weapons). Your first class can be a kit, the second one can't...so an avenger to fighter would be possible if not for the max.16 strength when rolling.

On another note: does shapeshifting get better in the future (eg.with levels, or in TOB)?

Then I stand corrected One way around this is by playing a druid through BG1 and picking up the Avenger kit in BG2, with the tomes you can have an Avenger with 19 strength, since a druid in BG1 can have Str 18. This is what I did with my second Avenger.

Yes, you can shapeshift into an elemental, but to be honest with all the high level spells you get, you probably won't bother. My Avenger had AC of -9 and was quite easily tanked, being able to shapeshift into a fire elemental I found useful in Watchers Keep, that was it

Originally posted by Yshania


One way around this is by playing a druid through BG1 and picking up the Avenger kit in BG2, with the tomes you can have an Avenger with 19 strength, since a druid in BG1 can have Str 18. This is what I did with my second Avenger.

Cool! Thx, I didn't know about that...uhm..maybe I'll give BG1 a try again. Of the druid kits, I guess the avenger is the coolest with all the neat spells and I think I read somewhere that an avenger/fighter is the best combo to solo through BG2.
I find the druid kits a lot different than described in AD&D. Avenger has become significantly more powerful - in Druid's Handbook they only get an extra weapon proficiency, nothing else. Totemic druid has been well adapted, though they should shapeshift into their totems instead of summoning them..and shapeshifters have been well adapted too with the difference that they can only shapeshift to werewolves (though that's a cry better than regular forms).
Overall, druid kits have become more powerful in BG2.
Still, before I begin to like druids more and more...tree-huggers, twig-warriors and veggi-lovers deserve to die! Or fall to the necromantic powers of rot and decay...yes...

Another (cheese) fact I learned from my good friend Astafas, is that an imported druid taking up the Avenger kit is not compromised in strength and constitution - as they are if you create the kit from new in SoA (they receive minuses - I did not realise this, honestly ). My current Avenger (imported having tomes) has:

str 19
dex 15
con 19
int 11
wis 19
cha 17

I have never tried solo, I like the character interraction too much but I guess merely by their summoning powers, they are not always alone...

Druids maybe more powerful in BG2, they become pretty awesome by ToB

LMAO! still not convinced that nature can weild power then?

Originally posted by Yshania
LMAO! still not convinced that nature can weild power then?

Well, with the stats your druid has...I may *very grudgingly* admit that nature can be an awesome force. Some fantasy characters also come to mind such as the great Druid Allanon from the Shannara Series - he was very manipulative and had frightening druidical powers - jus' the character I like. Hey! What I'm saying??
It's happening!! I'm being converted to the Avenger Club...ah!!!...must resist..must...get axe...chop trees...*phew*
Nope, never convinced for one second! Hah!

Originally posted by Aqua-chan
Hmmmm.....
Bodhi: I must say, you are becomming an impressive pest...one that I am finding difficult to ignore!

PC: Awwww....C'mon, B! You know you love me! Alright, gimmie a hug!

Bodhi: What in the Nine Hells are you talking about?! Eww! Get away from me!

PC: Don't try to hide your emotions! **glomp**

Say. who does this remind you of?

Unidentified fruits and pumpkin seeds? Not for me thanks, I prefer a different sort of "Nature's Bounty" .

And you probably shouldn't be cheeky to Ysh, @Lost One. She won't mind, Ysh is always nice, but the rest of SYM will try to hunt you down. Watch out for Lainy. I've gotten away with it becuse I'm cheeky to everyone (in a nice way ), but the point still stands.

And now for my real question. @Ysh, how can your Avenger dual-wield scimitars with any real effectiveness when druids can (AFAIK) only put one proficiency point in 2-weapon style,and 1 proficiency point into weapons? IIRC they don't get very many proficiencies either, so how did you manage this?

@Ysh and Aqua-chan, If you two do have that duel post how it went and who won.